Newbie looking for buying advice for 128i

[sammy]

Hello fellow 1Addicts,
I am looking to purchase a late model year (2012-213) 128i. I've been searching eBay and Autotrader for a 128i with low miles (under 30K). I'm wondering which options are a must and which are not worth it. This will be a daily driver for me so I'm am looking for a balance between comfort/convenience and performance/fun.
So far, I am leaning towards towards the following options:
1) Automatic (Is there an option without the paddle shifters?)- I know many purists will scoff at this, but since this is a daily driver and traffic around here is pretty bad, I think an auto would make the commute more bearable.

2) M Sport Package- I would get this more for the cosmetic looks than performance.

3) Harmon Kardon Stereo- Is this worth it or is the standard stereo sufficient.

4) Cold Weather Package- Not sure about this one but do like heated seats in the winter.

5) Lighting Package- Yea or Nay?

6) Premium Package- Yea or Nay?

Any other options you all think I should or should not consider?

Also, what potential problems or bugs should I check for?

Thank you all for your help.

Sam

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by sammy

Hello fellow 1Addicts,
I am looking to purchase a late model year (2012-213) 128i. I've been searching eBay and Autotrader for a 128i with low miles (under 30K). I'm wondering which options are a must and which are not worth it. This will be a daily driver for me so I'm am looking for a balance between comfort/convenience and performance/fun.
So far, I am leaning towards towards the following options:
1) Automatic (Is there an option without the paddle shifters?)- I know many purists will scoff at this, but since this is a daily driver and traffic around here is pretty bad, I think an auto would make the commute more bearable.

2) M Sport Package- I would get this more for the cosmetic looks than performance.

3) Harmon Kardon Stereo- Is this worth it or is the standard stereo sufficient.

4) Cold Weather Package- Not sure about this one but do like heated seats in the winter.

5) Lighting Package- Yea or Nay?

6) Premium Package- Yea or Nay?

Any other options you all think I should or should not consider?

Also, what potential problems or bugs should I check for?

Thank you all for your help.

Sam

If you want AT and get a car with paddle shifters you can just not use them. They are nice to have to control downshifts especially, but, don't do anything if you don't touch them.

Sport package is a little stiffer suspension and has sport seats. You can upgrade the suspension if you want, but, retrofitting the sports seats is probably a major job. I wanted sport pckge, couldn't find it in a car I wanted otherwise but luckily got sport seats.

The HK stereo is very good. I really didn't have the opportunity to compare it to others though.

Cold weather - I'm in E Texas so not a factor.

Lightning & premium. Nice to have but I wouldn't have walked away from the car if it didn't have them. Really a personal choice.

You'll get a lot of knowledgeable advice on here. There is also a Buyers Guide in the sticky section here.

Good luck

[NorthernDancer]

I have had my used 128 for 6 yrs. Sp pkg, pwr seats, walnut trim, paint my only options.
Auto: yes for reasons you stated.
M Sport: highly desired but maybe difficult to find
HK: no comment
CWP: YES to htd seats
Lt pkg: no comment
Prem: no
Xenon: nice to have only
You should buy privately and take someone who knows BMWs very well. Then get a PPI at a BMW specialist garage. If necessary make contact with your local chapter of BMWCCA. Educated buyer is most important. Mike Miller says you're not just buying a car but you're "buying" into the owner. I have not had 1 single problem in 6 yrs with my used car.

[YearOneOne]

I've had both sound systems. They are night and day I would go with HK

[The Wind Breezes]

Try to get the 3 liter turbo option the platform's pretty overpriced as is and you might as well have decent power.

[Tommm]

I bought a manual 08 with 32k miles this summer. Only options are paint and butt warmers. I thought I would miss the other options. I don't. This is a DD and I wouldn't have bought an automatic. But I had manuals living in NYC.

In 2015 I bought a 76k mile E39 6M from a friend who had just spent something like $900 on each xenon headlight. My E46 had xenons. My S80 has the adaptive xenons. I'll almost wish it had halogens, and one of the reasons I am not rushing to upgrade my wife's SUV is the newer models have xenons. I had both, and am not as impressed as I thought I would be.

[The Wind Breezes]

Originally Posted by Tommm

not as impressed as I thought I would be.

Yeah, both can light up your drive and I have the adaptive feature although I never use it.

Anyway, you won't think xenons are so dumb when you stand outside and see your ride roll up with fresh white light. I've seen it both ways and nothing makes a newer BMW look like shit more than yellow plebeian halogens.

[Tommm]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Yeah, both can light up your drive and I have the adaptive feature although I never use it.

Anyway, you won't think xenons are so dumb when you stand outside and see your ride roll up with fresh white light. I've seen it both ways and nothing makes a newer BMW look like shit more than yellow plebeian halogens.

But I am a plebe. Plus, I am too old to give a sh!t what others think of my cars. Dead presidents in my pocket impress me more than other peoples reactions. I just effing old.

Can you see the chip in the hood of my M in my sig? That bugs me more than the 128's headlights. I'll get around to fixing it before the next concourse (said that two times already, still took a useless ribbon home)

[Matticus91]

Not to put down your plan or anything but depending on your area it might be very hard to find the exact spec you're looking for. I had to drive across 4 states and 9 hours away to get the car I wanted so I'm not saying that it's not worth the hunt, but don't expect one to fall in your lap, these are not common cars after all!

Anyway:

1) Automatic (Is there an option without the paddle shifters?)- I know many purists will scoff at this, but since this is a daily driver and traffic around here is pretty bad, I think an auto would make the commute more bearable.

That's completely up to you, I drive my 6mt in DC traffic every day and love it.

2) M Sport Package- I would get this more for the cosmetic looks than performance.

Includes a definite up-tick in comfort if you get the sport seats.

3) Harmon Kardon Stereo- Is this worth it or is the standard stereo sufficient.

I love the HK, the bluetooth system is awful though unless you have an iPhone

4) Cold Weather Package- Not sure about this one but do like heated seats in the winter.

Heated seats are nice, if you get the non-m-sport you can also have a heated steering wheel

5) Lighting Package- Yea or Nay?

Ambient lighting is nice, puddle lights are cool. Not critical

6) Premium Package- Yea or Nay?

I'm one of the few who likes the iDrive system despite it's downfalls, so yay IMO

Also, it's lacking some 128i info since I know more about the 135's, but check out the buyers thread!

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1285231

[sammy]

Thanks for all the great feedback, guys. I've noticed that some are advertised with premium package and others with "premium package 2". What's the difference?

[DarthFader]

Originally Posted by sammy

Hello fellow 1Addicts,
I am looking to purchase a late model year (2012-213) 128i. I've been searching eBay and Autotrader for a 128i with low miles (under 30K). I'm wondering which options are a must and which are not worth it. This will be a daily driver for me so I'm am looking for a balance between comfort/convenience and performance/fun.
So far, I am leaning towards towards the following options:
1) Automatic (Is there an option without the paddle shifters?)- I know many purists will scoff at this, but since this is a daily driver and traffic around here is pretty bad, I think an auto would make the commute more bearable.

2) M Sport Package- I would get this more for the cosmetic looks than performance.

3) Harmon Kardon Stereo- Is this worth it or is the standard stereo sufficient.

4) Cold Weather Package- Not sure about this one but do like heated seats in the winter.

5) Lighting Package- Yea or Nay?

6) Premium Package- Yea or Nay?

Any other options you all think I should or should not consider?

Also, what potential problems or bugs should I check for?

Thank you all for your help.

Sam

1. I see you have VW TDI in your profile. The auto in the 128 is kinda boring compared to the DSG with paddles. Not trying to talk you out of auto, but want to point out that the 128 with MT drives amazing. If you've driven MT in the past, I would at least test drive both and then make a decision.

2. M-Sport makes the car look and feel sportier. The steering wheel and anthracite headliner are great, as are the sport seats and wheels.

3. My old 135 had standard stereo and my current 135 has HK. Not a deal breaker, but HK is way better.

4. Not a deal breaker, but obviously nice. Most cars will have them anyway.

5. By lighting I assume you mean Xenons. They're nicer than the halogens and look way better cause you get the angel eyes. Not a deal breaker because you can aftermarket upgrade if it bugs you.

6. All on you. Premium gets you leather, power seats, garage door opener, dimming mirrors, ambience lighting. I prefer it, especially for a dd.


Other items: Nav is not that great but I like the bigger display for radio, phone, vehicle status. My old car didn't have it and my current car has it. I like it better with the Nav.

Good luck with your search!

[KNS]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Anyway, you won't think xenons are so dumb when you stand outside and see your ride roll up with fresh white light. I've seen it both ways and nothing makes a newer BMW look like shit more than yellow plebeian halogens.

Interesting post...

It's hard to imagine people really give a sh!t about the tint of a car's headlights (from an exterior point of view). The previous owner of my 911 installed xenons and I can't stand them. I'm never outside of the car at night so I really couldn't care less what it looks like.

[The Wind Breezes]

Originally Posted by KNS

It's hard to imagine

All good things in life take effort.

Originally Posted by KNS

...The previous owner of my 911 installed xenons

Previous owner? Installed? Nuf said.

Originally Posted by KNS

I'm never outside of the car at night so I really couldn't care less what it looks like.

You probably have a dirty engine bay with that cover installed too, right?

[KNS]

^^ Yeah, sure...

[The Wind Breezes]

Originally Posted by KNS

^^ Yeah, sure...

There's your problem. Ditch the fake cover and keep the engine bay clean. The motor and accessories are interesting and can be appreciated best when clean and exposed. If you leave them dirty the car will understand that you don't respect it and might get snippy.

[KNS]

Dirty engine bay? Cool cover? What the hell are you going on about? Make sense man...

[sprp85]

White lights are fresh man.. its soooo fresh....