The 128 or 135 Dilemma

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by killerhurtalot

Screw you! lol. You got a 1M! I would spend 30 minutes locating a squeak under the pedal too if I got a 1M lol.

But ya. it's whatever you can afford (since it is like 5k-6k more for a similarly optioned 135i over a 128i) and whether you NEED/WANT the extra power or not.

haha honestly i love all the 1ers so i really do think it is a matter of preference rather than overthinking it....affordability is definitely an issue....although there seems to be all sorts of stuff available on the 2nd hand market in all different price ranges!

[killerhurtalot]

Originally Posted by Converted1

As a 135 owner coming from a tuned 1.8t Volkswagen GTI (and also the owner of a Hemi powered dodge) I thought I'd chime in.

Living where I live and the typical times I drive, I'm mostly frustrated with the N54s power on tap. Unless you plan on tracking the car (not even auto crossing) the NA 128 will likely make you happy. Anytime I really dig in and drive this car, congestion, road conditions and risk of summons quickly get in the way. I'm not a kid, I drive for a living and have been doing HPDE for about 20 years. You get a thrill on the road from a nice exhaust note, a great seat, ample brakes and an efficient gearbox. Everything else is testosterone.

It if FAR more fun to drive a slower car fast than a faster car slow.

If you plan on wrenching yourself (I do) the NA. Car is easier to work on and will likely be less costly to maintain in the long run.

Now excuse me while I go outside and do some right foot steering.

Good luck!

Well, I would say it depends on the car itself a lot. It's fun to drive a slower car fast when the limits of the car is low (like frs/brz/miata) than a faster car that has high limits at the same speeds... (370z, g37, 128i/135i, etc)

[killerhurtalot]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

haha honestly i love all the 1ers so i really do think it is a matter of preference rather than overthinking it....affordability is definitely an issue....although there seems to be all sorts of stuff available on the 2nd hand market in all different price ranges!

Ya definitely. at his price point though, it'll be very hard to get a decent 2011+ 135i for 25k or under but he can find a ton of low mileage well maintained 2011-2012 128i (even though there was not much difference between 2011/2011 128i) at around 21-25k

I was pretty lucky to find my 2011 135i (I bet it was abused a bit and there was a fender bender up front so it's not a clean title) for 25k...

[JHZR2]

I test drove both before pulling the trigger on the 135i. These 1 series cars, while small, are not light. Its not the dynamics of my E30, though the footprint is roughly the same. IMO cars like these do not bode well to lower powered drivetrains, and in my driving, it seemed to me that the 135i was easier to drive gently and lightly than the 128. I am a pretty conservative driver most of the time, not accelerating hard or slamming on the car. The 135i seems to allow me to drive that way better and easier than the 128, which is why I went that route.

Not sure about the aftermarket used pricing, but optioned the way I wanted it, the cost deltas seemed to shrink a bit indicating that the 135i was the better value too.

[ilikebmxbikes]

you can get a good 135i for $25k.

You can get a low mileage 08/09 with 30-40k miles easy in that range. Probably less.

Even the 08's are just barely off BMW Warranty and many of the service records should be retrievable.

135I issues:

1- HPFP - I had the recalled pump and had zero issues with it. I drove almost 30k miles tuned, tracked the car, drove it well and with zero slip ups.

2- Turbo Chargers - Extended Warranty on them and a part revision - I would not worry about this

3- Intake Valve Cleaning - do it every 40k miles. Generally costs $400-800 depending on location and method. Not a big deal.

[Fume]

Some good advice here already but I wanted to add my 2c if you do lean towards getting a 128i (obviously all my opinion):

The 128i 6MT is just so much better than the 128i auto and the 128i doesn't have a DCT option. I'm not sure I would buy the 128i if the only ones for sale have automatic transmission.

If you can, try to get the N52 version of the 128i instead of the N51 version if you plan to do any modding. With the N52 version, you can add the 3 stage intake manifold to match the N51 but have the benefit of slightly higher compression ratio (unless you do autox where this mod might not be allowed). The N51 also has some emissions components that can be much more costly to repair compared to the N52. However, I don't think this is a deal breaker (I have N51 version and I still love my car).

If you know you will want pure power, the 128i is NOT the best platform to start with. In that case, just get the 135i (or look at other make/models).

Edit: also if you get the 128i, know you'll have to rev the engine higher compared to the 135i to get power and it will feel awesome doing it .

[DS/B MCS]

I went through the same dilemma when purchasing my 1 series. Thought the 128i would cost less up front and over time due to being NA. After careful consideration I made the decision to purchase my 135i. I really enjoy driving, and the 135i offered a much more involving driver experience. You are only looking at a few thousand dollars difference between either choice. If your budget won't stretch that far, you may be better served looking in another direction anyway. Good Luck

[7smurfs]

Go 135i however budget up to $3k for maintenance.

There is also much more modification support for the 135i, so expect to spend even more money on it....

I have a spreadsheet for my car and I have already spent $5k on mods + maintenance in 2 months... kinda blowing out of control atm

[scoTT la rock]

I have a 2012 135i, and last week my car was in the shop and I got a 2013 128i as a loaner for a few days. The only things better were the smoother ride (17s with stock suspension vs 18s with sport) and the fog lights. The car felt a lot slower, but it was an automatic so that may have been part of it. Lots of body roll too. I was happy to get my car back today

[brocklanders]

Four years ago I had an e90 325, it was a nice relatively inexpensive car. As reliable as a modern BMW could be, it was a manual, I had an auto loaner once and never would have even considered a 325 or 328 if that were what I test drove while car shopping. I had it for three years and even after dumping money into aftermarket parts I still traded it for a 335 and now I have a 135 and never looked back.

[Worra]

Originally Posted by OneAddicts

So, I've been lurking on these boards for a while now and have been scouring a 500 mile radius for the perfect 135.

I will most likely be purchasing a used 1 series out of warranty.

After following this forum for some time I am starting to worry that the 135 could be a huge financial mistake with that approach.

I have found two 128s with the M-sport package in my area.

Is the 128 that much more reliable? or are the 135 problems just blown out of proportion?

I've never lusted over and struggled so hard with pulling the trigger on a vehicle before.

Are the 128i cars a 6MT? If they aren't, I'd say the 135i. The auto in the 128i is, in my personal opinion, quite terrible. It'll be easier to live with the 135i if you must have an auto.

For me, owning a car is about the every day pleasure I get from driving. Having a manual transmission is seriously about 85% of that. I've owned much less awesome cars than my 135is, and I still had a great time driving them because I always had a manual transmission.

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by Worra

Are the 128i cars a 6MT? If they aren't, I'd say the 135i. The auto in the 128i is, in my personal opinion, quite terrible. It'll be easier to live with the 135i if you must have an auto.

For me, owning a car is about the every day pleasure I get from driving. Having a manual transmission is seriously about 85% of that. I've owned much less awesome cars than my 135is, and I still had a great time driving them because I always had a manual transmission.

You can get a 128i w/ 6MT and it is a fun car.

I just strongly suggest OP drive both. The 135i is tons of fun and has the tuning advantage but a 6MT 128i is no slump. Still an awesome fun car that offers a lot of the excitement.

135i owners tend to downplay the 128i and the 128i guys seem to up play the 135i maintenance. Honestly both cars are good - drive both and see which one you prefer.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by killerhurtalot

Well, I would say it depends on the car itself a lot. It's fun to drive a slower car fast when the limits of the car is low (like frs/brz/miata) than a faster car that has high limits at the same speeds... (370z, g37, 128i/135i, etc)

Coming from driving my Z4M on the track/autocross...I call the 128i slow

OP - Depends on what you want to do with the car. IMO there is no need for 300 hp on a daily, although fun...you can only go on the on-ramp so fast.

If you get a 128i and really don't to decide to modify it, the results are amazing. Car handles on rails (literally) and the amount of fun you can have in the car is 10 times fold.

Originally Posted by ilikebmxbikes

You can get a 128i w/ 6MT and it is a fun car.

I just strongly suggest OP drive both. The 135i is tons of fun and has the tuning advantage but a 6MT 128i is no slump. Still an awesome fun car that offers a lot of the excitement.

135i owners tend to downplay the 128i and the 128i guys seem to up play the 135i maintenance. Honestly both cars are good - drive both and see which one you prefer.

This.

[chris82]

If you want power please go for the 135i or you WILL regret it. I have been in both and the difference is substantial.

For me, I got such a good deal on mine that it would be financially stupid to not buy it. After driving it for some time I realized what this car is about. I find the sound of the N52 addicting almost, it sounds so good when you get going. I look for places to slow down and put it back in second just to get up to 4th again. It's not the fastest (obviously), but you cannot get any FI car to sound the way a BMW NA I6 sounds. Plus, if you get the N52 (not N51), you can do the DISA 3 stage upgrade, and get a nice amount of power out of that.

edit: don't get an auto 128i, like Worra said, it is a POS GM transmission. Get the 6MT

[Jettt]

Do you want to pull up beside a porsche and be able to pull it and ruin his day?

135i...

[Matt 335is]

Wow thanks for all the replies.

I am a car enthusiast but not nearly as hardcore as most on this site. Like I said I will never track the car and if I do modifications they will most likely be cosmetic. I have driven both and they both exceeded my power expectations.

It's good to know the 128 auto is a dog, so that option is out. I think I am now back to leaning towards a 2011+ 135 w/ DCT. From my understanding the DCT has it's own set of issues.

Again thanks for all the replies, it's very informative to me in what is going to be a relatively big long term purchase.

I need to do additional research on the DCT if anyone has anything to add on that front it would be appreciated.

[Tuxedo]

I drive a 128 e88 auto and my previous e46 auto sedan I feel are close to the same maintenance budget. Now the e46 was a commuter and e88 is tool'n. Mrs Tux prefers the auto, I would have preferred the MT but shes happy.

#) If you like mods 135 is your only real option if you like luxury sport 128
#) It's not worth the worry about maintenance costs. stuff happens
#) during e46 ownership my repair budget was $1400yr and if oil leaks in the end became 3 a year I was going over. for now(still under warranty for 2mo) 128 budget is the same but yet to start paying for stuff.
Conclude us armchair's never puts the money down and writes checks. So the best way to prevent buyers remorse is to know the car you want and want that car after you drive it. Never fails but your doing it right if your frustrated that the perfect car is just not out there, then Bam there it's the Griswold family x-mas tree.

[x97Melbourne]

128i with M-Package is a nice ride. 6-speed manual a must though.
my mom drives this car....awesome ride....she doesn't care about 0-60, just wanted a fun car to kick around. very reliable car/engine.

if you go for the 135i.....get the extended warranty.....highly recommended. i personally like the 6MT, but if you go for the DCT....again....get the warranty. just do a search on this site for the problems people have.

have fun.....128 and 135 are both great cars.

[the1andonly]

I accidentally ended up with a 128 manual because it was sitting on showroom and im SO HAPPY i did! The car drives so balanced and with performance exhaust sounds absolutely incredible. my lease is coming to an end and I was going to buy a new 2013 135i a few months ago, but in the end couldn't do it. The manual paired with a naturally aspirated inline 6 in the 128 leaps forward at even the slightest touch of the throttle with instantaneous power. I could not get used to the lag, altho very slight of the 135 everytime i hit the gas. It just didnt feel right.

Its been and will be totally reliable. And in Jet Black with performance Exhaust, LED taillights, Apex 18 inch wheels, Tints, and 1M front bumper it looks pretty bad ass too!

The 128i manual won out for me.

[Matt 335is]

Originally Posted by x97Melbourne

128i with M-Package is a nice ride. 6-speed manual a must though.
my mom drives this car....awesome ride....she doesn't care about 0-60, just wanted a fun car to kick around. very reliable car/engine.

if you go for the 135i.....get the extended warranty.....highly recommended. i personally like the 6MT, but if you go for the DCT....again....get the warranty. just do a search on this site for the problems people have.

have fun.....128 and 135 are both great cars.

question for you... can you purchase say a platinum warranty at any time.

say i buy a 2011 135 with 45k miles from a non-bmw dealership can I still purchase a warranty?

oh and do you know if the warranties cover the latest software updates? i worry about this if getting a DCT

[C135i]

For me it's a no-brainer, if you are going to get a 1er then get the best available option. Otherwise you will always want for what you do not have. For me it's lusting after a 1M and wishing I could have found one that was obtainable!

Be careful though because mods will seep into your blood stream and before you know it you drop 1k on PPK1, 3k wheels/tires, 1k on stereo upgrades, 1.5k performance exhaust...and so on and so forth!! How did that just happen!?!?

[WGScales]

Drive both and make the call yourself. I drove virtually identical 128 and 135s and found the 128 to be perfect for me. It's been 3+ years and the only repair was to replace the radio. This is the most reliable BMW I've owned.