BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

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      05-16-2016, 08:56 PM   #1
derekh
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128i Anything to look out for?

Hey Guys,

Long story short I've had a long week and I'm in need of a new car. Looking to get into a 128 it ticks all the boxes for me and an 09 fits into my price range pretty well. I am just wondering if there is anything i should be careful of. Anywhere i should be looking for one other than the obvious places.

A friend of mine said the BMW auto is pretty good. I've driven stick my whole life and would rather have one but it seems like they are pretty rare. Any opinions on this? Is it a regular autobox or is it a dual clutch deal?

I've done some looking around and the general consensus is that the 128 is pretty solid any regular issues or serious deal breakers i should know about? Are there particular packages that i should be sure to get? I heard the sport package is pretty sweet, but if i am planning on getting coilovers in the future is there any point? Any and all tips and advice would be appreciated. I was pretty heavily bitten by the modding bug with my rabbit. looking forward to when i can start modding again.

Thanks
Derek
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      05-16-2016, 09:21 PM   #2
CooksToDrive
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Be careful of this...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1262282
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      05-16-2016, 09:23 PM   #3
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Hi! Check out my first thread, "Advice on a 128/135 purchase". Covered a bunch of this in a few of my posts in there r.e. points of failure. If you use the search function on the main thread page, you'll find a ton of threads on the subject, as well.

Last edited by gangrun; 05-16-2016 at 09:31 PM..
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      05-16-2016, 09:24 PM   #4
gangrun
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BTW, don't test drive a 135 (if dead set on a 128). You've been warned...
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      05-16-2016, 09:25 PM   #5
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Damn, CooksToDrive beat me to it.
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      05-16-2016, 10:54 PM   #6
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I would very seriously consider buying a 128i were it possible to find one equipped with 6MT, the sports seats and suspension, plus leather seats, at a price sufficiently below that of a similarly equipped 135i. Unfortunately, the rarity of the 128i in that configuration pushed me and many others here towards buying the 135i. Most 128i vehicles in the US were sold as near-luxury econoboxes, most with automatic transmissions, standard suspensions, plastic seating, and regular seats. Those not so equipped sell for almost the same price as a 135i, so the search is difficult and long, and in the end the "reward" isn't much.
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      05-17-2016, 06:18 AM   #7
derekh
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Thanks for all the advice guys, any word on the trans? auto acceptable or no? dual clutch?
Is the sport package more than just suspension upgrades?

Also, the reason im interested in a 128 is it seems to be cheaper to run. not necissarily much cheaper to buy. on top of the fact that i seem to be an N/A guy with my previous car choice to speak for it. ill check out that thread when i get home from school tonight.

Sorry i didn't think to run a search, wanted a chance to introduce myself as well.
At any rate thanks again for the tips.
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      05-17-2016, 06:30 AM   #8
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The auto is just fine, my parents have it in their cabriolet 128i and I still find it enjoyable to drive.
We used to have a 2000 528i in auto and at 130k miles there was no issue with it.
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      05-17-2016, 06:45 AM   #9
Ric in RVA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by derekh View Post
Thanks for all the advice guys, any word on the trans? auto acceptable or no? dual clutch?
Is the sport package more than just suspension upgrades?

Also, the reason im interested in a 128 is it seems to be cheaper to run. not necissarily much cheaper to buy. on top of the fact that i seem to be an N/A guy with my previous car choice to speak for it. ill check out that thread when i get home from school tonight.

Sorry i didn't think to run a search, wanted a chance to introduce myself as well.
At any rate thanks again for the tips.
Derek
It is not a DCT. It is the standard GM sourced auto trans that BMW has used for a long time.

Sport package is seats, rear sway bar, suspension, trim, steering wheel. M-sport is more M badges and different bumpers.

Find a manual. You will be happier if you are a car guy.

I must have found a unicorn. 6 MT sport loaded with everything but cold weather...but still heated seats.

Love this car.
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      05-17-2016, 06:55 PM   #10
derekh
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So if I'm planning on doing suspension anyway i still get better seats and steering wheel. which seems like it is worth looking for. I think you are right, I'm pretty sure id have a hard time being satisfied with an auto. I guess i was hoping it was a DCT so i could kinda excuse it but oh well. I guess ill just have to keep my eyes open for a sport pack 6 speed. I don't really care about color too much they all look pretty good. Thanks for the advice.

Edit:
How do you identify a sport pack or non sport pack car? anything simple to look for? just wondering in case i find one at a non bwm dealer or for private sale.

Last edited by derekh; 05-17-2016 at 07:08 PM..
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      05-17-2016, 07:17 PM   #11
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Canadian sport package 128s should have style 263 18 inch wheels (google BMW style 263). In most cases, if car has sport seats, it has whole sport package.

Do a search on autotrader.ca. I found 2x128 with 6MT and sport pkg:
Brampton, wht/blk. zenon, 132K kms, $15000 at a dealer
East York, blk/blk, 108K kms, private. Pics donot show 263's likely showing snow tires on 16 inch wheels

Last edited by NorthernDancer; 05-17-2016 at 07:29 PM.. Reason: add info
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      05-17-2016, 07:24 PM   #12
derekh
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Sport seats have the adjustable leg things right? From the googling i have done the sports steering wheel has a raised center where the air bag is as well correct? Just trying to make sure i have found the unicorn.
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      05-17-2016, 08:43 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by derekh
Sport seats have the adjustable leg things right? From the googling i have done the sports steering wheel has a raised center where the air bag is as well correct? Just trying to make sure i have found the unicorn.
Like this?
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      05-17-2016, 09:59 PM   #14
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Good luck with your search. For guys that like old time BMW N/A 6 with a manual trans. the 6MT SportPak. is the one. Going to take some looking but if you're not in a rush they're out there.
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      05-17-2016, 11:19 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hops128i View Post
Like this?
Hopefully without the toenail clippings in the pull out
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      05-17-2016, 11:27 PM   #16
champignon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Olgeezer1 View Post
Good luck with your search. For guys that like old time BMW N/A 6 with a manual trans. the 6MT SportPak. is the one. Going to take some looking but if you're not in a rush they're out there.
Yes and no.

People go on and on about NA making the car like an "old time" BMW. As one who owned old time BMWs in the day, and who currently owns a 2000 Z3M Coupe, I can say that there was more to an "old time BMW" then simply the absence of a turbo.

Old time BMWs, like my 1973 2002 (bought new), or my 1993 325i (also bought new) did not resemble a 128i, other than for the way that they drive, within some limits. Old time BMWs, for example, do not suffer from "electronic everything." They were basic vehicles with a radio, maybe an air conditioner, and very simple electronics, like a "general module" and little else.

A 128i, like a 135i, is a relatively modern vehicle. Everything in the car is controlled with electronic brain boards. Anyone who has owned older BMWs knows that the real bane of older BMWs is electronic glitches and failures. Whether these several-year old cars will prove to be different than the history of other BMWs accumulated over many decades is anyones guess. Maybe BMW has solved their electronics problems and these things are no longer the issue that they once were. We will know that in 10 or 20 or 30 years.

So make no mistake about it, a 128i DOES have a NA engine, not a turbo. For some, that may be a necessary, however NOT sufficient condition for a relatively modern BMW to have in order to be considered to be like an "old BMW."
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      05-18-2016, 05:46 AM   #17
derekh
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Hopefully without the toenail clippings in the pull out
I was going to say, they look like a good crumb catcher.
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      05-18-2016, 08:31 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
Do a search on autotrader.ca. I found 2x128 with 6MT and sport pkg:
Brampton, wht/blk. zenon, 132K kms, $15000 at a dealer
East York, blk/blk, 108K kms, private. Pics donot show 263's likely showing snow tires on 16 inch wheels
Be aware that a lot of internet searches that turn up "6MT" might not really have a six speed with a clutch. Make sure you look closely at the pictures to see if there is a third pedal and manual stick shift.
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      05-18-2016, 08:41 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by champignon
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hops128i View Post
Like this?
Hopefully without the toenail clippings in the pull out
Sorry mom, I'll clean it, I promise!
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      05-18-2016, 09:18 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KNS
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
Do a search on autotrader.ca. I found 2x128 with 6MT and sport pkg:
Brampton, wht/blk. zenon, 132K kms, $15000 at a dealer
East York, blk/blk, 108K kms, private. Pics donot show 263's likely showing snow tires on 16 inch wheels
Be aware that a lot of internet searches that turn up "6MT" might not really have a six speed with a clutch. Make sure you look closely at the pictures to see if there is a third pedal and manual stick shift.
I've also seen ads that list an auto, but the pictures show a manual!
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      05-18-2016, 10:06 AM   #21
Ric in RVA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hops128i View Post
I've also seen ads that list an auto, but the pictures show a manual!
That is so annoying. In my search countless cars were DQ'd. I'd just pull up the photos and scroll until I got a transmission shot and boom....AUTO.

Stupid Stupid car sales people. A SHIFTABLE automatic is NOT a manual!!!!!
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      05-18-2016, 10:54 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ric in RVA View Post
That is so annoying. In my search countless cars were DQ'd. I'd just pull up the photos and scroll until I got a transmission shot and boom....AUTO.

Stupid Stupid car sales people. A SHIFTABLE automatic is NOT a manual!!!!!
Now that true, 3 pedal, manual transmission cars are uncommon, any and all sales listings from a dealership that state a car is a "manual" are suspect. In my own experience in the last couple of years, well more than half of the BMW vehicles listed by car dealers as being manuals were found to be automatics on cursory inspection. This applies to BMW dealers as well as to 2nd hand car dealers. The only dealer I personally found to be reliable in this regard has been Carmax.
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