Do I keep it?

[PhillyfaanM3]

So...I'm coming to the end of my 3 yr lease on my 135i vert w sport package & nav, I have 13k miles & the car is perfect. My residual is 27k. I have an SUV for the Winter. Is there any other car for 27k that provides the luxury, sport performance w 4 seats that I should consider? If I buy it I still have 1 full year under full maintenance/ warranty. I can then do ppk1 & PE & I'm not looking at a huge additional expense. Any thoughts? My payment for 4 yr loan should be close to less then what I pay now for the lease? Any thoughts or input?

[gregthegr8]

I would say with the residual that low and so few miles, you're best off buying it and keeping it for at least another year or two, if not more. I don't think there's anything remotely close out there in the $27k ballpark that would be of interest to you coming out of a 135, at least anything new, or even used for that matter.

I believe you can also still negotiate that residual down a bit as I've read on the forums with several dealers, too.

So, if you like the car and sounds like you haven't had any issues, I'd hang onto it. These cars are the last of an era and a dying breed.

[IEDEI]

$27k for a 2011 135i Cab with 13k miles sounds really good.

BUT, the most important thing is if you WANT to keep it...

[Bama335]

That's a great residual, if you like the car and there isn't anything else out there that grabs your eye, you can't beat the fact that you know the history of the car and the miles are way low.

Your other options are another 135 vert, maybe an "is" or a limited edition depending on what you're looking for, but the EOP lease rates suck. The M235 vert is likely out a ways. There may be some last of the run E93 out there as well you might be able to get a deal on. or hit the used market for maybe a used Boxter, an E93 335, Z4?

Our vert is off lease in about 14 months, right now, barring some sort of major mechanical issues over that time, we are leaning towards buying it. While I like the look of the M235, I'm afraid it will have the same sloppy steering and suspension that it's big brother (the F30) has, which was a deal breaker for me.

[PhillyfaanM3]

My thought is to keep it. The car is incredible. I think the only way I would get rid of it is for a Porsche boxster s....though doesn't have 4 seats & for 27k I'm looking at 2006 cars. I think this one is a keeper.

[dasswinemeister]

I'd say keep it. I recently purchased a used 2011 135i vert M-Sport with 18,000ish miles for a tick under 30 and I'm just over the line from you in Mercer County, NJ. After looking around, I found that to be a very good deal, so 27 is excellent. I looked at all the other vert options on the market, and didn't find anything even close to the 135i's combination of 4 seats and performance anywhere near the price.

[Qunadry]

Keep it. Other than a Cayman, which I can not afford, my 135i is the only car I would own at he present time.

[potxoli]

I will face your same quandary in March of next year. 2011 135i coupe, will have ~22K miles in March, residual of $24,750. For 25K I've racked my brain to find something better, but nothing comes to the top. I'm waiting to see what the 235i is like, maybe I'd like to lease that. Used, I've come up with the following cars. All are either much older or more expensive:

(prices are for excellent examples, low miles)

2000 M Coupe $18K
2001-02 M Coupe with 320HP engine $30K
Cayman S either 07 or 08 ~$35K
996 911 $30K
997 911 $40K
996 911 Turbo $45-50K
Maserati Coupe or Gransport $25K + 8K to fix F1 transmission
993 911 $35-40K

Outside of the 911 turbo, everything else on this list is slower than my 135 and less practical. I'm thinking of keeping mine, getting wheels and tires, cobb or JB4, FMIC and M3 suspension bits. But then again, I'd like a change. Decisions decisions.

[HeyMoe53]

I think you have your "answer." Not a bad answer at that ; )

[ejm3]

Do you get any kind of "discount" if you turn it in with only 13-14k miles?

[Mark16q]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Do you get any kind of "discount" if you turn it in with only 13-14k miles?

Nope. Don't tell them how low the mileage is, try to get them to reduce the residual buyout. If they know it's low mileage they'll want it back. Or try to sell it yourself and pocket the extra

[cvandenhaute]

I was in the same situation with my 128i (great condition, low mileage and more important nothing exciting on the market except another 1 series, which went way up in prices for similar equipment), I refinanced it, managed to get a great rate by shopping around too...

[135iMike]

Originally Posted by Qunadry

Keep it. Other than a Cayman, which I can not afford, my 135i is the only car I would own at he present time.

Contemplating a used Cayman S after lease..... Only foreseeable swap for me mmmm.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by potxoli

I will face your same quandary in March of next year. 2011 135i coupe, will have ~22K miles in March, residual of $24,750. For 25K I've racked my brain to find something better, but nothing comes to the top. I'm waiting to see what the 235i is like, maybe I'd like to lease that. Used, I've come up with the following cars. All are either much older or more expensive:

(prices are for excellent examples, low miles)

2000 M Coupe $18K
2001-02 M Coupe with 320HP engine $30K
Cayman S either 07 or 08 ~$35K
996 911 $30K
997 911 $40K
996 911 Turbo $45-50K
Maserati Coupe or Gransport $25K + 8K to fix F1 transmission
993 911 $35-40K

Outside of the 911 turbo, everything else on this list is slower than my 135 and less practical. I'm thinking of keeping mine, getting wheels and tires, cobb or JB4, FMIC and M3 suspension bits. But then again, I'd like a change. Decisions decisions.

M Coupe has the worst of the BMW subframe failures. S54 M Coupes never had the rod bearing recall. 07-08 Caymans have the same RMS/IMS as the 996 911. 996 911 has said RMS/IMS failure.

996 Turbo is pretty solid being on a different block, but the 996 is definitely the low point of Porsche quality. 993 is just a nice car.

[potxoli]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

M Coupe has the worst of the BMW subframe failures. S54 M Coupes never had the rod bearing recall. 07-08 Caymans have the same RMS/IMS as the 996 911. 996 911 has said RMS/IMS failure.

996 Turbo is pretty solid being on a different block, but the 996 is definitely the low point of Porsche quality. 993 is just a nice car.

Interesting. I thought the 07+ 997's had the IMS/RMS thing sorted out, but it lived on with Cayman's until 08? So to avoid that you need an 09+ Cayman or 07+ 997?

There you go. There is pretty much nothing in the 25K range that is relatively new that competes with the e82.

I have to say though the m235i specs just released seem pretty good. I wonder if I could order one with no sunroof, sport package and 6MT and get it in time for April next year.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by potxoli

Interesting. I thought the 07+ 997's had the IMS/RMS thing sorted out, but it lived on with Cayman's until 08? So to avoid that you need an 09+ Cayman or 07+ 997?

There you go. There is pretty much nothing in the 25K range that is relatively new that competes with the e82.

I have to say though the m235i specs just released seem pretty good. I wonder if I could order one with no sunroof, sport package and 6MT and get it in time for April next year.

That would be correct, the 997s had it sorted and the 987s did not until the '09 facelift. They did get direct injection in '09 though which means we are back to carbon buildup.

I really think any classic BMW customer who enjoyed the E82 will be sorely disappointed in the feel of the M235i.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I really think any classic BMW customer who enjoyed the E82 will be sorely disappointed in the feel of the M235i.

1000% agree. i actually had a chance to 'hold out' for an M235 order before i took delivery of my car a few weeks ago......but i didn't see the point of waiting for a similarly powered, similiarly quick car which would lack steering feel and be further diluted by the current aspirations of BMW.

Plus the styling of the new 2er is terribly cheap and generic, from what i've seen thus far. The 1er has personality....character. the 2 definitely does not so far. It's a 'mini me' E92 3-series----something i definitely don't want!

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

1000% agree. i actually had a chance to 'hold out' for an M235 order before i took delivery of my car a few weeks ago......but i didn't see the point of waiting for a similarly powered, similiarly quick car which would lack steering feel and be further diluted by the current aspirations of BMW.

Plus the styling of the new 2er is terribly cheap and generic, from what i've seen thus far. The 1er has personality....character. the 2 definitely does not so far. It's a 'mini me' E92 3-series----something i definitely don't want!

Exactly.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Exactly.

what's even WORSE, as far as the 228 is concerned is: 4 banger turbo!!! i know this must enrage you, sir!

i guess that makes the 128i even more unique, though....in terms of its successor being diluted to new levels.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

what's even WORSE, as far as the 228 is concerned is: 4 banger turbo!!! i know this must enrage you, sir!

i guess that makes the 128i even more unique, though....in terms of its successor being diluted to new levels.

BMW officially ceased to exist to me two weeks ago when they stopped making a NA inline 6. 1933-2013.

[cvandenhaute]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

BMW officially ceased to exist to me two weeks ago when they stopped making a NA inline 6. 1933-2013.

I want to cry, I did not know the last 128i already had been produced. It is a gem of an engine that goes away. No doubt that the N55 is a fantastic engine but the N52 had something special that the inline 4 will never have (despite torque and figures).

I bought the 128i for that engine (and the balance and the nice compromise it offers), i love to drive it everyday and the engine has everything to do with it.

It is hard not to be a purist when you had to appreciate this much goodness and all the sudden you can't...

I feel the same way I felt when Alfa Romeo discontinued their beautiful V6 a few years ago to replace it by a meh V6 from GM. It is a piece of automotive history that goes away...

[CptSlow]

Originally Posted by 135iMike

Contemplating a used Cayman S after lease..... Only foreseeable swap for me mmmm.

I just drove the S. I think the IS may be up for lease transfer/sale very soon.