08 135ia? Finally snagged 1

[iambulldogs]

Brothers,
Thanks for reading my story on this little blue bmw i fell hopelessly in love with. Always wanted a bmw - had zero clue what the hell a 135 even was though. I work at a local car lot that sells used cars and they encourage us to drive inventory on lunch breaks. Im happy to oblige as I like to get to know the cars. Over the course of a couple weeks i drove everything from 5.0 mustangs, to challengers, to G37's. Well on one particular day i was about to go on lunch and decide to go pick out the daily victim. Walking down the rows i see the bimmer sitting there with low tires and needing a wash (she had been on the lot for almost 2 years, just waiting on me.) Quickly i decide the little blue bmw will be my lunch date. Snag the keys, pull around back, and get the guys to air the tires up and rinse her off - and then my adventure begins.

I was ill prepared for the experience that awaited me. By far the best damn lunch break ive ever taken. I didnt think such joy could be had from anything on four wheels - i felt something i hadnt felt since my days on a gixxer and cbr.....complete tranquility and total fear all at the same time. Instantly. In. Love.

With the upgraded hifi sound system blaring, i took a tight spiral off-ramp at 70 - i couldn't help it, had to test her chops, and she didnt flinch. Hell im sure i could have gone faster...
As i pulled up to the lot after driving the absolute hell out of this little car, i said to myself "what the f*** is this car?!"

I bought it that day (oct 21 - my bday) and im damn glad i did. Monaco Blue with 103k on the odometer.
Ultimate Driving Machine? No doubt in my mind.

ps - does everyone with the steptronic have this label that says 135ia inside their door panel? Sorry for the crappy pics btw.

[Gangplank]

Congrats & welcome to the club. Nice 1er. Btw you can go to this site & decode your vin to see build & packages info: https://www.bmwvin.com

[1and1]

Congrats on the new to you 1 and welcome to 1addicts!
I've always liked http://bimmer.work for running VIN's.

I'll have to look at my sticker, not sure if it has the "ia" or not, but I do have the step so easy enough to find out...

[chadillac2000]

Can't help but be skeptical of a dealership that encourages their employees to go beat on the cars during their lunch breaks on a regular basis...

[Matticus91]

Congrats, you're not alone in your feelings toward the car! The first time I drove a 1er I knew I'd be buying it!

[Esteban]

Welcome. My car (2011 135i with the DCT) does not have an "a" after the 135i on that sicker. Lets see if 1and1's car does and then maybe we'll know the reason why.

Also, gotta agree with chadillac2000. Wouldn't want a car that I might buy to be an employee's next "victim". I dunno, just doesn't sound like TLC to me.

[1and1]

Mine does indeed say 135ia
Is a very, very early 2009 (11/2008 build)

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Welcome. My car (2011 135i with the DCT) does not have an "a" after the 135i on that sicker. Lets see if 1and1's car does and then maybe we'll know the reason why.

Also, gotta agree with chadillac2000. Wouldn't want a car that I might buy to be an employee's next "victim". I dunno, just doesn't sound like TLC to me.

Yeah, not too fond of dealers ragging on their cars before selling them to the public.

In all my years of being addicted to 1ers, this is the first time I have heard of a 135ia.

What does the 'a' stand for? Automatic?

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by chadillac2000

Can't help but be skeptical of a dealership that encourages their employees to go beat on the cars during their lunch breaks on a regular basis...

Well, I used to work at a dealership a while back and we were also encouraged to test out different models when time allowed. It helps you learn the product better in order to position it to the proper customer and increase sales. Now, whether some "beat on the cars" I'm sure some did but we weren't instructed to do so.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Well, I used to work at a dealership a while back and we were also encouraged to test out different models when time allowed. It helps you learn the product better in order to position it to the proper customer and increase sales. Now, whether some "beat on the cars" I'm sure some did but we weren't instructed to do so.

The way you put it sounds a lot better.

[1and1]

I like to think the OP doesn't do it with every car, just that the 1er brings out the devil in everybody. By the sounds of it this 1 had been sitting for a while and needed a fix as much as it's new owner did