2013 135is owners discussion and photos thread!

[gregthegr8]

So, I got my low mileage annual oil change this morning right at about a 5k interval and what's interesting is the service advisor said they won't reset the CBS (showing oil change in 4500 miles) and that they will change your oil both when it says it needs it and once a year if you're low mileage. I didn't believe him or that BMW would pay for that if I come back in 4500 miles, but that's what he's saying. Never heard of that, but should be interesting to take advantage of both opportunities for oil changes.

More importantly, after a few more days on the new suspension setup plowing around the awful surface streets and freeways of LA, I just absolutely love it and basically the entire car feels better, more solid, more capable, and the entire driving experience is improved significantly. Other things I've noticed is that there is almost no squatting or body movement now when braking as well and I think the steering may feel more responsive, better, too, but not sure.

I also haven't had any bumps or hits yet that cause that rear wheel hop, though I'm not sure if I just haven't had the right conditions to cause one of those, or if it has improved that as well. So, for now, I'm holding off on the whiteline inserts or the bushings unless and until I experience another one of those incidents and then I might consider it.

As I've said before, I find myself now pushing the car much harder and am wanting to take it out on drives for the handling, whereas before the main things that made me want to take it out for a drive were the engine and exhaust.

Finally, my service advisor was suggesting I might look into a trickle charger for the battery, as he was saying BMW recommends you drive the car 20 miles a day otherwise you may get premature failure of the battery or at least reduce its life and as some of you know, getting a new battery for our car is a pain in the butt, costs a fortune, and has to be coded and registered and crap at a dealer I believe. If anyone has any thoughts/opinions then on a trickle charger for a "low mileage" car, I'd love to hear them.

[Kouper]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

Finally, my service advisor was suggesting I might look into a trickle charger for the battery, as he was saying BMW recommends you drive the car 20 miles a day otherwise you may get premature failure of the battery or at least reduce its life and as some of you know, getting a new battery for our car is a pain in the butt, costs a fortune, and has to be coded and registered and crap at a dealer I believe. If anyone has any thoughts/opinions then on a trickle charger for a "low mileage" car, I'd love to hear them.

I too will be interested to see if you get your oil change free when the indicator triggers! I've also never heard any BMW recommendation to drive at least 20 miles a day or risk battery failure.

I personally don't think you want to deal with a trickle charger on a car you drive every day to work. Disconnecting it in the a.m. and connecting it again in the p.m.? Kind of a hassle. I think if you are driving it to work every day and around on errands on the weekend you'll be fine - especially if you get it out on the freeways on the weekend.

I do have a trickle charger on another car that sits in my garage most of the time and is rarely driven. For that, I found the trickle charger is a must have after going through a couple of batteries too quickly. I use a Battery Tender and it works great - plugs into the wall outlet and connects to the positive terminal and a ground on the car. It always starts.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Kouper

I too will be interested to see if you get your oil change free when the indicator triggers! I've also never heard any BMW recommendation to drive at least 20 miles a day or risk battery failure.

I personally don't think you want to deal with a trickle charger on a car you drive every day to work. Disconnecting it in the a.m. and connecting it again in the p.m.? No thanks. I think if you are driving it to work every day and around on errands on the weekend you'll be fine - especially if you get it out on the freeways on the weekend.

I do have a trickle charger on another car that sits in my garage most of the time and is rarely driven. For that, I found the trickle charger is a must have after going through a couple of batteries too quickly. I use a Battery Tender and it works great - plugs into the wall outlet and connects to the positive terminal and a ground on the car. It always starts.

I agree about the trickle charger. If you are driving it every day (or even almost every day) that should be good enough. Using a trickle charger on a car you drive that often would be overkill, not to mention a pita. Sounds like your service advisor is just trying to get you to buy something.

[gregthegr8]

Ya trickle charger in my situation seemed like complete overkill as it's driven almost every day.

I will also shut up about my performance suspension now.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

Ya trickle charger in my situation seemed like complete overkill as it's driven almost every day.

I will also shut up about my performance suspension now.

that dealer guy is a total dumbass!! LOL. i drive my good ol' Audi TT once every 2 weeks and all is fine.

if you drive a car once a week for 20 MINUTES it's enough to keep it charged.

you should throw 20 eggs at that guy for telling you that there is a 'minimum' of 20 miles a day. lol.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

I will also shut up about my performance suspension now.

I like hearing about it. It reminds me that I just had mine installed in june and how much I enjoy it! It also reminds me that I should be out driving right now instead of sitting in front of this computer.

By the way, did you make a decision re: the alignment?

[gregthegr8]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

that dealer guy is a total dumbass!! LOL. i drive my good ol' Audi TT once every 2 weeks and all is fine.

if you drive a car once a week for 20 MINUTES it's enough to keep it charged.

you should throw 20 eggs at that guy for telling you that there is a 'minimum' of 20 miles a day. lol.

Ya, I think he was just throwing it out there just seeing I have low mileage and not knowing my situation and how much the car is really driven, or can't do simple math. I explained that if I include your miles in, we combine to create one normal person. I do wonder if I'll ever meet a service advisor who even knows what a 135is is. However, when I picked up my performance suspension at another dealer, someone, not sure in what department came out to admire it and ask me how I liked it since he had a 2012 135.

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

I like hearing about it. It reminds me that I just had mine installed in june and how much I enjoy it! It also reminds me that I should be out driving right now instead of sitting in front of this computer.

By the way, did you make a decision re: the alignment?

Oh, I didn't realize you had it installed so recently! It really is a pleasure and just completes the car and makes it perfect...for me at least.

Don't think I'll be getting an alignment any time soon unless I start noticing it starting to pull or act funny. But, if and when I do, I'll probably go to EAS or West End Alignment and not the dealer.

[Bama335]

Originally Posted by Kouper

I use a Battery Tender and it works great - plugs into the wall outlet and connects to the positive terminal and a ground on the car. It always starts.

+1

The vert sits for weeks in the garage in the winter - it would go about 1 month before throwing low battery warnings.

Get a Battery Tender Jr. for $25 off Amazon - I've had zero battery issues after installing it, even when it sat 8 straight weeks during the last winter

At $500 for a battery and programming, I figure it's a good investment

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

Oh, I didn't realize you had it installed so recently! It really is a pleasure and just completes the car and makes it perfect...for me at least.

Yes, in June. It's what got me so excited about my car again (plus the blacklines) and encouraged me to start posting here after all that time being a lurker.

[Esteban]

Lurker… sounds like some sort of a creature… like a berserker.

[gregthegr8]

Well, I tried to take a picture today to replicate one I took and posted a few weeks ago to try to get a decent before/after shot to see if my car even looks a lil lower. The front does? Maybe, I don't know. The angle is a lil different and the lighting keeps screwing me in all my photos as the before shot is on a cloudy morning and this morning I had blaring sun low on the horizon blinding me. And this is my car somewhat dirty. =P

I give up. Sure drives nice though! At whatever height it's at, noticeable or otherwise.

I guess this also shows how dramatically different mineral grey looks in dim light vs bright sunshine.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

I guess this also shows how dramatically different mineral grey looks in dim light vs bright sunshine.

It looks much nicer in the sunshine imho. Mineral grey really shows off all the detail on the E82. It's a beautiful color. I test drove a M235i in mineral grey. The color on that car really didn't do anything for me at all, but that's pretty much the way I feel about any color on the M235i.

I had an '06 tungsten grey mustang GT. Similar color with a little purple in it. Loved it!

[Esteban]

Someone asked, so here are some pics of my car. I don't have a camera (just an iphone) and I'm not very good at taking pictures so I hope you guys think they look ok. These are from a few weeks ago.

[Marc08EX]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Someone asked, so here are some pics of my car. I don't have a camera (just an iphone) and I'm not very good at taking pictures so I hope you guys think they look ok. These are from a few weeks ago.

Looks great EvenEsteban!! The LMB looks hot especially under the sun and those 313 wheels are to die for. The blacklines complete the rears too.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Someone asked, so here are some pics of my car. I don't have a camera (just an iphone) and I'm not very good at taking pictures so I hope you guys think they look ok. These are from a few weeks ago.

looking good man! proto-135is!

[IEDEI]

in other news I was invited to a BMW event to Autocross a 2-series this weekend. LOL. Yes I am going....little do they know.....

[gregthegr8]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

in other news I was invited to a BMW event to Autocross a 2-series this weekend. LOL. Yes I am going....little do they know.....

You going to get kicked out of that, too?!

You should wear a jacket or shirt over a second shirt that you should have made that says something like - M235 is a joke and piece of sh-t luxobarge!

Then, after your drive, you reveal the shirt, mock everyone, and are escorted off the premises by security. Then BMW comes and confiscates your 1M and sprays you with cockpit premium. Or just spray some in an M235 as your revenge under the guise of cleaning it.

Sounds like this autocross in a 2-series will be your perfect cure and prescription for insomnia. pretend to fall asleep in the car mid-drive and tell people it's cause it's so boring. Make them drag you out as you pretend to be unconscious. hahaha!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Marc08EX

Looks great EvenEsteban!! The LMB looks hot especially under the sun and those 313 wheels are to die for. The blacklines complete the rears too.

Thanks for the compliments, Marc. I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by IEDEI

looking good man! proto-135is!

Thanks man!

[meg180]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

in other news I was invited to a BMW event to Autocross a 2-series this weekend. LOL. Yes I am going....little do they know.....

I went on Sunday. The course is just ok. Avoid the instructor that was a cop!!! The lady (I believe her name is Leslie?) is awesome! Have fun!!

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

You going to get kicked out of that, too?!

You should wear a jacket or shirt over a second shirt that you should have made that says something like - M235 is a joke and piece of sh-t luxobarge!

Then, after your drive, you reveal the shirt, mock everyone, and are escorted off the premises by security. Then BMW comes and confiscates your 1M and sprays you with cockpit premium. Or just spray some in an M235 as your revenge under the guise of cleaning it.

Sounds like this autocross in a 2-series will be your perfect cure and prescription for insomnia. pretend to fall asleep in the car mid-drive and tell people it's cause it's so boring. Make them drag you out as you pretend to be unconscious. hahaha!

LOL. thanks for describing a nightmare scenario.

how about a shirt that says "Here 2 drive a luxobarge 4 free"??

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by meg180

I went on Sunday. The course is just ok. Avoid the instructor that was a cop!!! The lady (I believe her name is Leslie?) is awesome! Have fun!!

lol! a cop?? wtf! ok I will look out for Leslie. so did you get 228s only? did they have any 235s? thanks for the heads up!

[m981addicts]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

So, I got my low mileage annual oil change this morning right at about a 5k interval and what's interesting is the service advisor said they won't reset the CBS (showing oil change in 4500 miles) and that they will change your oil both when it says it needs it and once a year if you're low mileage. I didn't believe him or that BMW would pay for that if I come back in 4500 miles, but that's what he's saying. Never heard of that, but should be interesting to take advantage of both opportunities for oil changes.

Confirmed! Did my annual free oil change this morning@8500 miles and my service advisor said the same thing. Another free oil change when indicator goes off.