Opinions on 135i purchase

[Sam_M]

Hi all

So I'm in the market for an E82 135i N55.

Numbers are fairly limited in the UK, especially with the spec I want, i.e. pronav, sunroof, 6MT and under 50,000 miles.

Unlike the US, sunroof was a £1000 option here with less than 8% of them having one. Manual is also rarer than DCT here.

I missed out on an N55 of my exact spec a couple weeks back, not sure how likely it is that another will turn up like it.

So I'm torn.... Do I hold out for the right N55 car, or go eyes wide open with an N54 car since there are more out there and more that meet my spec...

This highly specced N54 has popped up which has caught my eye, but it's done 70k and is an ex BMW press car. Love the colour though, possibly the only Tahiti Green 135i in the UK!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01610249078886

Then there's this low mile poverty spec N55

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01612300902986

Going for the N54 car leaves cash in the budget for a walnut blast, Quaife and a remap/reflash.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I'm in no major rush to buy one though I am missing not having a sports car!

Cheers

Sam

[Matticus91]

Personally, I know if I settled on something I wasn't super keen on I'd get sick of it and regret the purchase. My first 135i was pretty bare-bones except for the M-Sport package. My second and current 135i is loaded, and I love the stuff it comes with. It took me 7 months of hard searching to find the first one, the second I got VERY lucky and found it in a few days but had to drive 14hrs in a day to get it lol.

As far as N54 vs N55, check out the buyer's thread!

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1285231

[Sam_M]

Thanks for the reply

I think I've settled my concerns about the N54 overall. I spoke to the dealer, the wastegates have been updated on the N54 car, and he's happy to push BMW to replace the HPFP if not already done. He's checking the history and coming back to me.

I think the only thing that might annoy me is the mileage. I had set on(and budgeted for) one under 30,000 miles.

Need to see the car and have a good think on it!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by SamM_UK

Thanks for the reply

I think I've settled my concerns about the N54 overall. I spoke to the dealer, the wastegates have been updated on the N54 car, and he's happy to push BMW to replace the HPFP if not already done. He's checking the history and coming back to me.

I think the only thing that might annoy me is the mileage. I had set on(and budgeted for) one under 30,000 miles.

Need to see the car and have a good think on it!

Just looked at the listing a bit closer for the N54 - it looks nice for sure, but I understand the hesitation on a 70k mile car. The only other thing to keep in mind is the changes brought with the N55, some better amenities and a newer iDrive system, i don't know the exact details on that maybe someone else can chime in. Also if you go 2012+ you get the LCI platform which includes another facelift inside and out, and nicer tail lights.

[Esteban]

To me, the only option the car REALLY needs is the Sport or M-Sport package. Everything else I, personally, could live without. My first 1er had several options but not iDrive, which I didn't want anyway. My 2nd (current) 135i is pretty bare bones except for the M-Sport package and I don't miss a thing. To each their own, I guess.

[Sam_M]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Just looked at the listing a bit closer for the N54 - it looks nice for sure, but I understand the hesitation on a 70k mile car. The only other thing to keep in mind is the changes brought with the N55, some better amenities and a newer iDrive system, i don't know the exact details on that maybe someone else can chime in. Also if you go 2012+ you get the LCI platform which includes another facelift inside and out, and nicer tail lights.

The N54 above has the newer "business" iDrive with the multi-button controller rather than the pie dish controller, low res iDrive in the earlier models. I'd probably upgrade that to CIC over time anyways.

I would like an LCI, they're just so damned rare here in manual with iDrive. There is a white 2013 for sale with pro nav and some other nice options with just 23000 miles, but the dealer is about 4k north of market value and won't budge.

Esteban, I'm pretty sure all the UK cars have the M-Sport package as standard.

I guess where I'm at is this....

Heart says go buy the damned N54 car in the sexy colour with all the nice options.

Head says wait it out for the right N55 car.

First world problems eh!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by SamM_UK

Esteban, I'm pretty sure all the UK cars have the M-Sport package as standard.

I think I remember hearing that before but forgot. Anyway, that's a good thing.

[Sam_M]

Absolutely, just wish we got the sunroof as standard!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by SamM_UK

Absolutely, just wish we got the sunroof as standard!

Many people here wish we could get our 135s without the sunroof, me included. Never use it and it's just more to go wrong. The other man's grass is always greener. Haha

[Sam_M]

Amen!

[Esteban]

Good luck in finding 'the one' that's just right for you.

[Sam_M]

Thanks dude!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by SamM_UK

I guess where I'm at is this....

Heart says go buy the damned N54 car in the sexy colour with all the nice options.

Head says wait it out for the right N55 car.

First world problems eh!

If you're not in any rush, my suggestion would be to wait. Get something with less miles if not for anything else. 70k is when things start to show up. For example in the past year I've had to do my OFHG, water pump, t-stat, and some other little things, and that's at 60k in a 2013 car.

[Sam_M]

You're probably right Matt, I just need to be patient!