Advice; is this 128i a good deal?

CravingBavaria · 05-24-2021, 06:40 PM

Hey all,

This is my first time in this forum, although I'm pretty active on m3post as an E92 M3 owner

I've been looking for another car as more of a "daily", and wanted some advice on if this car I'm looking at is worth it.

For starters, I wish I knew the E87 like I know the E92 (maintenance items, desirability of certain specs, etc.), so I would appreciate some input in that regard.

The car is a 2008 128i M-sport, 6mt, montego blue on black sensatec, really no options besides sunroof (manual seats, no nav, etc.) It's a pretty sweet near stripper which is what I prefer. 118k miles. Lowest he would let it go for is $8,200.

A few other notes, it does not have the style 207's on it. He made a stupid trade for some random BMW wheels with "winter" tires on them so that would likely be something I would reverse, at least different tires. I wanted to check with you guys before reaching out to my plug for a cheap carfax, but the car should have a clean title, and should only have 2 (maybe 3) owners. Owner 1 was a "rich man's wife" who used it as a daily. Then the current owner. Not sure if there is anything in between, don't want to ask a million questions for an $8k car, annoys some people I've come to realize. Also have not yet seen the car in person, but interior wear looks very minimal, exterior doesn't show anything glaring, engine bay is dusty but well taken care of. I don't believe he has ANY service records, but at 118k I would assume some things have had to been taken care of.

Soooo, anything I should be thinking about? Are 128i's spec'd this way somewhat desirable like they are with E9x M3's? Don't want to pass this up if it's a good deal, but also not sure what a good deal is with the E87 platform.

Many thx!

Aceway · 05-24-2021, 07:25 PM

Is it the one with the AFE intake and cabin filter housing shroud missing? I saw it for sale mid-lateish 2020 and I believe the ad was taken down around February/March 2021. When I messaged and asked whether the OFHG, OPG, or VCG had been replaced he said they had not. Lost interest, but kept tabs on the price drops. The lowest I saw it at was $6800 so it must have sold around there.

Don't really have much to add for 128i specifics but when I saw the "rich man's wife" I thought to myself I am 90% sure I've seen that car before.

CravingBavaria · 05-24-2021, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aceway

Is it the one with the AFE intake and cabin filter housing shroud missing? I saw it for sale mid-lateish 2020 and I believe the ad was taken down around February/March 2021. When I messaged and asked whether the OFHG, OPG, or VCG had been replaced he said they had not. Lost interest, but kept tabs on the price drops. The lowest I saw it at was $6800 so it must have sold around there.

Don't really have much to add for 128i specifics but when I saw the "rich man's wife" I thought to myself I am 90% sure I've seen that car before.

I knew I made the right move coming here lol, that is the one.

now I want it for $6,800 lol

Tuxedo · 05-24-2021, 09:06 PM

if there isn't any immediate service or planned maint. needs it's a good buy, maybe could be better deal. the numbers for our cars have been on the rise in the last 6mo and put it this way, on this day 2019 the wholesale on a car like this was $5700 my guess the number your seller is going with $8200 is Carvana buy bid sight unseen.

oil leak worries will be it's main need, in the last 2yrs have replaced all but the head gasket. No leak yet, sure its coming in the next 18mo. e88 128i 87k mi. Coupe MT e82 is also worth more than a e88 convertible

see this thread and my post as a compared
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1573886

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuxedo

Speaking of shitty wholesale, keep in mind the CA market is probably 20% better then Chicago. The market in Chicago for this car is between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Que the sad trombone

CravingBavaria · 05-24-2021, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuxedo

if there isn't any immediate service or planned maint. needs it's a good buy, maybe could be better deal. the numbers for our cars have been on the rise in the last 6mo and put it this way, on this day 2019 the wholesale on a car like this was $5700 my guess the number your seller is going with $8200 is Carvana buy bid sight unseen.

oil leak worries will be it's main need, in the last 2yrs have replaced all but the head gasket. No leak yet, sure its coming in the next 18mo. e88 128i 87k mi. Coupe MT e82 is also worth more than a e88 convertible

see this thread and my post as a compared
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1573886

Thanks for the input. As Aceway pointed out, it might need some love... He actually has it listed for $10k and I shot in the dark at $8k and he said $8,200. Few mins ago he just said he would do $8k, lol. I totally forgot that I can only go so low before carvana/carmax etc. offer more than I am.

So my idea of maintenance cost is very skewed from S65 ownership, if this hasn't had oil leak things taken care of how much $$ am I looking? Aceway says OFHG, OPG, and VCG weren't taken care of when it was for sale. Doubt they have been now. I'm gonna see if he can clear the air here on some things that have been pointed out.

BMWCCA1 · 05-25-2021, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CravingBavaria

He actually has it listed for $10k and I shot in the dark at $8k and he said $8,200. Few mins ago he just said he would do $8k, lol. I totally forgot that I can only go so low before carvana/carmax etc. offer more than I am.

Whatever that means . . . so you made an offer, went back-and-forth a bit before he agreed to your offer, and now you're rethinking it?

CravingBavaria · 05-25-2021, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Whatever that means . . . so you made an offer, went back-and-forth a bit before he agreed to your offer, and now you're rethinking it?

Wouldn't say I made an offer, he's had it listed for 2 weeks and I wanted to see what number he would go down to. He got to a number I thought was reasonable at the time, went on here to see if I could gather more information and now I'm hesitant from what I've read. Don't see an issue with that.

Aceway · 05-25-2021, 09:59 AM

I'd suggest go and check out the car. See if you can test drive it or have the owner give you a ride. OFHG leaks are easy to spot and seeing the car in person and going for a ride should give you a decent idea of what condition the car is. I've looked at a couple of 1 series over the last few years and I would say a lot of them are not loved and not taken care for. The ones I do look at generally are on the lower side of the spectrum in price but I've also checked out nicer ones for friends and there always seems to be something.

If they say they're willing to take X amount over messages, then they're almost certainly willing to take less if you go there in person and show you're a serious buyer.

tracer bullet · 05-25-2021, 10:08 AM

8k wouldn't be a bad price if the car is in good shape. If it has issues, leaks, etc then definitely talk it down more. This has kind of been said already and I'm just agreeing w/ the others.

No guarantee that your list of things has to be replaced or are leaking currently. You'll obviously want to know if they are currently leaking, but they might not be and it may be fine if that related work hasn't been done.

How far away are you from the car? I'm seeing California vs. Chicago?

CravingBavaria · 05-25-2021, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

8k wouldn't be a bad price if the car is in good shape. If it has issues, leaks, etc then definitely talk it down more. This has kind of been said already and I'm just agreeing w/ the others.

No guarantee that your list of things has to be replaced or are leaking currently. You'll obviously want to know if they are currently leaking, but they might not be and it may be fine if that related work hasn't been done.

How far away are you from the car? I'm seeing California vs. Chicago?

Luckily the car is about a half hour away. I've been gathering all the info I could before taking the time to go see it, and have everything in order so I can make a decision in person.

With the information presented here, would likely still offer lower than $8k even if nothing stands out as really bad in person. The M3 was a good purchase, but I still wish I knew a little more about the problem areas as I would've talked him down a few more thousand for VCG being a little weepy, etc. Want all the ammo I have this time around and going forward.

NorthernDancer · 05-25-2021, 12:08 PM

OFHG is easy to change when doing oil & filter change (DIY). If the alternator is very clean, then OFHG is likely OK. Always keep on this.
VCG is more involved and likely a $400-$600 job.
OPG is very involved & maybe $800-$1200
If no or very little "sweating" around VCG, you're likely OK
Some people like to check tightness of OPG bolts; I want to do mine.
If you do buy, take off the plastic engine cover to check for leaks there

Look at the brand of tires on car-that will tell you a lot

fotontom · 05-25-2021, 12:43 PM

By all means do a test drive. And look for missing/hacked parts.

For comparison, I bought my 2012 E88 with few options, AT and 94K a year ago for $8500. Just up the 405 from you. Car was pristine, 2 owners, needed just a pan gasket and AT fluid change. I've changed the PS fluid, did a few oil changes and am planning a full cooling system rebuild shortly, it now has 107K. That's part of ownership of these sweet vehicles!

05-24-2021, 06:40 PM	#1
CravingBavaria Lieutenant 589 Rep 534 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & E82 1M Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW E92 M3 [9.81] 2011 BMW E82 1M [8.25]	Advice; is this 128i a good deal? Hey all, This is my first time in this forum, although I'm pretty active on m3post as an E92 M3 owner I've been looking for another car as more of a "daily", and wanted some advice on if this car I'm looking at is worth it. For starters, I wish I knew the E87 like I know the E92 (maintenance items, desirability of certain specs, etc.), so I would appreciate some input in that regard. The car is a 2008 128i M-sport, 6mt, montego blue on black sensatec, really no options besides sunroof (manual seats, no nav, etc.) It's a pretty sweet near stripper which is what I prefer. 118k miles. Lowest he would let it go for is $8,200. A few other notes, it does not have the style 207's on it. He made a stupid trade for some random BMW wheels with "winter" tires on them so that would likely be something I would reverse, at least different tires. I wanted to check with you guys before reaching out to my plug for a cheap carfax, but the car should have a clean title, and should only have 2 (maybe 3) owners. Owner 1 was a "rich man's wife" who used it as a daily. Then the current owner. Not sure if there is anything in between, don't want to ask a million questions for an $8k car, annoys some people I've come to realize. Also have not yet seen the car in person, but interior wear looks very minimal, exterior doesn't show anything glaring, engine bay is dusty but well taken care of. I don't believe he has ANY service records, but at 118k I would assume some things have had to been taken care of. Soooo, anything I should be thinking about? Are 128i's spec'd this way somewhat desirable like they are with E9x M3's? Don't want to pass this up if it's a good deal, but also not sure what a good deal is with the E87 platform. Many thx!
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05-24-2021, 07:25 PM	#2
Aceway Captain 466 Rep 875 Posts Drives: E82 135i / F25 28i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	Is it the one with the AFE intake and cabin filter housing shroud missing? I saw it for sale mid-lateish 2020 and I believe the ad was taken down around February/March 2021. When I messaged and asked whether the OFHG, OPG, or VCG had been replaced he said they had not. Lost interest, but kept tabs on the price drops. The lowest I saw it at was $6800 so it must have sold around there. Don't really have much to add for 128i specifics but when I saw the "rich man's wife" I thought to myself I am 90% sure I've seen that car before.
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05-25-2021, 09:59 AM	#8
Aceway Captain 466 Rep 875 Posts Drives: E82 135i / F25 28i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	I'd suggest go and check out the car. See if you can test drive it or have the owner give you a ride. OFHG leaks are easy to spot and seeing the car in person and going for a ride should give you a decent idea of what condition the car is. I've looked at a couple of 1 series over the last few years and I would say a lot of them are not loved and not taken care for. The ones I do look at generally are on the lower side of the spectrum in price but I've also checked out nicer ones for friends and there always seems to be something. If they say they're willing to take X amount over messages, then they're almost certainly willing to take less if you go there in person and show you're a serious buyer.
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05-25-2021, 10:08 AM	#9
tracer bullet Major General 6189 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: '25 Z4, '15 X3 35i (135i sold) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	8k wouldn't be a bad price if the car is in good shape. If it has issues, leaks, etc then definitely talk it down more. This has kind of been said already and I'm just agreeing w/ the others. No guarantee that your list of things has to be replaced or are leaking currently. You'll obviously want to know if they are currently leaking, but they might not be and it may be fine if that related work hasn't been done. How far away are you from the car? I'm seeing California vs. Chicago?
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05-25-2021, 12:08 PM	#11
NorthernDancer Colonel 955 Rep 2,380 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	OFHG is easy to change when doing oil & filter change (DIY). If the alternator is very clean, then OFHG is likely OK. Always keep on this. VCG is more involved and likely a $400-$600 job. OPG is very involved & maybe $800-$1200 If no or very little "sweating" around VCG, you're likely OK Some people like to check tightness of OPG bolts; I want to do mine. If you do buy, take off the plastic engine cover to check for leaks there Look at the brand of tires on car-that will tell you a lot Last edited by NorthernDancer; 05-25-2021 at 12:10 PM.. Reason: add info
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05-25-2021, 12:43 PM	#12
fotontom Second Lieutenant 207 Rep 284 Posts Drives: BMW 128i E82 M-Sport, 528i F10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	By all means do a test drive. And look for missing/hacked parts. For comparison, I bought my 2012 E88 with few options, AT and 94K a year ago for $8500. Just up the 405 from you. Car was pristine, 2 owners, needed just a pan gasket and AT fluid change. I've changed the PS fluid, did a few oil changes and am planning a full cooling system rebuild shortly, it now has 107K. That's part of ownership of these sweet vehicles!
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