WTB: E82 128i Manual 12kish Budget

[Jwal]

Chrome trim is pretty ghastly, but I'll see if anyone has put a wrap on theirs. I am torn on the Panama car because of the low mileage but low features. It's not even a good purist spec because of the sunroof and powered seats. Looking into the weight penalty for the sunroof, but it looks to cost a good bit to delete correctly. Seats would be fixed with a swap. Just a lot to add to the car to make it what I want. I think I would be happy with a simple sport model at this point.
The Atlanta car seems decent, but it also has a sunroof and twice the miles of this car haha.
I noticed the 335i has a salvage title, but it's pretty low mileage, has had a number of maintenance items addressed, and is inexpensive. That would be it's appeal, but it wouldn't be a replacement for a 128i.

[Robhagen]

Time to chime in.
Sport or M-Sport is most important in my humble opinion. I own both a 128i with Msport, 6MT and 135i N55, DCT with Sport Package. I consider myself a manual purist and cannot believe that I absolutely love the DCT on the 135i, especially in traffic.
My 128i does not have HID (just halogens) and for me that's just fine.... possibly less costly in the long run. 135i has leather and the 128i has Sensatek. I suppose I prefer the leather and can attest that my 2016 228i had cracks in the vinyl at less than 20K miles and I suspect that it could become a problem in the 128i as well. So far so good, but I treat regularly with Lexol and believe it or not my 2009 has less than 9000 miles on the clock!?

For the price and mileage I'd be all over the Florida car... beware of sagging headliners on Florida cars though.... My 2011 135i came from Florida and with less than 15K miles already needs a new headliner.
....a low mileage M-sport with manual will set you back around $15,000 depending on options. I paid 16k for my 2009 with 8500 miles a year and a half ago.

Good luck in your search... I look every day and the selection keeps declining while prices seem to be on the uptick.

[Jwal]

Hey Rob, thanks for all the input! I would absolutely pay that price for such a low mileage car, but I don't think they exist anymore. The car I saw in Florida a few weeks ago had a destroyed headliner, so I bet that is common in the heat. How did you find such low mileage vehicles? That's really impressive!

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by yostuhfoo

Seats and a steering wheel, assuming he upgrades the suspension to a set of coilovers or spring/strut combo, what else is he missing out on?

Rear sway bar....

Some trim.


Dark headliner on M sport.

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Rear sway bar....

Some trim.


Dark headliner on M sport.

This conversation was asking specifically about the Sport, not M/Sport. Also, M/Sport adds more than just the anthracite headliner compared to the Sport.

[Robhagen]

Originally Posted by Jwal

Hey Rob, thanks for all the input! I would absolutely pay that price for such a low mileage car, but I don't think they exist anymore. The car I saw in Florida a few weeks ago had a destroyed headliner, so I bet that is common in the heat. How did you find such low mileage vehicles? That's really impressive!

Just keep checking the usual internet outlets on a daily basis... eventually the right car will come along. Just make sure you are ready to pull the trigger when the right car comes along.

Sport vs M-Sport on 128i:
- both have sport seats, sport suspension, steering wheel and black window trim.
- M Sport adds black headliner, dead pedal, front/rear bumpers, door threshold trim & rocker panel

On 135 it's not so much of a difference since all come with upgraded aero package.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by Robhagen

Sport vs M-Sport on 128i:
- both have sport seats, sport suspension, steering wheel and black window trim.
- M Sport adds black headliner, dead pedal, front/rear bumpers, door threshold trim & rocker panel.

At least between my 2008 Sport and 2013 M-sport: also the wheels, and the steering wheel.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

This conversation was asking specifically about the Sport, not M/Sport. Also, M/Sport adds more than just the anthracite headliner compared to the Sport.

Feel free to add to the list....

[Jwal]

Trying to get more info on the car here:
Feeler: 2009 Space Gray 135i 6mt https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1788141
I know it's a 135i, but it's one owner, pretty low miles, decent maintenance, good options, and good price. Overall thoughts? I would be keeping it stock other than maybe exhaust and intake for better sounds.

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by Jwal

Trying to get more info on the car here:
Feeler: 2009 Space Gray 135i 6mt https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1788141
I know it's a 135i, but it's one owner, pretty low miles, decent maintenance, good options, and good price. Overall thoughts? I would be keeping it stock other than maybe exhaust and intake for better sounds.

Here are my thoughts on that car........
-overall I think it is a really good value for the mileage
-seems in rougher shape than I would think a 72k mile car would be in
-my 165k mile car is in significantly better shape, for example
-doesn't look to be a M-Sport, just a Sport model (missing black headliner and floor mats). I think the M-sport introduction for 135i cars happened halfway through 2009 MY though, as this looks like a 2008 135i Sport
-only buy this car if you believe low mileage means more than a well cared for clean and non-damaged car

This is obviously just my opinion though.

[Jwal]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Here are my thoughts on that car........
This is obviously just my opinion though.

Hey jcrane, I agree with pretty much everything. M-Sport isn't a big deal for me. I talked to the owner and he has maintenance records for everything. BMW maintained until out of warranty and then 5-7k oil changes after that. Not the best that could be done, but better than most. Someone is going to look at it tonight so it probably won't work out anyway. Shipping is about a thousand dollars too so that doesn't help.

[yostuhfoo]

Originally Posted by Jwal

Hey jcrane, I agree with pretty much everything. M-Sport isn't a big deal for me. I talked to the owner and he has maintenance records for everything. BMW maintained until out of warranty and then 5-7k oil changes after that. Not the best that could be done, but better than most. Someone is going to look at it tonight so it probably won't work out anyway. Shipping is about a thousand dollars too so that doesn't help.

If the owner didn't fix the oil leak at the valve cover gasket, you can most likely look forward to replacing the oil pan gasket as well, which is even more of a PITA and not exactly cheap to get done at a shop assuming its the same process as in a E9X platform, having to drop the subframe and raise the engine. Just something to think about.

The only appeal to me is low mileage. 135i's just seem like such a headache to maintain, especially if you plan on it being a daily.

They sure do look great though, coming standard with xenon headlighs (unfortunately something wrong with that as well on this car) and Msport bumpers

I think you'd be able to find a better 135i for less than $9500 (assuming you pay his asking price and $1000 for shipping).

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by Jwal

I know it's a 135i, but it's one owner, pretty low miles, decent maintenance, good options, and good price.

And even with this evidence you'd consider a SensaTec interior??

[b1aze]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

And even with this evidence you'd consider a SensaTec interior??

This happens on EVERY seat cushion with Sensatech, I had it on my original set. It’ll just get worse also. It’s just not good.

[NorthernDancer]

I had an older Audi with this; put a good quality piece of black tape over it and never thought about it again.
NOW, that being said, the black Sensatec [?] sport seat in my 2008 128 is still perfect [mine you car only has 64K miles and I am very careful getting in and out of it. Guess I'm lucky]

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by Jwal

......I talked to the owner and he has maintenance records for everything. BMW maintained until out of warranty and then 5-7k oil changes after that. Not the best that could be done, but better than most......

This car just doesn't look like it was owned by an enthusiast. Just take a look at the steering wheel. Do you know any enthusiasts that would let the steering wheel get that dry and cracked without doing anything? The car would need to be exactly what I was looking for and a good price in order to buy it. The price is good...but it isn't exactly what you are looking for. I think you need to be patient. It took me 4 months before I found my '08 Sport 6MT.

I may need to reread previous posts in this thread.....but have you driven both a 128i and a 135i. I think I remember reading that you had a E36 328i, and you like the "pure BMW" experience. Have you been in a 1 series yet?

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Do you know any enthusiasts that would let the steering wheel get that dry and cracked without doing anything?

That's a really good catch and point.

[Jwal]

Yeah, I don't think the owner is a real enthusiast. He said that two people from this forum came to see the car, but I have no idea who or what they actually thought about the car and seller. I am going to PM the people that posted interest in his thread to see if they have anything to share. The shipping cost seriously sucks, so I don't think it will be worth it.

I haven't driven a "good" 128i yet, as both of the cars I have traveled to see were advertised to be in much better condition than in reality. Both test drives were really brief and I didn't get to drive the cars at speed or feel out the suspension. I have driven my friend's 335i, but that's the only thing I have driven with an N54/55.

I am doing my best to balance my patience with my growing need for a new(er) car to replace my dying daily, and the high variability of the market on these cars. I am used to searching for months to find the right car, as I did that with every BMW I purchased, but I never got as into the weeds about the options, condition, mileage, etc. because everything I looked at before was so old.

Ideally I would be able to find a car with the features I want, but I just don't feel confident that will really happen. I am kicking myself for not buying the rebuilt 2013 128i from the guy in Michigan, but it would have been 11.5k for a car with 82k miles, and that white Florida car showed up at a dealer for 6.5k at that time. It was much easier to find an e30/e36/e46 as I just accepted that nothing I found would be "just right", but the cost would be pretty low. Now I am willing to pay much more for the right car, but I don't feel like they exist haha.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by Jwal

I haven't driven a "good" 128i yet, as both of the cars I have traveled to see were advertised to be in much better condition than in reality. Both test drives were really brief and I didn't get to drive the cars at speed or feel out the suspension. I have driven my friend's 335i, but that's the only thing I have driven with an N54/55.

You need to drive a properly sorted 128i to appreciate how good this car can be. Mine was a bone-stock Sport with 68k miles and mechanically it was in fantastic shape. I wasn't super impressed with the driving dynamics, but I liked it and felt it had potential. I got it because my former daily driver finally gave up and I wanted something cheap and fun for commuting that got more than 15mpg.

I've only had it 3 years now, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Bit by bit I've addressed each shortcoming and created a nearly perfect vehicle (for me). I can carve a canyon or take a 4 hour road trip without feeling beaten up and I haven't had a single thing go wrong with it. It's been extremely reliable for a 11 year old car. What started as a cheap DD, is now a cherished possession.

Morale of the story: it's worth the wait to get something you really want.

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by Jwal

I haven't driven a "good" 128i yet.......

Too bad you weren't closer to the Midwest, otherwise I would freely let you take mine for a drive. You really do need to drive a well sorted 6MT 128i, as they are fantastic cars that really do harken back to the old glory days of BMW (near 50/50 weight distribution, front engine and rear drive, glorious sound of a NA inline 6, etc.). The best modification I have made to my 128i is a torsen differential. Even with decent mods (suspension, wheels/tires, aggressive alignment, BMW performance exhaust/intake, CDV delete, etc.) the car still felt like a "new BMW". It wasn't until I coded off all the nannies and put in a mechanical differential that I really loved this car. Now the car feels like a direct descendant of the E36 M3....and that is some pretty great heritage.

Let me know if you plan on being near Milwaukee for business and we can meet up.

[yostuhfoo]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Too bad you weren't closer to the Midwest, otherwise I would freely let you take mine for a drive. You really do need to drive a well sorted 6MT 128i, as they are fantastic cars that really do harken back to the old glory days of BMW (near 50/50 weight distribution, front engine and rear drive, glorious sound of a NA inline 6, etc.). The best modification I have made to my 128i is a torsen differential. Even with decent mods (suspension, wheels/tires, aggressive alignment, BMW performance exhaust/intake, CDV delete, etc.) the car still felt like a "new BMW". It wasn't until I coded off all the nannies and put in a mechanical differential that I really loved this car. Now the car feels like a direct descendant of the E36 M3....and that is some pretty great heritage.

Let me know if you plan on being near Milwaukee for business and we can meet up.

Have you ever driven an E90 6MT 328i? If so, how would you compare it to a 128i?

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by yostuhfoo

Have you ever driven an E90 6MT 328i? If so, how would you compare it to a 128i?

I've only ridden in E90s, but there are notable differences. The 128i is lighter with a shorter wheelbase and smaller overhangs. It can't help but feel more agile and lively. It has an uncanny ability to both feel as stable as a slab of granite and change direction in an instant.

Originally Posted by jcrane82

The best modification I have made to my 128i is a torsen differential. Even with decent mods (suspension, wheels/tires, aggressive alignment, BMW performance exhaust/intake, CDV delete, etc.) the car still felt like a "new BMW". It wasn't until I coded off all the nannies and put in a mechanical differential that I really loved this car. Now the car feels like a direct descendant of the E36 M3....and that is some pretty great heritage.

I envy you. A rear differential is part of my plan, but I'm not there yet. Coding out the brake nannies definitely heightened my awareness of what the car was doing. I cannot wait to tackle the E-diff and traction control.