New 135i, Couple Questions

[buttersnipes]

Hey guys, just bought a new to me '13 135i convertible with the M sport pkg, 38k miles. Coming from a '12 miata this car rips and is one of my dream cars--I'm loving it! Car was bought from a dealership.

I noticed today that in one of the door pockets there is a random large thumbscrew. Usually when there are extra screws lying around they tend to go somewhere important. Any ideas?

Also, I've read some conflicting info on maintenance. When do you guys recommend plug change? The only thing it's needed so far is a new serpentine belt due to a small tear and a patch for a hole in the tire. I'm thinking of adding some ceratec when I do the oil. No warranty so fingers are crossed. My old miata was pretty bulletproof and I'm hoping this car will be the same.

Edit: Added car pic!

[delta-9-ginseng]

Congrats on the car! Show us some pics

Also, no idea where the screw goes...sorry

[tracer bullet]

I don't' recognize it either. Not sure it's form the car. Almost looks like an adjustable foot from something.

Plugs I usually see recommended around 60k miles. You're OK for most things from a mileage standpoint. Time gets to be a factor. I'd look up the recommended factory service intervals on things, make yourself a list of stuff to consider.

[NorthernDancer]

No idea for screw.
Find a good BMW indy garage now rather than later when something breaks.
Could dealership give you a maintenance history even it's verbal?
A 135 will never be the same as a Miata; more power but more maintenance/repairs.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

Plugs I usually see recommended around 60k miles.

I wouldn't wait that long. I can't think of any reason why an N52 would be harder on plugs and mine were shot at 68k. I mean the electrodes had noticeable degradation and one looked like it was halfway gone. I wish I had taken pictures. I replaced my plugs again when I did my valve cover at 83k and they didn't exactly look great. I really recommend changing them every 30k miles. Plugs are relatively cheap and such a vital component of a well-running engine.

[dtla1]

Welcome!
No idea where that screw goes.
Maintenance will not be as easy/cheap as your miata. Take a look around the forums for common issues but a few off the top of my head are Leaks (Oil Filter Housing Gasket, Valve Cover Gasket (valve cover itself sometimes develops crack), Oil Pan gasket (oil pan is usually later)), Water pump/thermostat, cracked coolant expansion tank.

For now, chargepipe might be a long term thing (mod) to keep in mind.

[buttersnipes]

Originally Posted by delta-9-ginseng

Congrats on the car! Show us some pics

Also, no idea where the screw goes...sorry

Pic has been added!

[Esteban]

C'mon, doesn't anyone know what that damn screw thingy is for? It looks familiar but I can't place it. Maybe I'm imagining things and it really doesn't even go with the car and the PO just put it in the door pocket so he didn't lose it or something. If I still had my 1er I'd be out there trying like hell to find where it goes. Things like that drive me nuts. lol

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by Esteban

C'mon, doesn't anyone know what that damn screw thingy is for?

The adhesive/plastic residue on the end of the threads tells me that the shaft was never meant to turn. It was stuck inside something that turned via the knob and subsequently broke off. It also wasn't embedded very deeply so it seems poorly designed. Why is the entire shaft threaded? The metal in that shaft doesn't look like anything I've seen on my car. I say it came from something else.

The mystery deepens...

[Lester]

It looks like something for a tripod or perhaps a selfie extender. Or off a golf cart. It doesn't look like a BMW 135 part at all.

[tracer bullet]

If it isn't a foot for something then what it first looked like to me was a volume control knob / a remote amp gain. Is it actually threaded or just... serrated isn't the right word nor is knurled, but...

Could also be one of the plastic gizmos that goes on a bolt head to make it "tool less". Which definitely would not be from the car.

[Lester]

It's very much looking like a friction lock for something, Baby carriage, golf cart, bicycle stand, ski/bicycle rack etc. you will find a use for it somewhere, just find something that it will thread in to and tighten it up!

[parnet17]

Congrats, looks like you have the 313 wheels which came with the 135is. If you have the "is" model plugs need to be changed at 45k models.

[415]

Originally Posted by parnet17

Congrats, looks like you have the 313 wheels which came with the 135is. If you have the "is" model plugs need to be changed at 45k models.

Those aren’t 313 wheels.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by 415

Those aren't 313 wheels.

Right, those are 261M style wheels.

[lemansblau135is]

Nope, not 313

[parnet17]

My bad. Looks like my wheels. What are they from?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by parnet17

My bad. Looks like my wheels. What are they from?

A 135i with the M Sport package.

[Windy5000]

Welcome to the club ButterSnipes!

[buttersnipes]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I've got plans for this little car... As far as the screw, I'm just going to go with: doesn't belong to the car. If something falls off at some point I'll know.

[PopsnBurbles]

Hey, congrats and welcome. Unfortunately, you will soon be diagnosed with addiction as you are now a 1addict.

As for the screw, screw it. What you don't know won't hurt you...until it does.

Enjoy the car. One thing I'll say though is the weight difference between a Miata and a 1 series must be insane. Even I feel it going from my car to an e30.