128i vs 135i

[torrque]

Hello,

I am thinking of getting an E8x 1 Series for my wife. I've owned a lot of M3s and an M5 in my life, and I currently own a 335xi - tuned of course. I am wondering, for those who have maybe gone from a 128i to 135i or vice versa, how much slower is the 128i in stock form?

I know how hard it is to change the turbos on the N54 once they go - I did it on my car. Hence my hesitation to get another N54 engine. The other negatives of the 128i are that they are typically spec'd with fewer options than the 135i. I see standard lights, no Xenons, no nav, etc.

Thanks for any insight.

[Soterios]

This thread should be COMPLETELY civil.

What do you want the car to do? The 128i is going to be cheaper and probably more reliable and is still a very fun, pretty quick little car. If you don't care about straight line speed, go for the 128i. Find a nice spec'd model and you'll be fine.

[kaputt]

If its for your wife and not you, does the power really matter? The 128i is plenty quick and will be more reliable.

You can't go wrong with either car however, it's a great chassis.

[The Wind Breezes]

If you owned all those cars you can answer this question yourself and the piece of missing information is not something anyone on this board can tell you (hopefully for your sake).

What's missing is to find out whether your wife likes to accelerate quickly, and whether you want to support this habit. The answer to this will make the choice of car obvious...if fast, 135, if not fast, maybe still 135 since in the real world the N55 is not much more expensive to purchase or run and has more convenient powerband even for a regular user.

N55 is more reliable than N54 with basically equivalent maintenance to a 128i and would be better car for your wife if she likes to haul ass. Plus N55 135i is available with DCT which is better and more fun than auto or manual.

[Esteban]

I owned an N55 DCT equipped 135i for 9 years and always drove in manual mode to make it more engaging. Finally just got bored and sold it. If it had a manual transmission, which is more involving, and more fun imo, I might still be driving that car today. As some of you know, I have a physical disability from an injury so I can't work a clutch anymore.

I see your wife drives a manual Mini Cooper (in your sig). I say get her a 128i with a 6-speed manual and the Sport package with the wonderful Sport seats and M Sport suspension, etc. She'll thank you for it.

If I was to buy again and was in better shape, that's probably what I'd do.

[BMWWorld]

I've owned both the 128i & 135i. I love both since they're both pretty similar, very capable & fun cars. If you're looking for power I'd recommend the 135i, but if power is not a priority I'd recommend the 128i. The 128i it's reliable, high revving & fun car. It's obviously much slower than the 135i, but it's capable for some spirited driving.

[BMWWorld]

If you do some research you'll be able to find a 128i specked with the m-sport package (if I'm not mistaking the name). It's a package that has every feature the 135i has like Xenon, sun roof, rear bumper with diffuser & suspension. If that's something you really want.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by BMWWorld

If you do some research you'll be able to find a 128i specked with the m-sport package (if I'm not mistaking the name). It's a package that has every feature the 135i has like Xenon, sun roof, rear bumper with diffuser & suspension. If that's something you really want.

Right, I think.

M Sport package, not Sport package?

The Sport package and the M Sport package are very similar for the 135i. Different wheels and some M badges.

I'd skip the sunroof, but that's me.

[b1aze]

I owned a 2010 N54 135i for 3 years and now own a 2013 N52 128i for the last 10months, both with a 6MT.

I’m also in Massachusetts if that gives any additional perspective.

I’ve modded both (relatively speaking) equally. Not FBO but enough to get more out of each, wheels and good tires and daily driver comfort mods.

If my 135i wasn’t under CPO, I would have easily spent $3500+ at the dealer on just “stuff.” Injectors, walnut blast, adaptive headlight faults, various “quirks” from tech-specced BMWs and I didn’t own it long enough to see the gaskets start to fail.

My 128i with 78k I intentionally avoided Nav, AHL, CA (but love the HK stereo) because of my prior experience. I’ve spent <$1000 on a new valve cover, ESS, plugs coils, OFHG for required/“good measure” maint.

With the 3SI and 130i tune, I’ve never felt the 128i was slow. Is it “wow fast”? No, but very respectable. The 128i will never be as fast as a 135/335 but it’s a perfect daily car in terms of fun, drivability, financial/maintenance risk and comfort with the Sport seats.

Ymmv

[BMWWorld]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Right, I think.

M Sport package, not Sport package?

The Sport package and the M Sport package are very similar for the 135i. Different wheels and some M badges.

I'd skip the sunroof, but that's me.

I'm not sure on the name of the package. But I think it come as a whole with the sun roof. I'd skip it as well, I have it on my 135i & I can't wait to get rid of it.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by BMWWorld

I'm not sure on the name of the package. But I think it come as a whole with the sun roof. I'd skip it as well, I have it on my 135i & I can't wait to get rid of it.

A couple of guys here, ShocknAwe and chris_flies, have already gotten rid of theirs. I think they're very happy.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Esteban

A couple of guys here, ShocknAwe and chris_flies, have already gotten rid of theirs. I think they're very happy.

Bimmerworld CF delete plug here. No leaks and the car sat out during a couple tropical storms already so.. it works with the right application of RTV.

[dtla1]

OP states that he's previously had various M3s, can anyone compare the 128i to maybe the E36 or E46 M3? That might also help OP to make his own comparison.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by dtla1

OP states that he's previously had various M3s, can anyone compare the 128i to maybe the E36 or E46 M3? That might also help OP to make his own comparison.

The E46 M3 has 333hp. Compares better to the 300hp 135i, don't you think?

[TboneS54]

128i vs. e46 m3 lol

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by dtla1

OP states that he's previously had various M3s, can anyone compare the 128i to maybe the E36 or E46 M3? That might also help OP to make his own comparison.

Originally Posted by dtla1

OP states that he's previously had various M3s, can anyone compare the 128i to maybe the E36 or E46 M3? That might also help OP to make his own comparison.

I've owned both M3's. And my fbo 128 is right in the middle as far as acceleration. Faster than the e36. My personal 1/4 mi times

E36. 14.5
E82. 14.2
E46. 13.9

Same driver and track. I feel the 128 has more in it because I lost my clutch that same night at the strip. But I was happy how it did. Ymmv

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by markslc1

I've owned both M3's. And my fbo 128 is right in the middle as far as acceleration. Faster than the e36. My personal 1/4 mi times

E36. 14.5
E82. 14.2
E46. 13.9

Same driver and track. I feel the 128 has more in it because I lost my clutch that same night at the strip. But I was happy how it did. Ymmv

Was your E46 tuned as well? Bet that would change things a bit.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by Esteban

The E46 M3 has 333hp. Compares better to the 300hp 135i, don't you think?

Part of the reason why I also mentioned the E36, but also, the comparison might be warranted to the E46 in terms of handling, size, power delivery (not necessarily total power), etc. Basically the overall experience of the car, not necessarily just the power.

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Was your E46 tuned as well? Bet that would change things a bit.

Originally Posted by dtla1

OP states that he's previously had various M3s, can anyone compare the 128i to maybe the E36 or E46 M3? That might also help OP to make his own comparison.

Originally Posted by Esteban

Was your E46 tuned as well? Bet that would change things a bit.

No. Stock.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by dtla1

Part of the reason why I also mentioned the E36, but also, the comparison might be warranted to the E46 in terms of handling, size, power delivery (not necessarily total power), etc. Basically the overall experience of the car, not necessarily just the power.

Here's a fun video of the 135i vs the E46 M3 vs the E92 335i. I'm sure you've already seen it but it does compare the 2 cars pretty closely (135i & E46 M3).

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by markslc1

No. Stock.

The tuned E46 M3 would be much faster and that would be more an apples to apples comparison.

It looks like your tuned 128i compares nicely to the E36 M3, though.

Was the E36 stock?

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by Esteban

The tuned E46 M3 would be much faster and that would be more an apples to apples comparison.

It looks like your tuned 128i compares nicely to the E36 M3, though.

Was the E36 stock?

Originally Posted by Esteban

The tuned E46 M3 would be much faster and that would be more an apples to apples comparison.

It looks like your tuned 128i compares nicely to the E36 M3, though.

Was the E36 stock?

No. I had the m50 manifold and tune. +cai