1M (stock) or 135i (Plus $8,000 in Mods?)

[NihonX]

I just got a call from my dealer that I officially have an allocation ready for me.

He said that I can still have the car and for European Delivery.

Should I go for it or should I just modify my '09 135i with full suspension, FBO + Meth, and 2011 Facelift cosmetics?


I'm going in to talk to my dealer on Sunday about my car and any changes if I wish to do so.

[analogue]

The mods to your 135i might cost you less overall, but I have to assume in the end you will always regret passing on the 1M.

Used car prices are pretty good right now so you should do OK on the 135, and if you are getting ED MSRP or less on the 1M it's an obvious choice in my mind.

Go for it and enjoy the ED trip. (Or give me your spot so I don't have to wait until November)

[Justin(OKC)]

Originally Posted by NihonX

I just got a call from my dealer that I officially have an allocation ready for me.

He said that I can still have the car and for European Delivery.

Should I go for it or should I just modify my '09 135i with full suspension, FBO + Meth, and 2011 Facelift cosmetics?


I'm going in to talk to my dealer on Sunday about my car and any changes if I wish to do so.

I don't own a 1M, but I had a 135i with more than $8k in mods. I would get the 1M and not turn back. Better resale and better car in the end.

[sjw985]

Originally Posted by Justin(OKC)

I would get the 1M and not turn back. Better resale and better car in the end.

I think it's usually easier to sell a stock car than a modified car. Modifying a car turns off alot of potential buyers because it's usually correlated with abuse and/or lower longevity.

To get ready for my 1M I'm selling a near stock (intake and cat-back only) low-miles 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra and I have people from all over the country who are interested and willing to pay a premium for it. From what I can see the heavily modified and tuned cars are generally going for way less than mine.

I'm not saying that necessarily applies to BMWs and there are always exceptions, but conservative buyers like me who are looking for a performance car will automatically write off cars with substantial mods.

[lavaletta]

Believe me you won't regret getting the 1M!

[cooler2442]

If you can do it, go for the 1M. This coming from a new N55 2011 owner.

[Groundpilot]

Here is what i think. When i got my 2011 135i in the beginning of 2010, i didnt even know about 1M upcoming production. I got this car with one thing in mind, to make it a track toy. And i did. To make this car track worthy one needs to spend more than 8 grand. I wont get into how much was spent or what was done, but i can tell you that my car will beat stock 1M easily on any road course. Offcourse 1M can be modyfied too for less than $8 and be as good or better. Had i known about 1M at the time of my purchase of 135i i would still have gotten 135i. 1M doesnt offer DCT and carbon fiber roof. A deal dreaker for me. Having driven cars with SMG and later with DCT on the track, i will never buy another MT car again. DCT is fantastic. So you OP have to decide what works for you. Just my two cents.

[DriveHard]

1M no question... apples and oranges..

[BForbes]

1M

[Grey Dove]

Originally Posted by M3 09 AND135I 11

Here is what i think. When i got my 2011 135i in the beginning of 2010, i didnt even know about 1M upcoming production. I got this car with one thing in mind, to make it a track toy. And i did. To make this car track worthy one needs to spend more than 8 grand. I wont get into how much was spent or what was done, but i can tell you that my car will beat stock 1M easily on any road course. Offcourse 1M can be modyfied too for less than $8 and be as good or better. Had i known about 1M at the time of my purchase of 135i i would still have gotten 135i. 1M doesnt offer DCT and carbon fiber roof. A deal dreaker for me. Having driven cars with SMG and later with DCT on the track, i will never buy another MT car again. DCT is fantastic. So you OP have to decide what works for you. Just my two cents.

Mister David, wouldn't you consider retrackting the word "easily" out of your comment. We all know by now an M3 as to grab everything it has under his hood to stay ahead on certain tracks. So let alone a mod. 135
Thanks anyway

[Justin(OKC)]

Originally Posted by gs/e60/1m?

Mister David, wouldn't you consider retrackting the word "easily" out of your comment. We all know by now an M3 as to grab everything it has under his hood to stay ahead on certain tracks. So let alone a mod. 135
Thanks anyway

I don't think he is that far off target when you consider what one might do with more than $8k in mods. I'll let you know when I put my AST's on my M3 what a big difference a good set of dampers and higher spring rates make.

[jmcphillips1]

M

[DiavelM3]

1M! You will have something very unique and rare driving on the road. YOu can always upgrade with mods (if you want to) down the road.

[Maximus_Prime]

Another thing to consider is the residual value of the modifications you plan to make. For instance, if/when you decide to sell your heavily modified 135, how much will you be able to get for the mods? Will you remove them and part them out individually? Or do you plan on selling your modified used car at a premium over a stock car without mods?

First, consider that the average buyer may not want to purchase a car that has been heavily modded. Having sold cars before, it is my understanding that most people frown upon mods because their workmanship or installation quality is unknown or inferior to OEM, and many times they void the warranty. On the other hand, I'm guessing it would be fairly easy to part with a 1M - and it may retain great value if it becomes a collector car (remains to be seen IMO).

Second, even if you find a buyer who is willing to purchase your modded 135 at a higher cost than a similar, stock 135, they may not be able to secure financing from a bank. From what I understand, most banks will not factor in modifications into their loans - all they will see is that the buyer is trying to buy a 135 at a higher price than it is appraised at and they will refuse financing. Alternatively, the buyer may only be able to secure financing for part of the price and would have to front the rest. These complications turn lots of potential buyers away.

Third, if you decide to part out the mods, consider whether it will be worth the hassle. Unless you do it yourself, you will have to factor in the cost of paying a shop to install the mods, then later remove the mods and reinstall the OEM parts. Also consider the hassle of selling over $8K worth of used mods. Granted, there is a big used parts market for these cars on this site, but you may still only get half your money back (much less if you factor installation/removal costs).

Anyways, those are just some thoughts. I have a slightly modded 135 and those were all factors that led me to the 1M. But it's a personal call and you can't really lose either way.

Good luck.

[adrean8j]

1M....This is coming from a person that is an advocate of not trading in a relatively heavily modified 135i as I think the differences to be relatively minute (esp. for everday drivers and occasional autox/HPDE's ). Buuuut if I still needed to put another 8 grand into my current 135i then I think I would just go ahead and get the 1M. Who knows? If I come upon a 1M and get to test drive it...I still might do that. Oh and IF they had the 1M back in 2008 when I was in the market for this type of car then THAT is what I would be driving right now

[Artemis]

Apart from sheer driving pleasure generated by a car developed and fine-tuned by the BMW M division, not being required to spend time, skill and effort on tuning and testing, and not voiding warranties, also ask yourself what a prospective BMW buyer would be lusting for at the time of resale someday in the future, if he was offered a choice: a highly modded 135i achieving 1M or even M3 performance or the rare-to-find real stuff allowed by BMW back in 2011 to sport the M badge ?
From an owner's perspective, the preciously modded 135i may be worth more, performance-wise, than a stock 1M. However, as we all know, the resale value is not determined by him, but rather by the market of buyers and dealers, who will remind the owner to the mere fact that, despite all dedicated enthusiasm, input and output, "it ain't no M".

[adrean8j]

^^^This is all assuming he is going to sell the car one day of course
I think part of the reason I haven't "jumped" into the 1M pond is my investment in the tuning/parts on my car and current indecisiveness as to whether I will ever even sell the car since it has a bit of sentimental value (my first BRAND NEW CAR MY08..and I was 35 when I bought it).....every other car was used. Not to mention I still have my '04 Audi A4.

[BimmerJim]

Originally Posted by NihonX

I just got a call from my dealer that I officially have an allocation ready for me.

He said that I can still have the car and for European Delivery.

Should I go for it or should I just modify my '09 135i with full suspension, FBO + Meth, and 2011 Facelift cosmetics?


I'm going in to talk to my dealer on Sunday about my car and any changes if I wish to do so.

Take the M and enjoy the ED. Make sure you hit the Ring, too. Enjoy

[Robert]

This answer is so obvious. Get a M

[chancejat]

get the 1M...its very rare and just a badass car to own.....plain and simple

[NihonX]

I'll be making my decision on Sunday. I will post my answer then.

[1speedbike]

Originally Posted by adrean8j

1M....This is coming from a person that is an advocate of not trading in a relatively heavily modified 135i as I think the differences to be relatively minute (esp. for everday drivers and occasional autox/HPDE's ). Buuuut if I still needed to put another 8 grand into my current 135i then I think I would just go ahead and get the 1M. Who knows? If I come upon a 1M and get to test drive it...I still might do that. Oh and IF they had the 1M back in 2008 when I was in the market for this type of car then THAT is what I would be driving right now

^ +1

I would get the 1M hands down if starting from scratch. if i'm fully modding both, then it wouldn't really matter which I started with, aside from the fenders and wider tire capability.

For example, If you're gonna replace the springs, shocks, sway bars, etc to something more serious, then that's a strike against the price of both. If you're fine with the very good M suspension, then you still probably won't like the stock 135i suspension and that's extra money put into the 135i that wouldn't go into the 1M.

They're 90% the same car anyway, but I don't think $8000 will get you to the level of the 1M. Maybe close, but no cigar. However, if you're going to overhaul both, then the only real advantage of starting with the 1M is resale value and ease of using wider tires.

Good luck with the decision!