Looking to buy my first BMW

[dv55xc]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

These are good cars. I have a 128i. I've never driven an E92, S2000, or a Prelude.

I test drove a 135i before getting my car. The power difference was most noticeable at low RPM which would have made it an excellent DD. The MK6 GTI I was replacing had a 2-liter turbo that was 2/3's the displacement, torque, and power of the N55 and I remember them having very similar power delivery, just 50% more of all of those things in the BMW. The shifter in the GTI was soooooooooooooooo much better than any of the BMWs I test drove. I still miss that. Not sure if you've driven a GTI but this might be a useful reference.

Good luck... definitely get the ppi and budget a few grand for immediate repairs. It's pretty rare you buy a used car that isn't hiding something... there is usually a reason someone is getting rid of it.

It's been a long time since I've driven a GTI. Last time I drove one was in 2011 at the dealer. It was fun but I want to stay rwd. Since I already own an n/a car I want to drive something different for a change. I don't doubt for a second that the 128i is a fun little car but my s2000 already fills that roll. Otherwise I'd be all over an n/a straight 6 car.

It doesn't matter which car I end up going with. Im getting a ppi done for sure. I already learned my lesson with my prelude...

[dv55xc]

Originally Posted by JimD

I drove the 135i and a 335 before getting my 128. I also drove a 135i on the BMW performance center track while getting delivery of my 128 there. The power delivery characteristics of a 128i are more enjoyable to me (and probably more similar to a S2000). It has plenty of zip for me as long as I keep the rpm above 3,000. For daily driving, I don't need to go that high but if I want to pass on the highway, dropping to 4th lets me accelerate briskly. The 135i has lots more torque down low but feels like it is loosing power above 5,000 rpm - when the 128i gets really interesting.

I think the OP should definitely drive both. The 135i is faster and with simple mods can be made even faster. But the power delivery is going to be a lot different, I think, from what he is used to. But if he knows this and likes the high torque, lower rpm delivery of the turbo motor, it could be the car for him.

I think test driving both would be a good idea. The problem is I don't know anyone with an e92 or a e82 that can help out with that. I'll try going to dealerships but there are so few that have the cars in los angeles.

[dv55xc]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

Uh, better driving dynamics than a Miata? Okay......

OP, both N variants are fantastic platforms for modding. The Pure Turbo kits are going to make huge power on both platforms, but the 54 has greater power potential. I don't know of many people that mod their 54's to 700whp, but if runway racing is your goal, the N54 is the definite winner, the N55 will never be able to hold the type of power the N54 can.

I chose the N55 for a few reasons:
1. The car was just newer
2. The 135i is my DD, and my DD is a painful one from NELA to Santa Monica, so driving a manual here everyday was just too much of a pain. The DCT performs really well, makes me miss manual a lot less than a typical auto would.
3. N55 equipped cars appear to be slightly more reliable.

If you are going manual, one of those reasons falls off immediately. For #3, if you are buying a BMW for reliability, probably best to look elsewhere. My water pump took a shit 4k miles into ownership (44k on the odometer). Aside from that, it's been fairly bulletproof (bangs both hands on wooden desk). Some little nannies here and there, most likely mod related. I did also have the "DCT Shuddering" issue, but it was resolved with the MHD tune.

I know N54 equipped cars are super affordable now, plenty of low mileage n55's in the teens as well.

I'm also a huge fan of small cars (apparent when you look at my ownership list, my RX-7 weighed 2000lbs, lol).

The short wheelbase on the 135i is what drew me to it over a 3 series. I was actually cross shopping the 1, 3, and 535s (because I had a 1 year old at the time). I'm 6'1, my wife is 5'7, my daughter is 2 now and pretty tall for her age. She fits in the back with her front facing car seat with plenty of space left for everyone.

I also bought a 100k mile drivetrain warranty with my car (covers some other stuff too, turbo's and other lubricated parts) for 2k. I'd recommend at least a bronze level warranty for peace of mind. Looking back, I would have purchased the gold for an extra 1500$, it was a mistake not to (again for peace of mind, as this is my DD).

You'd be hard pressed to go wrong with any N equipped coupe or sedan, but if you are strictly looking for a DD that's fun to drive, makes stupid power for stupid cheap while still maintaining an acceptable level of the now long gone famous BMW driving dynamics, either N equipped 1 series is a great option. An MHD stage 2 fbo n55 seems to dyno around 350ish whp on 91, 370 on 93. I think a similarly modded 54 makes around 30whp more. Both make 450wtq or so with those mods. Those numbers may be slightly off, but they are ballpark.

You won't regret purchasing any of the cars you are looking at, outside of reliability issues. Good luck! I joined this forum a year before I bought mine and dug through every bit of info I could find. All I can say is that this is by far the best DD I've ever owned, and 2nd only to my 240sx as my top automotive love affair. Dial out the body roll, get some real, non runflat tires, add an lsd, and I think it's probably #1.

You really got me thinking about the N55 cars. I am still leaning towards N54 but I think if I find the right car, I'll go with the N55. I wont be traveling too far (from NELA to Glendale) so I will be staying with the manual transmission option for sure. I don't mind driving an older car but having some newer tech is always a good thing. What I am expecting out of either E82 or 92 is that they are more comfortable than the S2000. That should not be too hard to manage I hope.

I know that the words "BMW" and "reliable" rarely find themselves together in the same sentence. I am expecting to either get my hands dirty or reach for my wallet. This is why I mentioned the warranty in my first post. I think it is going to be a for sure thing If i end up going with a BMW in general. Fortunately for me, I know a friend that works a at a BMW repair shop. There's also Speed Logic in Fullerton and this YouTuber (shoplifetv) who owns Alpha Motorwerks in Alhambra. I'm not too sure on the latter but I know Speed Logic specializes in these cars.

I think my goal in the coming weeks will be to test drive these cars. Ideally I'd like to make my purchase in March or April but I can wait until I know which car I want to go with. The only problem I am seeing is finding someone who wouldn't mind letting me drive their car. I havent really found a lot of dealers who have the 135i or 335i in stock but I'll keep looking.

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by dv55xc

You really got me thinking about the N55 cars. I am still leaning towards N54 but I think if I find the right car, I'll go with the N55. I wont be traveling too far (from NELA to Glendale) so I will be staying with the manual transmission option for sure. I don't mind driving an older car but having some newer tech is always a good thing. What I am expecting out of either E82 or 92 is that they are more comfortable than the S2000. That should not be too hard to manage I hope.

I know that the words "BMW" and "reliable" rarely find themselves together in the same sentence. I am expecting to either get my hands dirty or reach for my wallet. This is why I mentioned the warranty in my first post. I think it is going to be a for sure thing If i end up going with a BMW in general. Fortunately for me, I know a friend that works a at a BMW repair shop. There's also Speed Logic in Fullerton and this YouTuber (shoplifetv) who owns Alpha Motorwerks in Alhambra. I'm not too sure on the latter but I know Speed Logic specializes in these cars.

I think my goal in the coming weeks will be to test drive these cars. Ideally I'd like to make my purchase in March or April but I can wait until I know which car I want to go with. The only problem I am seeing is finding someone who wouldn't mind letting me drive their car. I havent really found a lot of dealers who have the 135i or 335i in stock but I'll keep looking.

Wherabouts in NELA do you live? I'm in El Sereno. If you are hard pressed to find a 135i for a test drive, I would have no problem letting you run around my hood with the car. Keep in mind mine is a DCT, but from everything I hear, the 135i manual is pretty fantastic, though not s2000 level.

Edit
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And ya, 90% of N5X owners get hit hard when it comes to labor, SpeedLogic doesn't follow those same pricing standards. Rob is a bad man, works 7 days a week and is just a great, honest guy. He also sells custom made chargepipes, tracks a high hp N54, and will have anywhere from 8-15 N5X cars at his shop at one time. Rest easy on the maintenance issues if you are willing to drive out to Rob, be prepared to wait a day or two since he is usually alone. That's the beauty of 2 car ownership.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by dv55xc

You really got me thinking about the N55 cars...

I'm still not completely sure why you wouldn't pick the N55. It'll be newer, more reliable, and still tunable. Since the tuners figured out the DME, I kind of think it's a no-brainer, unless you're just trying to go cheaper with the N54.

[dv55xc]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

Wherabouts in NELA do you live? I'm in El Sereno. If you are hard pressed to find a 135i for a test drive, I would have no problem letting you run around my hood with the car. Keep in mind mine is a DCT, but from everything I hear, the 135i manual is pretty fantastic, though not s2000 level.

Edit
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And ya, 90% of N5X owners get hit hard when it comes to labor, SpeedLogic doesn't follow those same pricing standards. Rob is a bad man, works 7 days a week and is just a great, honest guy. He also sells custom made chargepipes, tracks a high hp N54, and will have anywhere from 8-15 N5X cars at his shop at one time. Rest easy on the maintenance issues if you are willing to drive out to Rob, be prepared to wait a day or two since he is usually alone. That's the beauty of 2 car ownership.

Im actually not too far from you. Im in Lincoln heights. If you don't mind letting me drive it around a little bit that would be awesome! Im not gonna be in town for a while though. Im going to be away for training for my new job but I'll send you a PM when I return.

I've heard nothing but good things about Rob at speed logic. I would say he's just like going to ballade sports for the s2000 but I've been hearing a lot of bad things about them recently. Either way it's good to know that there is a specialist here in so cal that can help me fix my car when the time comes.

[dv55xc]

Originally Posted by duder13

I'm still not completely sure why you wouldn't pick the N55. It'll be newer, more reliable, and still tunable. Since the tuners figured out the DME, I kind of think it's a no-brainer, unless you're just trying to go cheaper with the N54.

Im new to this haha. This is why I'm asking questions now before I decide to buy a car. However the price of n54 cars vs n55 is a factor too. N54 equipped cars are cheaper overall so that definitely plays a part in my decision. I would like to be under $20k but if I can save some money and leave room for repairs then I would go for $15k. Ppi is a must and I will be running a vin decoder and asking for maintenance.

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by dv55xc

Im actually not too far from you. Im in Lincoln heights. If you don't mind letting me drive it around a little bit that would be awesome! Im not gonna be in town for a while though. Im going to be away for training for my new job but I'll send you a PM when I return.

I've heard nothing but good things about Rob at speed logic. I would say he's just like going to ballade sports for the s2000 but I've been hearing a lot of bad things about them recently. Either way it's good to know that there is a specialist here in so cal that can help me fix my car when the time comes.

I train at The Yard Monday's and Wednesday's. Let me know and you can stop by there. It's off ave 26.

[JimD]

Before I ordered my e88, n52 I went to BMW dealerships all over the state trying to find something similar to what I wanted. It's been 10 years but I think the only manual transmission I could find was in a 3 series. Throws were longer but it still wasn't too bad. I didn't like the 128i automatic but the DCT in some 135is is quite different. I still prefer the robust reliability and control of a manual but a DCT shifts faster than I can and is a nice transmission.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by dv55xc

Im new to this haha. This is why I'm asking questions now before I decide to buy a car. However the price of n54 cars vs n55 is a factor too. N54 equipped cars are cheaper overall so that definitely plays a part in my decision. I would like to be under $20k but if I can save some money and leave room for repairs then I would go for $15k. Ppi is a must and I will be running a vin decoder and asking for maintenance.

Low mileage N55s are even under $20K at Carmax, now, so it's doable.

[N54Yankee]

Forged crankshaft and twin turbos were on my personal list of things to check off on my engine choice so I went N54. Either engine is a delight.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by N54Yankee

Forged crankshaft and twin turbos were on my personal list of things to check off on my engine choice so I went N54. Either engine is a delight.

Yeah, they’re both great engines, but I’m a little curious why? The twin scroll is generally considered to be a bit more responsive, and I don’t recall the N55 having crankshaft issues. Have there been reported issues with the N55 crankshaft?

For the OP, the positives of each engine seem to be:

N54: forged crankshaft, little higher tuning potential, less expensive

N55: more reliable, 45lbs lighter, little more responsive, sounds better, and, if not getting a manual, the DCT option.

[N54Yankee]

Originally Posted by duder13

Yeah, they’re both great engines, but I’m a little curious why? The twin scroll is generally considered to be a bit more responsive, and I don’t recall the N55 having crankshaft issues. Have there been reported issues with the N55 crankshaft?

For the OP, the positives of each engine seem to be:

N54: forged crankshaft, little higher tuning potential, less expensive

N55: more reliable, 45lbs lighter, little more responsive, sounds better, and, if not getting a manual, the DCT option.

N55 scroll spools up about 100rpm quicker or so then the 54 if I recall correctly a very small price to pay for the better stock top end and especially modded top end or larger, deeper breathing twin turbos like RB's.
All high end sports cars and sports coupes that I can think of have forged internals and if turbo powered, have twins. They have them for good reasons.
The I6 engine specifically with its extra strain on such a long crank benefits from forging as do the rods with their longer stroke. BMW saved some money making the 55 and gave up some features in the process. In fact when BMW made the M2 they reworked the N55 giving it a forged crank and rods and when they put together the M2C for extra needed strength and they gave it twins for more umph for better top end power. All the rest of BMW M's have twins also.
The N55's replacement the B58 is also made with forged crank and rods also for extra strength.
The 55 is a great engine no doubt but for me, I just wanted the 54 for future testosterone mods.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/07/28/b...ven-better-m2/

[duder13]

Originally Posted by N54Yankee

N55 scroll spools up about 100rpm quicker or so then the 54 if I recall correctly a very small price to pay for the better stock top end and especially modded top end or larger, deeper breathing twin turbos like RB's.
All high end sports cars and sports coupes that I can think of have forged internals and if turbo powered, have twins. They have them for good reasons.
The I6 engine specifically with its extra strain on such a long crank benefits from forging as do the rods with their longer stroke. BMW saved some money making the 55 and gave up some features in the process. In fact when BMW made the M2 they reworked the N55 giving it a forged crank and rods and when they put together the M2C for extra needed strength and they gave it twins for more umph for better top end power. All the rest of BMW M's have twins also.
The 55 is a great engine no doubt but for me, I just wanted the 54 for future testosterone mods.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/07/28/b...ven-better-m2/

The N54's forged crank and rods are certainly better, but the block of the N55 is a better design with the new return oil ducts, new connecting rod designs, etc., so high horsepower reliability differences are dubious, and, either way, we're probably talking 600hp+ before it becomes relevant. The N55 is certainly more reliable than the N54 at milder tunes, though, as it was designed to deal with many of the N54's issues. The N54 does get around 20-30hp more than the N55 per equal tune, but I don't know if that's too much of a difference, considering people are getting big numbers out of both these days.

Of course, as you say, the M2's N55 engine, with both the better block and forged internals, is the best of both worlds, and the S55 is another level.

Sorry, didn't want to turn this into an N54 vs. N55 thread, but just wanted the OP to get some N55 info before his choice.

[dv55xc]

Looks like the only 135's I will be able to get my hands on are 2010's and up. The credit union I am going to be using is only offering to finance me on 2010 and newer. I think I am also going to throw the 335is e92 into the mix just in case. My heart is set on an alpine white, red interior, navigation, m sport package 135i. Exterior color can change so long as I get the red interior. I can live without the m sport package as long as i get the regular sport package. How hard do you think my search is going to be? haha

[a4nut]

The seats that come with the sport package are fantastic. I was not interested in regular seats when I bought mine.

[Zombie_Head]

Originally Posted by dv55xc

Greetings everyone! This is my first time posting here.

For the last 10 years or so of me driving I have always driven manual transmission Japanese cars. My first car in high school was a 1969 Datsun 510 station wagon. Then in my early years of college I had a 2000 Honda Prelude Type SH. I’ve had my S since 2013 and I don’t plan on ever getting rid of it. Having Japanese cars, especially Honda’s, is cool and all but I want to drive something different. BMW’s have always appealed to me and I am curious to know what it’s like to own one. After getting to drive an E30 325is for the first time about two years ago, that curiosity has grown significantly. Now I am in a position where I can buy another car and currently, my attention is on the E82 and E92.

With both the E82 and E92 I will be going with a 2009 or 2010 model year 135i or 335i respectively. Both cars must be equipped with a manual transmission. I am aware that the normally aspirated variants are more reliable but I want to drive a turbocharged car. I have read a good number of the maintenance threads and common problems associated with an N54 equipped car. I have zero experience with owning a German car and wanted to reach out to those of you who came from a similar background. I also wouldn’t mind hearing from people who have owned German cars first and went to Japanese cars or those of you who have only ever owned German vehicles.

Before you ask, “Why don’t you go with an N55 equipped car?”, the only reason I am not choosing to go with an N55 platform is because it has limited tuneability. I like tinkering with my cars and modifying them. After my experience with the Honda Prelude where the platform was limited, I don’t want to return to a platform where I feel restricted. My priority will be maintaining and not modifying but it after a while I will be looking to modify. Between the E82 and the E92, I don’t see either of them as being vastly superior over the other. One just so happens to have a shorter wheel base than the other.

Like any car, reliability as only as good as how you maintain your vehicle. Changing your oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, transmission fluid and any regular maintenance item is key. When it comes to vehicle maintenance, I work on all of my cars except when it comes to big jobs such as changing out a clutch. I am also thinking about getting a warranty (aftermarket) on the odd chance that something major breaks. From what I understand, things like water pumps, turbos, and fuel pumps tend to go out on these cars frequently. I am also aware that I will need to buy torx bits now because, well…BMW.

Given what you know about my automotive background, what sort of advice would you give me? Are there major differences between the E82 and E92 chassis? Should I consider leasing a new car to get an idea of what its like to own one of these cars? I don’t mind waiting and doing a bit more research before making my decision.

On a side note, I am keeping the S. I am only retiring her from daily driving duties and reserving her for weekends and special occasions. Not to mention it would be nice to actually be able to take more than one person at a time in my car. Also the quality of the roads in LA are not the best and some people driving on them have no business behind the wheel. The last thing I need is someone driving like an idiot or not paying attention hitting me in my S.

Thanks in advance!

The main difference from my perspective between the E92 and the E82 is how YOU want to feel when driving. Meaning, the E92 is a bit heavier, but a lot quieter and a longer wheelbase, meaning more of a cruiser. There are a lot more wheel options (when you need to put some big fat rears for power) compared to the E82.

The E82 is really nimble, when looking at today's modern cars. It feels more of a go-kart than anything, but can be civilized when you want it to, but it will never be on the E92s level.

The E92 also has a much more practical interior storage space, lots of room to stuff things into door pockets, console and so on. The E82 is very...limited in that area.

The best thing i or anyone can tell you, is to drive both back to back when you can. Try both manual and auto/dsg options, not everyone likes those BMW sticks.

Whatever choice you go for, now this. With power, you need control. Meaning suspension, tires and brakes are a worth while investment, even if you just plan to chip/tune the car (normally one sees 80-ish HP from a tune alone).

Sadly, both cars require a lot of investment in upgrades to start seeing what they can do. Suspension, brakes, rear subframe bushings, LSD, sway bars etc things will get very expensive indeed. I myself dumped nearly €4-5K on my 125i (KW v3 coilovers, bigger 330i front discs and caliper carriers, software tuned twice and whiteline rear subframe bushings) and i am not really happy how the car feels (it really needs camber plates and a LSD + nice sway bars to really get the chassis dialed down) and that means more €€€.

This applies to both cars, but the biggest advantage(s) the E92 has over the E82 is the size (which means more space/stability in higher speeds), a bit more wheel options and a more practical interior. Mechanically they share the same bits, so upgrades wise there is no difference.

Size wise the E82 is closer to the E36 (if i recall) than anything, do not let its "coupe" image fool you, it is indeed larger than you expected, and roomier as well. I was able to stuff both 18" summer and 17" winter wheels in the rear seats and having a full boot free to do whatever i wish.

[JimD]

If you really want the navigation it certainly looks nicer than my setup but I am happy with mine. BMW used to offer a rebadged Garmin in a special bracket with wiring for E82/88s. I bought the bracket and used it for my own Garmin (interestingly the one I'm using at the moment came from a MINI). I also later decided I wanted it on the left of the gauges so I made my own bracket and used only the ball from the BMW one. There is an article about it in the DIYs.

The big advantage is map updates. They are free for me, not so if you go BMW. The big disadvantage is mine is obviously not from the factory. It can be easily removed when selling, however.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by dv55xc

Looks like the only 135's I will be able to get my hands on are 2010's and up. The credit union I am going to be using is only offering to finance me on 2010 and newer. I think I am also going to throw the 335is e92 into the mix just in case. My heart is set on an alpine white, red interior, navigation, m sport package 135i. Exterior color can change so long as I get the red interior. I can live without the m sport package as long as i get the regular sport package. How hard do you think my search is going to be? haha

Whew, that may take a bit to find! You might consider M Sport over navigation, since the nav is already dated, anyways, and the interior looks cleaner without it.

[dv55xc]

Im only now realizing how difficult it is to find the right car...
Every car I find that is close to what I'm looking for is either too far away or is listed as a manual but ends up being an auto-tragic.

[Happy Jose]

If you've been happy with your Japanese rides, you likely won't be happy with a BMW or any other German car especially if you are buying used.

Some what better reliability will be had with the N55 than the N54 which had a lot of problems. Your focus seems to be tunability. If you buy one of these cars, don't modify it and pray it hangs together.

BMWs have a very poor record for reliability. When they break and they will, repairs will be very expensive. In fact, so expensive that owners have gotten rid of it unable to afford the tab. One big problem with these cars is the slogan, the ultimate driving machine. Many owners think they are driving a racing machine and thoroughly beat the crap out of it. Thus a used BMW is likely to be a money pit.

However, if you have mechanical skills and have the patience to understand the car's problems, you might enjoy your ownership. For most people who have some money in their pocket, the best way to own one is buy new and trade every four years, the end of the warranty.

The One has many virtues. I consider my One the best driving and most enjoyable car of all of my current and previous vehicles. And money isn't a concern for me, and I can do a lot of repairs myself. If you depend upon a vehicle to earn your daily bread, have limited financial resources, and require rock solid dependability, stick to you Japanese rides.

[minirips2]

Your list of wants is pretty specific. So was mine. I wanted a 6MT 128i in Crimson Red with sport package. I only found two of those. One I made a deal on. I flew to Ohio to check it out. It was a total pile of junk. Bad clutch, steering wheel off-center, a bunch of fault codes, (but no CEL), No coolant in the tank, and cheap 18" wheels with no name rubber. I walked away. No wait....I RAN away! The other one was at a dealer with a ton of negative reviews and a damage issue on the CarFax.
I ended up settling on a non-sport 6MT in CR. Slicktop with Idrive. I had a local BMW dealer do a PPI. It checked out with a couple minor issues, some of which the selling dealer fixed without me requesting them to. Nice. I found a cheap set of sport seats within a hundred miles of my house and installed them. Not too hard, considering the original seals were non-powered, and the replacement seats were electric. Since I plan on some suspension mods (I already have installed M3 RSFB's), the rest of the Sport spec stuff is basically moot. I have put over 20K miles on it without any issues.
I guess the bottom line is that if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, there is still a lot you can do to make it the car of your dreams. Good luck finding a worthy example.