Thinking about buying a 135?

[Crown7]

I came across a decent deal on a 08 135i coupe. Lots of mods , one 1 owner car 105k miles. It runs like a champ. I'm trying to convince myself it would make a great daily driver.

I'm tired of spending so much money on gas for my truck. I commute about 60 miles a day. I get a modified car inst that reliable that's why I keep my 400 whp rx7 parked until the weekends.

Question is do you guys trust these cars for a daily driver?

[________]

I would not trust an N54, let alone a modified one.
You may save on gas but spend more in maintenance.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by Crown7

I came across a decent deal on a 08 135i coupe. Lots of mods , one 1 owner car 105k miles. It runs like a champ. I'm trying to convince myself it would make a great daily driver.

I'm tired of spending so much money on gas for my truck. I commute about 60 miles a day. I get a modified car inst that reliable that's why I keep my 400 whp rx7 parked until the weekends.

Question is do you guys trust these cars for a daily driver?

I'd be cautious, if the intention is to save money on gas. You will save money on gas, but whatever you save may be eaten up in repairs. If your goal is to save money on gas, then I'd be looking for a much more reliable and cheaper to keep, older Japanese car.

[Gangplank]

Nobody buys a BMW to save money.

In all seriousness, a 128 would be a good buy in an automatic or 6mt if you got lucky & found one.

[Happy Jose]

Make sure you have a huge bag of money set aside for repairs!

Har Har Har!

[bm996tt]

If you do not care about putting miles/wear on your truck your better of having one vehicle, the cost of vehicle plus repairs will negate any cash savings. I can see having more than one car if the goal is to keep one low miles etc and do this myself, never kid myself that I'm saving money.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by Crown7

I came across a decent deal on a 08 135i coupe. Lots of mods , one 1 owner car 105k miles. It runs like a champ. I'm trying to convince myself it would make a great daily driver.

I'm tired of spending so much money on gas for my truck. I commute about 60 miles a day. I get a modified car inst that reliable that's why I keep my 400 whp rx7 parked until the weekends.

Question is do you guys trust these cars for a daily driver?

I do about the same commute every day. My N55 has been great since all the little fixes were done (Oil pan gasket, water pump, charge pipe, etc.), no problens for the last 30k or so. But I'm at 107k now. Scared a big hit is coming.

Are you doing your own maintenance? If so, you may be ok. If not, you will spend more on repairs than you will save on gas money. What mods does the car have?

[ptack]

At 100k+ you will be entering the zone of big ticket repairs. I would be very leery of any used, modded 135i. Hard use will almost guarantee problems ahead. If you really want it you need all of the service records and a good BMW mechanic who review what has (or hasn't) been done, check the car out and then outline what will need to be done to the car short term and long term and what it will set you back. I've taken good care of my 08 135i and just spent $7k on new turbos, various gaskets, suspension and other things. I was at 180k miles, but you may encounter those issues a lot sooner.

[drunkenup]

105k means it's probably on its second water pump with a lot of time to spare, same with the vcg or ofhg (if not it would've caught fire or lunched a belt and itself by now). Injector indexes are easy to determine. It'll probably need certain things like wheel bearings sooner or later. Turbochargers if it hasn't yet. You could buy a 70k mile example but does the extra money paid for that even offset potential higher mileage repairs avoided?

[Thunderguts]

I think the 128i makes a much better daily driver. That's why I bought one. No BMW will ever be Honda reliable, but for BMWs, the 128 is at the top. It's quiet, comfortable, and damn fun to drive in the city or the highway. It's fun the way BRZ/GT-86 is, but more refined and more powerful.

A 135i with 105k and "lots of mods" is not what I would want as my daily driver. Not even close. It's a fast project car.

[PA135ii]

My 08135i became a weekender last summer. And I just had a big repair done replacing the cam ledges and seals. Not sure how much longer I will hold on... it gets harder... a money drain. I have 126K and am the original owner.

[mfindigital]

I get 15mpg in my 135i on 91. Not the car to buy to save gas. It is the hungriest car I've ever owned, my v8 grand Cherokee got better mileage. That said, it is my favorite of all the cars I've owned. But as has been said, trying to save money by buying a Break My Wallet isn't the smartest move. I had to replace the water pump, spark plugs and coils after 6k miles of ownership, mine had about 40k when I bought it.

[FrostyDC4]

Originally Posted by Thunderguts

A 135i with 105k and "lots of mods" is not what I would want as my daily driver. Not even close. It's a fast project car.

^^^what he said

N54 = project car unless you do the maintenance yourself


I would try to find an N55 1er to daily drive. My car has 85k and it’s been relatively reliable so far.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Thunderguts

I think the 128i makes a much better daily driver. That's why I bought one. No BMW will ever be Honda reliable, but for BMWs, the 128 is at the top. It's quiet, comfortable, and damn fun to drive in the city or the highway. It's fun the way BRZ/GT-86 is, but more refined and more powerful.

A 135i with 105k and "lots of mods" is not what I would want as my daily driver. Not even close. It's a fast project car.

I like that the 128i is quiet. But is the stock 135i really much louder? Curious what people think.

That N52 does really just purr though.

[FrostyDC4]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

I like that the 128i is quiet. But is the stock 135i really much louder? Curious what people think.

That N52 does really just purr though.

At cold start it is.

[PA135ii]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

I like that the 128i is quiet. But is the stock 135i really much louder? Curious what people think.

That N52 does really just purr though.

Stock exhaust on my 135i sounds great. Not loud, unless windows down and punching in a tunnel.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by PA135ii

Stock exhaust on my 135i sounds great. Not loud, unless windows down and punching in a tunnel.

Awesome. As long as it doesn't drone. I can't tell you how much I hate exhaust drone. Don't know how anyone can put up with noise like that!

[Esteban]

The 135i, N54 or N55, modded or not, is not a car I think of when I want to save on gas. I'd look at a 4 cylinder Ford Fiesta or Focus, or Honda Fit or Civic. All used, of course.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

I get 15mpg in my 135i on 91. Not the car to buy to save gas. It is the hungriest car I've ever owned, my v8 grand Cherokee got better mileage. That said, it is my favorite of all the cars I've owned. But as has been said, trying to save money by buying a Break My Wallet isn't the smartest move. I had to replace the water pump, spark plugs and coils after 6k miles of ownership, mine had about 40k when I bought it.

I get 22mpg on my drive, lots of stop and go traffic.

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by Real Dodger

I get 22mpg on my drive, lots of stop and go traffic.

uncork that poor car every now and then.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

uncork that poor car every now and then.

I get 15 mpg as well. Got a lead foot, though... lol

Too much fun to worry about saving on gas mileage!

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

uncork that poor car every now and then.

Oh, it gets uncorked!
When there's no traffic, the speed limit is considered more of a "suggestion ".