What are the consequential options to consider???

[Apex1.0]

When buying a used 135i, what are the options to consider that can not be address with modifications?

So there are options that are clearly consequential:

Body Style
Exterior Color
Interior Color
Transmission
Year (engine)

After that, I know there are an array of audio, sport, m-sport, cold weather, trim and wheel options. But of all these items, what would be the most difficult to address with aftermarket or other oem modifications? What are the got to have it options, and what is the stuff you can change later?

Thanks,

[Esteban]

The sport seats are really nice and a must have for most. I also like the M steering wheel. Both are part of the Sport and M Sport packages. You can always pick those up later if you find a car you really like that doesn't have them.

[WingerRed]

Keep in mind the M steering wheel does not offer the option of being heated. Not that big of a deal.

[onenutt]

No M steering wheel on my 08 128i with Sports Package. Although the M steering wheel looks identical except for:
- M logo
- absence of silver trim
- perforated leather
The M Sport Package was not an option on the 128i in 08, only for the 135i. This is in Canada, may be different in the states.

[iminhell1]

Enough money all things can be changed. So what kind of price limit are you putting on this question? Reasonable?


The most costly exterior is the 1M conversion. If you really want/need the wider fenders man up and buy the real thing. Doing the conversion (hack) you're not saving much, and the resale of a real 1M is high. Much higher than any 135/128. A $16k car with $20k of work is still a $16k car.

The second is the shadowline trim. Yes it can be swapped, wrapped or painted. But it's not going to look the same, though it may be easier to care for.


Interior
Sport seats, just get them. Like other things it's cost prohibitive to not and swap. Then you need to decide if you want power or not also. They came both ways.

Nav. It's expensive to add after the fact but can be done. BMW actually sells a retrofit kit. There are not many good aftermarket options that fit into the interior.
And with that is the radio itself. The Harmon Kardon is worth the money. The base (Hi-Fi) option is really 'well it has a radio' option. If you're any type of audiophile you won't like it, actually if your ears don't have 90% hearing loss you won't like it.


And now that I'm typing this and thinking, these things are right around $1,000 (and up) to swap. So is that really much different that the engine performance side or suspension ? LOL


Lets settle it this way, pick a goal for the car before you buy one. If you want a comfortable car with amenities or a car that you're going to race and you are going to remove/replace lots of parts (stripper).

[vinylengraver]

I would say I-Drive. Or rather no I-drive. Whichever applies.
In my case I wanted none.
And the black headliner, which I did not care for either.
As well ad adaptive bi-xenon headlamps.
All of those would be pretty difficult (or expensive) to retrofit me thinks...
PS: upgrading non-sport manual seats to M-Sport equivalents will require wiring modifications. Also heating option should be considered.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by onenutt

No M steering wheel on my 08 128i with Sports Package. Although the M steering wheel looks identical except for:
- M logo
- absence of silver trim
- perforated leather
The M Sport Package was not an option on the 128i in 08, only for the 135i. This is in Canada, may be different in the states.

Actually, I'm not sure what comes with a Sport or M Sport package for the 128i, but for sure the sport seats and M steering wheel come with those packages for the 135i.

Also, I think the M Sport suspension comes with the sport packages for the 128i, while the same M Sport suspension comes standard on the 135i with or without a sport package.

[HyeWarrior]

Originally Posted by vinylengraver

I would say I-Drive. Or rather no I-drive. Whichever applies.
In my case I wanted none.
And the black headliner, which I did not care for either.
As well ad adaptive bi-xenon headlamps.
All of those would be pretty difficult (or expensive) to retrofit me thinks...
PS: upgrading non-sport manual seats to M-Sport equivalents will require wiring modifications. Also heating option should be considered.

I think the I-drive is the biggest deciding factor, followed by the black headliner.

I also opted for the Non I-drive. Sure it’s nice, but it’s going to look super dated in 5 years.

Like someone said, seats and steering wheel are relatively easy to replace as long as you have the money for it.

I think my biggest regret was getting DCT over manual. I love the DCT, but I didn’t think I was going to want to keep this car long term, so I went with DCT. Now having it for 2 years, I wish I got manual so I can turn my 135 into a complete toy/weekend car in a couple years.

Having an automatic weekend car seems silly to me, oh well.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by Esteban

The sport seats are really nice and a must have for most. I also like the M steering wheel. Both are part of the Sport and M Sport packages. You can always pick those up later if you find a car you really like that doesn't have them.

My advice is to skip the perforated M steering wheel and install the non perforated E9x M3 wheel, like I did. I ordered an msport and sold the perf for the nicer M3 wheel.

To the OP, xenons are a must have. After market options are a pain in the ass to deal with based on my e90 experience.

[MightyMouseTech]

Also, leather vs sorta leather looking.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Also, leather vs sorta leather looking.

I remember reading here, don't know where exactly, where some people actually preferred the leatherette/sensatec (sorta leather looking) over the Boston leather.

[vinylengraver]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I remember reading here, don't know where exactly, where some people actually preferred the leatherette/sensatec (sorta leather looking) over the Boston leather.

I know I do.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by vinylengraver

I know I do.

I've never actually seen the leatherette in person so can't give an opinion, but the Boston leather is nothing to write home about as far as I'm concerned.

[HyeWarrior]

I prefer my leatherette. 75k miles and they still look amazing

[FrostyDC4]

The sport seats are a must!

[vinylengraver]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

My advice is to skip the perforated M steering wheel and install the non perforated E9x M3 wheel, like I did. I ordered an msport and sold the perf for the nicer M3 wheel.

To the OP, xenons are a must have. After market options are a pain in the ass to deal with based on my e90 experience.

My "sport" (not an M-sport) wheel is non-perforated but it is the same thickness and shape as well it has the heating element.
It originally included a silver-finished trim, but a simple swap for an M-performance part made it look and feel really premium. Simple and inexpensive.

[tock172]

Everyone is different, but I had a few special qualifiers for my car:

• N55 - Because it's the more reliable engine with the same technology BMW has subsequently applied to the rest of their lineup.
• DCT - I owned a 6-speed N55 135i for almost two years. I loved the car, but was way happier when I bought a DCT. I get my gear-rowing fix in my E30.
• Space Grey or Alpine White - These colors are easy to maintain and look excellent on the E82 in my eyes. I also considered Carbon Black or Mineral Grey, but they're a bit too dark for my tastes. Same applies to Sparkling Graphite, but that's only on early production cars that I was not considering.
• Premium Sound - The system isn't incredible, but I after having it in many previous cars, I really missed it in my 2011 and had to have it when I bought my next one.
• Enhanced Bluetooth - Something else I sought out after my 2011 didn't have it. The Tune2Air modules are a great alternative which sometimes work even better than the factory equipment, but I wanted the option either way.
• LCI - I've grown to really like the facelift headlights and tail lights, although I initially preferred the more simply tail lamp design.

Leather vs. Leatherette is a tough call. I'm partial to both, but have leather that I enjoy maintaining.

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

My advice is to skip the perforated M steering wheel and install the non perforated E9x M3 wheel, like I did. I ordered an msport and sold the perf for the nicer M3 wheel.

To the OP, xenons are a must have. After market options are a pain in the ass to deal with based on my e90 experience.

+1 on both of those.

My 135i has M-Sport, and I've researched and priced swapping the perforated leather steering wheel and parking brake handle for the E9X M3 parts. The perforated leather seems to wear unevenly and it's just not my style. Retrofitting the E9X wheel is quite expensive for DCT cars like mine, however. I'd consider using my M-Sport wheel trim instead of the M3 trim to save $100 as mine is in perfect shape. Also, the M3 parking brake handle is a simple leather wrapped design that is not unique to M cars.

[drunkenup]

Absolutely get premium package with boston leather. Auto dip, power folding, auto dimming mirrors should not be absent from a BMW, entry level or not.

Sensatec is an awful fabric, feels disgusting if the weather is anything but perfect, and tears on the thigh bolster. I've seen this on mine and other 1ers, on E84 X1s and E90s. My 2006 330i has dakota leather and has held up well.

[tock172]

Good point on Premium Package. I've had it on nearly every previous BMW and couldn't live without it at this point.

Comfort access is also very nice. I rarely ever actually use the remote function of my key.

[Gangplank]

Leather Sport seats
DCT or 6mt depending on your preference
Low mileage
Good maintenance history
HK sound (yes it is that much better)
No- I drive (it's annoying but to each their own)

[drunkenup]

Originally Posted by tock172

Good point on Premium Package. I've had it on nearly every previous BMW and couldn't live without it at this point.

Comfort access is also very nice. I rarely ever actually use the remote function of my key.

CA is great. I've noticed it can be a little slow to work on old e series cars (my E90 and long gone E92), I don't know if it was because of the car battery condition or the antennas themselves. I miss it every time my hands are full trying to get into and out of my 135i.

My 135i is sparsely optioned, a la carte iDrive (no bt), and M sport. I will be swapping the interior all the way down to swapping the beige carpet for black like I wanted it in the first place.. Hopefully OP does it right the first time

[HawkeyeGeoff]

My wish list is always:

- Comfort access
- I-Drive (09 and up)
- Sport seats
- Premium Package

Everyone is different though.