Off to buy a 135i, what should I be looking out for?

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by Rush1

Make the dealer pay for anything that's needed.

I don't like this idea. The dealer wants to make a sale. They will agree to do the repair to make the sale and either try to renege on the deal or do the fastest, shittiest, repair they can to make it look acceptable. They will likely not do the repair properly and may even cost you more money to fix their bodge job in the long term.

Itemize every issue that you find and ask them to lower the price accordingly. Then use the savings to have the repairs done properly.

[2WheelDave]

Ehhhh! Last candidate has been ridden hard and put away wet more than a few times in it's short collection of miles. SO many things wrong with that car we virtually RAN out of the lot after driving it.

While driving home licking our wounds we made a deal with the guy who owns the very first 135 that we test drove, it is a very well kept, completely documented 2011 with a manual gearbox, red on black with 120K km (about 75K miles) on it. The guy we are buying it off of bought it last fall, he is the second owner and also owns a shop specializes in restoring, and rebuilding German cars. He's putting a 6 month "bumper to bumper" warranty on it. We go pick it up tomorrow. We get to hoon around in it for the weekend, then he's taking it back to put new pads and rotors on the rear, and to take it to the detail shop that we've been using for our other vehicles for years for a full paint correction and detailing. I'll post pictures after that's done.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by 2WheelDave

Ehhhh! Last candidate has been ridden hard and put away wet more than a few times in it's short collection of miles. SO many things wrong with that car we virtually RAN out of the lot after driving it.

While driving home licking our wounds we made a deal with the guy who owns the very first 135 that we test drove, it is a very well kept, completely documented 2011 with a manual gearbox, red on black with 120K km (about 75K miles) on it. The guy we are buying it off of bought it last fall, he is the second owner and also owns a shop specializes in restoring, and rebuilding German cars. He's putting a 6 month "bumper to bumper" warranty on it. We go pick it up tomorrow. We get to hoon around in it for the weekend, then he's taking it back to put new pads and rotors on the rear, and to take it to the detail shop that we've been using for our other vehicles for years for a full paint correction and detailing. I'll post pictures after that's done.

Sounds almost perfect. Wondering why you didn't buy it to begin with? Looking for a later year with a little less miles?

[2WheelDave]

I really had no idea what I was looking at the first time we drove the car.

We knew we wanted a convertible of some sort, and one day while doing a service call in the neighbourhood of where this fellow's shop is, I thought I'd stop in and see what he had. His primary business is manufacturing sawmilling equipment and flywheel grinding machines (he's a machinist by trade) but his passion is for German automobiles. He says his manufacturing business allows him to have is car business .

He toured me through his shop and the 6-8 cars that were in various stages of being rebuilt after being written off for one reason or another, when he showed me the 135 that he picked up last fall. I was charmed by the compact size and it's seemingly simple nature. My wife and I test drove it for a couple hours the following Sunday and the hook was set.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Sounds almost perfect. Wondering why you didn't buy it to begin with? Looking for a later year with a little less miles?

+1. I bought mine with between 65k - 68k on the clock. Figured it was the perfect blend of finding a car that had most of the stuff that comes up in that time frame already completed, and the motor was just getting settled in.

Not sure about the 135, but I've found out through the years that cars like to be driven and when they have some decent mileage, they tend to be better than garage queens.....especially with Corvettes.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

+1. I bought mine with between 65k - 68k on the clock. Figured it was the perfect blend of finding a car that had most of the stuff that comes up in that time frame already completed, and the motor was just getting settled in.

Not sure about the 135, but I've found out through the years that cars like to be driven and when they have some decent mileage, they tend to be better than garage queens.....especially with Corvettes.

Well, mine only has ~46K miles, so I guess it still has some settling to do.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Well, mine only has ~46K miles, so I guess it still has some settling to do.

Lol.....enjoy every minute of it as I'm sure you will!

My other car is lower mileage, but I usually only drive it on the weekends.

One thing about being able to alternate, you get to enjoy the experience over and over like its the first time.

[2WheelDave]

Well, the new car is in the garage, and we are really pleased with it! After putting a couple hundred kms on it yesterday, it went into the garage for a full detailing of the interior last night, and a exterior detailing this morning. The interior is virtually perfect, and aside from some wash-brush induced marring on the paint, the exterior is just as nice. No marks on the wheels, no door dings or other sheet metal damage at all. All in all, very little for me to do aside from drive it!

One thing I can't figure out though, there is a buzzing noise that seems to come from under the hood about 2/3 of the time when a door is opened or closed. The fellow we bought it from thinks it's the Vanos solenoid, so he's ordered a new one and will install it when the car goes in to have the bumper painted. Does that make sense?

[NorthernDancer]

Congrats; sounds like a great car and a very good previous owner.

Try a 3 foot length of vinyl hose used as a stethoscope to more accurately locate the noise.

[Gangplank]

Buzzing or a hum? There is a start up hum when you wake up the car after it's been sitting. I don't recall exactly what it is - computer, fuel pump or?

[2WheelDave]

I've read about the low pressure fuel pump priming when you open the door.

This is more of a "rattle/buzz" (think woodpecker wailing on a tin chimney cap).

I've also read it might be the Valvetronic server motor.

[Mr Gasser]

If it's really an issue, may want to post a short video so we can hear it...but it seems like a component is failing...

[jrbimmer]

I'm in the same boat but looking for a 6 speed 128i. Seems extremely hard to come by.

[2WheelDave]

Originally Posted by 2WheelDave

I've read about the low pressure fuel pump priming when you open the door.

This is more of a "rattle/buzz" (think woodpecker wailing on a tin chimney cap).

I've also read it might be the Valvetronic server motor.

It's the valvetronic actuator, part is ordered and the previous owner will be installing it on his dime.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by jrbimmer

I'm in the same boat but looking for a 6 speed 128i. Seems extremely hard to come by.

It took me months to find the one I wanted. Just popped up out of the blue one day, and I called the guy right then. Drove down the next day and picked it up!

[Mr Gasser]

Is that an N54 or N55? So the Valvetronic Actuator is located outside the valve cover? anyone?

[2WheelDave]

N55, so the actuator is buried in the head.

[Mr Gasser]

OK just replaced my valve cover gasket and its an N54 motor...no telling if its under the valve cover or not...