Ordered my 128i Coupe!

[simianspeedster]

My car is built and it's awaiting transport to the port (yay!), but the VIN is still not available in the "MyBMW" portal (I registered the car using its production number). When should I expect a VIN to show up there?

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

I think the Apex Aero-7s are a good all around compromise. Though not the absolute lightest option, they're fairly light (19 lbs. each for 18x8"), very fairly priced ($299/wheel for 18x8"), and I have no reason to doubt their strength. AFAIK, there are no horror stories about Apex wheels from other members -- in fact they seem to have a reputation for strength from what I can tell reading other threads -- and I imagine many locations have far worse roads than I face in SoCal.

Oh, and I think they look the business.

Have you looked at BC Forged Wheels? They seem pretty reasonable priced for forged wheels (you could get a 17" set of one piece for ~$500 wheel). They have a decent selection of styles and finishes to choose from. I believe their 17" X 8" styles weigh around 17 LB each.

[Mach1er]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

My car is built and it's awaiting transport to the port (yay!), but the VIN is still not available in the "MyBMW" portal (I registered the car using its production number). When should I expect a VIN to show up there?

I got my VIN from the dealer the day that my car entered production. I'd check with them to see if they have it.

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by Mach1er

I got my VIN from the dealer the day that my car entered production. I'd check with them to see if they have it.

Will do, thanks. As of this morning, the car's on its way to the port.

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Have you looked at BC Forged Wheels? They seem pretty reasonable priced for forged wheels (you could get a 17" set of one piece for ~$500 wheel). They have a decent selection of styles and finishes to choose from. I believe their 17" X 8" styles weigh around 17 LB each.

I did look at BC's wheels a while back and nothing grabbed me in the range of options that seemed semi-affordable. I really dig the AERO-7s and given how and where I drive, I don't think they'll be any more trouble than stock rims, so I'm going to order them soon.

[simianspeedster]

gregthegr8 provided us with some great West Coast shipping info in the Lifestyle Edition thread. He believes the next outgoing ship to the West Coast is the Toreador which docks in Bremen on 3/23 and is scheduled to arrive in Port Hueneme on 4/17.

Yesterday, my status changed from "Your vehicle is being transported to the port of exit" to "Your vehicle production is complete and waiting to be released to the carrier" and today it's back to "Your vehicle is being transported to the port of exit." This is exactly what happened when I ordered my last car and it went it was making its last quick trip from the end of the train ride to the dock, so I'm fairly confident it'll be ready to ship today or tomorrow.

The only question is whether there's room on the 3/23 ship for my car or if I'll have to wait another 8-ish days for the next one. Fingers crossed!

[simianspeedster]

HP Autowerks will be handling my suspension, wheel & tire work -- thanks to Harold who has provided great advice and service already. I recently worked with him to order all the parts and today he sent me the these torturous pics. My Coco Mats also arrived this week. Now all I need is my car! Come on Cepheus Leader!

[Kouper]

Beautiful wheels, Simian! Nothing like having to wait for both your car AND all of its toys to arrive! Looking forward to pics of the completed car -- that red is going to look nice!!

[gregthegr8]

Aww, seeing your pics of your pretty rims and tires now has me kinda itching for the pilot supersports again.

[Uptempo80]

Nice build!

I've been heavily weighing everything out in my "eventual" order.

I've been pressing to try to replace my 11 128i vert. My 128i is blue water metallic with grey leather, moonlight top, and grey poplar wood trim.
The pressing began when BMW dismissed Blue Water metallic to EOD on March 1.
No big deal: well I'd almost have to order my own because most blue water vehicles on the lots have sealed beam halogens, no HK sound, 2 tone interiors and just a regular black top. I can't get that

So I've been building everything from 135i coupes to 135is convertibles and I came up with this:

Another 128i convertible! (I don't really need a 135i)

13' 128i convertible.

Carbon Black Metallic
Taupe interior/silver accent trim
Moonlight metallic top
Msport pkg obviously
Alarm system
HK sound
Lighting package-Xenons (Premium package bundle)
BMW Assist
Heated seats

Only upgrade I'd do in the first year is get a backup set of wheels.
17 inch BBS CF are what I'd get for sure! Don't really need 18's because I won't lower the car or swap out the suspension for atleast 8 years (If I decide to keep it that long)!

Let's see what happens. I have like 6 weeks or so to place an order...if not then no 1 series.

[simianspeedster]

Don't wait too long -- I'd hate to see you miss your ordering window, especially since you're looking for a highly specific car that you will probably never find on a dealer's lot.

Are you still on the fence about replacing yours?

[gregthegr8]

It's like me and Simian always say...a 1 in the hand is worth a 2 in the bush.

I wouldn't mess around since some of us had trouble getting an allotment even in February (I had to go to 3 dealers).

[Kouper]

I think what greg really means is that once he has that new 1 in the hand, you can take that new 2 series and drive it into a bush..... Oh wait, I think he did just say that. OK then, I resemble that remark.

[simianspeedster]

Peer pressure and bawdy humor on a public internet forum -- what could be better?

[gregthegr8]

To quote BMW's European ad from 2008 (which has disappeared off the internet)...why be any number when you can be 1?

[Uptempo80]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

Don't wait too long -- I'd hate to see you miss your ordering window, especially since you're looking for a highly specific car that you will probably never find on a dealer's lot.

Are you still on the fence about replacing yours?

Not really. I just will miss the awesome combo I had.
I still think it's better than any selection I can come up with in 2013.

I'd never buy my car out now (lease is up July 17) because the car was hit in a parking lot by a lady with no insurance last month (march 13) and The rear bumper was replaced and repainted. Insurance covered it. The color match sucks and a top bmw shop painted the bumper

See ya to my car because of that.


I'd quickly learn to love my next 1 series though, especially one that I get to build to my liking again. I just have lesser choices and options (exterior colors and interior colors) this time around.

That's the only reason that I've been on the fence for the past month trying to figure out what to do.

Can't wait to see your vermillion red 128i.

[simianspeedster]

Have you asked the body shop to re-paint the bumper? I'm all for new cars, but if that's your only issue and you can't get that color combo again, maybe the solution is to double-check the body work.

[gregthegr8]

I also agree. Have them redo it if they did a crappy job, complain to your insurance company, etc. until it's done and done right.

I unfortunately was in the same boat on my 135i, someone in a parking lot in vegas destroyed my back bumper and in my mind it was done for good and i'd never want to own a car that had it replaced. Was done perfectly, would never know, and wasn't an issue...of course until someone else totaled it and destroyed the rest of the car.

At the least, you should make sure it's done RIGHT, and even if you had to pay a lil out of pocket until it's perfect to your satisfaction, much cheaper and easier than getting a new car that's not even the color you want...unless you opted for a 135, but sounds like you're still set on a 128.

I'd do that in the few weeks you have before placing an order, then see how you feel and re-assess.

[Uptempo80]

My car's bumper was painted at the best BMW dealership in my area by a family friend who has air brushed and blended rock chips on my car (at his home garage). He's the painter at the BMW dealership who was doing an "insurance" job. Who knows what happened but I'm not satisfied. There is even poor bumper fitment.
Keep in mind that the average customer wouldn't even know that this happened, but it's not acceptable...and my car's lease is up in less than 90 days.

I see that the 2013 1 series cars have better buying/leasing incentives.
Now IMHO they are the worst year due to limited chocies, etc. You are forced to bundle packages and forced to have the smokers package. Also no avoiding the hideous ski bag rear seats with the non-fully adjustable rear jacket up headrests (I'd do that mod to fix this though).

I'd also be getting a lot more in features and options due to the incentives and so forth.

I may not like carbon black/taupe as much as I like blue water/grey boston, however in due time I would like it more than I do now. The general bmw cca groups I associate with would like carbon black more for sure.

With all that being said...I went the the dealership today and my salesman told me the last day to order for allocation is April 26th.

We'll see what deal I get...hopefully it turns out great. I'm going to get some more quotes on my car and see what deal I'd get on a buyout. But before that maybe then I can get the bumper repainted to meet my expectations.

[MarkOH]

I too just ordered a 128i in Vermilion with MT - replacing a 94 325i. Primary difference is that I don't want leather. Annoying that I therefore cannot get otherwise desirable options which are included in or require the premium package.

I understand the issue of waiting - I get to wait until September (ED). Dealer tells me that they cannot order a 1 series after September/October which seems to confirm the end ...

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by MarkOH

I too just ordered a 128i in Vermilion with MT - replacing a 94 325i. Primary difference is that I don't want leather. Annoying that I therefore cannot get otherwise desirable options which are included in or require the premium package.

Congrats... I replaced my '94 318is last year with a 128i.

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by MarkOH

I too just ordered a 128i in Vermilion with MT - replacing a 94 325i. Primary difference is that I don't want leather. Annoying that I therefore cannot get otherwise desirable options which are included in or require the premium package.

Excellent! Keep us posted on your order.

I agree that the modern option packaging is crap. As I noted earlier in the thread, I would have skipped the Premium Package if the Sports Seats option included lumbar support (or, heaven forbid, lumbar support came standard on a BMW). I would actually prefer the leatherette if I had the choice, but Premium is fairly all or nothing proposition.