Input needed on swapping e92 m3 for 135i

[cplay4me]

I currently own a 2012 e92 M3 with ~52k miles on it. Competition package and DCT trans. I bought the car about 8-9 months ago and then discovered that for whatever reason, the seats really bother my low back on longer trips (over an hour). Part of the reason I purchased the car was to enjoy driving a performance car on longer trips...

I'm considering a few options:

1) Grab some sport seats that have a more straightforward setup for around $500 each and hope they work.

2) I've been considering selling the M and switching to two cars -- one with a manual that will be the "fun" car and one that I can use for daily driving that's an auto--doesn't have to be fancy.

One of the "fun" cars I've been considering is a 135i. I sat in the seats and they felt great to me--more the shape that works for my back for whatever reason. As luck would have it, a manual 135i with 30k miles just popped up near me. Here are the details that I know:

• 2012 135i 6-speed manual
• m-sport package
• premium package of some kind (heated seats, etc.)
• Dinan stage 2 tune (I'm not sure what else that means the car has done to it..)
• 1-owner clean carfax, no accidents, maintenance records.
• Car looks IMMACULATE
• $22,900 at a dealer

I'd love some opinions on whether you'd make this swap. I wouldn't do it unless they gave me a fair trade-in price on the M3 which is currently sitting at $30,500.00

That seems like a pretty high price based on KBB and cruising auto trader for a 135i manual..BUT they are getting harder to find with low miles in this condition and certainly close to me (I live in an area with a population of about 200k that is at least 3-4 hours from the next large population area, so choices are limited.

Would you:

1. go for it?
2. Keep the m3 and change the seats?
3. Look for something else (I've considered going even cheaper and grabbing an fr-s or brz--very different I know)?
4. buy a 135i that's already been tuned even if it has low miles? (I can handle some maintenance but don't really want to be wondering if I'm going to be dropping 5-10k at any time).

Appreciate the thoughts.

[Soterios]

Keep the M3 and change the seats. If that's all you don't like about it, you can easily fix that.

[bagekko]

Get a 5 series of some sort. My old 135i or my old M4 are not in the same ballpark as the comfort of my M5. Even my old 540i provides the same comfort as the 135 did. The comfort in a 5 series multi contour seat in the E60 or F10 makes longer trips easy, even had them in my E70 & F15 X5s.

[MightyMouseTech]

Can you find 135i seats and put them in the E92? Then just keep the stock seats for resale purposes.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Can you find 135i seats and put them in the E92? Then just keep the stock seats for resale purposes.

I wondered if that was a possibility. I'm not even sure how to find that out.

[swunder]

To me this one comes down to transmission. If you want a 6 speed then buy the 135i and walk away with some cash. If you like the DCT then find some seats to swap into the M3.

[ShocknAwe]

M3 seats fit the 135i so I don't see why I wouldn't work in reverse.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

M3 seats fit the 135i so I don't see why I wouldn't work in reverse.

I did not know that--that's great information! Anything specific needed to make the conversion/swap happen or can you literally swap straight across?

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by cplay4me

I did not know that--that's great information! Anything specific needed to make the conversion/swap happen or can you literally swap straight across?

Couple folks have done it here. I'm sure there's a thread. I'll see if I can find one

[ShocknAwe]

Here's your Bible.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1023229

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Here's your Bible.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1023229

Awesome--I had found this thread myself, but noticed someone asked a question about airbags that was never answered. Is there some sort of issue that could exist with swapping in the different seats and airbags not working??

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by cplay4me

Awesome--I had found this thread myself, but noticed someone asked a question about airbags that was never answered. Is there some sort of issue that could exist with swapping in the different seats and airbags not working??

Probably need to be coded.

[JimD]

Changing anything in a modern BMW requires coding. I saw a thread on seat replacement discussing what changes need to be made. It is not as simple as buying and bolting in new seats.

Power delivery in a e92 M3 is much different than a 135i. A turbo engine is different than a NA engine, in other words. A 128i power delivery is closer to a e92 - but speed is more similar between the 135i and the M3. I drove a e92 in 2011 at M school and I like it but only in the upper part of it's rev range. I got reminded several times over the radio to shift. When I've autocrossed my car I have also bumped against the rev limiter. I like NA power delivery but when you want to go fast you have to keep the rpm up. Turbo motors are typically set up to get to maximum torque at very low rpm and tend to die out a bit at redline. I drove the 135i at performance center delivery of my 128. So I have a little, but only little, experience with both.

I like smaller cars. At M school, I much preffered the V8 M3 to the V10 M5 and M6. On the other hand, the back seat of the 1 series is pretty small and makes transporting adults back there iffy. 3 series is better if you need to transport adults in the back seat.

Long way of saying I would be looking at factors other than seats. A 135i without suspension mods is not going to be quite as precise and crisp in it's handling as a M car. Lots of factors.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Probably need to be coded.

Got it-- I'm assuming that's something a dealership could handle?

Really appreciate all your input here--might be the difference between keeping the car and not.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by swunder

To me this one comes down to transmission. If you want a 6 speed then buy the 135i and walk away with some cash. If you like the DCT then find some seats to swap into the M3.

I've had the same thoughts. I will say, if I keep the M3 and can make it comfortable, I'll likely supercharge it. Just another differentiator in the possibilities.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by cplay4me

I've had the same thoughts. I will say, if I keep the M3 and can make it comfortable, I'll likely supercharge it. Just another differentiator in the possibilities.

I'd check with independent module coders before using the dealer.

As for 135 vs M3... If you don't keep the car be prepared to go a long way down the rabbit hole fixing BMWs lackluster nonM E82 suspension. Took me virtually replacing every component before I was happy with it.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

I'd check with independent module coders before using the dealer.

As for 135 vs M3... If you don't keep the car be prepared to go a long way down the rabbit hole fixing BMWs lackluster nonM E82 suspension. Took me virtually replacing every component before I was happy with it.

Where would I track down an individual coder..if the answer is "google", I'm cool with that .

Thanks for the input on the 135 vs m3. I have a feeling the 135 would feel like a step back. I actually just put an offer in on some e82 front seats on ebay that have the buckles and ECUs, so I'm jumping in and hoping I can make it work.

If that solves my problem--the M will be exactly what I thought I was buying.

[JimD]

There is a website for doing coding of BMWs. You might try to google it up and see if there is somebody who can do it for you. There are people that do coding remotely - but I've never been involved.

You might also see what Protools and Carly can do. Protools should be capable but you might have to use the mode where it is more like working with NCSExpert. I have used NCSExpert in the past and hope to use it this weekend, if I have time. It is decidedly not user friendly but it's free. You can get it from Bimmergeeks - who sell Protool.

[mfindigital]

The seat should work without coding if you install it correctly. At least that's the case in a 135i, like mine, that has an M3 seat. If you mess up the install, like I did, you'll get an error. Jake Spence has a video on youtube on how you code it out using carly, takes 2 minutes.

There is no comp between an M3 and the 135i unless you are a big fan of modifying cars. The m3 is a better car in almost every way and a super common next step for 135i owners.

But I love modding cars, and love owning two cars, so I'd mod the snot out of a 135i and get a cx5 or something on lease for comfort.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by JimD

There is a website for doing coding of BMWs. You might try to google it up and see if there is somebody who can do it for you. There are people that do coding remotely - but I've never been involved.

You might also see what Protools and Carly can do. Protools should be capable but you might have to use the mode where it is more like working with NCSExpert. I have used NCSExpert in the past and hope to use it this weekend, if I have time. It is decidedly not user friendly but it's free. You can get it from Bimmergeeks - who sell Protool.

Appreciate the input, thank you.

[cplay4me]

Originally Posted by mfindigital

The seat should work without coding if you install it correctly. At least that's the case in a 135i, like mine, that has an M3 seat. If you mess up the install, like I did, you'll get an error. Jake Spence has a video on youtube on how you code it out using carly, takes 2 minutes.

There is no comp between an M3 and the 135i unless you are a big fan of modifying cars. The m3 is a better car in almost every way and a super common next step for 135i owners.

But I love modding cars, and love owning two cars, so I'd mod the snot out of a 135i and get a cx5 or something on lease for comfort.

I get modding--I've done some of that on other cars and enjoyed it. I'll likely work a bit on the M3 over time, but it's such a great platform to start on..I'd really like to enjoy it as it is for awhile without it killing my SI joints.

You swapped M3 seats into your 1? No airbag problems or issues?

I'll look for that video.

[mfindigital]

Originally Posted by cplay4me

I get modding--I've done some of that on other cars and enjoyed it. I'll likely work a bit on the M3 over time, but it's such a great platform to start on..I'd really like to enjoy it as it is for awhile without it killing my SI joints.

You swapped M3 seats into your 1? No airbag problems or issues?

I'll look for that video.

My issue was caused by a bad install. I forgot to swap over the seatbelt positioning sensor from my seat rail onto the m3 seat rail. That triggered an error code that I'll need to clear out at some point. If it's installed correctly, you won't have any issues.

Comparing a base 135i to an M3 is insane btw, nowhere near the same class of car. But a 135i with pure stage 2 turbos and a fully modified suspension with LSD is one of the great modern cars, so depends on your goals. I'd keep the m3 every day of the week and twice on sunday.