128i M Sport

[80_Mark]

I just received word that my first 1er was just loaded on a truck and is on its way to me. Brief history: I’m a former e30 owner who upgraded to an x3 m40i when our kiddo came a few years ago. The x3 is a beast but I found myself missing the simplicity and agility of the e30. I wanted something simple but modern enough to be safe for a toddler in the back, so the 128i felt like the obvious choice.

I was holding out for a manual M Sport with manual seats but was becoming discouraged when the only ones I could find were either automatic or getting bid to 20k on BaT. After about 6 months I stumbled upon a Space Grey with Savanah Beige seats and 76k miles on Facebook marketplace. The backstory is that someone stationed in Germany bought this through their military program and then imported it in 2015.

I have plans to do the typical engine and suspension mods but for the most part to keep it stock. I’m excited to have my daughter ride along for some spirited drives to see if she catches the car bug, too. I’ve never done track days or autocross but that’s definitely a possibility once I do some routine maintenance.

[jdt10768]

Awesome, congrats!
As a previous 2002 (‘70) and e30 (318is) owner, I can say you’re gonna love it. Pretty much the natural progression. I have a space grey/black msport’13
You’ll love it

[K9Leader]

Welcome to the club! Ha-ha, "just a couple of mods," like potato chips no one can have just one.

I bought my 128i as a retirement project car a year-and-a-half ago - 6MT, base model, slicktop, only options being leather and heated seats. I've done wheels/tires, suspension, brakes, exhaust, air intake, sport seats (manual), sound system, and many other things. I have the 3-stage intake manifold, the DISA valves and will be doing that in the spring.

It is such a fun car to drive - the classic package: small, light, nimble, good power (but not a muscle car). A real modern successor to the 2002. I still have my 2010 E91 as a daily driver and my weekend fun car 1999 C5 Corvette convertible, but find myself driving the 128 much more than I anticipated.

Happy motoring!

[80_Mark]

Thanks, all. Literally did one spin around the block before I had to run out and get the registration and plates but I forgot how heavy and awesome hydraulic steering is.

Overall, super happy but need more time to really get to know it.

[Almuliman]

Such a good color on the 1er.

[Donkeyshins]

Your car reminds me of my Sterlingsilber Metallic E30 325iS.

[CincyOne]

You'll love it.

[jdt10768]

Someone put a rear spoiler on it too, nice
+2 hp

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by 80_Mark

Thanks, all. Literally did one spin around the block before I had to run out and get the registration and plates but I forgot how heavy and awesome hydraulic steering is.

Overall, super happy but need more time to really get to know it.

Congrats! That pic reminds me of when mine was delivered. I grabbed it too for the backseat to lug the kiddo around and to keep road salt from the e85. Since he was 3mo he’s been in the passenger seat while working on the e85 and now that he’s old enough he only wants to take that dropping him off to school. Take her to a few auto x or OTDs and I hope she gets the bug. Took the kiddo out to an OTD when he was about 3 and he didn’t want to leave at the end of it.

[80_Mark]

Originally Posted by Donkeyshins

Your car reminds me of my Sterlingsilber Metallic E30 325iS.

Mine was a 325is in schwarz and cardinal red. Honestly, after taking it out for about 20 miles this morning, I’m realizing it feels a lot more like my past e30 than I thought it would and the interior smells almost exactly the same.

I thought I was buying a car that would be a slightly less modern than my x3 but it really does feel like it leans more to the 90s era. Pleasantly, surprised.

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by 80_Mark

Mine was a 325is in schwarz and cardinal red. Honestly, after taking it out for about 20 miles this morning, I’m realizing it feels a lot more like my past e30 than I thought it would and the interior smells almost exactly the same.

I thought I was buying a car that would be a slightly less modern than my x3 but it really does feel like it leans more to the 90s era. Pleasantly, surprised.

I've had three different variants of the E30 over the years - an Alpinweiß on houndstooth 325eS, the Sterlingsilber Metallic on grey 325iS (now a PRO3 car), and a Diamantschwarz Metallic on plaid 318iS slicktop - so I really only know E30s and E82s. None of the other 3 variants really interested me (other than a brief dalliance with an E36 318i when I was schlepping the kids, but that was a bit underpowered and soulless), but I agree that the 128i really feels like a spiritual successor to the E30.

And yes, that BMW smell.

[128IMsport-Stella]

Congrats on the 128i brother!
I just picked up mine in early December and I haven’t stopped modding it 🤣 nothing performance wise yet but a lot of exterior and interior work. We got the same color but mines a convertible with the beige interior. I forgot how well these cars handled

[fotontom]

Originally Posted by 80_Mark

Thanks, all. Literally did one spin around the block before I had to run out and get the registration and plates but I forgot how heavy and awesome hydraulic steering is.

Overall, super happy but need more time to really get to know it.

Congrats, it’s a twin to mine.

[128IMsport-Stella]

That space gray metallic color 😍

[Converted1]

Space grey does something really special to the 1s lines. Big fan of your config OP, congrats!

[80_Mark]

It's been a week with the car so I figured I'd chime in with some initial thoughts... and full disclosure, I had never had seat time with a 1er but I new I wanted a 2 door NA BMW with modern-ish safety so that really narrowed it down anyway.

First, manual steering has to be the single most endearing quality of cars this vintage. I got back in my m40i after a drive and the steering feels video game-like. Totally accurate but so light, you sort of wonder if it's connected to the wheels.

Power was "ok" at first until I realized how eager the engine is to go to 6k +. High in the revs it really comes alive but I think some mods to get it a 10-15% bump would really be the sweet spot.

iDrive hasn't aged all that much so I am totally fine with it but I wish this thing had bluetooth so I didn't have to mess with dongles and plugs.

I am already committed to doing an arm rest delete. It is creaky as all hell and because I flipped it up, my kid started kicking it repeatedly the first chance she got.

Only thing I truly don't like is the lack of gauges for oil and coolant status. First time out, I didn't ring it out until I was on the road for 20 mins cause I was paranoid the oil wasn't up to temp. I need to figure out a solution so I can see it on my phone. The secret menu stuff is frustrating cause it resets every time you restart the car.

It is a practical car. Put my toddlers Diono Radian seat in the back and it was easy to get her in an out and it feels relatively spacious.

Car is at the mechanic (VAC Motorsport in Philly) getting a once over but according to them, everything looks good. I am getting the water pump/thermostat replaced cause they are original. Looking forward to slowly modding this thing to be a really solid road car that allows me to dip my toes in some performance driving education and development.

[jdt10768]

I just keep my armrest flipped Up, but we don't have any crumb-crunchers in back seat any more. It's useful here and there, so maybe just teach the kid not to kick it
Pretty sure you have Bluetooth, no??

[80_Mark]

Originally Posted by jdt10768

I just keep my armrest flipped Up, but we don't have any crumb-crunchers in back seat any more. It's useful here and there, so maybe just teach the kid not to kick it
Pretty sure you have Bluetooth, no??

https://youtu.be/zrzHzTq9yXU

Nice! Didn’t think to look in the phone menu.

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by 80_Mark

Nice! Didn’t think to look in the phone menu.

That's BT for phone. In pre-LCI, there's unfortunately no BT for music playback (unless you do a rather spendy Combox upgrade or the aforementioned dongle solution). I have the dongle right now - works decently - but will probably do the Combox retrofit later this year.

[BMWCCA1]

Couldn't find the model-year of the OP's new car?
My 2013 has BT and I could never own one without iDrive again (or with the old version iDrive like my wife's 2008 had).

Drove to work this morning listening to music on my iPod Classic in the pouch under the armrest. Going to a concert tomorrow so wanted to get in the mood! I also have the Music Collection. Great features.

I think the console arm-rest really bothered me for a while but now I'm totally used to it, don't bother to flip it up anymore, and that's with the short-shifter knob from a '13 M-sport. I've driven many a British sports car over the decades that put my arm in awkward positions just because of the transmission tunnel. The E82 is very tolerable once you get used to it.

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by 80_Mark

Only thing I truly don't like is the lack of gauges for oil and coolant status. First time out, I didn't ring it out until I was on the road for 20 mins cause I was paranoid the oil wasn't up to temp. I need to figure out a solution so I can see it on my phone. The secret menu stuff is frustrating cause it resets every time you restart the car.

This is one option though every information read out isn’t available for every car so you have to read into it a little bit of what comes up for the e82. I have one in my e85 for my boost and a/f info but pulls the rest from the obd2.

https://www.p3cars.com/e8x-128

[Artdnj]

Originally Posted by 80_Mark

Thanks, all. Literally did one spin around the block before I had to run out and get the registration and plates but I forgot how heavy and awesome hydraulic steering is.

Overall, super happy but need more time to really get to know it.

a beauty, may I ask what wheel style is on and size?