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      11-21-2017, 11:43 AM   #1
mfindigital
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Looking at a 2011 135i and have a few questions

I know, search search search, but there is so much conflicting information. I have done a ton of research and just have a few questions.

The 135i I found has 39k miles, is being sold at bmw but is too old for CPO. They want 4300 for a powertrain warranty up to 120k miles (insane), so that's probably a no go. I have heard the DCT transmission is essentially bulletproof at stock power levels, other say it's a major point of concern for wear and tear. I also read that is can cost 14,000 to replace that transmission if it goes out, but also heard about 4k if it goes out.

Essentially my question is this: Are the DCT transmissions at least AS reliable as a standard manual transmission. I'd love a manual, but these cars are extremely difficult to track down period, moreso for a manual, and I have a 20 mile commute in heavy traffic in Santa Monica, so DCT seems like a great compromise.

Thanks in advance to anyone who helps! Really looking forward to becoming an owner of one of these great cars.
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      11-21-2017, 12:41 PM   #2
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I've had mine for 3 years/47k miles. Only problem I had was needing the SIB 14-15-15 (?) patch/download. Transmission has been worry free other than that.
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      11-21-2017, 05:29 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mfindigital View Post
I know, search search search, but there is so much conflicting information. I have done a ton of research and just have a few questions.

The 135i I found has 39k miles, is being sold at bmw but is too old for CPO. They want 4300 for a powertrain warranty up to 120k miles (insane), so that's probably a no go. I have heard the DCT transmission is essentially bulletproof at stock power levels, other say it's a major point of concern for wear and tear. I also read that is can cost 14,000 to replace that transmission if it goes out, but also heard about 4k if it goes out.

Essentially my question is this: Are the DCT transmissions at least AS reliable as a standard manual transmission. I'd love a manual, but these cars are extremely difficult to track down period, moreso for a manual, and I have a 20 mile commute in heavy traffic in Santa Monica, so DCT seems like a great compromise.

Thanks in advance to anyone who helps! Really looking forward to becoming an owner of one of these great cars.
Picked up mine in August. 2011 DCT N55, too old to CPO.

Signed up for the 60m/60k miles warranty that covers basically everything that could go wrong with the engine or electrical for roughly 4K.

Peace of mind sometimes is priceless.
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      11-22-2017, 08:03 AM   #4
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I have 142k miles on it with quite a few track days. I changed the DCT oil and filters at 100k. Still works perfect!
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      11-22-2017, 11:11 AM   #5
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Great, thank you for the feedback. I'm pulling the trigger today without a warranty. They dropped the price on the warranty but bundled it with a ridiculous 5.1 rate, and wouldn't honor the reduced price without that rate. I will probably look into an aftermarket warranty from a highly reputable company after taking delivery.
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      12-11-2017, 01:58 PM   #6
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She was delivered last night, ended up getting a 3 year powertrain warranty. Already very in love with this car, it's everything I had hoped it would be. Feels so small when you are inside the vehicle. Excited about joining this community.
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      12-11-2017, 04:04 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mfindigital View Post
She was delivered last night, ended up getting a 3 year powertrain warranty. Already very in love with this car, it's everything I had hoped it would be. Feels so small when you are inside the vehicle. Excited about joining this community.
Welcome! And post some pics!!!

Love my 2011 with DCT by the way. I think my favorite part about the car is the exhaust pop on the upshift in manual mode. Makes me smile like an idiot every time
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      12-18-2017, 09:44 PM   #8
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Find a good indy BMW or import garage before you need them. Join BMWCCA.
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      12-19-2017, 01:26 AM   #9
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Bought my 2011 new in Oct 2010 and have had zero problems with the DCT, and basically the car in general.

Some have had transmission leaks, others have had various issues (throttle lag, idle fluctuation, and lurching forward) with the DCT.

As you said, do a search on the DCT (or anything) for more info if you're curious or run in to any problems.

Hopefully, you'll be trouble free. If not, you've got your warranty.

Good luck! And yes, post up some pics!
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      06-17-2018, 10:46 PM   #10
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I bought my 2011 DCT about 2.5 years ago. It's been great so far. I got the Route 66 warranty for 5 years & 100k Miles. Happy with it so far.
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      06-24-2018, 12:19 PM   #11
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It is a great car! You can search the forums here for guidance on where to start modding to really bring this car to life. Definitely Rear Subframe Bushings are a must as are the M3 arms front and rear. At 146k miles, my 2011 is driving better than ever. Wish I had the $$ to do the mods immediately, but I've been doing them little by little since I bought the car.
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      06-24-2018, 08:57 PM   #12
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Good advice there.

The RSFB inserts or 2 piece or the full M3 version. They really help settle the rear end handling.

I used the inserts and had it done at a local Indy shop. Wasn't too much & to this day the best thing I've done to the car.
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      10-02-2018, 11:23 AM   #13
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Hoping to revive the thread for a quick question about a 2013 128i with 32,000 km and 6MT that I found at a local Mini dealer off trade in.

The car is immaculate and I'm excited to find this condition vehicle after a lot of searching. The dealership is offered a 6 year/42,000 km 'i-ultimate' warranty covering all mechanical failure including diagnostic, part and labour for $3600 CAD. I had mentioned my interest in 3M chip guard and they've offered to include that as well with value around $500.

The 42,000km warranty will bring this car north of 70,000 km which seems to be when certain parts may need replacement. Do people think it's worth the added expense up front to potentially save down the road if something were to go wrong?

Thanks!
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      10-02-2018, 02:57 PM   #14
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I'm at 95,000 kms in a 2008 - nothing has ever gone wrong. Warranty would have been useless for me.
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      10-02-2018, 09:02 PM   #15
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thanks for the quick reply! i'm leaning towards the warranty for peace of mind since this is my only vehicle and I would need a loaner etc. happy to hear how reliable your car has been though.
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      10-02-2018, 10:35 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peregrine128 View Post
thanks for the quick reply! i'm leaning towards the warranty for peace of mind since this is my only vehicle and I would need a loaner etc. happy to hear how reliable your car has been though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by peregrine128 View Post
thanks for the quick reply! i'm leaning towards the warranty for peace of mind since this is my only vehicle and I would need a loaner etc. happy to hear how reliable your car has been though.
It's not a bad deal
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      12-30-2019, 05:14 PM   #17
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Hi! I've been reading the forum and it has helped me a lot. So, thank you.

I'm not a BMW owner yet, but I wanted to be one my whole life and now I can afford it (used).

I'm in the market for a 2010 - 2112 N55 135i with good mileage (30k to 50k mi). I don't want to mod it at all. I just love it stock.

Is there major differences between 40k ~ mi and 60k ~ mi? (Like other brands/cars)

I'm asking this because I've found some 135i's with 60k mi that are within my budget and seem to be in pretty good shape. After checking them out and testing them, do you guys think it would be a good decision? Or should I keep looking and waiting for a 40k ~ mi 1er?

Thank you!
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      01-07-2020, 03:29 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franciscold View Post
Hi! I've been reading the forum and it has helped me a lot. So, thank you.

I'm not a BMW owner yet, but I wanted to be one my whole life and now I can afford it (used).

I'm in the market for a 2010 - 2112 N55 135i with good mileage (30k to 50k mi). I don't want to mod it at all. I just love it stock.

Is there major differences between 40k ~ mi and 60k ~ mi? (Like other brands/cars)

I'm asking this because I've found some 135i's with 60k mi that are within my budget and seem to be in pretty good shape. After checking them out and testing them, do you guys think it would be a good decision? Or should I keep looking and waiting for a 40k ~ mi 1er?

Thank you!
There is alot more to it than mileage. Service history, age of owner, hours spent in car, etc. You're going to get hit with fat repair bills driving these cars, there are 3-5 things that are almost guaranteed to fail. Maybe they stay reliable if completely stock.

The 5 Most Common BMW N55 Engine Problems – Failures & Performance Problems
May 6, 2019 By bmwtuning 22 Comments

The Most Common BMW N55 135i, 235i, 335i, 435i, 535i Engine Problems
N55 Common Engine & Reliability Problems
For those in the market looking to purchase a BMW 135i, 335i, or 535i one important aspect to consider is reliability. In this post, we intend to highlight the most common problems with the N55 platform; please keep in mind – this is not an exhaustive list of every single potential problem. All cars and engines will have problems at some point. Some problems are unique and only affect a small number of cars, while in this post, we will address the most common engine problems that affect a larger number of N55’s.

Common N55 Engine Problems
Valve Cover Oil Leak
Water Pump Failure
Leaking Oil Filter Housing Gasket
VANOS Solenoid Failure
High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (HPFP) – Mostly older models
Starter failure

and of course cracked charge pipes are common as well. But I haven't seen anything catastrophic on here. Find a good local indy bmw mechanic and be prepared to visit them from time to time. But it's mostly worth it.
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