WTB: E82 128i Manual 12kish Budget

[Thunderguts]

I like the Boston car if it's had all the maintenance issues addressed and doesn't have scaly rust underneath. That's a fair price if it's already had ALL the seals replaced along with water pump and some hoses. If it's never had ANY of that done, it's living on borrowed time and is absurdly overpriced.

[odiford]

Originally Posted by Thunderguts

I like the Boston car if it's had all the maintenance issues addressed and doesn't have scaly rust underneath. That's a fair price if it's already had ALL the seals replaced along with water pump and some hoses. If it's never had ANY of that done, it's living on borrowed time and is absurdly overpriced.

Completely agree.

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by Thunderguts

That's a fair price if it's already had ALL the seals replaced along with water pump and some hoses. If it's never had ANY of that done, it's living on borrowed time and is absurdly overpriced.

Everyone is always so worried about the waterpump. I have owned two N52 cars with OEM waterpumps north of 150k miles, and the sky did not fall. Are there waterpump failures that happen?.....of course there are, but I don't think it happens as often as everyone on the internet makes you believe.

My bigger issue with that Boston car would be where it has lived its life.

[TboneS54]

It's the same with every car, IMS bearing issue with pcar or vanos in 2000s bmws. Like 1-6% of cars are affected by something then everyone acts like every car will experience the issue. Forums contain a concentration of afflicted owners which grows the perception.

[odiford]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Everyone is always so worried about the waterpump. I have owned two N52 cars with OEM waterpumps north of 150k miles, and the sky did not fall. Are there waterpump failures that happen?.....of course there are, but I don't think it happens as often as everyone on the internet makes you believe.

My bigger issue with that Boston car would be where it has lived its life.

Important point, and also brings into conversation the impact one's willingness to wrench has on their shopping. I.E. I prioritized spec over milage since the sort of maintenance that comes with a 100k+ car doesn't bug me. But if I was going to the dealer for all my gasket changes etc then I'd want a car that puts me there less often.

Side note - I just changed the waterpump on my dad's x5 this past weekend. Toughest part was dealing with all the mangled, 300k-mile clips and plastics

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by odiford

Side note - I just changed the waterpump on my dad's x5 this past weekend. Toughest part was dealing with all the mangled, 300k-mile clips and plastics

Curious how many waterpumps that X5 went through in 300k miles. Care to share?

[odiford]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Curious how many waterpumps that X5 went through in 300k miles. Care to share?

Two. Both lasted about 150k. They were belt-driven on the M54 which was a little harder on the bearings, so not a perfect analog to our cars. Made plenty of noise when it went out, but didn't stop him from driving it for another week before replacing it. That car deserves a medal for everything it's been put through.

Getting slightly back on topic, I expect my N52 to be equally tough and look forward to pushing it into the 200s.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Everyone is always so worried about the waterpump. I have owned two N52 cars with OEM waterpumps north of 150k miles, and the sky did not fall. Are there waterpump failures that happen?.....of course there are, but I don't think it happens as often as everyone on the internet makes you believe.

It's more the fact that it can go without any warning and leave you stranded. That's not a big deal if I'm commuting to work, but if it lets go while I'm out on a country drive, the towing charge will literally cost more than a new pump and thermostat. I'm sure that 95% of N51/N52 pumps could last 100k miles, but after that, I'd start to worry about the stranding factor. If I bought a car with 122k miles and it hasn't been replaced, I'm replacing it ASAP.

Originally Posted by jcrane82

My bigger issue with that Boston car would be where it has lived its life.

Yep. If it was stored away for winter, no problem, but I'd want to see some video and high-res pictures of the undercarriage.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by odiford

I remember reading somewhere there are around 45 6MT Alpinweiss M-sports in the US... I don't think their price is likely to fall.

Not sure where that number comes from, but I own one of them.

Again, this car has the later iDrive. I was at the launch of the original v1 iDrive at the Frankfurt auto show and no one hated it more than me. But this (and my '13) have the later version which is easy to use, and adds flexibility to the driver's use of the media systems. It also includes a 12GB "music collection" hard-drive and the ability to access an iPod using a similar style interface. I don't find it a liability even if I don't count the hard-drive-based Nav system. The iDrive on my wife's '08 E82 does not earn the same respect.

Likewise power seats. I like to adjust my seats in micro steps depending on which shoes I'm wearing that day—really! The memory position is nice, especially if others will drive your car. Much easier to adjust the electric seats for relieving pressure on long trips than it is on the manual control seats, in my opinion.

My biggest problem with this car under discussion in Boston (other than the miles and climate) is the lack of leather interior. That's just one of my pet peeves which comes from over 40-years of selling BMWs and 50-years of BMW ownership. Might still be worth looking at if the price was lower, but I'd be trying hard to source a new interior.

[odiford]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Not sure where that number comes from, but I own one of them.

Somewhere on here there is a production number spreadsheet floating around... should have saved it when I originally found it.

Cool to have (at least) two of them in VA, btw. Although I have had to come to terms with our lovely "anything over 80 is reckless driving" law which wasn't a problem in my 240d which topped out around 70mph.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by odiford

Although I have had to come to terms with our lovely "anything over 80 is reckless driving" law which wasn't a problem in my 240d which topped out around 70mph.

This is completely off-topic, but has anyone ever been able to explain why VA traffic laws are so strict? I hated driving through VA as far back as the early 90s and it's only gotten worse since then. We've got plenty of problems in Texas, but speed enforcement ain't one of them. When I first moved to Texas they were actually implementing a speeding coupon program. Basically you bought a speeding coupon ahead of time and if you got pulled over, you could pay the ticket with a coupon on the spot and no points would go on your record.

I was driving out in West Texas a long time ago cruising around 110 mph. A 5.0 Mustang pulled up on my ass and turned on its lights. The trooper first explained that he originally clocked me at 107, but thought that was wrong so he clocked me again and got 97 because I must have slowed down. He first explained that yes it's an empty stretch of road and yes, he likes to go fast too, but that I was lucky he clocked me a second time. I think that was a $250 ticket, which I was mad about at the time, but at least I didn't get hit with reckless driving.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by odiford

Although I have had to come to terms with our lovely "anything over 80 is reckless driving" law which wasn't a problem in my 240d which topped out around 70mph.

I believe that law was amended to "reckless by speed" at 85-mph and over, or 20mph over the posted limit. Don't take my word for it but Google was inconclusive on when/if it changed.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

I believe that law was amended to "reckless by speed" at 85-mph and over, or 20mph over the posted limit. Don't take my word for it but Google was inconclusive on when/if it changed.

Yeah it is 20 over the posted limit or 85 whichever is lower. So stretches of 64 are 70 and it moves at 85.

Virginia is a pain in the ass. Part of my love for the 128i

I think the track day promoters and track owners lobby must have pulled some strings....we have great tracks and full trackdays!!!

[odiford]

Originally Posted by Thunderguts

This is completely off-topic, but has anyone ever been able to explain why VA traffic laws are so strict?
...
I think that was a $250 ticket, which I was mad about at the time, but at least I didn't get hit with reckless driving.

No idea. Might be an interesting investigation to get to the bottom of it.

That's crazy - I got a $300 ticket when I was 18 for doing 78mph on 267 into DC. The state trooper made very clear just how much he wished he got me at 80mph so he could "really teach me a lesson about consequences on his roads." Pretty wild looking back on it now but to his credit that's the only ticket I've ever gotten.

An out-of-state friend of mine got popped at 95mph on i81 just two weeks ago - she's looking at a very expensive day in court and community service/probation.

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

... Virginia is a pain in the ass ...

Yeah traffic laws are brutal and the personal property tax is annoying, but at least the roads are nice and weather is good.

[carscatscoffee15]

Originally Posted by odiford

No idea. Might be an interesting investigation to get to the bottom of it.

That's crazy - I got a $300 ticket when I was 18 for doing 78mph on 267 into DC. The state trooper made very clear just how much he wished he got me at 80mph so he could "really teach me a lesson about consequences on his roads." Pretty wild looking back on it now but to his credit that's the only ticket I've ever gotten.

An out-of-state friend of mine got popped at 95mph on i81 just two weeks ago - she's looking at a very expensive day in court and community service/probation.

Yeah traffic laws are brutal and the personal property tax is annoying, but at least the roads are nice and weather is good.

I noted this when I drove to Raleigh to get tuned. I drove like an absolute saint going through VA but would see other folks get pulled over

[xxatticus]

A really clean 6MT was just posted to the forum, figured I'd bump this thread.

Here's the link: Manual 128i - Auction Style https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1793112

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by xxatticus

A really clean 6MT was just posted to the forum, figured I'd bump this thread.

Here's the link: Manual 128i - Auction Style https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1793112

Doesn't have sport package....but cheap enough that you could justify swapping seats, steering wheel, and suspension. The chrome trim will be a little more difficult to change, but not impossible. Nice find.

[Jwal]

Hey everyone, a couple cars popped up today so I am going to see if either of those work out. I'm also in contact with the builder extraordinaire in Michigan to talk through some cars he will have available soon. Thanks!

[415]

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

[jcrane82]

Originally Posted by 415

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Jwal, this car won't last long at that price. Need to get on your horse now. This is a slicktop car! Only way this car could be optioned better is if it had the N52 instead of the N51. MOVE!

Here is the same listing but on the dealer's website with more pictures:
https://www.allinautogroup.com/pre-o...-Series/633800

[Thunderguts]

Unfortunately that's on the other side of the country for him. Then again, for a car that rare and a price that low, it might be worth the $1500 to transport it.

[yostuhfoo]

Originally Posted by jcrane82

Jwal, this car won't last long at that price. Need to get on your horse now. This is a slicktop car! Only way this car could be optioned better is if it had the N52 instead of the N51. MOVE!

Definitely priced well. It could also be optioned better with Black, Red, or Brown seats as opposed to Beige but that is easy enough to swap out.

White, MSport, Manual, Xenon, Slicktop, No iDrive

Edit: And it appears to have a clean carfax, no accidents, 3 owners, california car. Seems to have been in the dealer a few times for electrical wiring repair which is odd but man overall for 8K its a solid car.