135i Coupe

[mike9009]

Hi all,

Not ventured into this sub-forum before, but I am seriously considering a 135i Coupe, but towards the bottom of the current market. I don't want a convertible and most 135i seem to be convertible.

I just need 'tipping' over the edge.

I am currently doing about 10k per annum in a Clubman S, getting about 40mpg. Will the fuel cost be ruinous in comparison?

What likely things will go wrong and the cost to repair?

Thanks


Mike

[helix402]

Have a look at babybmw forum. Common failures are coils, injectors and high pressure fuel pumps.

[Smuler]

mike9009 said:

Hi all,

Not ventured into this sub-forum before, but I am seriously considering a 135i Coupe, but towards the bottom of the current market. I don't want a convertible and most 135i seem to be convertible.

I just need 'tipping' over the edge.

I am currently doing about 10k per annum in a Clubman S, getting about 40mpg. Will the fuel cost be ruinous in comparison?

What likely things will go wrong and the cost to repair?

Thanks


Mike

I drove a cooper S hatch (2010) after parting with my 335i and by comparison I fond it slow and though it did have that go kart feel, FWD just isn't as much fun as RWD.

Thus to tip you over the edge think a big leap in performance and even more fun, handling.

My 335i was 2009 so a N54 engine which I think will be in the age of 135i's you're interested in. There are a list of common problems, but mine had been free of any when bought at 59k and to 85k only had injectors needing doing, under warranty but I think 1000-1500£ has been quoted as a cost by those without warranty. I bought mine on the basis that past (good) record is best indicator of future (good) performance and it paid off.

Problems listed have been HPFP and the turbos/wastegate. As I didn't have these, I don't know the costs. However, mine is sitting with new owner still without any of these so risk shouldn't put you off. Alternatively, you may get a car with these issues already dealt with. It's really about getting the right car, doing your homework on it's history.

I drove my 335i hard and only did short journeys and got about 24mpg. When researched others with longer journeys could hit 31mpg, the official combined figure I think, so it's going to be a difference but hardly ruinous on only 10 k pa.


to further tip you, here's a video I like showing 135i v my former ride and current ride

https://youtu.be/9ZGwpifULe4

[aeropilot]

mike9009 said:

Hi all,

Not ventured into this sub-forum before, but I am seriously considering a 135i Coupe, but towards the bottom of the current market. I don't want a convertible and most 135i seem to be convertible.

I just need 'tipping' over the edge.

I am currently doing about 10k per annum in a Clubman S, getting about 40mpg. Will the fuel cost be ruinous in comparison?

Not sure why you think most 135i seem to be convertible, as that's not the case, in fact I'd be surprised if as much as 10% of the numbers sold in the UK were 'verts.
A few years ago, when there was a unofficial 135i 'register' of owners on BabyBMW, out of the nearly 60 cars listed, only 3 were 'verts.

You won't get anything close to 40 mpg.......you'll do well to average 30 out of a N54 car, realistically, depending on the type of journey you do, you need accept it will closer to 25mpg average at best. If you are at the lower end of the market, its a N54 car you'll be looking at.

As said, BabyBMW forum is the best place to go.

As mentioned, on N54 known weaks points are coil packs, injectors, HP fuel pumps, electric water pumps and on the N54 the turbos!!!
Coils and injectors aren't a big issue, but fuel pump, water pump are expensive to replace, and the wastegate rattle on the turbo's are a big expense - circa £2-3k depending on where you go.

Edited by aeropilot on Monday 26th December 20:56

[ds666]

We ran one for 8 years and 90000 MLS . It had new coil packs , turbos , water pump and high pressure fuel pumps . Any a new hood . All covered by warranty .
I would have it back tomorrow , great car .

[Dolf Stoppard]

Never driven a 135i but I had a 120d coupe and really liked it. Owners tend to love their 135is and they seem to hold their value quite well. I've always loved the look and think they're a great package. As above, BabyBMW is a good source of info and a really good site as car specific forums go.

[LocoBlade]

They're slightly less bulletproof than the 130i hatch due to the aforementioned HPFP and turbo issues, but still a great car. The 135i also retained the hydraulic steering rack which gives better steering feel whereas everything else went to electric when the 2007 1 series facelift (and coupe) arrived, which is a bonus. MPG will be journey dependent but budget for high 20's and you won't be far off.

A good friend of mine has a nice example which he rarely uses that will be for sale in a couple of months. It's late 2007 with under 50k miles, Le Mans blue, Xenons and heated black leather. It's just had the DSC module refurbed (a fairly common failure on the 1 Series) and I think he'll be looking to get around £11k for it. PM me and I'll give you some details if you're interested.

[ds666]

oh and 24mpg ..

[f1nn]

The same engine in a 3 series has averaged 29.7mpg over the last 8k for me.

[LocoBlade]

Yeh I think you'd have to be doing lots of short journeys or driving enthusiastically more often than not to average 24mpg, on a decent length boring commute I'd be surprised if you couldnt nudge 30mpg

[aeropilot]

LocoBlade said:

Yeh I think you'd have to be doing lots of short journeys or driving enthusiastically more often than not to average 24mpg, on a decent length boring commute I'd be surprised if you couldnt nudge 30mpg

You'll be doing well to nudge 30 on a commute, but it depends on your commute.

Mine is a later N55 with DCT, so a bit more efficient than an earlier N54, and when I first got mine, I was doing a 75 mile per day commute out of West London and around the M25 to Herts, and in a 2.5 year period my average was 29.2 mpg.

My commute now is a shorter 18-20 mile urban commute, with next to no dual carriageway, and my average is now 23.8mpg.

[LocoBlade]

Yeh very route dependent I'm sure, there's lots of economy killing stop/start traffic in and around greater London though if its anything like Kingston where I used to live? I do a similar distance 20 mile commute but mostly on rural A roads with a couple of miles of small town to get through. In my old 130i I used to average about 32mpg on that run if I was just pootling along with traffic and on the same route achieve about 27mpg in my Audi S4 B8 that some owners barely manage 20mpg in. I'd expect the 135 to match if not better the S4 given the comments I've read in the past of people going from 130s to 135s losing 2-4mpg on average, but I'll know next week as my S4 will be going on Friday and I'm borrowing the above mentioned 135 for a few weeks.

[mike9009]

Hi,

Thanks all for the replies. So MPG, insurance, servicing,tyres etc do not put me off, but the frequency of turbo and injector issues (and associated repair costs) have put me off somewhat.

I have a 30 mile daily commute on the Isle of Wight, which at the time I commute is relatively easy A/ B road blasts.

BMW specialists are non existent on the island (there is a good BMW main dealer but I imagine it would be even more £££££s there) - which adds to my nerves, as getting a 'disabled' car off the island is a pain and only adds to the concerns. Are the cars driveable with the failures? I wish somewhere would produce stats on the likelihood of failure....my R55 MINI, according to the web experts, is guaranteed to lunch it's engine, but in 5 years and almost 50k miles my engine is still fine.......

I 'might' need a rethink, methinks.


Mike

[aeropilot]

Well, it's not so bad, as you are looking for an early car, so, there's a good chance that some of those big jobs will have been done under warranty.......so, documented history is vital when looking to buy. A lot of early cars will have even had the turbo's replaced as well by now.

Only the leccy water pump is a non-driveable issue if that goes, as there's usually no warning, and it just stops working. So, if there's no record of a pump being replaced then I'd be very wary.

[f1nn]

Yeah, I had the water pump issue a little while ago, goes from working to fked in about 10 seconds.

Wasn't particularly cheap to fix either.

[aeropilot]

f1nn said:

Yeah, I had the water pump issue a little while ago, goes from working to fked in about 10 seconds.

Wasn't particularly cheap to fix either.

Yup....mine did the same while not hanging about in the outside lane of the M4.

[LocoBlade]

mike9009 said:

Hi,

I have a 30 mile daily commute on the Isle of Wight, which at the time I commute is relatively easy A/ B road blasts.

BMW specialists are non existent on the island

http://www.autoindependent.com ?

Electric water pump failure is a risk with a lot of engines of that era though, not just the 135i. Also that repair can be done by pretty much any half decent mechanic or even an enthusiastic DIY job, it doesn't need a BMW specialist.

[Smuler]

mike9009 said:

Hi,

Thanks all for the replies. So MPG, insurance, servicing,tyres etc do not put me off, but the frequency of turbo and injector issues (and associated repair costs) have put me off somewhat.

I have a 30 mile daily commute on the Isle of Wight, which at the time I commute is relatively easy A/ B road blasts.

BMW specialists are non existent on the island (there is a good BMW main dealer but I imagine it would be even more £££££s there) - which adds to my nerves, as getting a 'disabled' car off the island is a pain and only adds to the concerns. Are the cars driveable with the failures? I wish somewhere would produce stats on the likelihood of failure....my R55 MINI, according to the web experts, is guaranteed to lunch it's engine, but in 5 years and almost 50k miles my engine is still fine.......

I 'might' need a rethink, methinks.


Mike

What about a warranty ?
If car is less than 60k miles the BMW warranty should be as low as 45-60£ p.c.m depending on levels of excess and including breakdown recovery so they can provide you with a car , if the worst happens, and sort recovery to the nearest main dealer.
If you buy from BMW it's included.
Higher mile cars should be up to about 100£ P.c.m

[mike9009]

Hi

Just to conclude this thread. I eventually wimped out of a 135i coupe. The potential 'bork' factor scared me a little. So I now have a 2007 330i coupe with the N53 engine. Only driven back from the dealers but so far very happy.

I need to raise another thread, as although it has idrive there is no Bluetooth - which surprised me a little! Is the easiest option a parrot kit?

Mike

Edit spelling/ typing

Edited by mike9009 on Sunday 8th January 11:28

[Smuler]

mike9009 said:

High it has idrive

Just to conclude this thread. I eventually wimped out of a 135i coupe. The potential 'bork' factor scared me a little. So I now have a 2007 330i coupe with the N53 engine. Only driven back from the dealers but so far very happy.

I need to raise another thread, as although it has idrive there is no Bluetooth - which surprised me a little! Is the easiest option a parrot kit?

Mike

The lack of B/tooth even when the car has that little fin on it came up recently in another thread where a chap bought the 3 series tourer. Maybe you can find that thread, if there was an answer?
I'd also go to e90post , there's a UK forum and a general one (that's mostly US), I'd be surprised if someone didn't know a way to fit it cheaply.