E82 135i

[ManOpener]

I'm on the look-out for an E82 135i and was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers on what to look for, or any well-regarded ones that are already up for sale or soon to be.

I'm pretty set on a DCT/N55 car which seems to massively reduce the number of available options open (looking through AT, PH Sales and Approved BMW). Preferably a relatively low-mileage one. Would prefer one that wasn't silver or black. There don't seem to be too many 2010+ cars for sale and many of those seem to be manuals. The price spectrum for the rocking-horse DCT cars seems to border on the silly- there are some up for basically the same prices as much newer 235i cars!

I was initially considering the 125i, but there are so few of those with decent options (iDrive etc) that I've basically dismissed them. If the right 125i came up (IE one optioned up to the eyeballs) I'd still be interested.

[Smuler]

I don't know whether the smaller BMW site , bmwbaby.net might hate cars for sale that you can get intel from owners on.
I had the same DCT in a 335i but N54. It's excellent , much better than step Auto you'd get in a lot slower 125.
So I'd hold out for one.

[ManOpener]

The 125i can, however, be simply remapped to full-fat 330i 270bhp territory as it's exactly the same engine mechanically speaking (including the multi-stage inlet manifold, the absence of which prevents the US 128i's be upped to that level).
I've used the Step auto in a 330i and, though not awful, it wasn't exactly brilliant.