Owning A BMW 135i, Modified Car Review

[@Pr3dy]

Quality review as always! One thing to note about the N54 engine is the dreaded "wastegate rattle". If you're gonna buy one make sure its had this fixed, if not its gonna cost u around 2-3k to have fixed. It was a recall in the US but sadly not in the UK.

[@troybennett9959]

Mine is 9 years old and still a head-turner. Love this car.

[@mdcohen]

I've got one. The gray red aluminum trim combo is killer. A little curious why the owners didn't get a tune which is easily the best bang for the buck. Next would be the intake. At least this is what most people do for power mods. I'll agree the looks are a little polarizing. About the same size as the E46 coupe but doesn't have the classic lines. If I did it again I would have prioritized suspension mods over power. Stock the car is plenty fast but it understeers and there's some flex because of the soft bushings. Having said that if anyone wants power and a bit of luxury and doesn't want the ubiquitous 335i, this is a very cool car and a bargain used. Do learn about coil packs and high pressure fuel pumps with this engine. It's not a nightmare, it won't grenade but there is some maintenance cost.

[@oc3144]

Can you tell us what kind of maintenance you need for the car and how much? Thank you!

[@ModMINI]

Tune will fix that check engine light on the dash as well. A tune will give them nearly 100hp gain.

[@ModMINI]

I just got one. This is a truly great car. I had to get automatic shifting version because hard to find manuals for a decent price in the US and wife has to drive it. I have the charge pipe, intake and a tune (which you can install yourself using your mobile phone and a $70 dongle) and wow, it is FAST. Like E60 M5 territory. I added E90 M3 front tension rods/control arms which fixed the tendency to understeer. Great car, the only reason I would sell is if I got rich and could afford a 1M or a cheap manual 135i popped up. Highly recommend.

[@stephenmac23]

*floors it* "Bloody hell! It's well quick!" Love British people lmfao

[@unluckeeeee]

Love my 135i. So much potential and lots of fun. Definitely some things that need upgrading to make it handle better but overall they are great fun.

[@manc7808]

Id get rid of the euro rice m stripes on the front bumper straight away.

[@LassoKid7777]

dude i just found out about them this month bought one and im very happy with it its a real beast with a few little mods for reliability its unbelievable in performance

[@bully130london]

Got a 3L twin turbo. Love it to bits. I smile and laugh like you did on my 1 and half hour hour commute down Japanese B roads every morning, Proper quick

[@unluckeeeee]

Ended up buying one these a year ago... 2009 Black N54 135i, black leather, later version iDrive. So far changed charge pipe, DCI, MHD and catless d/p.. Lovely car.. Got load I wanna do to turn into the perfect balanced car.

[@MuddyBiker]

Problems with the indicators? That's because it's a BM, therefore not meant to be used. Ever. 😝

[@porkiechops7689]

Didn't even know they came with indicators tbh...

[@dcbeards]

Keep your cheep car. You'll get to work ok!

[@rhok9007]

they dont - they are confirmanators

[@ferreira94a]

Jamie mate just thought I'd drop some love. Your reviews are just fantastic. You have great enthusiasm in your videos which reflects the obvious true passion that you have for cars. Keep up the brilliant videos!

[@amarabbas3868]

lol 330hp and rwd in that little thing must loads of fun

[@DFWsCars]

It's really really a blast!

[@scotthart2]

This body shape to me gives a nod back to the 80's, I love it....

[@MattJBaugh]

The 1 series coupe is what the E46 compact should have been

[@mattyhOVashton]

Was thinking the same thing all the way through the video haha

[@richj7636]

The one series is the same platform as the compact.

[@DFWsCars]

totally agree, this car reminds me of my old 330 ZHP or even a M3 of that gen (similar power).

[@Elim_84]

Nice! Personally I'd loose the Monday sport strip on the front

[@JlevGaming]

i have an 09 135i the cars are great and are loads of fun to drive

[@klelliott1984tm]

dude, me and my son Harrison met you yesterday at Tesco in Colchester at the car wash. Thanks for having the picture with us bro. My boy has sent it to all of his mates.lol Keep up the awesome work bro :)

[@dcbeards]

I have the 08 convertible withe the manual 6 speed. What a ride! full leather! no room for kids in the back. fun fun fun! 145 mph no problem! new top has minimal wind noise.

[@homerun217]

No ECU tuning? That's a shame, bolt ons don't do much for the car until you tune it.

[@FlyingA1pha]

Thanks for bringing back the walkarounds!

[@LuckMaker]

The beginning is relatable i like this vid already

[@imSchwaggy]

"very thick, but you can grab it fantastically" i hear that every day from my girl

[@johnhiggins8221]

One weird thing that puts me off buying cars when i go to see them is the state that the steering wheel is in, i would walk away from this one the wheel is in a right old mess!

[@nathanmehlman694]

John Higgins that's what happens when you see used cars in person, but if it's that big a problem can't you re-trim the steering wheel

[@ModMINI]

I bought a low mile used replacement wheel on eBay for cheaper than re-trimming.

[@namehere8865]

Theres some websites which change the wheel itself and you jsut swap it in. Not an easy job but not too difficult. Can have that suede material all around or on the top with carbon fibre etc.

[@buca9696]

Insurance, maintenance costs, warranty, financing, mpg, that's why people buy new super minis as opposed to second hand modified turbo BMWs with questionable history and no warranty.

[@Seafury2004]

I purchased a 2010 135i last year, still under warranty. although the full service package as lapsed so I agree on the maintenance. If I keep bring this to BMW for service, costs are a lot, even when I need something like brakes. And my insurance is less than $400 USD a year for full coverage :-) Although gas has gone up here by like 35% in the last year, I'm still lucky enough to only have to pay 27 US cents per liter.

[@GoffyTv]

dude, great video mate and i love your commentary. i have a 540i at the moment but i am dribbling over these at the moment! i agree the four doors are very budget looking but the coupe is swoopy and rather sexy in shape. Great vid mate, well done!

[@13owa3]

Would you do a review of the 1 series hatchback... Preferably the mk1. I think they are a really underrated car!

[@Gasinduced]

130 is a great car.

[@jacooosthuizen3593]

im saving up for a bmw 130i till i can afford the bmw135i :D

[@chrisogrady28]

3 door, petrol manual m sports do feel like little practical sports cars. More like a shooting break than a hatchback.

[@DFWsCars]

The fiat in the Abath tho, would be a beast. I have that same car 135 as a project car. It's been a lot of fun so far. So far done the air intake, exhaust and a tune.

[@chrisbrown9282]

I have a 2012 with the exact same interior minus the iDrive and I love it.

[@elwynll]

I own a 135 and these cars have to be maintained and preventative maintenance is cruicial to keeping it in order. there is actually loads of problems with this car but it is a great little car, no one else does a inline6 turbo rwd in such a small package these days. its the modern day supra, in sheeps clothing !

[@jpmworx453]

cool video. ..it's nice to see a bmw on the road that isn't a diesel driving 3mm from the car in front lol

[@SubaruWRXspdManual]

he likes red levra interior. definitely a nice ride. within the next year, I'm looking at either buying a new WRX or a few years old 135i. I'd have to keep my current car for winter though if I get a 135i.

[@juanmasel8845]

jamie i have a 135i 2012 dct n55 M package exhaust rims and steering wheel . what a fantastic car so fast and accurate congratulations for the car which upgrades you suggest

[@JamieR1988]

No lag because 1 turbo is small and works between 2-3.5 revs, then bigger turbo spools up and steps in after.

[@5300aikon]

you can check in the booklet of the veichle

[@elwynll]

they are both small and cover 3 cylinder banks each, they are the same size. theres no lag cos they are tiny for the engine size ~

[@theacehd1742]

no they are not sequential they are parallel and run together .

[@homerun217]

They are twin not sequential. They spool fast because they are tiny.

[@lloyd.8272]

Both turbos are the same size and share 3 cylinders each.

[@jamesbell9828]

Love how understated it is

[@ward720]

fantastic video man. I have a fbo methanol 1 series and they are just unreal

[@mathewlake9464]

My brother picked up a 118D coupe yesterday and ind ive just fell in love with it. cant imagine what the 135i is like. Looks like ill have to be a prick and 1 up him and get this!

[@VanHellsing12]

Forget the shorts. Even this man's skin has labels!

[@mrd9534]

Didn't the 2009's come with the N55 which has a single, twin scroll turbo, rather than the earlier N54's which used the twin turbo setup?

[@mdcohen]

N54 twin turbo through 2010

[@YewRiNator]

I think the turbos are almost instant because it is twin scroll which I believe means there is a smaller turbo which powers the big turbo, so it's always on. Which with the smaller turbo, the less lag... I think...

[@stephenavery8945]

I've only just sold my 535d, the 35x cars are amazing all round

[@AznS0ulja]

100% agree with the statement at the start, some people buy such boring cars and they arent cheap either.

[@ferreira94a]

Selling my 350z soon and now I'm thinking.. Should I get a 300HP S15, a 400HP 135i or a 350hp R34 GTT? Some one help me out please!!

[@namehere8865]

Please tell me you got the s15 or r34. I love the 135i but 4 year's ago the s15 and r34 woudlve been affordable now their prices have skyrocketed.

[@Matt463634]

Can't understand why they didn't colour code the armrest to match the rest?

[@eric106071]

in the States here. (we arent united right now) love my 128i 6cyl ~230hp. 6 spd w m package. more power than I need.

[@dacosta743]

got a question. interested in the brand of splitter, spoiler and diffuser. awesome looking car, selling my g35 for one of these!

[@chrisogrady28]

This is a fantastic video man, I'm a massive fan of these things. I find the 135 coupe and convertible one of my favourite car designs of all time. I love it so much, so muscular, so solid looking. One thing I'm interested in is the redline, the turbos worry me a bit, does it affect the progressive build to redline? The 125i has a NA 3.0 straight six so I'm wondering if that revs any higher.

[@brianearl5517]

hi jamie fantastic review im buying one im sold its got everything i like

[@SamFBM]

for the intro to answer your question I agree but uk car insurance is Fuckin out of controll for new drivers so we are restricted to sub 1l or high as a 1.4 really for the cheapest insurance

[@rspcamatthew]

the N54 engine had a fault with its high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) other than that they are a strong engine. I've got the N55 M235i and it goes like a shit off a shovel. No mods completely stock & I'm planning to keep for a long long time.

[@MartyJSPEC]

I was wondering as to what the make and model of that rear diffuser was? Does anyone have any idea? Simply love that rear diffuser and would love to purchase one for my BMW.

[@underground6t9]

gloss black, gloss black, gloss black we get it

[@britishbikermatt]

BM indicators are weird, they don't like click into place if I remember correctly - you just push it whichever way and it'll just go off - you have to flick it the other way to turn it off. I think it's dumb. Maybe that's why no one uses them because they're just a hassle in those cars.

[@wafty6435]

I'm a big fan of bmw's had them most of my driving life from e30's to x5's never had a 1 series but I always think the coupe is a bit of a girls car much prefer the hatchback version , although this does look nice 👍

[@imSchwaggy]

i love these, super small, 2 door and sporty. rwd. twin turbo. what more can you ask for.

[@spainter1985]

Really nice 135i, looks like a hoot to drive! You know they did do the 3/5 door hatch with the 3.0 n/a 260bhp engine too? Despite the acquired looks I reckon they must be pretty fun and decently practical.

[@RWL2012]

I think you can get the turbo 3.0 in the newer 1 hatchback

[@crickybarrmccluskey8601]

My dream car no joke

[@kevinjbreslin7111]

Do u own that dc5 ? And your dreaming of a bmw ?

[@reubengoh7728]

+Kevin Breslin *They're both nice quick cars, what's wrong with that?

[@kevinjbreslin7111]

+Reuben Goh because am sure if he owns a dc5 he can afford the bmw haha

[@ameethsookdeo6782]

Its not the same engine as in the 335i. The 335i has the N55, this has the n54 BMW’s TwinPower Turbo Technology in the N55 is substantially different from the outgoing N54′s twin-turbo powered setup. With Twin-Turbo, two small turbochargers are used to increase the engine’s output, both spooling up at the same time as RPMs grow. The N55 utilizes TwinPower technology, the N55 actually features only a single turbocharger instead of two working in concert.There are also differences in the block material and the addition of Valvetronic. Only on the 2011 was the engine changed to the N55, so no, the one you are driving is a N54

[@SpartaDork]

The 335i also had the N54 before switching to the N55

[@VanHellsing12]

@@SpartaDork correct 💯

[@cavantrent170]

could you please tell me which diffuser this is?? i can't find it anywhere and would really like to run this. looks what better than stock and i am switching to a quad exhaust

[@MrDazdavies]

dont lose that laugh m8 as you go though them gears lol ..make me smile every time...

[@teflondon4963]

I have the 130i and I feel these things are quite a step up, don't sound as good though

[@killuminaty187]

Gonna buy an 135i coupé in 2-3 months

[@jebotelenny9863]

Did you end up getting it?

[@killuminaty187]

@@jebotelenny9863 Yes :)

[@killuminaty187]

@@jebotelenny9863 Bought an alpine white 2009 N54 E82 BMW 135i with manual transmission , same like in the video. M-package with carbon wing, BMW performance exhaust, Performance brakes ect.

[@jebotelenny9863]

@@killuminaty187 Congrats, glad you got car you wanted. I hope you enjoy it since it seems like a blast on paper (haven't had a chance to test it). Good luck with n54.

[@killuminaty187]

@@jebotelenny9863 Thanks. I think it's a great sports car, especially for that price.

[@Htownhitter]

My 135 spat oil everywhere today let’s pray for it no burning smell tho so hopefully just a line blew

[@_7.8.6]

Very tastefully done

[@tomheaselden2964]

BMW's are always in the garage, no hate I love them but I wouldn't have one. 330hp does sound fun though!

[@Iplayforfood88]

Great Review!

[@JoTokutora]

Are you sure this is the N54 engine and not the N55? It looks like the LCI version of the 135i winch it uses the n55 twin scroll engine used on the M2 and not the n54 on the 1m Edit: Never mind it has the old front lights it is the N54

[@VanHellsing12]

Edit more

[@zulubuzz8516]

The 1m doesn't loose any of it's value!!

[@Ryan_9660]

This was my first car... how lucky

[@joereynolds7554]

love the interior

[@dylang1486]

ayy whats going on guys ricer miata here..

[@BenjaminHolland-f2g]

How much can you pick up a spec like this for?

[@SirBlain]

Awesome content!

[@NathanielKainama]

Excellent review, made me a proud owner. cheers!

[@P44TKO]

I think this will be my next car got st150 want something faster and german deffo nice car !

[@hurpaderpp]

mcdonalds bbq sauce in the coin holder hahaha

[@v_savvas]

Try to find a N54 single turbo 335i. Just amazing.

[@gzakelijk]

N55 is single. N54 twin.

[@NH_MTB_Matt]

8:37 Why is there a sauce packet in a little storage compartment to the right of the steering wheel?

[@ryanmoss2207]

The isle of wight is so small i recognise where you're driving and i don't even live there😂

[@Dontbuyalandrover]

nice colour and seats but for this kind of price range i'd go for a 335i instead. just a better looking car IMO.

[@findingrush]

A "tiny" car that weighs 3400lbs! I really enjoyed the car while i had it, but BMW really dropped the ball in the handling department. It understeered significantly, had mushy bushings all around and a lot of work had to be done to make it handle like a proper BMW. If you find a used example, this car is a great bargain as long as you fix the horrendous factory suspension and can afford the upkeep of HPFP, Waterpump, Thermostat, Coilpack, or Injectors failing.

[@arride4590]

I just bought one with warranty. All BMW buyers should buy warranty... unless is a rich person.

[@MrJockeyHD]

Think people like the idea of a brand new car cos they think it's better, I don't get how No having to worry about MOT's when on pcp Cheaper insurance Fully with you on the topic though, driving a 500l around for 4 years

[@Rodrigoelpapi7]

What is the price of the this car ?

[@brent1835]

Jamie. I would love to hear your thoughts on this vs s15.

[@timmmah_j]

@jamie_FYD if you enjoyed driving this 135i then you may want to consider driving my 2009 E60 LCI 535D possibly. For a diesel its absolutely brutal. Its completely standard, very well spec'd but im hoping to get it stage 1 mapped which will take it to around 330-360 and between 5-600 ibft with the DPF and EGR valve still in. Let me know man :)

[@PatrickEVRAable]

What year did they replace the twin turbo N54 with the twin scroll single turbo N55? Would have thought that at 2009 may have just had it? Or maybe one of the the last N54

[@chrisdooley6468]

2010 I believe was when the N55 started

[@Seafury2004]

I have to 2010 135i with twin turbo. I believe the N55 started in 2011

[@miwove]

The n54 was build into the 1 until March 2010

[@quoconut5788]

What year was this one ?

[@charleselliott7923]

How much is this car to insure for a 20 year old

[@itsshow710]

I legit can't find this spec on the car selling websites in the UK. Anyone got a link ?

[@coupeturbo8684]

hey jamie im from the isle of wight but live on portland now in dorset but if i come down your way sometime you can review my car mate ;)

[@cellshaded]

Might want to make a correction. You can't really drift it because they didn't fit an LSD into any of the versions for whatever reason... Massive oversight. I have the 135i too. I find the seats uncomfortable. After 4 months of ownership I'm still fiddling with the position and I'm only 5"7. Reason I think that is, is because FUCK leather seats! I keep slipping out of them under even moderate braking. Leather is the worst ever material. They should've made alcantara seat versions like in the 3 series... The elevation of the front bit of the seat is also pushing against my inner thighs, preventing comfortable pedal positioning. Makes no sense.

[@charcharm2681]

As soon as you pulled onto the road, "wtf you doing." Oh yea, I live in a diff country

[@archiedoughballs6599]

anyone know if one of these would be insurable at 18 with 1 year ncb?

[@oscarsandeman1591]

8:31 He's carrying round a Mcdonalds dip under the steering wheel, he's clearly a man afraid of being caught out with no dips.

[@kayhewison9674]

You're not wrong

[@wakeup2theNWO]

I used to keep a few in my glove box untill the day my mum closed the glove and popped one, the mot certificate/service history books/sat Nav/ covered in ketchup and the smell of tomato never went away even though I thought I cleaned it all up I must of missed some somewhere

[@jackhackett8463]

EML is on.

[@kayhewison9674]

Jack Hackett decat👍

[@nitheasanshan504]

You should buy a bmw 5 series e60

[@THEADZBRADZ]

I thought the 1m was twin turbo and the 135i was single turbo

[@ModMINI]

135i is twin turbo until I think 2011 or 2012 when they switched from N54 to N55 engine.

[@tahiraally5095]

gloss black honeycomb grill ??

[@ikybaiiki]

More beemee videos M135i next please 😁

[@johnyjackson6952]

raced 1 of these in my 337bhp scooby on motorway very close race until he nearly spun off lol shit BMW drivers the stability control saved him put it that way 😁

[@reubengoh7728]

Considering Subies are only really for speed you'd hope they could at least keep up.

[@johnyjackson6952]

More acceleration than speed to be honest my wrx runs out at 148 mph

[@coupeturbo8684]

Johny Jackson thats still quick tho to be fair. but my fiat 5 cylinder turbo runs out at 165mph and 105 in 3rd gear. cant launch it as i dont get the power down tho

[@johnyjackson6952]

That's a beast 👍 what power u running

[@coupeturbo8684]

Johny Jackson 250 bhp only got a 3 inch downpipe and a rear half scorpion system and intake