Should you buy a used BMW 135i? | ReDriven

[@luapark3068]

Style: Hella Potential Performance: Hella Problems: Hella

[@SeventeenTheSeventeenth]

Stove in finnish: Hella

[@Saiyan585]

Basic maintenance when you buy it, then no problems.

[@knifedance2402]

@@Saiyan585”Basic maintenance” includes a $2-3000 set of injectors, $1000 HPFP, and new oil pan, OFHG, and valve cover gaskets along with potential to need a turbo replacement. As someone who owns one and works with them, they’re *definitely* a cut above “basic maintenance.” Not so much as to actually be nearly the pain a lot of people say. But a lot more than most cars. Even most BMWs.

[@Saiyan585]

@@knifedance2402 Injectors don't cost 2-3k on an N55. They're not index 12 Injectors on an N54.

[@ELheretik1351]

so buying a 2012 with no engine mods, how much would you say it takes to update it and would it be worth buying it in the M version?

[@keanusalimi1750]

Bought the 1 series less than a year ago because i simply just love the look of the car. After I learned to drive it, man theres something about a smaller BMW with hydraulic steering that i simply just love. It makes daily driving feel like go karting on legal streets

[@TayTheGodFather]

How many miles did you have when you found it and how much did you purchase it for?

[@keanusalimi1750]

@@TayTheGodFather 80k km, which is around 50k miles - 13k CAD so around $10k USD

[@keanusalimi1750]

@@TayTheGodFather 128i though, not a 135i

[@chrisp.5272]

Haha you should drive an E28/E30 from the 80’s.

[@keanusalimi1750]

@@chrisp.5272 I have! Ive driven an e30 before, was such a pure drive. Even my e82 doesn't compare to those classics.

[@Kingmick58]

I bought one. 118k's. Space Grey colour. Had to look up Google for the mods. Charge and down pipes, quad Akripovic exhaust, engine and gearbox remaps, Docile driving around town but It's a weapon. Love it. No tickets yet. Touch wood. I'm 66 now, old tappethead. Retirement present to me.

[@cafefeine1017]

How's it been? I'm looking at a similar milage one at the moment

[@wavynottingham]

Although I am not one for pushing my cars, this car also has a cool factor in it. Every time I take my 135i to car meets, bone stock btw, people always tell me it’s like an updated E36 M3…

[@2w0nGranTurismo]

i cannn kiiiiiiinda see why they say that

[@martyboymedia]

I've had a 2011 N55 manual 135i coupe for last 5 years. Few things have needed fixing, but overall no disasters. Easy to drive around town, phenomenal out on winding country roads. Now about 115,000 km, will be keeping indefinitely.

[@robertpurvis6106]

I love my 135i! I can confirm you will have repairs, maintenance, and mod costs. I got mine in 2019 with 55k. So far I have had done oil filter housing gasket, valve cover and gasket (gasket twice as I didn't know I should have done cover the first time), oil pan gasket, transmission pan gasket, walnut blast, water pump and thermostat, spark plugs (twice), ignition coils, rotors, pads, brake lines, coil overs (looks way better lower), Vorshlag hats (needs camber for front tires to not rub), 6 new injectors (4 were leaking), maf sensor, and now I need a new LPFP (will probably need HPFP in 20k). Michelin Pilots (Second set). I'm at 77k btw. What it came with that I would have purchased. Dinan front sway bar and end links, inter cooler, oil cooler, wheels (BBS CH-R), Dinan cat back exhaust, metal charge pipe. Wouldn't have gone Dinan but I would have got those items. I also did a catch can and Mosselman oil thermostat (car runs hot and this helped keep down from 250 to 220). So if you find this buggah for 10k with 100k miles, expect to throw at it 5-10k in the first few years. Prop to the gear heads that can do everything themselves. I did the minor repairs. Plugs, ignition coils, but some of the repairs like trans gasket and fuel injectors were up there and I'm talking competitive independent pricing. In a year or two I will have to start replacing all the various bushings front to back as well. Some of which are in control arms so might a well do m3 ones. Lastly Wavetrac LSD (not necessary but cool asf).

[@cheybludick8628]

What the fuck

[@me831foo]

🙃

[@ninja250rvs]

LOL I can't tell if this is a joke or not. This sounds like a PITA to own.

[@robertpurvis6106]

@@ninja250rvs yes. Pita. If you don’t have thousands for old parts and gaskets, don’t jump in a 10 yr old bmw. Cheaper if you are a garage head but doesn’t get rid of the pita of how hard some repairs are. Just realized I posted this 4 months ago. Done $4k in mods and maintenance since then. lol. Want to upgrade the turbo but something always suddenly needs to be replaced. fml. don't get me wrong. it's fast, but you get used to 390 hp real quick.

[@ELheretik1351]

so to make a 2010 m version usable and daily driver again with only basic mods, how much would you say you would be investing?

[@dougrobinson8602]

Nice overview of the one series. Don't overlook the 128i, however. Much more reliable, with a rev-happy engine. I get around 30 mpg in mixed driving if I keep my right foot disciplined. No issues with intake valve coking. Expect valve cover and oil pan gasket leaks, as well as the ubiquitous oil filter housing gaskets. Serpentine belts, if completely failed, can get sucked into the crankshaft seal, possibly ruining the engine. the 128i, due to less underhood heat, will not require as frequent coolant pump replacement. 75,000 miles is a reasonable replacement interval, although mine went 125,000 miles before the thermostat housing cracked. Working on the engine is a bit tight, but doable if you have reasonable mechanical skills. There are many videos out there to guide you through the more common jobs. BMW plastics are rubbish! BTW, the dashboards are known to develop bubbles in them if frequently parked in the sun. Get a good sunshade. Look for an unmodified example, if possible. If you're taller, a sunroof deleted 'slicktop' adds a couple inches of headroom. The manual is the only way to go. It's not the best manual out there, but it is fun to row the gears. Numerous short shift kits are available to minimize the stock vagueness of the shifter. Clutch uptake is spot on. The suspension is endlessly rebuildable, and a nice upgrade is to install E93 M3 pieces for a more buttoned down feel. Rear subframe mounts are a PITA to replace with M3 bits, but well worth it. I suspect the dodgy suspension he noticed is a result of worn control arms and subframe mounts. If you buy a BMW of any ilk, you must commit to maintenance. If you stay ahead of the known issues, you will find a 128i or 135i to be a great daily driver.

[@ReDriven]

Thanks so much for this Doug. Excellent comments and exactly what we love to see here. - AK

[@yazankhwaileh861]

Very useful comment thank you.

[@Saiyan585]

The last thing anyone needs in an E82 is headroom because of the way the roofline rounds out. I'm 6'3 with plenty of room to spare. People mainly install a carbon insert to reduce weight. As for the dash, wipe it down with a ceramic product or get 80% ceramic based tint on the windshield to block out most of the UV rays. For anyone else that likes to wrench, all of the plastic components can be upgraded to aluminum like the coolant hose housing, valve cover, etc.

[@PURCELLYOUTUBE]

There are thousands making over double the rated horsepower on the stock N54 engine and even a few making over triple doing 8s quarter miles on built N54 engines. Absolute weapons

[@mq46312]

That BMW smell is spot-on. It's like fast-food chains, each chain has "engineered" its own distinctive smell. My BMW had its signature smell. Now I have an old Mercedes which also has its own distinctive smell.

[@kingprone7846]

thats just the e46/e90 area. smells a bit like crayon.

[@thecodfather5204]

I'm used to my BMW smell but whenever I enter another BMW I can easily smell it

[@davidholmes6936]

Some free advise for all BMW owners parts are relatively cheap if you have time to look overseas we are happy with our 135 and use FCP euro and schmiedmann great prices and great warranty... highly modified N54 440 HP twin stock turbos , all the upgraded bolt-ons

[@knifedance2402]

Love my N54 135i! Got it with 60k miles on it, and man, the torque, the hydraulic steering, it all just works so well together to make any drive fun. You’ll definitely learn about your car if you do all the maintenance it needs to stay in good shape, but it’s worth it. 120k now, and still the best car I’ve driven. Keep em flying!

[@connorraine6690]

picked up a 2012 135i manual with 100k kilometers on it. Even after all the hype and watching every single youtube video on them...it still managed to surpass my expectations. Get it in manual, turn off the DCT, have some fun. You will not regret it.

[@ur2slob724]

And make sure you get racq roadside membership with it 😂

[@trevorhebert7174]

I picked up a 2013 6mt with 100k miles a few weeks ago. Flew one-way and drove it 19 hours back home. I love the thing.

[@TayTheGodFather]

How much did you purchase it for also are they hard to find nowadays??

[@why8410]

@@trevorhebert7174 Do you till own it? hows the engine holding up?

[@adrianhayfield2252]

A $400 carplay module really updates the tech on the CiC units, even the steering wheel voice control integrates with it.

[@quoostonator]

Could you link an example?

[@dainese01]

​@@quoostonatorGoogle mmi adapter

[@casey6933]

Awesome review. I have a manual 2009 E82 125i Coupe. (naturally aspirated 3L 6 cylinder) I bought her when she was 2 years old and she's still my daily. Mine is in mint condition. However, the rear parking sensors control module (Bosch) did get flooded. A new Bosch control module is $500 (or $150 used) and if you have trim removal tools, takes less than an hour to refit yourself. Other than that, she's a dream to own. Agree with your mechanic. BMW service intervals of 25k is absolutely stupid. I get mine done every 12 months (approx 10k) at SouthernBM (Melbourne). PS - you're absolutely right about that BMW smell. Even after all those years! Side note - that leather pouch under the arm rest is for an old style ipod. In that centre console is a AUX 3.5mm jack and a USB slot. These cars came with the BMW 'Y' cable that would allow your ipod and the text to be displayed on the dot matrix screen (yes, even if you did not have an iDrive screen. The leather pouch kept its all hidden away, and the other end of the 'Y' cable had the ipod 30 pin connector for the ipod.

[@arride4590]

Yes you should. Last week here in US i bought a Mustang V6. Next day i took back and i bought a 135i N55 with 5 years aftermarket warranty. This little car is fast, fun and looks great. You will not regret!

[@markozinga]

I had a brand new 128 coupe (non turbo charged version of the 3L 6cyl engine). I loved it to bits. I agree that it was unsettled on Aussie country roads. I think it is to do with the shorter wheel base. But i am no expert. I had to trade up to a 4 series as the kids got too big 😁. Once we get the kids out of the equation, im going back to the 2 series coupe. Thanks for the video.

[@ReDriven]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting Mark. - AK

[@TheWretchedWorld]

My mate bought one of these dirt cheap in a state of disrepair basically had every mechanical problem you listed. We managed to get it running great after replacing the turbos various gaskets the entire cooling system and injectors. We are mechanically minded and did the work ourselves, with full bolt ons and a tune it pulls like an absolute train even with 220,000km on it.

[@TheNsnare]

Mate I bought one in July and I couldn't have been happier. What absolute little monsters these are. A few mods and an MHD tune and they absolutely rip. For the money, you couldn't find a quicker, better handling car. Awesome video

[@DigitalDissident]

Exactly. I like the smaller size too, Other BMW coupes have gotten too big.

[@ur2slob724]

Get your wallet ready mate 😂

[@JimyOfficial]

Any issues?

[@UltimatumAutomotive]

I bought mine couple months ago. Love the car. Mines modded to hell at this point and is insanely quick

[@darkeye2020]

What kind of mods?

[@UltimatumAutomotive]

@@darkeye2020 mmp stage 3 vrsf intercooler, vrsf intakes, vrsf race exhaust, bms port injection manifold, e85 tune, one piece drive shaft 8.8 rear end 8hp75z trans upgraded tires and brakes. Only thing stock is body besides the bumper cut out and the interior lol

[@derickk_]

@@UltimatumAutomotive hows the maintenance ?

[@UltimatumAutomotive]

@@derickk_ cheap so long as you don't let it build up

[@JimyOfficial]

Had any crazy issues with your car ?

[@johnnylima784]

Had a 2010 n55 135i myself.. It had the PPK2 kit from factory and I modded it further (nothing over the top) and it was a little pocket rocket. I still regret selling it today. I later upgraded to a 2016 f80 M3 and even though it’s a much more accomplished car all-round, it lacks the emotion the 135 gave me. The m3 is much more involving and a truly amazing machine and the 135 can come close to what it can do in every aspect. Yes the m3 is much much faster (stock vs stock) - actually a bit too fast for public roads as RD suggests, and can almost never be driven to the max ever, it has to be limited to about 60-75% all the time which kinda takes away some of the fun imo.you have to have a nice stretch of road to fully enjoy its gears or live in an urban area - that helps… I remember having the 135 and enjoy sometimes having driven it to its limits(risky to do with that car to be honest), but with the m3, even knowing its much easier to control/slide you are constantly aware that trouble is just a foot-plant away…. It feels so much more grown up…too much so perhaps. Awesome car nonetheless. But the 135 is a jewel of a car and very underrated! Beware of the water-pump, they all fail well before 100k km. I also had some of the dead-pixels on my radio screen. Both were replaced under warranty. Highly recommended car!but have some spare change just in case for out of warranty cars. And get the n55 single turbo engine. Much more reliable!

[@bwdrives]

buyers, forget this 135i unless you want to spend a day per month at the garage. Go for a 125/128i with BMW's best ever inline 6, N52. Can remap to 130i spec giving you 270hp without any of the reliability issues except the odd oil leak later in life. Also go for one with LCI headlights and tail lights as they look way more modern. Specifically Sport Plus Editions look superb.

[@Skibbidyboobop]

After owning a 335i, I would absolutely go 128i. Enough torque and hp especially in the 1 series. That engine light still haunts my dreams.

[@Saiyan585]

Don't listen to this guy. The fun you get from the N54 is night and day, and with MHD, you won't find anything else come close for the money. I haven't needed to do anything outside of an oil change in years. Just do some basic maintenance when you buy one. Change the coils out for the latest Eldors and some NGK plugs. Replace your vanos solenoids if needed. Later on, upgrade to index 11 or 12 injectors, and you shouldn't have any issues. Over time, your valvecover gasket and oil filler housing gasket. All can be done in a day. The N54 is great. People just beat the piss out of them tuned and never do maintenance and then wonder why they have an engine light. The N52 has the same leaky gaskets.

[@Melodic-entity]

@@Saiyan585thank you for saying this these BMW owners obviously don’t know shit about power and the engines the n54 could push 1000 hp bro how is the n52 better unless we’re talking reliability but who cares about that

[@NickDaqqers]

I swear almost every car I am interested in buying, you have an informative video on it. Thanks guys 😊

[@DigitalDissident]

I have one in Germany. It's amazing on the Autobahn & I can take it on the Nürburgring. I got a blue, manual, 2011, N55 (more reliable single turbo), LCI, M Sport, with brown leather interior, no sunroof, no idrive crap so I get two cup holders :) Stage 1+ so 350hp & around 280kph top speed. With performance exhaust, & no OPF, the N55 sounds better than anything else with six cylinders.

[@ThaHammieJaassee]

I have the n54 black sapphire with brown leather interior with a sunroof no Idrive on stage 2+ on e50 mix

[@ogmechsftw]

u think it sounds better than a gt3?

[@ModMINI]

@@ogmechsftw Sounds better than any inline 6, let's say?

[@DigitalDissident]

@@ogmechsftw GT3 is unobtainium, flat six sounds good, different, probly equal. I have never hear a loud Porsche on autobahn, all stock exhausts. The turbo Porsches are more like vacuum cleaner noises... The BMW performance exhaust with the N55 is bomb. I saw one fly by & it was the reason I bought one two years ago.

[@kingprone7846]

@@DigitalDissident bmw 6 cylinders have always sounded really good. especially the 90s/2000s ones.

[@minenu11]

I can give you another issue on the coupe. The Brake light in the boot. I had the brake light in the boot fall to bits and crack up twice in the warranty period. The only issues I had with my 135i Msport. Fixed both times without question from the dealer. Who were amazing BTW throughout my ownership. I am actually entertaining the thought of getting me a second hand 135i Msport convertible. N55. Damn I loved that car!

[@neelparmar6690]

Happy to help out with this one mate, excellent work as always!

[@Alex-dh2ff]

I personally say the car is very safe, if you aren't driving yourself off a cliff that is.... While i was taking a right turn I had some idiot run a red light going about 100km/h in a Porsche cayenne and I wasn't injured. When you look at what happened to the porsche vs the side of the E88 i was driving the car is so bloody solid. Probably would've died in an MX-5! And that BMW smell is true, i love it.

[@MakaveliA.B]

The thing with chris was that he was ahead of his time With some of his designs.

[@josephhradil86]

Last year I bought a ‘13 135i cabriolet with only 3,500 miles. Amazing car.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

I had one of these things pass me on the freeway a while ago. I'm presuming that it was the six cylinder turbo version and possibly tuned up on top of that. It sounded like a blend of a GP car and a Messerschmitt in a nose dive and it was going just about as fast. I can see the appeal.

[@dbtbandit6722]

It was probably me. I was having a great time until I realized how much fuel it burned.

[@michaeldove4929]

My tuned one is a rocket! It really puts a smile on your face.

[@dbtbandit6722]

I bought this car (in convertible) back in January. I absolutely love it, but this cannot be your daily commuter car, this also isn’t for someone who isn’t an enthusiast who isn’t ready to spend money on it. It’s essentially my weekend/joyride car and I love every moment of being in it. I roll the top down and hear the engine explode like a rocket taking off and I am really taking off. But this car was a hassle to deal with. But on the whole I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

[@COLDoCLINCHER37]

Is hard to maintain?

[@JNEV333]

The run flat tyres are awful for the ride quality, I swapped them out and the difference was night and day! They are great cars, but don’t be fooled by the cheap price, the maintenance will always catch up with you eventually unless you work on the car yourself.

[@buster1368]

This might sound crazy, but my parents drive this very BMW 135i! it has an Apple carplay screen now.

[@CR-pu4tz]

Best car iv owned. Maintenance is not unreasonable if labour cost don't come into the picture. Easy to tune and more aftermarket support that I ever had with audi. Definitely a vehicle that demands attention when driven but offers a great experience.

[@shimi4746]

Please do a vid on its little brother the 125i. Naturally aspirated straight six!

[@dho]

it's rather pedestrian and heavier than going with an older beemer. if you want NA you should get an older car or a e90 330i. i mean sure they last longer but that's obvious, any lower hp car will be more reliable than its more powerful iteration. i don't need a sports car that'll last 200k reliably.

[@Drewhardin96]

So I've had a E88 n55 135i DCT with the m sport and winter package for the past 3 years. I've done a few cosmetic mods and performance mods but I started at 50k miles and now at 78k miles. What I've had to replace is: intake gasket ($1500), tires (replaced to pilot sports instead of run flats, $750), oil filter housing gasket ($800), alternator ($1300), and the battery ($300). Even with all of these repairs I still love to drive the car everyday and I don't see myself getting rid of her for a long time.

[@Dark_Helmet15]

Usually by 100k, you will have done valve and oil pan gaskets as well as the oil filter housing. This doesn't matter between the N54 or N55, its just the usually BMW gasket problem.

[@200mphgt40]

Odd comments about the DCT trans. I just got a 2010 M135 DCT a couple weeks ago. Love the DCT, and we've had three other types of cars with Dual Clutch transmissions. This one is by far the best. Put it in sport mode and then press DTC button once to get rid of oversensitive throttle and it's quick shifting and firm shifts. Or put it in sport/manual mode and get back thumping quick shifts when you give it decent throttle. A manual trans would be my ideal preference, but try find one! I'll get around to tuning it one day, but even standard it goes well for daily, with good instant torque as a result of the small twin scroll turbo.

[@ReDriven]

Oh mate I hope I didn't come off like I was anti the DCT, just that I'd prefer a manual and the DCT in this model was just the tiniest bit hesitant at times. You're 100% right, finding a manual is the challenge. - AK

[@paultackowiak1553]

I'm an original, year one, 135i owner and my 2008 baby has just over 220,000 miles on it and is still going strong. As mentioned in the video there is a cost to owning this or any BMW and over the last 10 years I've replaced vanos valves (warranty), high pressure fuel pump (warranty), water pump, and the tubos (at 175,000 miles). All in all it's still the greatest bang for the buck BMS has ever offered. What was odd about the car in the video is that someone would upgrade the suspension while keeping the run-crap tires. The first upgrade I did was to consign the original wheels to be winter wheels with winter tires and to get a set of 1" larger wheels with proper Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. An easy and noticeable improvement on something that was already very, very good. Like all performance cars you do need to find a really good mechanic because the dealerships will try to charge you large sums for even minor things and you need someone to check out any 135i you're thinking of buying because some people mod the N54 engine (easy to do) and then flog it which will just accelerate the replacement of big ticket items you get stuck with, which could be exactly why someone is trying to sell it.

[@trevordriver1504]

Enjoy your video's, keep them coming. Definatly could mention the coupe seat when you fold it forward. They click forward and it feels like you are going to snap something when you push it back. I learned it's just a spring tension adjustment but I bought mine sight unseen and my brother picked me up from the airport. Not the place to have a seat stuck forward. Have a 135i n54 6 speed and a F30 N55 335i. The 135i feels much more sporty but low to the ground so climbing out instead of stepping like F30. Both N54 and N55 are leaking oil badly from sump gaskets with around 140k on them and full service history.

[@nickyang1143]

Review the 125i with the 3.0L manual cause that's the perfect used bmw

[@shaun2072]

Original ie unmodified cars bring the best money. That one has a lot of mods. Beware the modded 135i. Stock N55 ones are actually decently reliable, despite the tone of the review.

[@stephanefleury5453]

once upon a time i was looking for a mazdaspeed6 and wanted one very hard but familly matters made me go elsewhere... then, last year i go ahead with this 135i e88 n54 stg1 and all my needs have been fulfilled 😅 this blasting go kart put a smile on my face even when going get a milk pack at the street corner😊

[@Spirited_Driver]

I've had my 2009 135 for about 5 years now, and it has 170,000km on it. I haven't expected any of issues the host has mentioned(aside from the stereo screen) but it has had all the mechanical issues that the mechanic mentioned, which isn't that terrible especially if u have an Amazon account, and can do some simple repairs yourself... The most expensive repair was the water pump which was about $1300 Canadian (which is the same cost for a Ford Taurus). I love it, there is zero chance I'd trade for Mazda speed3 let alone a standard model over this 135 lmao, that's hilarious 😂 I did tune mine, it's a little monster haha

[@bornarazaviazarkhiavi8629]

im also from Canada still trying to figure out whether I should grab a 128 or 135 I want convertible.. I can do some work myself but rather not Chuck $ at it.... I've been eyeing a '08 135 with 162km on it vs a 2011 128 with 102km on it.... both auto's so the wifey can drive it.... prices very similar, and a ‘09 135 with only 92km on it but a few grand more expensive than the other two your thoughts??

[@ModMINI]

I picked up one with about 80,000 US miles on it and it's the best car purchase I've ever made. Sure, it needed some oil leaks fixed but has been reliable and yeah it's fast. And you get an extra 60+HP from a tune that you can flash with your phone and a couple of basic intake path bits, and much more is possible if you start modifying the thing. I have just the tune and the intake path and it's PLENTY fast. You get a lot of performance for the money. It tends to understeer compared to an M car, but handles better than a 335i with the same engine and is lighter as well. There are mods that correct this as well. Even in stock form it's a great car with loads of performance, and it's the perfectly sized BMW! Thanks for the review!

[@andrewnunnes]

I was thinking about getting either a vertible 328i or a vertible 128i, what’s better as a first car?

[@ModMINI]

@@andrewnunnes They are mechanically the same car. Get whichever suits your needs and purchase/repair/maintenance budget

[@andrewnunnes]

@@ModMINI can you still tune the 128 like the 135

[@rjostler3827]

Thinking about buying one? Walnut blast valves immediately, or watch a video of how to clean those sucks by hand. Easily the most passed over maintenance that makes a big difference. Also google mhd, these cars are stupid easy to tune and make more power after maintenance is been dealt with. PERFECT entry level car for enthusiasts that want to get more hands on and learn, just be ready to also buy a set of jack stands.

[@stevennatt9707]

Thanks for posting the flubs at the end. I hope your viewers will get the commitment to getting it "right," and also value the effort involved. I've done this same on-camera job off and on for years. Getting through this much copy at the level you attain isn't f'in easy at all. 👊🏼

[@jthomas7826]

I have a 2011 135i convertible with sport package, which comes with the N55, a slightly more reliable version of the N54, but a tad less robust in terms of tuning potential. But the drivetrain is rock solid, at 100k mi the only thing my mechanic spotted was the oil pan was starting to leak but nothing major at all. It has had issues with coolant tank. Agree it gets busy over rough roads, but it’s a beauty on smooth roads, no rattling or squeaking from suspension or interior. Has 7 speed automatic but I think it works great, always in the right gear, and becomes a beast in sport mode with the engine feeling much more energetic and shifts much quicker. If you have one over 90k Mi I’d recommend having the suspension looked at, a new control arm, bushings, and replacing shocks should solve the twitchieness on rough roads. Long story, short. I love this car, I feel like it’s a dying breed. If you can, definitely buy one

[@n55Rob]

Bought a car and I absolutely love the car in a year of ownership I’ve put over 25k miles on it and haven’t had any big issues besides a thermostat and a valve cover which I did myself….I love the car it’s insanely quick bmw claims 300hp to the crank but mine did 270 wheel stock so that’s like 340 crank…and if you keep it clean you’ll still have that bmw smell lol

[@theremarkablebox3064]

Yea wtf bro just about to hope into one of these bad boys and my 2009 320d outside still got that bmw smell,air fresheners ain't worth anything in beemers,tasty air

[@ryanwilson8324]

'11 n55 DCT, BMS intake & pipes, BMS intercooler, BMS oil catch can, Berk Mids & Street exhaust, VRSF downpipe, MHD tuned 2+, xHP trans tuner, all gaskets changed, 1 step colder plugs, waterpump replaced.. love it, I need to get some meatier tires, suspension and an LSD and it'll be perfect.

[@sixstrz8310]

How reliable has it been with mods I have an 08 135i stock kinda scared to tune any advice lol

[@ryanwilson8324]

@@sixstrz8310 no issues beyond aging parts.. charge pipe broke off at the mount, coolant reservoir leaking at the seam.. the car drives and brings on power beautifully. You have a different motor than I do, you have a N54 which has forged internals + an extra turbocharger. The N54 is known for it's tune-ability and has better reliability for high output than the N55 motor. If your car is in good maintenance I would absolutely grab a WiFi/Bluetooth OBD II adapter + buy the MHD software and give it a flash, the app is really quite nice and user friendly. There are a lot of great little customizations and they have maps for just about every part change as you go along the modification journey.. starting from a completely stock motor to methanol and your own custom maps. It's worth it, that's all I can say!

[@papercut1987]

Went the 128i (N52 non-turbo). I'm happy with 230hp, 87 fuel and minus all the engine problems :)

[@rileyfletch]

Same here, quite budget friendly for a fun little sportscar. Might upgrade to twin-turbo eventually, but for now I am very happy with the inline 6.

[@thaman103]

So my 2011 128i can take 87??

[@tylermacmorris1361]

I love mine and have had it for many years, I also don't plan on getting rid of it. Im pretty damn familiar with the business end of a wrench, which is good because it's always broken lol. So I suggest not owning it as your primary car.

[@alexleishman1080]

Having owned an E82 123d, the interior was great, only tint and some minor centre console wear. The steering wheel didn't even have a little bit of the wear that this one does. The idrive kind of sucked, but was livable. The sunroof drains can block, and that EDC unit is tucked into a stupid hole in the boot, where the water wants to go. I was lucky enough to know where to look so pulled up the boot floor and caught it within a couple of days. Despite the module being completely submerged, never had any troubles from then on. I'm glad to see this was briefely touched on! I would definitely buy again, but probably an E82 125i for the non-boosted six and only a manual. The diesel was manual too and well worth it. But I'd seriously disagree with the comments that the diesel is 'especially' underwhelming over other 4cyl models. I'm happy to agree to disagree, but a 118i/120i is left for dead in terms of fun to drive attributes because it lacks all of that sweet torque being shoved through fat rear tyres. But a 125i and 135i are certainly the cream on top. Alas, another great review. Easily becoming my favourite YT channel!

[@TheActionslaxx]

He refers to it as an E87 early on. E82 surely ?

[@welikeitlow2466]

That’s what I said

[@Dark_Helmet15]

e87 is the convertible version. e82 is the coupe.

[@herlegz6969]

E88 is the vert. Convertible is double eight, because of them all, they're the great 1s!

[@stavrosgreen4143]

I got the 135i 2008 e88 in white, 116k miles all mods and maintenance done stock vargas turbos , 500bhp beast. If you want the best suspension go for m3 e90

[@michaellangdon8347]

Just a note on the suspension, most suspension companies recommend struts and shocks be replaced after 60,000km, and people rarely seem to replace the rubber bushes and ball joints which are, after all, perishable items that need to be replaced from time to time. So id guess that car you tested hasnt had any of that done

[@WilksIsOffTheRails]

I love my 135i, even with the inevitable trips on a tow truck

[@michaelmurphy4451]

Had 2011 123d coupe absolutely loved the car decent power and incredible steering feel with a good chassis feel overall without the doubt best the car I’ve owned even with its few gremlins. Now driving a Colorado for lifestyle purposes but when I’m on my opens in less then a year I’m getting 135i in a white coupe like my old 123d.

[@wayof3249]

One big lesson to future buyers that I learnt the hard way..."N55 is more reliable than N54" my take "it's still not a reliable motor". Purchased my 135i with 60k miles(2nd owner from older gent), fluid changes every 10-15k miles (mainly oil and dct fluid, drove car after reaching up to temp, and boom at 90k I have invoices reaching 16k 🤣🤣 still a fun car though and I'll go to bat on it but just not worth it

[@wayof3249]

Issues I went through : charge pipe, bushings, misfire, injectors, oil pan leaks due to shitty gasket, carbon cleaning, coolant leaks, sensors not reading, twin scroll turbo had a leak and keeps going on.

[@trevorhebert7174]

What year did you get? I’ve got a ‘13 6mt with 103k miles, absolute dream of a car. No problems here.

[@wayof3249]

@@trevorhebert7174 I strayed away from the first production year and went with a 2012 DCt. All OEM build excluding few parts and was on BMW power kit tune.

[@brianearl8347]

ive owned my bmw 135 m sport e 82 for 18 months now and i lovvee it. its insanly fast . mid range grunt is just awesome, i owned a sierra cosworth many years ago this car will annilate it

[@topcat1964]

I found a 2008 135i with 48k miles about six months ago with the HP fuel pump coil packs that were replaced @ 44k miles so I feel a bit lucky. With no oil leaks, It still bleeds me dry, but it's a fun fun ride. No desire to modify it because I really feel that's when your problems start. I have a useless after market warranty that should cover the water pump, twin turbos big stuff like that.

[@mrx168]

One other major issue for the n54 BMW is the turbo wastegate rattles… Depending on how bad it is, could just be a simple annoy noise all the way to getting CEL and car going into “reduced power mode” every time you boot it as its no longer meeting boost targets. Only proper way to fix it is to replace the turbos and the labour fee along is massive killer if you can’t DIY, when I had mine every workshop (in Perth) all quoted between $2k to $2.5k in labour for such a job.

[@ModMINI]

Yeah it's brutal but worth it. Just expect to average $2k ayear in repair bills. Buy in cash or with a big down payment, and then save a little every month for the larger repairs that happen every couple years.

[@COLDoCLINCHER37]

@@ModMINI 2k a year isn't horrible tbh... the problem is the petrol

[@valentijn9]

135i was never an E87. The one on screen is an E82.

[@seanspade951]

Yeah no e87 however the soft top models are e88 he must’ve meant that

[@supervegeta369]

The carbon fibre steering wheel is an aftermarket part

[@tteitei]

Have you covered the slightly newer F20 1 series M135i? Allot of the issues with the N54 were rectified with the N55 engine. Looks better too.

[@ReDriven]

Not yet but it will happen. - AK

[@Coderedpirate]

Wow, this is the first day I started doing my research for 135i and this happens to be uploaded! Might be a sign

[@ModMINI]

Get one. You won't regret it. Since I got mine, I've met former 135i owners who wish they still had one.

[@reginaldhaywood969]

Currently have one in Washington state, in my area they are rare so u feel like u have something special and you do mine is a 2012 555 coupe and everywhere i go i turn heads lowered on BC coils with swift spring on forgestar F14’s alpine with black interior

[@Coderedpirate]

@@ModMINI Currently saving up for one to get it next year! I see them around the 10k mark right now but honestly it's probably because a lot of used cars are just really expensive in general from the market blowing up. I'm hoping to find one with under 100k miles for under 10k so I have extra money to do maintenence and upgrades haha.

[@Coderedpirate]

@@reginaldhaywood969 I bet! It's both good looking and quick. There's been a 535i sitting at a local mechanic shop near my house for a while now. Might stop by to leave a note and see if they have any plans on selling it.

[@thingsforfree27]

I don’t like the way the front end looks just the rear end because of the tail lights. Fun car when it’s tuned mhd e50 mix. Subframe rear bushing inserts and aftermarket front sway bar makes the car drive better in turns.

[@simonroth7126]

I love my 135i and wish I got to watch this video before I bought it very informational. Only problem I've had is you really have to reach for the seat belts, but other than that car is amazing for driving everyday.

[@simonroth7126]

@QUICK-STAR mine is a 2013 with the n55 and the dct. And i did a lot of research about them before i bought mine but its important for people to know what maintenance they HAVE TO DO when getting into a bmw with the n5x engine

[@dawso2o2]

Still in love with mine after a week love how I did 350km on $44 of petrol and I put my foot down a couple of times wow

[@MrBhodhaG]

As a 370Z owner that car is basically as spacious as a van to me.

[@natalie306642]

Same, lol

[@matthewdunn7321]

I own a MY 2010 BMW 1 series 123d that was regularly serviced and the cam chain failed at 231K. The cam chain is located at he rear of the engine so thios car was designed with obsolescence in mind. Otherwise other than a faulty EGR and DPF replacement it has been reliable for it's life. Another anoying problem is the plastic clutch pin for thre pedal which breaks and can leave you stranded. It happened to me. The 123d is not boring and is very quick with a tune.

[@quoconut5788]

What would you recommend I get? 135i or 123d

[@joshuaoverton3309]

@@quoconut5788 I used to have a manual 123d and absolutely loved it. There was plenty of power and torque available at any gear and rpm due do its bi turbo engine. It’s only a tiny bit slower than a 125i but i only got around 7 l/100km with my spirited driving :). If i was you I would probably go for the 135i purely for the sound, the 123d is a beautiful car that goes like a rocket but it sounds like a truck.

[@samartz]

Looked at a 130i hatch, so many electrical gremlins. Ended i Getting an alfa romeo giulietta which was really reliable. But my heart still wants a bmw one day!

[@victortescalona]

This is not a E87 it’s an E82 and the steering wheel is not faded/worn, it’s actually just dirt built up. Use a steam cleaner and should come off easily.

[@patrickanderson4360]

I owned one for 3.5 years, and really didn't gel with it. Cost me about 15k in repairs in that time - the water pump went twice. The steering felt super sluggish. Really heavy with no feel. Better off with a hatch. Like a golf gti etc.

[@georfemeyer5664]

I’ve had mine for 3 years now. FBO stage two MHD…if you can work on cars yourself or are willing to learn…N54 135 6MT alllll day. Shit eating grin every time I drive the thing.

[@FisheeC3]

So, sounds like you're saying "GREAT weekend / fun car, but less idea as a daily". That works for me! Hard to resist the straight six, though a manual trans, to the rear wheels combo. Easy to resist reliability issues, though, going in eyes wide open to ownership - should help mitigate this. Note, N54 motors can suffer from waste gate failure, requiring turbo replacement. N55 motors seem resistant to this. Injectors on the N54 can be unreliable as well, and they're far more pricy than the N55 injectors.

[@salovila5328]

I thought the interior would be nicer compared to an e46, but the e46 with leather and sports seats looks MUCH nicer and has aged better.

[@dougrobinson8602]

The interior of the one series is a joke. The sun visors are too cheap to put into a Prius. I think they intentionally cheapened it to get more people into E92s.

[@deanpeka8556]

I wept tears of joy when I sold my 135i. Spent most weekends either under it or under the hood to get t sorted for the week.

[@stevennatt9707]

😥

[@dealerservices3095]

The Bmw 128I base coupe w/ 6 speed manual with the N52 motor is most reliable Bmw ever made

[@paulruddock4621]

Like the way you present - even in the out-takes!....and good info. Considering one.....

[@ReDriven]

I appreciate that mate! - AK

[@conorcreagh7872]

I have 118d coupe sport plus edition. It is 11 years old and has 155k miles on it. The interior is like new, no shabbiness, nothing has fallen apart and not a single squeak. So I disagree with the comment re the lower spec 1 series cars maybe not being as durable or having same interior quality as in my experience they do. Great video otherwise mate

[@degrootd2]

At the 1:00 point, should be e82. E87 (iirc) never came as a 135i

[@mraaaaaaa]

I don't agree about the tech part. Older satnav (the CCC) is rubbish, but the next version (the CIC) is way better and way more function packed. I have that in my 5door and it has cd,aux,usb and bluetooth music streaming as well as handsfree calls. Pairing is easy and depending on the version of the multimedia unit jn the boot you can pair up to 5 phones. And that's on my CIC MID unit, which is the hobo version. If you get the PRO version, it has a larger screen and app support (spotify etc). I'd upgrade, but those still have a 4 digit price tag. I am fully content with these options. Are there any other options you guys want jn your multimedia system that this doesn't have?

[@tektronaut2267]

I've Own 3, of these each one having been lightly modded e82 2009 135I with MHD XHP with FBO 460hp+ MT easy. Then I Got A e88 135I VERT top mount Precision 6266 single tubro connected to 3 in exhaust straight to the rear, ST map, MHD tuned by doc vu 5in intercooler twin blade turbines for the single m3 differential with m3 axels M taillights M style bumper red interior stage 3 clutch m suspension index12 full E85 Heavily Modded at 675hp+ (I was gapping hellcats in a convertible 🤣) on God! And now my new daily which is classified of course. I will never own any other type of vehicle they are absolutely perfect. If you can't afford it don't buy it. Take care of it and it will take care of you!

[@i_read_bad_reviews]

ive owned two of these and will buying another one when the prices go down. they are literally the same price now as they were 10 years ago.

[@smokeyjoe8314]

Had one of these , twin turbo v6 , was effin quick man.

[@xXxBo5sANaCxXx]

i own non-m 120d diesel 177hp and its a blast to drive and own

[@aidentitus224]

Been waiting for this one, might get the 125i

[@DigitalDissident]

125/128i are great too. I went from a sedona red E82 120i to an N55 135i. The 120i, despite only having 170hp it was much lighter up front, so it drove more like a cart & was great in cornering & I preferred its electronic steering. The 125i is like the happy medium & simplified under the hood since it's N/A.

[@michaelschablon6148]

Timely, as I have been considering a 1 series but after this, I’ll take a Lexus IS-F instead thanks. Even if it costs a little more.

[@tristramfenech8284]

Even a is350 is good mate. Wish I could get one but I'll be getting the is250

[@zhila5958]

@@tristramfenech8284 still pretty good

[@isfrozen3103]

I chose the isf. 500hp and haven’t had a single big issue in 93k miles

[@zhila5958]

@@isfrozen3103 93k is barely breaking a sweat. i’m pretty sure they’ll keep going for way longer. nice car btw

[@xZiMinDaveyy]

Yes, Yes and Yes. if you buy a higher mileage one. Be prepared for maintance. Waterpump and thermostate, oil gaskets and if you buy the n54 it will be a little more... And get coilovers and m3 arms and different swaybars because it will be a fucking corner weapon. If you get the car the first you need to change is the Chargepipe! I have a 135i Le Mans N55 DCT, just mhd stage 2+ with FBO (full build one) and some serieous mods for cornering. If I track my car I will put it back to stock because its more predictable and can go earlier on the power. If the car is higher mileage change does Rod Bearings! just do it... tread her well she will tread you well. The DCT likes the xhp stage 3 modification! Just buy it and you will fall in love! And get a full LCI 2011 (prefer with active steering), the car feels so much newer!!!

[@HyadumHH]

As with any BMW out of warranty, you need to put aside about 3k per year for "unforeseen repairs" and you should be fine, they are great fun. If you don't, that is when they will bite you.

[@pretzeltss]

I have a 2012 135i been driving it as a Daily for 5 years . Only had to change the radiator and coil packs ..

[@friguy4444]

Well done. But not a single word about the phenomenal Tuning potential these cars are so famous for?? Why not??

[@gixxr88]

Had one of these few years back, definitely miss it, really fun car, wpuld buy again

[@quinnmoore5985]

My coworker wants to hawk me his for 1100 bucks but it straight up drains radiator fluid if u drive it. I'm scared the motor is torched, but also for 1100 bucks I feel like it's worth it. I used to be an auto body guy so I'm very familiar with bmw cooling systems and damage. I think I'm gonna go for it

[@BChristofis]

Have been daily driving my 135i for 5 years, no issues. People expect bmws to be better than most cars and require minimum to no maintenance. Then it breaks down and they bitch it’s a shit car. If you maintain your BMW it will be the best car you’ll ever own.

[@Altesego1]

Hmm, I’m from Germany and I have personally owned (not leased) 6 different bmw Models, including a m140i. Don’t get me wrong, I loved most of the cars but honestly, BMW declined in quality within the last 10 years. At the same time, bmws are getting more and more expensive, making them unreachable for most enthusiasts (at least the performance models). The Winters around my location can be quite intense and newer BMWs unfortunately have a tendency to rust fairly quickly, it’s really annoying. My old e30 was build like a brick, no problems at all, my m140i was quite the opposite…

[@BChristofis]

@@Altesego1 aren’t 140s a little newer, like 2015? The last decent car bmw made was the m2, before that it was the 135i. I personally wouldn’t buy any F series bmw, E series is king.

[@AnthonyStromDesign]

Sure, the 1m is better looking then its brother 135i. But most of us can't afford one, so the 135i is the real world choice.

[@Bup2000]

Used to have a 2008 335i 6MT (N54) alpine white coupe - despite the fun, was always chasing issues and "putting out fires". In 2019, bought a one-owner, low-kms (43k kms never winter driven), nicely spec'd 2012 135i (N55) 6MT alpine white coupe (M-sport, PPK2, no iDrive, manual seats, beige int with black headliner and glacier silver aluminum trim). Awesome daily! Only mod it came with was a Magnaflow exhaust which sounds perfect. I have only added aesthetic pieces since it is just a daily (M perf black grilles, M perf cf spoiler, cf rear diffuser). At this point, I don't think I'd recommend dailying an N54 unless money and time are not issues. If you can find a well-maintained N55, still do expect some maintenance/repair costs (always anticipate water pump with BMW), but a better daily experience with fewer headaches overall imo. Also pay close attention to how the hood release feels. Note: It should NOT feel difficult to pull or have a lot of resistance. If you feel it getting progressively more difficult, you may consider getting it checked out before you are suddenly unable to pop your hood at all. Once your handle has a ton of play and you can't feel anything, it is probably too late - the rear cable it is attached to has likely snapped, unseated itself, or has expanded to the point where it has too much slack and will never work to open the hood. Hood release cables are a fairly common failure point (there are 2 that meet up in a junction box, and sometimes one or both = culprit). Many previous owners have never had the hood latch mechanism lubed (should be done every oil change), which can create more problems for the cables over time.

[@ReDriven]

Mate, perfect comment. This is exactly what we love to see here. Thanks so much for taking the time out to write this. - AK

[@Bup2000]

@@ReDriven Of course! Hope it helps someone. Also great review - subbed!

[@dvatch0339]

I love my little 2010.... have a blast in the snow with it💪

[@theseusnotmynome5634]

Liked! Mostly for the out-takes at the end. Thanks for the input!

[@ReDriven]

Glad you liked it!

[@johnnyryerson3661]

I had a 2008 135i with the N54. Sublime driving experience but it was a POS. I would highly recommend avoiding unless you do all your own repairs.

[@NickHazletonMusic]

Same here. I thought it was funny that my issues started right after 50,000 miles (warranty ended)

[@aarongalve183]

I dont have a 135 but I do have a 335i with a n54 engine and I can agree it's a pain in the ass. If you are handy with a wrench then go right ahead its a good car. But if you don't have time to maintain maintenance or do any wrench work then your wallet is going to hurt.

[@aarongalve183]

Adding on. The reign of the n54 is over. I have a roomate who owns the a91 supra. It's miles ahead of its time. It has shown to be a perfect predecessor to the n54.

[@arride4590]

Last week i bought a 135i with 5 years warranty here in US.

[@aarongalve183]

@J B true that

[@justinchalmers2066]

Great review. Oh and the rear tail light on the boot cracks, how it does when it's not a moving part alludes me lol