New car for Miss 'ball

[Palmball]

I just can't help myself...although I have no desire to change the C63 I just felt the need for, well.....a change. I'm sure many of you just know what I mean and I'm some will just think I'm a V8 short of a piston!

So, whilst the C63 wasn't in the firing line, this meant my long suffering other half has to drive around in her 3rd (yep...her 3rd ) different car this year.

Therefore, it's out with the old (when I can find someone to buy it)....

And in with an even older....BMW 1 Series! I'm sorry guys, I really am....it seems you just can't take the BMW out of some people!

Given Vicki has absolutely no need or desire to be driving around in anything larger than a 2 litre diesel, I kept this in mind when informing her of what her new chariot would be....for all of two seconds! :lol:

And then promptly purchased this (sorry about the poor quality, they're straight off the AUC site)....

It's a relatively early and well priced 135i, it isn't what I'd call generously spec'd but has enough, is one owner, has done 15k miles, it feels as tight as nun and, above all, has THAT 3 litre twin turbo engine in a little chuckable chassis.

In actual fact, it's cost very little extra compared to the Citroen so was a no-brainer really. I'm going to love it...a great toy to play about with in between tooling around like this...

Oops, nearly forgot....it's for her!!

 

[The Boss]

i personally love the 1 series coupe.. and its got the msport kit - nice..

well done.. now ur gonna have to join the BMW forum aswell.. tut tut lol

 

[Palmball]

Thanks Boss...the car is nice but in all honesty I just wanted a BMW '35i engine again (had a 335i when they first came out so know how good they are) and think its put to best use in the smallest 1 series.

I know, I know about the forum but I'm already a member on t'other side having had a few BMWs before. It's actually one if the moderators on the BMW forum who has helped put me in touch with the guy who's done most of the work on my C63.

 

[Londonscottish]

135i - yes please. Cracking engine in the smallest car in the range. 50:50 weight distribution. What's not to love about it?

 

[BaldGuy]

And its a manual.. I bet that flys....

 

[A-AvantGarde]

i personally love the 1 series coupe.. and its got the msport kit - nice..

Me too, cracking little cars, feels closer in spirit & size to the E30 3 series.

I know a couple of people with the 123d which is also quite nice, the 135i has got to be a lot of fun.

 

[moonloops]

A great choice, if it wasn't fugly I would probably buy one.

 

[BTB 500]

I'm not a BMW fan but I actually rather like the 1 series coupe. With that engine it must be a right little rocket

 

[bpsorrel]

A great choice, if it wasn't fugly I would probably buy one.

Agreed.

 

[st4]

For the money it appears (a little more than a DS3) there really isn't a bad thing one can say, near as damn it new motor car, and a lot of power, better safety, and performance will be very good

However if was my own money I'd have gone for an older 335i/d or 330i or d/25i or d for the same money even if was a slower car. I reckon you would have too, but I am betting on your better half liking a smaller car

 

[lil.smartie]

Hmm, I do like the 1-series but styling puts me off.. The DS3 on the other hand mmm, I have been eyeing up MINI's to replace the Toyota iQ but could be very tempted by a Citroen... What's the spec & how much??

Kate

 

[Palmball]

I know a couple of people with the 123d which is also quite nice, the 135i has got to be a lot of fun.

Soooo nearly got the 123d but it was the same money as the 135i (the 135i depreciates more from new). Between us we'll do 12k miles a year in the car which means the 135i costs an extra £700 a year to fuel. A worthwhile cost IMO for the extra refinement and performance.

For the money it appears (a little more than a DS3) there really isn't a bad thing one can say, near as damn it new motor car, and a lot of power, better safety, and performance will be very good

However if was my own money I'd have gone for an older 335i/d or 330i or d/25i or d for the same money even if was a slower car. I reckon you would have too, but I am betting on your better half liking a smaller car

Steve - you're almost right! For the money it's a bit of no-brainer and it ain't going to depreciate a huge amount in the 1 year'ish that we intend to keep it for (unlike the Citroen )

I actually had a 335i back in 2007 when they first came out and I still think that 3 litre twin-turbo engine is one of the best I've had - effortlessly fast, refined, smooth...just great. It also does 30mpg all day.

I did think about an older 335i but it's a situation of 'been there, done that' as I've already had 2 e92 BMW's (the 335i and an M3).

Compared with the 335i, the 135i is a bit noisier (wind mainly), doesn't have as nicer materials inside and doesn't look as sleek. On the flipside, it actually feels more 'solid' like it's got a stiffer bodyshell but the main reason for choosing the 1er was combination of price/mileage/age and the fact that yes, Vicki didn't really want the larger car!

Hmm, I do like the 1-series but styling puts me off.. The DS3 on the other hand mmm, I have been eyeing up MINI's to replace the Toyota iQ but could be very tempted by a Citroen... What's the spec & how much??

Kate

100% recommend the Citroen - but alas it is now sold! It was the top of the range 1.6 THP Sport with every option (sat nav & leather!).

We had a 2008 Mini Cooper S Works before the DS3 and whilst the Citroen isn't as fast, direct or sporty to drive, it's refinement is in another league (to any small car I've experienced actually), quality is almost as good as the Mini, it's got an equally funky interior and it's ride/handling is more suited to our broken roads...i.e. it's got compliance.

Having said that, I have never owned a car that has depreciated so much (and I've had Alfa's lol!). We paid full list for it when it first came out due to it's newness and lack of availability but I believe discounts are now available...good job as they don't enjoy Mini levels of residuals. This is entirely the fault of the dealers as they just don't know how (or lack the confidence) to do business without discounting or under-valuing their own product. So, either get a discount or buy nearly-new!

As a financial prospect it'll never be a true success against the Mini until Citroen sort out their dealers and residuals but as a car to drive, it's pretty damn good!

 

[Rashman]

Great work Palmy!!

Your lady will love the 1 Series.

And yes, they are nippy little bugger!

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Like your style & thinking Palmball. Too many people get hung up on the 'diesel thing'.

 

[Londonscottish]

Soooo nearly got the 123d but it was the same money as the 135i (the 135i depreciates more from new). Between us we'll do 12k miles a year in the car which means the 135i costs an extra £700 a year to fuel. A worthwhile cost IMO for the extra refinement and performance.

Exactly. I'd have actually had to pay a premium of around £2k to get in the equivalent diesel to mine. On 10k or less a year it would take something like four years to get the money back. Doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[NISFAN]

Soooo nearly got the 123d but it was the same money as the 135i (the 135i depreciates more from new). Between us we'll do 12k miles a year in the car which means the 135i costs an extra £700 a year to fuel. A worthwhile cost IMO for the extra refinement and performance.

the 123d is a cracking little performer, so the 135i must be outrageous.

 

[Palmball]

Well, it's hardly been a great week with the new BMW...despite initially looking a good condition, low mileage one-owner car, some aspects fell far short of my expectations when paying for an Approved Used car.

When we first got it home the weekend before last, I immediately took the wheels off to rub down and spray the rusty rear hubs - something that is common on these and that I noticed before buying it but would rather do myself. The hubs were relatively easy to fix...the condition of the wheels less so.

They looked OK from a distance but on closer inspection had clearly been very badly refurb'd...by the BMW dealer. So badly that they had even lacquered over dirt on the inside of the wheel so the balancing weights just peeled off! I phoned the dealer to tell them that I was going to have them done properly and expected them to reimburse me. I then proceeded to get the best back to metal refurb I could get and at nearly £350 was far from the cheapest but to be fair to Park Lane BMW, I got a cheque for the full amount 48 hours after sending them the receipt!

This is what the wheels looked like before...

I also got the car with a scraped side skirt and missing jacking point but to be honest, you can't see this from the side so I'll fix the scrape myself (then I know its a decent job!) and I'm getting a new jacking point sent to me.

On Saturday I proceeded with what was going to be a long detailing session...the paintwork had clearly never been washed with anything other than a scourer! It needed a good claying and machine polish to cut back on all the swirls. I then had some new Swissvax Best of Show wax followed by some paint sealant polish to finish it off with.

If only things were that simple. Firstly, the drivers door rattled when you went to shut it and it sounded ominously like broken glass in the bottom of the door. Off came the door trim and behind was a badly ripped door lining and...yes...the bottom of the door was full of broken glass from when it had clearly been broken into and not cleared out properly. I of course finished the job as it should have been done, put everything back (although it still needs a new lining) and proceeded to wash it.

Then I came across the lower front bumper which inside it contains a load of ducts for the brake cooling and for the additional oil cooler. Every single duct was loose - some so loose that nothing other than other components were holding them in place. Only one way to sort it....take off the front bumper! So, half an hour later ....

I spend a fair bit of the day fixing and glueing bits that had been broken or just not fitted properly - the bumper had clearly been taken off previously and components just not put back properly (at least there were no signs of structural damage underneath!).

In the end, here is the almost finished result which ain't too bad if I say so myself. Theres still a fair few swirls and scratches in the top coat which I'll be removing next weekend with a slightly more abrasive pad and cutting compound!

 

[gIzzE]

Looks great.

When it came to getting Fiona something new last year it was either another 335i or a another 1 series, albeit a 130i, as we needed the hatch for the dog and the 1 series won.

Awesome cars, absolutely awesome.
We ended up with a 123d in the end as she wanted auto, so couldn't see the point of the 130i.
Just so much more chuckable than the 3 series, and not really much smaller inside.

 

[Marco66]

A very nice job ,Palmball

 

[Simon_M]

Looks like a good job, I admire your eagerness to get the car apart. I gace up trying to change the front foglamp bulbs on mine as I just couldn't be bothered.

S

PS Shouldn't the sealant go on before the wax?