by "E90M3" (e90m3)
Published 03/18/2017 at 19:59
by "E90M3" (e90m3)
Published 03/18/2017 at 19:59
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STARS: 2
Awhile ago I had posted that I wasn’t really too sure how I felt about my 128i:
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So I guess I never really decided how I felt about my 128i. I have never been really sure if I liked it or if it was just a car to sit at the yard so my M3 didn’t. I think my 328i has answered that question for me.
So yeah I had two cars so I could keep the M3 safely tucked away in the garage on days on. My explorer died on the highway and two weeks later I was moving to San Antonio. I didn’t want to have to take the M3 and let it sit in the yard in Alice Texas, meaning the explorer would be getting replaced.
Basically I had been casually browsing cars for sale and was thinking a mid-November timeline to actually buy something. Risk driving the Explorer and worse comes to worse, take the M3 to work. I didn’t follow though with this plan because there is this 128i at the BMW dealer in Corpus Christi for 16k. 3.5 year old BMW with just under 50k on it? That sounds perfect. So basically I bought it on an impulse. I wanted a better second car and it was cheap.
The first indication of how much I liked it happened on the day I got it. I went for a joyride, in the M3. I didn’t take my new to me BMW, I took the car I’d had for over a year.
I bought the 128i on a Saturday, and moved to San Antonio the next Monday. I was on furlough at the time, and when I returned to work I found out that not only did we have a new client we also had a few new members of the crew; a supervisor and two operators from San Antonio. Since they lived there, and the supervisor had a work truck, I was able to leave with them to go to the field; I didn’t have to drive to Alice.
This meant the 128i saw a lot less miles than I had originally anticipated. As a result, I got bored with it I never drove it on days off, basically all I did was drive to the yard and back. It had one fatal flaw:
Autos are fine, in most cases there is nothing wrong with an auto. However, a small BMW should be a stick. This is not about how manuals are better, this is about how I prefer a stick. It’s that simple.
Then I got laid off, and subsequently took my 128i on a trip back to GA. I put 3500 miles on it in a month and that’s when I started to change my opinion about it. I started to really like it. Maybe it’s because I was using the car like I thought would be.
Part of the trip was a visit to my sister in Savannah. I picked her up from where she works and the first thing she said to me when she got in the car was “Oh, I’m surprised it’s not a stick.” That’s when I knew for sure I should have gotten a stick. I don’t talk cars with my sister and yes she still knows me well enough to know that I have a thing for stick BMWs.
Upon my return to Texas, it was time to sell the 128i. I didn’t really think twice about it. While that sucked, it was the right thing to do. (Holy shit, I’ve been unemployed for almost a year. I start my new job on Monday) I didn’t really feel like I had to do everything in my power to keep it, it was well I’ll get another BMW when I have a new job.
So now that I have a job, I decided to disregard most of your suggestions and found this 2009 M-Sport 328i coupe with a stick.
I love it. I haven’t even driven the M3 since I’ve had it. I put 80 miles on it today just driving around. Despite the USB/Aux input not working, I love it. It is a fantastic car. This car has made me happier than the 128i ever did.
That made me reflect on the 128i a little, and it made me realize my feelings for the 128i. It was a great little car, and while I enjoyed driving it, it was just a car. It was nothing really special; however, had it been a stick I probably would have kept it. I would have put the M3 in storage and driven it around no problem while I looked for another job. Alas no, I sold it because it lacked one of these:
Also, if you’re looking for a sub 20k coupe, look for a 328i I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
So in conclusion, the 128i a great car made not great by the transmission choice.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/18/2017 at 20:06, STARS: 2
Well said.
IMO, that E92 is way sexier looking than the 1-series.
"Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire" (arch-duke-maxyenko)
03/18/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 4
IMO, that E92 is way sexier looking than the 1-series.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/18/2017 at 20:09, STARS: 0
I don’t have the energy to spare everyone’s feelings.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 20:09, STARS: 0
It really is a fantastic looking car, I do prefer the E92 M-Sport over even an M-Sport 1. This is my favorite generation of BMW, which is why I now have 2 again.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
03/18/2017 at 20:11, STARS: 0
I’ve been preaching the E9x 328i for a loooong time on here. Still have the E90. Man every time you post your E92, I go straight to google and start pricing out M-sport bumpers... you’re gonna make me spend a lot of money!
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/18/2017 at 20:11, STARS: 1
Oh how I wish that 318ti I looked at it wasn’t falling apart, sold by a shady dealer, and had its airbag deployed. I could know the german lyfe.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 20:12, STARS: 0
After having both I think I prefer the 3 looks to the 1. I do really like the was an M-Sport 1 looks though.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 20:19, STARS: 0
M-Sport bumpers are best bumpers. I also love the wheels that it came with, like more than the wheels on my M3. Speaking of wheels, did you ever put the 219Ms on your car?
I’m really happy with it so far, it lacks the M3 power but it’s still really fun to drive and that’s what I really wanted.
"Twinpowermeansoneturbo" (twinpower)
03/18/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 0
I think it is one of BMW’s best designs. It is far and away better than the F32, which I think looks uninspired and unaggressive .
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 20:26, STARS: 1
It looks fantastic, I think the E9X M3 looks even better. I might be slightly biased thought. I don’t like any of the new BMWs enough to buy one, so I didn’t and got an 8 year old one to DD.
"Twinpowermeansoneturbo" (twinpower)
03/18/2017 at 20:44, STARS: 1
The E92 M3 will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the new M3 when I got my license and really started getting into cars. It was always a dream car of mine and I’m sure I’ll own one at some point. It’s unfortunate I can’t add one to the garage at the moment, but I really need AWD for my daily. I can’t justify having two RWD sports cars in New England.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 20:48, STARS: 1
An E46 M3 is what got me into cars and the E9X M3 came out my senior year of high school. I remember configuring them when I was in college, dreaming about the day when I could get one. Sometimes it’s still surreal that I have one. Luckily since I live on the coast of GA, I can have 2 RWD BMWs.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
03/18/2017 at 22:50, STARS: 0
The tires are estimated to be shipped to me on Tuesday, and then I’m hoping to have them mounted and an alignment done Wednesday. Been waiting a looooong time! Glad to finally be done with the run flats too.
These are really fun cars. M3 control arms are a direct swap and a pretty cheap way to increase the handling, one of my favorite mods.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 22:54, STARS: 0
I expect pictures!
I’ll have to look into that. Also look into how to upgrade the power to the 270 hp they got out of the one in the X3 3.0si.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
03/18/2017 at 22:59, STARS: 0
Will do! Think I might order some gloss black grills to go with it.
Head over to E90post, tons of info on the N52. I think I had a link saved about that, intake manifold swap or something.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 23:01, STARS: 0
The M-Sport is getting black grills soon. My parents never got me a birthday present, maybe I’ll make them get me those.
I need to get on a different forum, I love oppo but there isn’t the BMW info here.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
03/18/2017 at 23:07, STARS: 0
I think the gloss black grills will look really good with the shadowline trim. You can get an OEM set for around $100-110ish. BMW of fairfax’s online parts site has a really good discount on parts.
E90post has some helpful info, but oh man is that place douchy. Half the posts on there is just them saying “did you even search??” and talking about not being low enough.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/18/2017 at 23:16, STARS: 0
I really like the OEM gloss black grills with the shadowline trim. Both my M3 and my dad’s BMW are rocking them. My xmas gift to him in 2015 were the kidneys, he was actually really happy with them.
Most forums are no where as good as oppo, which is why I’ve stuck to oppo.
"AM3R, lost another burner" (am3r17)
03/18/2017 at 23:45, STARS: 1
Some paint matched reflectors and gloss grills will hold me over nicely... until I finally bite the bullet on M-sport bumpers or an OEM aero lip.
"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty)
03/22/2017 at 21:19, STARS: 0
The higher output variants have a 3 stage intake manifold (along with the N51... same part for any 3IM N52). AA Headers + 3 stage intake manifold + BPC Alpha N tune should yield you about 245-260 whp for around $2,000 typically. BPC will get rid of the “soft limiter” fourth DISA stage that cuts power near redline. Then there are small gains from stuff like exhaust, intake (DIY ram air has been proven effective), and even the intake hose. Obviously you have an M3 which should quench your power needs, and a tune along with 3IM should take care of your torque problem. The stock exhaust manifolds with pre-cats are pretty damn restrictive, though. You can check whether you have an N51 or N52 on realoem if you’re not sure yet.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/22/2017 at 21:28, STARS: 0
I’ve got an N52, I didn’t think about checking with realoem, I usually use bimmer.work for decoding VINs.
I knew something like that was different, I just never really looked into it. I never really had a desire to modify the 128i. The 328i is just fine for highway cruising, and if these power increases would hurt fuel economy, I probably wouldn’t do them. The M3 does take care of the want for power and that needs some parts thrown at it, i.e. exhaust before I get to the 328i.
"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty)
03/22/2017 at 22:04, STARS: 0
I think the 3 stage manifold is pretty worthwhile. A couple of guys on E90post are working on a stock-ish 330i tune you can flash to get the DISA valves working for an economical option. I think you might actually pick up some fuel economy without considering driving changes, but the M3 obviously offers more potential/bang-for-the-buck in the modification department. Car looks great and should serve you well from a practical standpoint!
"E90M3" (e90m3)
03/22/2017 at 22:11, STARS: 0
I will have to look into it, I don’t really ever visit any forums, but I might need to start doing just that. I’ve also been on a tight budget, you know without having a job and it’s hard to look at things and not want them. M3 first, but the down the line, some 328i mods would be pretty great.
I think this is about the perfect DD for me, a 335i would have been great, up until the minute it broke or needed something expensive.