Need input for my next car

"julienjj" (julienjj)
02/23/2015 at 16:23 • Filed to: None

I'm thinking of replacing my 2006 mazdaspeed6 (which has 205,000km on the odo) with a BMW 135i (6 spd manual) with around 120,000km (give or take 10,000km). The speed6 is slowly turning into a money pit :( ie.: tie rod ends need replacement, and the rear fenders started to rust.

I was looking around, and had virtually no idea about which car I should get (Wagon ? Coupe ? Sedan ???!!!)... My criteria where : good aftermarket support, easy to work on (I'm a big DIY, don't expect me to visit a mechanic unless I'm waaaay too busy) Must be manual, FWD not accepted. Stumbled upon those littles BWMs by pure accident. The N54 in them is full of potential. I verified the insurances, and they will actually end up being less expensive than my current car.... dafuq ? (safer crash test I guess)

There are only two thing holding me back... I'm uncertain about driving a RWD in the winter. I'm in Canada and we get an average of 82 inches of snow every winter... BUT I mostly take the bus to school and work.

The second being reliability (ah!). Mind you, mazdaspeed3&6 are notorious for blown engine, turbos, and broken timing chain and it never kept me awake at night. So if the 135 is an improvement, and clear DIY guides and workshop manual are available (bentley publishing like) I'm okay with it. From my reading, beside issues with their fuel pump (share will all the bmw range), they seem to be somewhat reliable

Thanks for reading& your eventual input !

Here is an M3 and a 135i both in Lemans blue for your time !

DISCUSSION (21)

CalzoneGolem > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:25

slowly turning into a money pit :( ie.: tie rod ends need replacement, and the rear fenders started to rust.

If that's a money pit I don't want to know what you'd call my car.

Party-vi > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:26

I would call tie rod ends regular maintenance but rusty fenders doesn't sound fun. Ask Archduke Maxyenko about his 1 series - he may have some input.

Conan > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:27

Reliability wise I might consider the 128.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:27

Inb4 everyone else probably telling you to get the 128i.

E. Julius > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:29

As long as you now how to handle yourself on the road and they get plowed enough that you won't get stuck, RWD is no big deal. Just like FWD, you've just got to take it slow and baby the throttle if you want to stay in control. If it's a huge deal, get some snow tires, but as long as you're careful and have practice recovering from oversteer you'll be fine. There's a little old lady in my hometown in MI that drives an old RWD Fleetwood. It looks like she can barely see over the wheel, but hot damn she knows how to put the Oppo on and keep that 20' beast in line on a snowy road.

BeaterGT > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:31

In for suggestions as well but will accept RWD :P

Also the cars we are upgrading from are very similar.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E. Julius
02/23/2015 at 16:39

With that much snow, I would definitely get snow tires. It's not about the going, it's about the stopping. Plus, I do believe in some areas of Canada, snows are mandatory during winter months.

E. Julius > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
02/23/2015 at 16:43

Makes sense. Either way, if you're a decent driver I don't think the RWD should discourage from getting a car if it's right for you in every other way.

MrDakka > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 16:48

Pre-2011 E82 135i for the biturbo N54; more turbo= more better

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E. Julius
02/23/2015 at 16:51

Oh no, I wouldn't at all. I've had much better experiences with RWD in the snow.

Textured Soy Protein > MrDakka
02/23/2015 at 16:59

And less reliability.

Textured Soy Protein > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 17:03

I replaced my 2006 MS6 with a 2013 135is. My MS6 was also developing rust problems. I was looking for something I didn't have to put a bunch of maintenance into, so I leased my 135is and rather than put snow tires on it for the winter, I bought a Jeep to go with it.

I do have experience driving other rwd cars in the snow on proper winter tires. In my experience, having a real LSD helps immensely. The 135i has a dynamic traction control mode that does some brake-based torque vectoring which works pretty well in the twisties, but it's still an open differential when it comes to proper getting started in the winter.

As for reliability, the N55 single-turbo motor in the '11-'13 135i has perhaps less ultimate tuning potential than the twin turbo N54 that proceeded it, but it generally also has less problems, and can still make plenty of power.

MrDakka > Textured Soy Protein
02/23/2015 at 17:09

Fine go worship at the altar of Captain Slow :)

That said, I've been looking at getting a 1 series as well in several months and I really can't decide between the 128i and 135i. Reliability vs POWAH

Textured Soy Protein > MrDakka
02/23/2015 at 17:27

I meant the N55 135i is more reliable than the N54. I have a '13 135is.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 17:46

Kinja'd!!!

E46 M3 is always the answer.

- Large aftermarket (new product are still being developed/old ones improved)

- Mostly everything can be worked on yourself (lots of DIY manuals available)

- Can be driven in snow, its alot easier with dedicated snow tires/wheels but can be done w/all seasons. (There is a sizable amount of owners from CN on M3forum.net if you want to ask them)

julienjj > Party-vi
02/23/2015 at 18:14

Rust is really the combo breaker. Become no matter what I do mechanically, the car is doomed.
I have a 3'' downpipe sitting in my garage, ready to be installed... but what's the point now... even if I get the fender fixed, it WILL come back, and likely pop elsewhere in the meantime. The design of the wheels well is awfull and trap water.

julienjj > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
02/23/2015 at 18:18

Snow tires are mandatory where I live. It's a no brainer anyway... Sticky summer rubber is damn hopeless in a half inch of snow.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > julienjj
02/23/2015 at 18:19

I've seen plenty of people not realize this, even though my stint in a snowy area was short lived.

julienjj > MrDakka
02/23/2015 at 18:19

I agree; there is not such thing as too much turbos.

Party-vi > julienjj
02/24/2015 at 08:48

If your fenders are rusting it could be a clogged water drain or worn out glass seals. Get what you can for it and sell the downpipe to try and recoup some money.

julienjj > Party-vi
02/24/2015 at 14:46

I'm going to part-out all the mods for sure. There are a few grands of mods in it.