"N51fanatic" (n51fanatic)
03/17/2015 at 19:05 • Filed to: None
2
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"N51fanatic" (n51fanatic)
03/17/2015 at 19:05 • Filed to: None | 2
| 40 |
The E82 BMW got very little love during its run. The naysayers said it was too much of a compromise space wise for too little of a discount to its comparatively equipped bigger brother the 3series. 135i's were bought by enthusiasts looking for the spiritual successor of the 2002 (at least thats what BMW Marketing wanted you to believe). The 128 was bought by legal secretaries, and dads as high school graduation gifts for their teenage daughters on their way to an overpriced liberal arts private school. Did i mention, 95% were sold with an awful steptronic auto tranny?
You're probably wondering, why would I buy this over a Fiesta ST? I'll tell you why. You see, these often overlooked 128's can be spec'd out in a way to get you a pretty high score in our very own !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that was only working half the time and spewing ridiculous results the other half of the time.
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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! This hits all the checkmarks folks,
RWD
Coupe
6 sp Manual
NA straight six engine
Hydraulic steering
Sunroof delete, manual seats (LTW Edition!!)
Alpine white w Coral red interior
M-Sport Trim (Antracite Headliner, Shadowline Trim, M- Steering Wheel, 135i front/rear bumpers, 135i suspension, M LOGOS EVERYWHERE!!)
Cons; No LSD, No Xenons
Its normally aspirated 3 liter inline six-cylinder engine produces a respectable 230 horsepower, with 199 lb-ft of torque. While I'm sure, the Fiesta can be "chipped" for an additional "100 horsepower BrO", you're still driving a Fiesta. If you lose the boat anchor wheel and run flat combo, you can get these to right about 3000 -3100 lbs. Want more power? Swap the DISA manifold with that of an x30i model add a tune and boom, you're up to 260 hp/230 lb-ft of torque. Not too shabby. At less than $20k, this is a steal.
Look at those seat bolsters!!!! Just waiting to snug you while thrashing your local autoX event. Some will argue, it's ugly. That's subjective. All I'm saying, is that when you are looking for an affordable jalop, the 128i spec'd with a manual and m-sport, is the car no one seems to know about.
Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:10 |
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Dat interior tho...
jkm7680
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:10 |
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But a Fiesta ST would cost less to maintain, and there's nothing like a new car.
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N51fanatic
> jkm7680
03/17/2015 at 19:14 |
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The same can be said for any of these Tavarish type posts, right? The NA six from BMW is bulletproof. This isnt the N54/N55 here
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jkm7680
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:17 |
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Bulletproof doesn't always mean cheap to maintain!
TheBaron2112
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:19 |
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I'm so sick of hearing this. Basically all engines are bulletproof. Bulletproof doesn't mean maintenance proof and it certainly doesn't mean everything ATTACHED to the engine is bulletproof.
Craigslist-speak is a pox upon our house.
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N51fanatic
> jkm7680
03/17/2015 at 19:19 |
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Yes, your local BMW labor rate is more expensive than your local Ford dealerships rate, we are all aware.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> jkm7680
03/17/2015 at 19:19 |
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plus it's a hacthback.
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N51fanatic
> TheBaron2112
03/17/2015 at 19:22 |
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Every engine needs maintenance right? Does the Fiesta not need oil changes? Plug changes? Belt changes? Brakes? Rotors? Maintenance is maintenance. Yes the BMW labor rate is higher than the ford, everyone here is aware of that.
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jkm7680
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:22 |
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Labor and in general parts.
Vzwolf
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:24 |
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The engine in this is simply marvelous, and it's a shame it was only close to full strength in the 3 series for one model year (2006). It also sounds better than a Fiesta ever could, so you have that going for you.
Axial
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:25 |
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Snug seat bolsters? Pffffff:
^ Also available for the price of a brand new Fiesta ST. :O
Nice BMW, tho. Personally, I love the seat color in it.
Michael Cohen
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:28 |
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Seems like a good deal and there's plenty of 135s with the same specs for that price and with a chip tune it's over 350 hp.
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Michael Cohen
> jkm7680
03/17/2015 at 19:32 |
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Fair enough abou the maintenance costs, but why care about new.
I saw a TV show about Romani weddings. Some boy said he wanted a girl who was new, not used. Guess what, after the first night...used. I'd rather a "used" Heidi Klum.
MrDakka
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:32 |
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Stop telling the world about my plan, I don't need more competitors looking for cheap e82 1 series. Its agonizing enough knowing I won't be able to get mine until next year
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N51fanatic
> Michael Cohen
03/17/2015 at 19:32 |
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But HPFPF, turbo failure and Carbon Blasting tho
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jkm7680
> Axial
03/17/2015 at 19:33 |
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Ok, C4 seats are the best thing ever. Especially the sport seats with the adjustable bolsters. Mhmmmm......
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N51fanatic
> MrDakka
03/17/2015 at 19:34 |
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These things are unicorns, at any point on any of the big car sale sites, there will be less than 5 128, 6-speed with M-Sport available nationwide. Its usually 1-3 for sale, if any at all.
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Michael Cohen
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:34 |
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I thought the HPFP was covered by 100,000 mile warranty, no? I read that BMW lost a class action lawsuit. Have I got that wrong?
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N51fanatic
> Michael Cohen
03/17/2015 at 19:36 |
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I don't know the particulars of the N54 extended warranty. But for 20k you would be looking at an older much higher mileage turbo'd 135i.
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Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:40 |
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Pretty sure a .50 call round through the block would render it useless
tl;dr: really wish people would stop using the phrase bulletproof in relation to reliability
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Axial
> jkm7680
03/17/2015 at 19:40 |
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Early C4 seats*
Later ones are more like the BMW seats above. Pretty good (and way better than C5/6 seats), but nowhere near as huggy as the originals. The range of adjustability is quite nice on the Sport seats (pictured), though sometimes I just want a manual lever to quickly push it back or pull it forward.
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Michael Cohen
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:41 |
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not that much older or that many more miles. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…
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jkm7680
> Axial
03/17/2015 at 19:42 |
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Yup, like the '96 seats were no bueno. The ones with the strange sideways crease.
The amount of adjustability was also a huge plus, but the air thingies were sorta shit if I recall correctly.
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N51fanatic
> Michael Cohen
03/17/2015 at 19:46 |
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Thats a nice price, but considering maintenance, i'd choose the 28 over the 35
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:51 |
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Eh.......It has the RWD driving feel but the Fiesta ST still runs a bit faster at auto/rallycross events. Not a bad buy if you want the BMW interior over the fiesta interior though. Function over form isn't a bad tradeoff for a cheap hot hatch but the 30k BMW has a 30k car interior vs the 25k fiesta ST having the 15k car interior.
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Michael Cohen
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 19:56 |
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i hear you. I'm going to roll the dice though.
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N51fanatic
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/17/2015 at 19:57 |
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you have any hard data about the fiestas running faster at autox events??
unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 20:18 |
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oppo is still busting nuts over the fiesta st remember.
nafsucof
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 20:34 |
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cost of parts too. Just saying. Six plugs vs four, smaller brakes, pads etc. cheaper ford parts. Etc etc etc. no need to trash talk either, that being said the fiesta would likely whoop this on an Autocross or backroad stock for stock.
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N51fanatic
> nafsucof
03/17/2015 at 20:38 |
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What a dumb argument to make. The fiesta has 4 doors that could break, vs 2 on the bimmer. The hatch on the fiesta could break, bimmer has no hatch. Your turbo could break, bimmer doesn't have one. See how dumb this argument is?
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Axial
> jkm7680
03/17/2015 at 20:38 |
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The Sport seats from '94 to '96 are the ones you are describing. I'm not a huge fan. The regular seats (which are in my '96)...
...are actually quite good. I like the ones in my ZR-1 better, but there are no complaints with these.
And yes, the air bladders are kinda shit. I think mine slowly deflate, but I can't discern any loss in comfort. The pumps still work, so there's that!
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jkm7680
> Axial
03/17/2015 at 20:39 |
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The '93 also!
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nafsucof
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 20:40 |
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Every engine needs maintenance right? Does the 128 not need oil changes? Plug changes? Belt changes? Brakes? Rotors? Maintenance is maintenance. See what I did there...those are your words. Just busting your ass, I do like the 128. I got my dad autocrossing this year in his 2006 330 vert. It's been fun tuning it for him, we did koni fsds, a dinan intake and dinan coil packs, upgraded pads and rotors, he had no idea he'd love it this much...great engine, too bad he has an auto, but it seems to be working fine out there...
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nafsucof
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 20:43 |
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no. VanOs could go bad, electric seat motors could break. We can keep going, but a broken door is not maintainence. Plus bummer has a trunk. That was a dumb argument.
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N51fanatic
> nafsucof
03/17/2015 at 20:46 |
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stop commenting, please
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nafsucof
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 20:49 |
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why? No worse than your "chipped" "100 horsepower brO" remarks fuck off the internet isn't all about agreeing.
Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 21:18 |
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Still has the issue that will ultimately cause me to part with my 135 sooner than later: no limited slip. Makes it so much less fun on/over the limit.
FromCanadaWithLove
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 21:32 |
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What's wrong with the N55? That's a superb engine.
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N51fanatic
> FromCanadaWithLove
03/17/2015 at 21:37 |
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nothing wrong with it, just a bit more costly maintenance wise than the n52
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> N51fanatic
03/17/2015 at 22:22 |
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Yes. I ran against two. I beat them both. Handily. Granted, I smashed a FoST and normally they run similarly so driver skill still facotrs in, but given what tires the FiST comes with comapred to the BMW runflats, the FiST is probably faster with equal skill drivers.