For $8300 could this 1 be the one?

"E90M3" (e90m3)
10/19/2020 at 10:55 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

I’m quite partial to the 1 series, so much so that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

That’s right, this 128i is equipped with a six speed manual. It also comes equipped with these lovely red seats.

Other than the lack of exterior pictures, the car appears to be in decent shape.

Appears to at least have the water pump taken care of.

So for 8300, does anyone need a 1?

DISCUSSION (28)

Tripper > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 10:59

Hello I want this but see no avenue to it:( I was super hot for one of these post S3 and pre 1502. Now I don’t think there is a spot for it. Also marinating on a Technoviolet E30 that ends today

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 10:59

Selling it because it’s due for all of the seals.

way2blu does a rev update > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:00

“I am selling because it is time for me to try out another German auto brand.”

This is one (1) very Oppo reason to sell a car.

E90M3 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/19/2020 at 11:00

Doubt the gaskets made it that long. Mine were done around 80k.

E90M3 > Tripper
10/19/2020 at 11:02

This is the car I wish was on the market when I got my 328i. Not that I regret buying my 3, more to complete the chapter of my experience with a 128i.

E90M3 > way2blu does a rev update
10/19/2020 at 11:02

Wonder how truthful that is. Also would be cautious being the fourth owner of this car.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:04

My girlfriend drives a 128i, auto. I’ve driven it a little bit, I’m going to be honest, it’s slow. I wouldn’t buy one. The interior also sucks for the price when they were new, and even now used. Probably feels totally different with a stick, but they don’t have enough power for how much they weigh.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:07

No pictures or mention of it in the ad, this thing definitely needs all of the gaskets.

Tripper > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:07

Unfinished business with cars is so annoying . I’m going to have to have another STi of some vintage at some point...I know I’ll get it and be like “why TF did I do this” after a few months. Ill be looking to feel the way I felt when I was 19...a different car makes me feel that cool now.

way2blu does a rev update > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:09

I read it as either “I’m an enthusiast who’s learning about different cars” or “These German cars keep having reliability issues, but I really like them so I’m hopping from one to the next so the future owners can deal with all the problems!”

The latter is a good reminder to get a pre- purchase inspection.

DasWauto > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/19/2020 at 11:35

Mine is at very nearly the same mileage as the one in the ad. Can confirm it will need all the gaskets, as mine does. Hopefully going in the next week, because I don’t want to fuck with the valvetronic to do the valve cover. I’m thinking I’ll have the water pump done preventatively at the same time - thoughts?

DasWauto > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:37

Red interior on a white car is almost my ideal spec. If it was a slickto p I’d consider sneaking across the border to try and smuggle it back to replace mine.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > DasWauto
10/19/2020 at 11:42

The valvetronic is actually quite easy to remove. The valve cover (might want to replace that as well as the gaskets ) it s elf is kind of a motherfucker, just literally unbolt everything that looks like is could possible interfere. If you are going to drop the subframe for the oil pan gasket, definitely do the water pump.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:44

I love it. The last true NA straight 6 ultimate driving machine. Did these have the issue with the crank swallowing the belt or was that just the 135?

E90M3 > DasWauto
10/19/2020 at 11:49

Really is a nice spec, I also don’t understand why the slicktop is so important to some people.

E90M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
10/19/2020 at 11:50

I think that was just a 135 issue, and an N54 issue at that. It wasn’t one of the issues I found when looking into the N52.

duurtlang > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 11:52

Head room? I have the seat in the lowest position and my hair still tends to touch or almost touch the headliner in many cars. And I’m merely above average tall.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 12:05

This was the last BMW made with true soul. I really want it. Great spec too.

DasWauto > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/19/2020 at 12:13

Oh damn, I forgot about the oil pan, I’ll have to check that. Good call, will do the pump if the pan gasket is going.

DasWauto > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 12:20

As duurt lang mentions - headroom. The sunroof mechanism tends to drop the headliner 1-2” which removes the little bit of headroom I had and makes wearing a helmet completely impractical, rather than just tight.

Also, weight - I think the sunroof probably adds 30 or 40 lbs, if not more . Slicktop, manual seats and manual transmission 128i is the lightest 1 series ( and lightest modern BMW by some margin) you can buy at 3000-3100lbs, depending on your source.

DasWauto > duurtlang
10/19/2020 at 12:21

Yep, headroom. At 1.95m I have just enough headroom in my 128i and a helmet for autocross is just doable. A sunroof negates that.

I imagine your just above average height is still quite tall by North American standards. :P

duurtlang > DasWauto
10/19/2020 at 12:27

Yes, just above average from a Dutch male my age perspective . I’m 1.88m tall, which is 6' 2" in legacy units . More torso than legs, hence the headroom issue.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > DasWauto
10/19/2020 at 12:29

Buy Felpro if you can for everything

DasWauto > duurtlang
10/19/2020 at 13:42

My torso is tall obviously but the legs tend to prove more of an an issue for me. In many cars I’ll have to slide the seat further back than would be ideal in terms of reaching the steering wheel. European cars tend to be more accommodating, both with seat adjustment and more generously telescoping steering wheels, while Japanese cars will often be limiting in how far back the seat goes, sometimes to the point that I just can’t drive them (eg. Miatas). American cars usually have lots of room (‘muricah) but other than sports cars I often find the seats unsupportive, especially being too short on the seat cushion , leaving me with no thigh support, which gets annoying on longer drives.

nerd_racing > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 14:31

I had a 2011 128i and I loved it. Had some issues come up here and there, but nothing too outrageous, until it rolled 100k miles. Then it needed a lot of repairs. Leaking oil seals, charging system issues, bushings, brakes and bearings. I let it go.

E90M3 > nerd_racing
10/19/2020 at 14:34

My 328i is about to cross 100k miles, the gaskets got done in 2019 around 80k miles. Oil pan is weeping, but I’m just gonna keep an eye on it.

nerd_racing > E90M3
10/19/2020 at 14:41

The oil filter housing and valve cover were the final straws for me. I think the oil from those is what hurt the alternator too.

E90M3 > nerd_racing
10/19/2020 at 16:05

Both of those got done on mine. It was burning oil on the manifold, so figured they needed to be done.