The 8 year old BMW 135i is gone. Man, when they get older the problems and $$ can really snowball. Clear coat failing, various sensors failing, etc. Loved the car but it was time to go.

We were looking and my wife took it in for the Takata airbag swap. While there she got talking with sales girl about the 2016 sitting on the showroom with 170 Miles. They were willing to essentially sell that for what a used 2016 with 10K Miles is going for, but with new car warrant as never had been titled. They sweetened deal by offering me more than I could have sold the BMW for privately (had twice been rear ended, repairs by BMW but that becomes a haggle point). Wasn’t looking to buy but picked up the performance Cooper version for Civic price.

Man, this thing is fun and actually has more room inside than my 1M. I put a short shifter in with Whalen custom shift knob and added 3M tint to knock down heat. Leaving stock until run flats burn off then getting some good summer tires. Wife is thrilled and have to say my wallet is happy - and yeah this is a blast to drive. Almost no torque steer but lots of torque. It is fast and handles great.

We need to get this out to AutoX.

shame you only posted thumb nails

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
shame you only posted thumb nails

Nice looking car, hope you enjoy it. I just don’t understand how you could live with a 6 second 0-60 time though!

Resized, first time posting from imgur. Had to figure out the naming convention to get 640x640.

6 seconds is fun, supposedly 5.3 with the NM module that increase the 228hp to 270 by simply increasing boost psi over the range. Better than a Dinan remap, simply a piggyback. It is now the BMW twin power turbo 2.0 B48 engine with lower compression pistons.

It is fun, I need to learn front wheel drive methods like lift off oversteer to help with rotation.

Now you need to watch 'The Italian Job' to get some driving lessons.

Great car. A friends wife has the turbo model and that thing is a riot. Roomier on the inside than you would think, but a bugger for me to get in and out of it none the less being a 6 foot old fart.

Jim

Getting ready for the next hurricane, too, I see. Those tires look almost big enough to float the car.

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
Getting ready for the next hurricane, too, I see. Those tires look almost big enough to float the car.

Yeah 17’s. Better than 18. It is high, kw V1 in the future to drop 1.25”. Like I said, surprised me but after research and driving I was impressed vs prior generation. It is a nice premium small car. Pops, cracks, rev matches (good for teaching my 16 year old) and corners flat. This has the sport suspension which feels firm - but not jarring /bouncy.

congrats! I have a 2011 JCW that I love! keep an eye on the oil, they all burn it, and when you're ready for more power let me know! Stock mine made 184whp/179wtq on my Mustang Dyno, after a simple ECU tune it's currently at 213whp/234wtq!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cmr076,

I had a Mini Cooper S and can agree they are a BLAST to drive! I used to tell people it was like they took a go-kart and added a souped up engine to it.

ETA: I'm a big guy, 6 feet and around 220 lbs when I owed mine, and I never felt like it was cramped or uncomfortable to drive. Used to get a LOT of shit about "big guy in a tiny car" but oh well!

I hate to break it to the OP but these can start nickle and diming you to death too, I had mine for 2 years, had bought it used at 1-2 years old and I had to get rid of it when the $150 oil changes started to hurt then when they told me it needed $4,000 of front suspension work to pass inspection, that was it.

The maxi-Minis are a hoot. I really liked the older supercharged Cooper S, love that blower whine.
Have ridden along in a few at AutoX & it's a blast.

currently 62K into my second Cooper S hardtop,

had the 2010 Cooper S hardtop, bought used, with 6K on it, traded on a 13 at about 60K,
only cost out of warranty was a mount that went bad at $167,
oil changes were under warranty bought by the original owner, , I bought the runflat warranty for that car and it paid for itself in the time I had it, + some,

currently at 0 issues on the '13 S hardtop, and it runs like a scalded dog,

both had the upgraded stereo, with is worth every penny

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
shame you only posted thumb nails

As small as they are, that is about the biggest you can get without magnification . . . .

I kinda like the paint 2 tone. Minis are a hoot!

Sounds like you did well.

Congratulations

Love mine. I have a 2009 S.

I'm also a big guy, the car is easier to get in than anything short of a full size truck.

I went with physical mods. Intake, intercooler, BOV, exhaust, rear sway, sticky rubber on 17's.

It's currently mostly sitting. It has some oil burning issue (valve seal or a turbo wearing out). Plus it needs suspension and I'm not keen on dropping $2k into it. Someone who knew what they were doing could fix it for $50, it would just need a lot of tearing down and finding suspension from a wrecked one. The shop can do it in a few hours, but it's a specialist Mini shop and isn't exactly your neighborhood mechanic.

But boy, running 70+ mph on tight turns and pulling that thing through is a blast. Sitting and thinking what to replace it with and I'm left with a convertible JCW first gen, or keep it and fix it as a toy instead of a DD.

Really loving the car, with 900 Miles on the clock still treating gently but it is a hoot. There are 4 things I really want to do...I’m a mod guy and this thing is just screaming for some changes...
*Dinan Elite. Bumps my to 280+ and 310 torque without a remap. This BMW engine is tuned down but the JCW version is a bit more robust
*JCW Pro Coil Overs. These are KW V1 with factory warranty and lower car 1.25 while preserving ride quality
*Quaiffe Diff. E diff is good, but with power the mechanical + E diff is even better
*lose Runflats. $600 at Costco puts me into Michelin Pilot Super Sport 215/45R17. Must resist and burn off runflats...

So far this looking like a good long term car.

Looks cool, and fun.

I've done that too, went to a stealership over an issue and ended up with a new vehicle. Once had incipient tranny problems on a truck with 100k, swapped out.

Just a month ago I traded in my 14 for a new 17, Chevrolet truck. I got away from some things I have been living with for over 3 years, went to a full backseat Crew-Cab.

Incentives can be good with leftover models, they met my 'whisper number'.

quote:

Originally posted by cmr076:
congrats! I have a 2011 JCW that I love! keep an eye on the oil, they all burn it, and when you're ready for more power let me know! Stock mine made 184whp/179wtq on my Mustang Dyno, after a simple ECU tune it's currently at 213whp/234wtq!

Nice car - R56? Yeah my 135i burned oil and pretty much most DI engines do too. I've read that by reducing friction companies accept a bit more blow by, but not sure what is true. Regardless keep em fed with fuel and oil