M135i - refreshing the (ex) daily

[kiethton]

For the last 6 years we've had an M135i, bought at less than 3 years old with 65k already on the clock it's now got nearly 130k miles and....looks/drives like it's done a lot more.

The car spent its first 5 years with us as a daily, parked on street outside my wife's work in a less desirable part of S London. Here it was subjected to a touch by feel masterclass, leaving most corners scraped. With the new baby coming last year my lotus Exige was sold, the daily was upgraded to an X5 to swallow baby clobber and the M135i became the tip run/golf club car.

I've debated selling it many, many times. I've listed it for sale twice, all replies were from "innit bruv's" trying to buy it for half of trade value while deriding the engine that likes to blow up (actually if you fit a baffled sump before track/doing needless doughnuts they're fine). Not fancying the hassle I've decided to keep it, hopefully improve it and run it until it dies to stop me blowing the ISA on a new toy.





First job needs to be a battery (the current one is 3 years old, was fitted by myself without coding and now seems to be unable to start the car), however after that the suspension is the biggest issue.

To my knowledge every bush, damper, arm etc is original and feels like it has been going over London speed bumps for every one of the 130k miles on the clock. So suggestions on how to best fix that, the play in the steering and the vibration at motorway speeds appreciated. After that I'll look into the horrific (more so than it used to be) fuel consumption.

While I say I want to keep the car and get it to a good standard I may move it on in a few years so long as the salary sacrifice system isn't ruined in the interim (or if the proper fun car demons don't win) so budget is a consideration. Where would I get the most bang-for-buck?

Edited by kiethton on Friday 2nd August 17:22

[rottenegg]

kiethton said:

For the last 6 years we've had an M135i, bought at less than 3 years old with 65k already on the clock it's now got nearly 130k miles and....looks/drives like it's done a lot more.

The car spent its first 5 years with us as a daily, parked on street outside my wife's work in a less desirable part of S London. Here it was subjected to a touch by feel masterclass, leaving most corners scraped. With the new baby coming last year my lotus Exige was sold, the daily was upgraded to an X5 to swallow baby clobber and the M135i became the tip run/golf club car.

I've debated selling it many, many times. I've listed it for sale twice, all replies were from "innit bruv's" trying to buy it for half of trade value while deriding the engine that likes to blow up (actually if you fit a baffled sump before track/doing needless doughnuts they're fine). Not fancying the hassle I've decided to keep it, hopefully improve it and run it until it dies to stop me blowing the ISA on a new toy.





First job needs to be a battery (the current one is 3 years old, was fitted by myself without coding and now seems to be unable to start the car), however after that the suspension is the biggest issue.

To my knowledge every bush, damper, arm etc is original and feels like it has been going over London speed bumps for every one of the 130k miles on the clock. So suggestions on how to best fix that, the play in the steering and the vibration at motorway speeds appreciated. After that I'll look into the horrific (more so than it used to be) fuel consumption.

While I say I want to keep the car and get it to a good standard I may move it on in a few years so long as the salary sacrifice system isn't ruined in the interim (or if the proper fun car demons don't win) so budget is a consideration. Where would I get the most bang-for-buck?

Edited by kiethton on Friday 2nd August 17:22

Looks like it's done more than 130K miles? It looks like its in good shape to me!

130K from the N55 is good going. I only say that because a friend's 100% stock 2014 M135i blew its main bearings at 45K, full BMW SH, so yours has done very well indeed.

Get yourself Bimmerlink and Bimmercode, stick a new battery in and register it. That is that problem solved. With these modern 'intelligent' BMS systems, they're clearly not intelligent enough detect when a new battery is fitted, you have to tell it so.

130K is way past the rubber perishing zone, so a chassis refresh will bring it back up to standard. Chassis degradation is like putting on weight. You don't notice it happening until one day you can't fit into your 32" Levi 501s anymore.

If you like the car, you can choose to invest in a spring clean, or chop it in for a B58 M140i. Newer, more powerful engine, but the same chassis maintenance requirements though.

BMWs are extremely picky with chassis bush condition. More so than any other car I've owned, but the investment in refreshing it is worth it though.

[kiethton]

Thanks - will google that to sort the battery but have to say that the photos flatter the true condition!

Yes, all the bushes are totally past it - the steering wonders on the motorway/has play and it just doesn't inspire any confidence whatsoever. Assume it's just a case of targeting our mechanic with replacing all the rubber bushes when he's over to service/MOT it

[rottenegg]

kiethton said:

Thanks - will google that to sort the battery but have to say that the photos flatter the true condition!

Yes, all the bushes are totally past it - the steering wonders on the motorway/has play and it just doesn't inspire any confidence whatsoever. Assume it's just a case of targeting our mechanic with replacing all the rubber bushes when he's over to service/MOT it

It's simple stuff. BMW will relieve your wallet of £400 or so inc coding for a new battery, but Bimmerlink + an aftermarket 90AH AGM battery will see you right for a lot less.

Well, I've always had the opinion that if a car looks presentable from 10 meters, that is fine. Perfection is the enemy of good enough. It is 9 years old after all.

The steering wander is either the thrust arm bushes (they are a hydro filled nonsense bush for NVH reduction that split) or the steering rack needs the well documented repair kit, which is a simple job and £100 in parts.

It is very easy and reasonably priced to get these cars back up to scratch. Just depends where your heart is. Persevere or move on.

If you feel like shifting it, the B58 engined cars are a fine upgrade. Just depends if you are prepared to subject your new hotness to his Royal London-ness or keep old the and busted going chassis wise, and live with the day-to-day dinks and scratches.

[kiethton]

Thanks, already have a B58 in our X5, although it runs on electric 99% of the time. Have to say I do prefer the "character" of the N55, the B58 is effective but a bit gruff (and sounds like a diesel!)

[danb79]

As Mr Egg up top has said; get your own battery (the Exide AGM 019 battery from Tayna is all you need):

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/exide/ek950/

If you don't want the Bimmerlink/Bimmercode apps and dongle:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iCar-Pro-4-0-Diagnostic-C...

then the likes of the Creator C410 plug n play code reader will register the battery to the car for you:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creator-Battery-Registrat...

However, that's for a like for like replacement, if you were to go for a 105Ah battery; that would need coding to the car, and then registering (which is what Bimmerlink will do for you)

It's simple to do though

All in I'm in agreement, it looks to be in solid condition.

If you wanted to refresh the suspension personally I'd stick with OE/OEM arms via Autodoc (Lemforder, TRW etc) and then the likes of Moog are a superb brand; and then maybe Bilstein B4S shocks and Eibach pro-kit, or reuse the OEM springs

This is what I've done on my F31 and it's made a fantastic difference to how the car rides & handles, as well as taking the piss-poor B / country roads that surround me here in Lancashire

[Mr Tidy]

To be fair it looks good in your photos.

If you still like driving it I'd probably have a suspension refresh and keep it.

I really like my 2005 E90 330i so after 5 years I still have it on 125K miles now, but I'd have to spend thousands more to get anything better which will just depreciate!

[Court_S]

kiethton said:

Thanks, already have a B58 in our X5, although it runs on electric 99% of the time. Have to say I do prefer the "character" of the N55, the B58 is effective but a bit gruff (and sounds like a diesel!)

I think the N55 is much more characterful as well.

The B58 has more torque and more potential, but personally I think the N55 is the nicer engine to use and it sounds better too.

[rottenegg]

kiethton said:

Thanks, already have a B58 in our X5, although it runs on electric 99% of the time. Have to say I do prefer the "character" of the N55, the B58 is effective but a bit gruff (and sounds like a diesel!)

Any BMW 6 cylinder tickles my fancy to be honest, petrol or derv. They are all very good.

Sounds like the M135i has gotten under your skin, so probably worth investing in it's upkeep. Sometimes a car is more than the sum of its parts and worth hanging onto.

[kiethton]

Thanks for all of that - looks like the mechanic will be tasked with replacing all the bushings across the suspension and steering, bet he'll love that job!

[danb79]

kiethton said:

Thanks for all of that - looks like the mechanic will be tasked with replacing all the bushings across the suspension and steering, bet he'll love that job!

Just replace the arms; much easier and more straight forward (unless you're polybushing, which personally I wouldn't due to the state of our roads)

Re Autodoc; their best prices are on their app. What I do is favourite the items I need on my Mac and then put them all into the basket and check out via my iPhone/Autodocs app etc - it can save you a pretty penny at times!