[timmyk86]

Hi all,

I'm on the look out for a used M135i as my next car.

Just wondered if there are any options that people consider 'must-haves'

I'm not too fussed by auto or manual, but think I would prefer auto. I'd like to have adaptive suspension, cruise control, heated seats and Pro/HK sound. Reasonable? Anything else important?

Thanks
Tim

 

[sunshinewelly]

My must haves when buying nearly new were an auto box. The automatic box is amazing and thats coming from a staunch manual driver of 20 plus years (including a 530i msport). It is so flexible in the m135. When i am feeling lazy just chuck it in auto but when i want to have even more fun i put it in manual rest the old left leg and off i go - love it.

I really like the sun protection glass which looks very good. The heated seats are great for me a 43 year old with a dodgy back. I love the black panel display as well.

I would also recommend some form of audio upgrade as thats the only thing i regret on my purchase as i am in the market to now add some better speakers. Sat nav is neither here nor there but is now standard anyway on new cars.

 

[Steven1077]

I'd add the drivers comfort package with front and rear PDC if you want cruise control, rear PDC is part of the package but I think £250 more for front PDC is worth having

 

[new666uk]

I'd second the audio upgrade - standard is awful. No appreciable bass and weak mids.

 

[Seanpcashman]

Memory seats. I have them in a 13 year old Audi A4, godsend if wifeling is really short, especially as seats have loads of adjustment. I've just sold a 123d that was great but I hated spending ages messing with the seats, replaced it with m135 with memory seats.

 

[AW_Dan]

When buying used go for as much as possible!
They're all priced very similarly so find one that has loads

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[nickfrog]

I really don't understand why people consider auto as an "option" - surely if you prefer a manual then it clearly is the "option" that you must not have.

 

[FreeFour]

I am one week into ownership of my M135 and spent 3 weeks finding the right car with as many of the options I wanted.

Buying used tends to mean there will be some compromises on your desired specification and options.

My car has

3 door
Auto
Pro Media & Sat Nav
Folding wing mirrors
Heated Seats
Front and rear parking sensors
Black Panel
Privacy Glass
Cruise Control
High Beam Assist

The options I would have liked included the HK audio and adaptive suspension but there is always a compromise and worth seeing a few different cars to gain a feel for what options are the most important ones for you.

 

[frazzle]

For me, must have's are the engine, the chassis, and the quality and refinement. Luckily they come as standard.

Then, personally, I would add the auto box for the drivetrain, sun protection for the looks, heated seats for the comfort and advanced speaker for the sound.

New cars come with nav as standard but whilethe pro nav is exceptional - don't think it counts as a must have. Same applies for the Harmon Kardon. Its better than the advanced, but the leap from standard to advanced is bigger than the leap from advanced to HK.

Not bothered about parking sensors but would have liked the cruise.

 

[Dajonah]

I think the only two options that make a big difference are auto and adaptive. You get 2 cars in one with both. The majority of people who diss either are the people who haven't got it or spent ten minutes on a test drive. In the real world they both make a massive difference. If it's your daily then this car was always is going to be a compromise, if not you'd have bought a more focused car to start with.The auto let's you cruise along effortlessly or put it in manual and have some fun and the adaptive compliments it in that you can cruise along in comfort or put it in sport/+ and everything firms up. No brainer really.
The other options are what YOU feel would be of benefit to you but they don't change the dynamics of the car. Only thing I can concur with is the standard audio is pants. Oh and get a later model with dab if buying second hand.

 

[Kerr]

What is black panel display? I keep reading it's an important feature, but I've still not worked out what it is.

 

[nickfrog]

I think the only two options that make a big difference are auto and adaptive. You get 2 cars in one with both. The majority of people who diss either are the people who haven't got it or spent ten minutes on a test drive. In the real world they both make a massive difference. If it's your daily then this car was always is going to be a compromise, if not you'd have bought a more focused car to start with.The auto let's you cruise along effortlessly or put it in manual and have some fun and the adaptive compliments it in that you can cruise along in comfort or put it in sport/+ and everything firms up. No brainer really.

Box is not really an option, it's a different transmission. Most people won't diss the auto just because they prefer the manual, I certainly won't.
Considering that it is near impossible to test drive a manual, I think your 10mn test drive theory is not conclusive. Otherwise I could say : a lot of auto buyers chose auto because they couldn't test drive a manual. Amusingly there was a poll last year where far more people regretted the auto than the other way around.

It's a subjective choice where any judgement of value is weak : they're both great boxes for different preferences.

 

[Fly100]

Adaptive suspension, and audio upgrade, heated seats.

 

[marco_polo]

Must haves for me are Man-box, black panel and a speaker upgrade. The slush-box really shines if you spend any time queuing in crawling / stop-start traffic though.

Beyond that, Driver Comfort pack (PDC and Criuse) and Adaptive are nice to have.

I went for heated seats, but they don't get warm for ages! You've still got to park your bum on freezing leather and shiver for 5 mins until they get any temp in them. They'd be so much better if you could turn them on from your fob 10 mins before you jump in!

 

[Denno]

There are no ' must have' options imo.

3 peddles and that straight 6 are all you need!

 

[Dajonah]

I think the only two options that make a big difference are auto and adaptive. You get 2 cars in one with both. The majority of people who diss either are the people who haven't got it or spent ten minutes on a test drive. In the real world they both make a massive difference. If it's your daily then this car was always is going to be a compromise, if not you'd have bought a more focused car to start with.The auto let's you cruise along effortlessly or put it in manual and have some fun and the adaptive compliments it in that you can cruise along in comfort or put it in sport/+ and everything firms up. No brainer really.

Box is not really an option, it's a different transmission. Most people won't diss the auto just because they prefer the manual, I certainly won't.
Considering that it is near impossible to test drive a manual, I think your 10mn test drive theory is not conclusive. Otherwise I could say : a lot of auto buyers chose auto because they couldn't test drive a manual. Amusingly there was a poll last year where far more people regretted the auto than the other way around.

It's a subjective choice where any judgement of value is weak : they're both great boxes for different preferences.

I said the auto and adaptive was the 2 options that make the biggest difference. I never compared the 2 boxes, although the wife would agree that my judgement of value is weak to be subjective I'd like to think I'd have a reasonable experience of both
The box is probably the biggest option anyone buying this car will make. Just like 3dr or 5dr is an option. Wasn't meant as a dig at manual owners. I'm sure there are regrets to buying auto. Just like I've got poverty spec because I refused to pay 2k for pro nav at the time and I'm sure some of the pro manual people couldn't/wouldn't pay for auto.
Majority of people buying this car will have a life time of manual box experience as this will probably be there first auto. You generally know what your getting with a manual.
10 minute test drive was mainly aimed at the people who regard adaptive as not nescessary without giving it a proper audition,if you gave it a decent test drive and honestly don't regret it then fair enough and you don't miss what you haven't had, at the end of the day that's all the time most people get to make there decisions. Adaptive makes a massive difference on a day to day basis and is value at around £500.
I find the answers to the ops' questions are the people who have, love, the ones that don't,don't.

 

[AW_Dan]

If we all had the same idea of 'must haves' then we'd all have the same car. Which would be crap.

People can only help out if they have a bit of background, for example, if someone said:

'I use the car mainly in town traffic, but enjoy the occasional blast. I often drive to places I don't know and I'm a bit of a tech geek that loves music'

Then we could say auto and pro nav are recommended for you, along with HK.

Otherwise everyone is just going to explain their spec to you and others will disagree, the exact same thing will then happen a week later when somebody else asks

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[nickfrog]

Dajonah, I agree with you on the dampers, I occasionally regret not buying them but early issues spooked me. And I'm a tight git.
On the box front, I think you confuse impartial and subjective. I impartially think they are both great boxes. I subjectively prefer the manual.

 

[Blades1977]

Can you spec the standard m sport seats rather than the leather?

 

[Dajonah]

Can you spec the standard m sport seats rather than the leather?

I believe it's an option elsewhere in Europe.