L-H
New member
Howdy folks,
I realise nearly a year late that I never posted a thread for my M135i.
So let's do some background. About 2 years ago I traded my F20 120i and Mini JCW in on an X3 30d. The plan being to end up getting a "fun" car at some point in time again. I had been looking on and off for something RWD. In August 2023 I got a pain in one of my legs which turned out to be a blood clot and that was the signal to look "harder".
I had realised during this time period that I didn't miss my JCW as much as I missed the 1 series, so I started looking for a M140 and partially looking at the M135i. The B57 in the X3 is brilliant and I've also read a lot of positives about the B58 so that was my initial goal.
However, the one day in October I came across a M135i on WeBuyCars (I know, risky bisky) for "fairly cheap" ~280k with 162k km. One of the cheapest non-accident damaged auction M135i's at the time.
I leaped into action and went that weekend to test drive, unfortunately the car was on hold for sale by the time I got there. So I test drove an MX-5 RF auto instead with the most obnoxious exhausts on. I had basically given up on the BMW at that point and was getting ready to continue my search but I noticed by the Monday or Tuesday that the Orange BMW was back on the menu boys. So I arranged a test drive as soon as I could.
Now let me tell you, having been driving a "fast" diesel for a while, something about a petrol that revs (7k redline) is music to me. Despite the car leaking boost like a MF because of the dodgy silicone charge pipe setup that was going on, it was still pretty quick.
However, on the drive back to WBC at a roundabout where I stopped, it was wanting to die and doing weird things. By the time I got back to WBC it was also whistling from the engine (PCV valve).
Perhaps against my better judgement I told them I'd take the car if they'd get that all sorted out. Which they did, at ~18k cost to them, aluminium charge pipe, turbo inlet pipe and PCV valve sorted.
So I took the car.
I then took the car to BMW for a full inspection (should have probably done this before). Where I got a quote for around 120k worth of things to fix on the car. You best believe my stomach fell out of my ass when I saw that quote.
Now knowing the common issues with N55, oil filter housing leaks onto the serpentine belt, which causes it to slip and get eaten by the crank and then a bad day is had by all.
I got as many of the top of engine oil leaks sorted and done away with that I could, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket. And I felt good.
I then did some code scans of the car and found out there was some codes for diverter valve stuck open codes. So I went through the worst job in terms of screws required to be removed vs effort and replaced the DV with a GFB DV+. I figure if I'm repairing, I may as well repair with upgrades/mods. Replaced the brake pads with EBC yellowstuff.
I even got the gearbox serviced by ZF in Cape Town to give me comfort that the car was gonna be at the best it could be.
Then since it needed new shocks and assorted items, did the MPerformance suspension kit instead.
Which brings me to August 2024, where I finally took it to a track day at Killarney. And it was going well, no heat soak, temps all good. Within 2 seconds of my best time with the JCW (which I had more track days and PS4 tyres instead of RFT). Until something caused the belt to go, I'm not sure if the belt killed itself, if it got more oil on it, if the idler pulley went (it was utterly forked, found a ball bearing in my side skirt from it) or what. But it decided it was out and it was gonna take out the transmission oil cooler line and cause me to think I had blown the motor.
Thankfully it seems like the motor is good and it's just an expensive job in terms of replacing seals, pulleys, belt, oil cooler lines, etc.
I did as much as I could at home until I needed to get the oil pan off to ensure no belt is hiding in there or the oil pick up and shipped that off to the peeps that did the suspension install. And told them to fix any other oil leaks they find. Which appears to be rear main seal. So that's also a fun expensive job.
In conclusion, I love the car, I do think it's too much power for the chassis but the suspension upgrade definitely helped and I'm sure when I do tyres it will be even better.
I realise nearly a year late that I never posted a thread for my M135i.
So let's do some background. About 2 years ago I traded my F20 120i and Mini JCW in on an X3 30d. The plan being to end up getting a "fun" car at some point in time again. I had been looking on and off for something RWD. In August 2023 I got a pain in one of my legs which turned out to be a blood clot and that was the signal to look "harder".
I had realised during this time period that I didn't miss my JCW as much as I missed the 1 series, so I started looking for a M140 and partially looking at the M135i. The B57 in the X3 is brilliant and I've also read a lot of positives about the B58 so that was my initial goal.
However, the one day in October I came across a M135i on WeBuyCars (I know, risky bisky) for "fairly cheap" ~280k with 162k km. One of the cheapest non-accident damaged auction M135i's at the time.
I leaped into action and went that weekend to test drive, unfortunately the car was on hold for sale by the time I got there. So I test drove an MX-5 RF auto instead with the most obnoxious exhausts on. I had basically given up on the BMW at that point and was getting ready to continue my search but I noticed by the Monday or Tuesday that the Orange BMW was back on the menu boys. So I arranged a test drive as soon as I could.
Now let me tell you, having been driving a "fast" diesel for a while, something about a petrol that revs (7k redline) is music to me. Despite the car leaking boost like a MF because of the dodgy silicone charge pipe setup that was going on, it was still pretty quick.
However, on the drive back to WBC at a roundabout where I stopped, it was wanting to die and doing weird things. By the time I got back to WBC it was also whistling from the engine (PCV valve).
Perhaps against my better judgement I told them I'd take the car if they'd get that all sorted out. Which they did, at ~18k cost to them, aluminium charge pipe, turbo inlet pipe and PCV valve sorted.
So I took the car.
I then took the car to BMW for a full inspection (should have probably done this before). Where I got a quote for around 120k worth of things to fix on the car. You best believe my stomach fell out of my ass when I saw that quote.
Now knowing the common issues with N55, oil filter housing leaks onto the serpentine belt, which causes it to slip and get eaten by the crank and then a bad day is had by all.
I got as many of the top of engine oil leaks sorted and done away with that I could, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket. And I felt good.
I then did some code scans of the car and found out there was some codes for diverter valve stuck open codes. So I went through the worst job in terms of screws required to be removed vs effort and replaced the DV with a GFB DV+. I figure if I'm repairing, I may as well repair with upgrades/mods. Replaced the brake pads with EBC yellowstuff.
I even got the gearbox serviced by ZF in Cape Town to give me comfort that the car was gonna be at the best it could be.
Then since it needed new shocks and assorted items, did the MPerformance suspension kit instead.
Which brings me to August 2024, where I finally took it to a track day at Killarney. And it was going well, no heat soak, temps all good. Within 2 seconds of my best time with the JCW (which I had more track days and PS4 tyres instead of RFT). Until something caused the belt to go, I'm not sure if the belt killed itself, if it got more oil on it, if the idler pulley went (it was utterly forked, found a ball bearing in my side skirt from it) or what. But it decided it was out and it was gonna take out the transmission oil cooler line and cause me to think I had blown the motor.
Thankfully it seems like the motor is good and it's just an expensive job in terms of replacing seals, pulleys, belt, oil cooler lines, etc.
I did as much as I could at home until I needed to get the oil pan off to ensure no belt is hiding in there or the oil pick up and shipped that off to the peeps that did the suspension install. And told them to fix any other oil leaks they find. Which appears to be rear main seal. So that's also a fun expensive job.
In conclusion, I love the car, I do think it's too much power for the chassis but the suspension upgrade definitely helped and I'm sure when I do tyres it will be even better.
