trade my Z for a bmw 135i?
 

Hey guys,

Please don't give me crap as I know this is sacrilegious (had to look that bad boy up), to discuss getting rid of a fantastic car for a bmw, but just hear me out please.

I am in the process of potentially trading my 09 370z touring sport for a 2012 135i. I have done plenty of searching with some help, but not enough to make an informed decision. This is mainly for anyone who has owned or driven both as the main reason I am making the trade is power. My Z is great, like new, w/typical bolt on's and uprev tune. My absolute only gripe is, it's just not quick enough for me. I've owned it for 4 years and have had a blast with it every time I drive it. I have tapped out most of it's potential without spending another 2000g to gain 20hp or so (N/A is quite the bummer sometimes). FI would cost 8g minimum to liven it up significantly and that's not an option for me.

I am in this solely for the power and driving experience. I will be test driving the potential 135i this Saturday at Carmax. They gave me a reasonable offer for my car given the fact that it's winter in Chicago which is a terrible time to trade in a RWD sports car. The reason I don't want to wait until summer is the fact that it's very difficult to find a MT 135i coupe black/black for a reasonable price. I already ordered a charge pipe and JB4 tuner so I can really get a feel for how the car will perform at it's true potential during the Carmax 5 day return policy. I figured in stock form it wouldn't knock my socks off. I'm not sure if I can get my Z back if I return the BMW, but hopefully that is an option because the 370 is an awesome car and it would be brutal to start all over again. I do understand the 135 is hideous inside and out, so the sacrifice would have to be well worth it. With a set of nice rims and a few other ext. mods, the bmw passable as a clean car.

Anyone who has owned both cars please chime in. Love to hear about the 135i with at least the jb4 vs. 370Z with typical bolt ons (intake, exhaust, test pipes, tune). This is purely about straight line power, and I mean throw me back in my seat fun. The 135 would have to feel significantly faster and be that much more fun to drive in order for me to make the trade. I got the Z from carmax and had a great experience there. I have a motorcycle as well, so I only drive about 3500 miles per year including driving the Z including through Chicago winters.

For the minimal miles I would be putting on the car, I would assume the reliability of the bmw wouldn't be a big problem, but I do plan on mashing the gas every chance I get. The Z has been bullet proof for 23000 miles with relatively hard driving. The BMW would be braving the winter as well, but I only have a 1 mile commute to work. My Z only has 23000 miles with zero mechanical issues, the 135i has 47k and they want 24,600$. After plenty of research, this is a very reasonable price. If you know of any reliability issues around the 50k mile mark of the 135, please advise as I'm not looking to deal with unexpected costly repairs.

My apologies for the rant and long message, but I'm short on time and I don't want to make a bad decision for me. I'm a bit impatient and impulsive when it comes to something I want, but usually it works out for the best.

P.S. I recently test drove two LS2 supercharged corvettes and I honestly was not impressed at all. I drove the corvette's like I stole them, foot to the floor, and they didn't seam much faster than the Z (unbiased as I wanted them to be faster). I'm sure they were detuned or poorly tuned, but I'm not a fan of the car anyway.

Ewww please don't 1series reminds me of an 80's Toyota tercel yuck. MB is a beautiful color and that lip looks sexy as heck, its like dumping a supermodel and dating a hideous bag lady in that 1series bmw. I wouldn't even trade it in for the new 2series.

I have a buddy of mine in the same car club as me at college who owns a 135i. Lets just say, due to the 135i being F/I, your tuning potential is a lot more than the Z. His FBO 135i is pushing 400whp on pump gas. Its light and comparable to a go kart.

The one thing you have to realize is that with BMW and a lot of German cars is that reliability is always a problem. To tack onto that, when things break on a BMW, they're going to cost multiple of what it will on the 370Z. This is not to deter you from getting a 135i, I am merely saying that you should definitely expect to have much higher maintenance costs than the 370. I am not going to say which car is better, that is up to you to decide. I personally would stay with something I can count on day in day out, but that is in my own financial situation. My advice is to not just jump on the first good deal you see. It could potentially hurt you in the long run and you'll regret it for some time. Test the waters and take your time making a decision. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I was in the same sort of boat, 135 or Z when I was last car shopping. I haven't driven both, just the Z, the deciding factor for me was a friends MOM bought a 135. after that it was too much of a chic car for me. Aside from that I like them.

After the test drive you won't want it. The steering feeling in the BMW is crap and it takes a lot of input to steer the car. The 1 series M has much better steering and it's too bad the 135's didn't have that.

I test drove one when looking to buy my Z and I just didn't like the way it felt in comparison. It felt sluggish and soft to me.

Hahahahahaha, you guys crack me up. There are so many reasons as far as aesthetically that the Z dominates inside and out. I do love the looks of my car and it does perform very well for what it is. I just tend to get bored once I get a car the way I like it and tend to itch for another car to modify. I know it's like polishing a turd when it comes to the looks of the bmw, but I'm sure I can do something to make it look decent. I also hate the fact that you see so many BMWs cruising the street and very rarely do you see a Z even after 6 years of production. I've had so much fun with the car, but after 4 years, I just need more power. I do hear you on the potentially suspect reliability and maintenance costs of the 135 through the roof. I am banking on the fact that I will only put 3500 miles on it per year and probably only keep it for 2 years that I'd be safe. I know it's a big risk though, the Z is so reliable. The chick car thing cracked me up because I would probably say that to someone who owned that car. It is difficult to even consider ever having a back seat again.

I have seen some clean 135's with just rims and a few exterior accessories (again, passable, but a Z it will never be). As far as the dumping a hot chick for an ugly chick, I like to think of it similarly. I would consider the Z a hot chick, but isn't very good in bed and the 135 is ugly, but great in bed. Tough call as to which is more important. When you say comparable to a go cart, I think really fast and fun to drive. That's what I'm looking for, something really fast, I don't need the attention the beautiful Z attracts.

You guys are great, thanks for the responses. Remember, forget looks, cornering, etc... I already know those advantages as I have been driving my Z like I stole it ever since I set foot in the car. The 135 doesn't compare in any realm besides the power potential. I'm not 100% married to it and I have no obligations to purchase (zero financial stake as of now). I appreciate the words of wisdom regarding making a quick impulse decision as you are 100% correct. Worst case I rock a less attractive faster car for a little while and grab another Z and go the FI route.

Hideous stock vs. w/ rims
 

The stock pictures are the one I'm looking at. I know it's ugly, no arguments, but with a decent set of rims, it looks clean.

Ur gonna lose some handling and connectivity to the car. But you'll gain serious MOD potential. Your first mods should be a mechanical diff and an exhaust.

First mod will be JB4 stage 2 and charge pipe. Advertised gains w/ dyno's to back it up +60hp +80tq on a stock 135i. Stock dyno's w/ the JB4 are consistently 280hp/280tq (bmw underrated the HP numbers). The JB4 has maps for most bolt on's which makes 400whp and 450tq well within grasp. I already have the two on their way and will install during the 5 day return period from carmax. I paid 500$ for the two, not a bad deal dollar for hp.

You could just hold out a while longer for that new TT V6 to hit ;)

no offense, but audi's are for chicks

The mod potential of those cars are insane, $500 for the JB4 tune a CAI and some exhaust mods and you knocking down Vettes in the 1/4, something it'll take thousands for the Z to accomplish. Your bored with the Z and there's nothing more you can do, but move on so good luck with the new ride man.
P.S. Dibs on the side splitters if you decide to sell them........ LOL.

JC-Nismo, awesome response, you're thinking what I'm thinking. It's not like I bought the Z a week ago and haven't enjoyed it, I have had a blast mashing the gas every chance I get and sliding around curves. I'm all about progression and this bad boy is tapped out as far as potential (finances considered). I think it looks almost perfect and there is nothing really more to do. It's also fun making an ugly car a good looking high performer. I'm missing the hobbyist aspect.

I love those side splitters too. Carmax was very gracious and complimentary about the mods. The appraiser mentioned they were tastefully done. They were okay with the exhaust being extremely loud (sounds gorgeous though). I'm not desperate or anything, just looking for some more fun driving. It's tough when bike season is over in Chicago. It's going to be a long time before I get on my zx6r

I bought my z for complete package, looks, performance and bang for buck. I don't care if the bmw is faster looks are my main priority. I enjoy looking at my car. There are countless times I look and stare in my garage on how beautiful the Z is. I in my opinion could not say the same in the 1series or any bmw for that matter.

I agree Sunkist all the way, but remember this is not about looks, only power. I have had the same relationship with my Z as you have. I have enjoyed it as much as anyone could enjoy a car. I have driven it to it's full potential on the streets (or my full potential better stated). I have mashed on the gas and driven the car as it should be driven.