Car Porn

Really good choice IMESHO. I've been looking at exactly the same thing. I have an E93 328i now, and had a Z4 3.0si up until a couple of years ago. Both had the same N52 (or N51 in the case of the E93) engine and utterly delightful manual gearbox. the N52 is a lovely lump, and in 128i format you can source a 3-stage intake from a 330i or other BMW, add a tune, and see an additional 50HP. From a naturally aspirated engine! All factory bits! Pretty cool. And the 128i is a light car (relatively speaking) with a nimble wheelbase and some nice suspension underpinnings. I'm hoping to find a coupe with M sport suspension. They're not easy to find with 3 pedals.

 

That's one way to improve the ride

 

Thanks. I prefer driving a stick too, but due to a badly broken left femur (more metal than bone) about 20 years ago, I lean towards automatics for a daily driver. A manual is ok for a weekend car, but a daily with a clutch soon causes knee/hip/lower back pain. I've been cruising the 1Addicts forum for tips and tricks, and read about the manifold. The car is a 2011 Alpine White auto with 80K+ miles on it...once I work my way through all the fluids/filters, and sparkplugs, I might consider the manifold swap (also found on the X3), exhaust, and tune. IMO it's worthless putting much into a daily driver up here in the 'salt belt'. This car is pretty clean, but it has been winter driven. If I really like it, I'll get a weekender with lower miles, no Winters, and a stick. The engine is nice...love the sound of an inline 6. Disconnecting the exhaust flap actuator helped with that a bit.

 

... ^^^... I loved that little 273 cu - 235 hp ... 4 bbl engine ... it was almost as good as the 283.

And I have always liked that base model "COPO Look" too.

 

I do a fair amount of enthusiastic driving with Z4 folks and have not heard any bad words about the slushboxes, or hydraulically actuated manual gearboxes, or DCTs, depending on what vintage they have. Beyond some maintenance woes with the hydraulic weirdo they appear to do their jobs pretty well. I haven't driven one though.

I'd drive the wheels off that 2011. Focus on suspension first, make sure it's tight down there. Shocks and some of the control arm bushings -- particularly front lower -- are pretty much toast at 80K. You may also want to explore motor and transmission mounts, and driveshaft center bearing if the car has one.

Time for a pic!

 

Mine has the GM built 6L45 slushbox. As automatics go, it is far from the worst I've driven. Shifts are positive and firm even in normal Drive mode. In DSport, it 'rev-matches' on downshifts, and holds the gear you're in when cornering. I haven't played with the 'manual' settings yet.

 

Vista Cuda?

 

"You could literally Cuuuuuda the Vistas"

 

If our chapter ever starts doing local driving events again, I'll pick up a 128 with a manual transmission. Was looking at E46 330s, but they are starting to get long in the tooth...

 

WOW!!! I've had 2 - not like this - they were original newer ones...had an 83 (I think) and an 89...LOVED them, sold both with low mileage, certainly wish I had kept one of them.

 

13 minutes of silence in remembrance, please.

Be patient in the beginning but this solo erupts with amazing talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9r-NxuYszg&feature=emb_title

 

That’s a Challenger front.

 

When I was 14 the guy next door had one of these... 1970 Boss 302 in blue. I still love that thing...

 

Maybe one day I can afford a 2013.