[Charleston335i]

So I've had my 2007 335i sedan for 2 years now and I love it! I have the JB+ and DCI on it and I like the power. My CPO warranty is up in Feb 2013 and I want to trade/sell my car before it gets close to ending to get more for it so I went in and looked at my options. I'm currently paying $480 a month and looking to stay around there, so I was able to talk them down from $638 a month to around $530 a month for the 2012 135i fully loaded on a 3 year lease. The other option is a 2009 335i sedan I could buy thats listed at $38K with lots of options. Mine car is fully loaded so losing options would suck (thought about getting vert but can only afford a striped down 2012 135). I like how the 135 has a DCT 7 speed, harmon kardon, ect but not sure if i wanna lease it for 3 years. They also have 2008 sedans that are similar to mine but think it would be pointless to get one of those since its only a year newer and mine is just as nice. Only reason why I need the warranty is bc i still having nightmares of blowing my Porsche engine and losing $23K to replace it because the warranty company wouldnt pay for it. I know the 135 would be slightly faster stock with the DCT but not too many tunes out for the N55 currently correct? Just seeing what you guys would do since i'm torn. They really want my 2007 (48K miles) and appraised it at 18500 but with mine having every option I think I could sell it for more or talk them down?

[BFD99]

Find a 2010 135i, with the N54, since not alot of tunes for N55 and they don't make power as easily, though terry does have a JB4 for N55. What are the options on your car? Trying to get an idea so i can figure out how much it's worth.

[Charleston335i]

Premium Pkg
Sports Pkg
Winter Pkg
Navi
Comfort Access
Paddle shifters
2 tone interior (Lemon/Black very rare)

Pretty much everything you can get. I guess I should be patient and get buy a 2010 but the 2012 I do love the DCT tranny and its brand new (listed at $47K). 135s they said rarely come in a hard to keep. Isnt the tuned N55s hitting high 12's with the DCT? That's what my 2007 with JB+ at 100% hit.

[BFD99]

Well my 2008 with JB4 ran a 12.5 @ 116.4 with no meth and i'm at a disadvantage being a 6 speed. I'd put your car back to stock, keep your mods or sell them. I think the DCT is nice, but I'm a manual trans guy so i'm biased. I wouldn't get a car with less options than you are coming from, it will make you miss some of the options your 07 had vs. a new 2012 model. Also there are plenty of cars out there, if you want a 1 series 1addicts is great place to find some nice cars, or E90post has a bunch as well. You could put your car back to stock and take it to carmax, see what they'd give you for it. You don't even have to trade, they will just cut you a check for whatever they offered you, and you can think on the offer for 7 days. I honestly feel like you could get more than 18.5k for your car. My buddy sold his 08 335 coupe for 28,500 with mods and it had 48,000 miles on it.

[Charleston335i]

Yeah I'm thinking I can get around 24K for it? Thats a pretty fast time and I would love to run mid 12's, and with the leased car id only do the JB4 which is fine. I was trying to think if i could deal without the options bc i love the convertible so much but dont think I can. My car will prob lose some value after the warranty is up huh? Thanks for the input!

[BFD99]

I wouldn't worry about leasing it and modding it, just keep all the stock parts and put it back to stock before you turn it in and your done! I'd say sell it with some warranty, it would be more desirable that way I'd think. GLWS

[Charleston335i]

Thats what i was thinking since i have about a year left on warranty even though i might be alright staying with my car since they have replaced a bunch of parts on mine...Just tough to get a newer 135 and stay around 500 a month even though im downgrading models?

[BFD99]

Originally Posted by Charleston335i

Thats what i was thinking since i have about a year left on warranty even though i might be alright staying with my car since they have replaced a bunch of parts on mine...Just tough to get a newer 135 and stay around 500 a month even though im downgrading models?

I don't think of it as a downgrade at all, my car has just as many options as my roommates old 335 did, just a smaller car. If you don't need a backseat, like me then this thing is perfect.
Here's mine.

[Charleston335i]

Very nice ride! Is that lemon interior? I also have black/lemon interior Pretty rare!

[BFD99]

Nice! Share some pics, I don't see many other Lemon interior'd cars. I love my interior, that's for sure.

[Remonster]

The 135i is a lot more than a smaller, cheaper 335i. It is the only non-M BMW sold in America with mechanical power steering (and actually the M3 has servotronic which is kind of annoying, throw the M3 control arms on a 135i and it has even better steering than an M3. Trust me, we have an M3 parked right next to my 135i in the garage and everyone who has driven the two cars agrees on this)

It also comes with much better brakes, a short shifter and 2011+ 135is have linear springs instead of progressive ones. Add to that the shorter body and lower weight and the 135i makes a hell of a lot of sense.

On the other hand, I had an E90 before I got my 1 series and there are times when I wish I had bigger back seats and rear doors, but from the driver's seat the 135i is significantly better than a 335i.