<![CDATA[Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership)]]>After lusting over the BMW 1-series for 3 years, I was finally able to get one of my own once I sold my '96 328is.

On March 13th, 2014 I brought home a 2008 135i from Holland, MI. I am the 3rd owner and bought it with 81,000 miles.

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She was pretty dirty after the 6 hour trip back.

Also, I keep an up-to-date blog with tons of info:

www.My1Series.com

Knowing that I would be keeping this one for a while, I needed to make sure it had everything I wanted.

Black Sapphire Metallic, 6-speed

Black interior with aluminium glacier-silver trim

Packages:

M-Sport Package

-Sport suspension, electric memory sport seats, multi-function ///M leather steering wheel, shadow line exterior trim, and raised top-speed limiter.

Cold Weather Package

- Heated seats, headlight washers, rear seat armrest, and ski bag.

Options:

  • Comfort Access (keyless entry and push-to-start without key)

  • iDrive (Navigation/Entertainment/Climate Control)

  • HiFi Professional Sound System

  • Adaptive Xenon headlights

  • Rear parking sensors

  • 6-piston Brembo Big Brake kit

  • Electric glass sunroof/moonroof

  • 6-disc CD changer & DVD player

  • Rain sensing windshield wipers

  • Windshield with grey wedge

  • Never equipped with 135i badge from factory

  • Additional cup holder

  • Warning triangle & first aid kit

Modifications it came with:

  • BMW Performance short shift kit and knob

  • Custom stainless-steel axle-back exhaust

  • Riss Racing oil catch can

  • K&N drop in air filter

  • JB+ 20HP chip

  • Powdercoated black Style 264 wheels with 225/40/18 Blizzaks

  • Eibach Pro-Kit springs (1″ drop front and rear)

  • BMW Performance black front grilles

  • Black/white BMW emblem overlays

  • Carbon fiber wrapped interior trim

  • Tinted rear and side windows

  • Tinted side markers

Had my girlfriend drive so I could take a rolling shot:

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Next to my Miata:

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I plan to slowly build it to my liking and keep up on maintenance. First thing on my list is to get a set of summer wheels so I can get these winter tires off.

Stay tuned!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/2481/jake-s-epic-bmw-135i-build-thread-5-years-of-ownershipRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 04:07:28 GMTSat, 15 Mar 2014 00:15:09 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Tue, 23 May 2023 00:04:19 GMT]]>That LS fire-up on the engine stand is priceless. Nicely done!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/116165https://wibimmers.com/post/116165Tue, 23 May 2023 00:04:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Mon, 22 May 2023 23:04:01 GMT]]>I thought you were missing the 10mm 🥲

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/116164https://wibimmers.com/post/116164Mon, 22 May 2023 23:04:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Fri, 19 May 2023 11:57:27 GMT]]>Damn.....clicked to see updates on the OG 135.  Is that still a thing?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/116156https://wibimmers.com/post/116156Fri, 19 May 2023 11:57:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Wed, 17 May 2023 19:50:10 GMT]]>I can't believe how well it fits!

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I also got some new tools courtesy of Sonic Tools...

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/116149https://wibimmers.com/post/116149Wed, 17 May 2023 19:50:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:15:29 GMT]]>We finally got her on the road! Didn't go quite as expected though lol.

Can't wait for the next stage in this build...

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115928https://wibimmers.com/post/115928Sun, 16 Apr 2023 18:15:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:48:26 GMT]]>We finally got her to start on her own! Embarrassingly, it only needed some more fuel. Apparently, the gallon and a half we initially added wasn't enough to make its way into the pump, the tank must've been completely dry.

It had a grumpy start after hibernating for so long, but we couldn't believe how well we ended up getting it running! Unfortunately, the transmission left us stuck in the garage, but we're going to add some fluid and see if it'll make it down the road.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115870https://wibimmers.com/post/115870Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:48:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:44:06 GMT]]>

damnboy037 said:

I hope the restoration goes well, I have been looking at these and even the low mileage ones are not very expensive 

Thanks! I guess it depends on what you consider expensive. The prices for these things seems to be all of the place, but they're such great cars.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115869https://wibimmers.com/post/115869Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:44:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:22:42 GMT]]>I hope the restoration goes well, I have been looking at these and even the low mileage ones are not very expensive

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115862https://wibimmers.com/post/115862Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:22:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:18:12 GMT]]>Well according to some of you guys, I definitely have an addiction then lol. I ran out of room at my house so I brought my F80 to my parents house. And I have two 135i's that don't run, and one 335i that barely limps along. The F80 and my other E90 are my only working BMWs 😆

I'm glad I have a good support system here though, fellow BMW owners who can relate and encourage me to keep being irresponsible.

Anyways, I got a DME, CAS, JBE and key from a part out to get this 135i back together. I also pulled the cluster and powered it up externally to see if it really had 11k miles, then tried firing the old girl up after sitting for years.

Couldn't get her to kick over on her own, but she did after I dumped a little fuel down the intake. If anyone has ideas on what I could do to get this thing to fire up under it's own power, please let me know.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115809https://wibimmers.com/post/115809Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:18:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:32:28 GMT]]>

suspenceful said:

I think it's safe to say I have a problem at this point. Is there a # of BMWs one must own at the same time for it to be classified as an addiction?

Depends on if they're running or not.  It's only a problem when it's a project more than it's driven.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115769https://wibimmers.com/post/115769Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:32:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sat, 11 Mar 2023 02:39:16 GMT]]>

KaiserRolls said:

Only an issue when you run out of room for them 

This is what stopped me 😂

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115756https://wibimmers.com/post/115756Sat, 11 Mar 2023 02:39:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:46:15 GMT]]>

suspenceful said:

I think it's safe to say I have a problem at this point. Is there a # of BMWs one must own at the same time for it to be classified as an addiction?

Financial suicide, yes . Addiction, suggests an involuntary action. We know what we are doing.  We just call them spare parts, summer cars, winter beaters etc...  I have 7 so, your good.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115754https://wibimmers.com/post/115754Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:46:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Fri, 10 Mar 2023 17:22:11 GMT]]>

suspenceful said:

I think it's safe to say I have a problem at this point. Is there a # of BMWs one must own at the same time for it to be classified as an addiction?

Only an issue when you run out of room for them

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115752https://wibimmers.com/post/115752Fri, 10 Mar 2023 17:22:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:11:40 GMT]]>I think it's safe to say I have a problem at this point. Is there a # of BMWs one must own at the same time for it to be classified as an addiction?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115747https://wibimmers.com/post/115747Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:11:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:49:38 GMT]]>It's been a little while, but I've got some updates...

The oil analysis results on the 135i engine came back, they said everything looked great. Clearly, it did not. Waste of $$$.

I bought a 335i from Florida for $3,500, sight unseen. Plan was to pull the motor from it, and use it in the 135i, then LS swap this cheap 335i. It came with tons of aftermarket parts, but needed some work.

I wanted to get it driving and put it through it's paces so I knew the motor was good. And in doing that, I realized it rips! Transmission doesn't hold the power in 5th or 6th gear, but I was pleasantly impressed up to 130mph+. After giving it a little TLC, it's almost too nice of a car to rip apart lol.

That's if this engine is still good after this beat run...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115649https://wibimmers.com/post/115649Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:49:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Fri, 16 Dec 2022 16:31:43 GMT]]>

RobZR said:

Nice work on the channel.  Looks like you found the 1st failure mode(internal) on the N54.  Now slap in some H-beam rods in the next one and find out where is the next failure mode.😁 

I'd say the N54 is living up to the hype of "the German 2JZ".  800+whp on a stock motor that was 250ish stock. 

Thanks! It's crazy what this thing handled. I'm going to keep this engine to build over time, and get a stock, unopened N54 from a junkyard or something to get it back on the road for spring.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115181https://wibimmers.com/post/115181Fri, 16 Dec 2022 16:31:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Thu, 15 Dec 2022 19:55:52 GMT]]>Nice work on the channel.  Looks like you found the 1st failure mode(internal) on the N54.  Now slap in some H-beam rods in the next one and find out where is the next failure mode.😁 

I'd say the N54 is living up to the hype of "the German 2JZ".  800+whp on a stock motor that was 250ish stock.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115170https://wibimmers.com/post/115170Thu, 15 Dec 2022 19:55:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Thu, 15 Dec 2022 15:12:11 GMT]]>

damnboy037 said:

How much does a used b58 go for?

Haha, I like the way your brain thinks.

I'm not sure how much they cost, but I'll be sticking with an N54 for this. But I would like to build a B58 car one day.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115169https://wibimmers.com/post/115169Thu, 15 Dec 2022 15:12:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:16:03 GMT]]>How much does a used b58 go for?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115166https://wibimmers.com/post/115166Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:16:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:45:14 GMT]]>Hot off the press, here's what we found inside the engine.

As much as I’d love to build it right, my budget just doesn’t allow for that. On this self-employed journey, every dollar counts! Off to the junkyard to find another stock motor…

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115158https://wibimmers.com/post/115158Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:45:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:44:40 GMT]]>

YoungCR said:

Welcome back! Was happy to see the video pop up in my subscriptions. Excited to keep following your journey.

Feels good to be back on WIBimmers as well, been too long since I logged on lol. Thanks for following along on the tube.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115139https://wibimmers.com/post/115139Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:44:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sun, 11 Dec 2022 01:42:19 GMT]]>Welcome back! Was happy to see the video pop up in my subscriptions. Excited to keep following your journey.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115136https://wibimmers.com/post/115136Sun, 11 Dec 2022 01:42:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:42:20 GMT]]>

damnboy037 said:

Nice video Jake and good luck with your channel, you have my support 

Thank you man! I'm gonna give it my best shot, and appreciate the support.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115135https://wibimmers.com/post/115135Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:42:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership) on Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:29:42 GMT]]>Nice video Jake and good luck with your channel, you have my support

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/115128https://wibimmers.com/post/115128Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:29:42 GMT