Why you should buy a 128i 

Everyone seemed to have found out about the 128i the past year. Therefore the price went up with rarity. I’d rather go Miata since I can fit 😂

Thanks for all the great info! Awesome work

Awesome video man, thanks for all the info! Looking at your whiteboard, I felt that I could've drawn exactly the same options :D I drive a BRZ, and am looking to switch it to an 125i/128i for the exact same reasons. Problem is, N52 E82s' prices have exploded in Europe, they are rather in the $15.000-$20.000 segment :/ Anyway, sick shifting!

nice video man. Ill be following suite on my 128i manual in alpine white!

Those shifts were crisp!

It’s mental that this is base model to me being from the uk. My first bmw had a 1.6 petrol and a 6 cyl bmw was like a pinnacle car for me. Now owning a 125i, that didn’t change for me, just the fact everyone else got these as base models blows my mind!

Excellent stuff, absolutely love mine. Especially post-diff and three-stage intake manifold with tune

Love my 2009 E82 BMW 128I

The 128i is a great car. Your car looks great! I also agree the 128i is great for a daily/weekend track car. Some other cars someone might consider IMO would be the E90 325i/328i $2500-$6000. Also a Boxster/Cayman can also be found for about 10k.

My 128i msport 6speed slick top lemans blue pushing 195k its quick gets up to 157mph with no issues an intake makes the engine sound great

In my view it is the best choice for fun, spirited, reliable fun, especially when you get the convertible.

Love my 6 speed 128i

Thank you for the gearbox recommendation. 16:1 is a lot for such a small footprint of the 128i. Which M3 did you borrow from?

Great analysis and choice! Any tips on how to find a 128i under 10k or 135i under 15? Not having much luck in the Northwest region

I miss my e90 330i, also had the N52 engine and can confirm.. so, so goooood

I've had my 128i for 8 years best car I've had I've added a single turbo 335i to my garage it's fast in a straight line but man the 1er in the back roads outshines the 335i still never getting rid of mine 🔥

I have a 128 i since 2019 and it has been great never get bored of it evrey time i walk to the car i get the same exitment 💪🏽 and it has a lot of miles 😂

Basically a modern day e36m3 ...power and size wise

Thanks for the video. With all the time and money you put into the 128 makes me wonder why you didnt start with a 135 or 335.

I have a 08 128i 6mt has 177k miles on it and I'm going to keep it going as long as financially possible. I love that car.

I keep seeing this car come up, do you find this would be a good Daily driver, even if you add the mods you did? I am in the PNW btw

Damn bro huge gains for such basic mods nice

you got a unicorn spec, n52, manual, and coupe is the dream spec I've been looking for years. The n51 is less desirable as it has 25 less hp, lower CR, and has extra emissions equipment

I am debating between an before 2001 Z3 M roadster and a 128i. Pretty much the same horsepower, roaster is lighter, but the 128i is way more usable. What would you guys recommend?

I picked up a 2009 128i msport with a manual. I did a lot of suspension upgrade. It is a thrill to drive. And the n52 engine is easy to work on. Can you do a video on the 2 stage intake? And did you have to flash the computer? I would like to do that on mine, and also a limited slip diff. Great material on the 128i. These cars are getting more rare.

Perhapse also try the euro air box with K&N round air filter and add extra cold air pipe to it.

I couldn’t find a decent 128i. I also wanted better seats, brakes, and steering wheel. after itemizing the cost of those items I decided on a newer 228i m sport package with upgraded brakes, seats, and variable steering with m steering wheel. I’ve been pretty happy and had the same list. Casual tracking and daily was my goal. Needed to fit two kids. Adaptive dampeners are nice which non of my other options had.

So wow like I always one of these I found a auto one with exhaust lowered and I was goin to sell it I think I should keep it should I build it powerful auto it’s six speed with paddles hangs on to revs or should I manual swap it

I got 2011 128i w 47k miles for 16k, lil high but for the lower miles and it being my car of choice, I’d do it again if I had to!

You need to add m3 control arms

I love N52n.

nice work, I also swapped the diff from the auto, went from 3.23 to 3.73 final drive. wakes up the car nice. impressive power gains, sound nice. can you confirm you have 17x8 ET30mm offset wheels on the car with no spacers?

great video 👍 The dyno numbers, are they crank or wheel HP?

i wonder how much i can get out from n51 engine, i have got afe magnum cold air intake with its box, magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, full cat delete, doing catless headers in early march and tune afterall, im with 328i e92. Great video

Does the tune code out the CEL? Or did you add 02 sensor spacers. I want go catless headers but I don’t want the CEL lol. Super dope build

As a miata owner, this car is next on my list...

wow... great work... I live in CAlifornia... I guess that won let me pass emissions right? 😔

Id love to do this but keep it a little quieter. I have a cat back and it can be a little loud sometimes.

"I'm going to compare this to some other cars with a 10k budget." *Proceeds to list out not a SINGLE car for 10k or less*

Hey man I recently have acquired a 135i stick and was wondering about shifting I see him shift at the redline but while learning to drive it my mom tought me to shift it around 2000rpms any suggestions or explanations?

Are the bumper conversions plug and play or are other parts and drilling necessary?

Can you plz make video on bmw 120i coup ,2012.

I have a Sedona red 128i and I’m curious where you got your m sport front and rear bumper?

Ok I think you are a little off on some of your points. 2012 mustang gt is 3400-3600 pounds depending on equipment, for the same period the Camaro ss is 3700-4300 pounds, and a 350z is 3350 ish depending on equipment. If you step forward a few years in Camaro the current Camaro is 3339- 3950. They aren’t much if any heavier than the bloated Z. Your 128i is in the 3200-3400 pound range, and the heavy ones with the roof are 3700 or so. The rx8, brz/frs, and s2000 are in an entirely different weight class to the 128i, 350z, Camaro, and mustang. Dismissing the mustang and Camaro cause you’ve always found them heavy is a harsh mis-explanation. Also considering a stock mustang gt in 2009 was getting cross comparisons with the m3 of that year on track and putting down similar times, well with the right tuning you could very easily for less money (an 09 gt can be had for a song) produce a better handling car. They make a irs upgrade for that year and combine it with the 4.6 v8 which has more power and has just as many tuner parts as 128i get a much faster car. Or you could go looking for a post refresh of the same generation with the first gen coyote which has a lot more power and be set that way. I’m the end you come off as a bmw fanboy. That’s not an issue just be upfront about it.. say you could have gotten a mustang gt in budget but you prefer the driving dynamics of the bmw.

Heads up- an n54 intake manifold + tune with 7500 redline make for some nice gains over the 3 stage intake. You lose some torque but you gain high end. Going to do mine next week. I recommend Stage FP in youngsville, NC for the tune.

Don't sleep on a miata. The nb is beautiful and the handling, especially with decent coilovers is unmatched anywhere near that pricepoint. Low power, but plenty of FI options out there.

i strongly disagree with it being a bad looking car. the depressed sort of look of the front end is awesome lol. in my opinion the peak of bmw was the 1m coupe.

Almost identical to my Australian 130i in terms of mods. My car made 180 rwkw at around 7000rpm. Stock around 145 rwkw.

Another thing to keep in mind with the 128i is surprisingly heavy at 3200lbs and the 135i is around 3500lbs so definitely not the lightest cars for their size.

What was the milage when you bought the car and then installed those mods? Im thinking about buying one vs a genesis coupe

6:19 The 128i was not available with a 5 speed manual transmission. Only a 6 speed manual and of course the auto. Unless you downgraded to a swapped 5 speed for some reason.

The E82/E88 BMWs have a SIX speed manual. I know. I have one. 😛

I enjoyed your video but I think the 335D is the best E90 daily. More power, torque and deadbolt reliability on top of significantly better fuel economy!

Please send a link for the headers 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Where at in North Dakota do you autocross?

I have a 130i here in Brazil, I'm tracking my car, shaving weight, done suspension, LSD, next gonna be engine and trans mounts, and bushings, it's a lot of fun now! I've looking for Milvs, couldn't find the seller. Could you send me the link or the contact?

I got a 2011 128i a couple weeks ago. The day after I bought it she went to the shop for a blown pcv valve. The very next day the cam sprockets and bearing ledges went out. 🙃 I love the car but damn it’s expensive to own lol

Tossing around the idea of grabbing one of these, but I think further modding my 6 speed TSX makes more sense.

Yup best kept secret in the BMW world. Mine is a hoot.

what's your mpg after these mods?

How’s the reliability? And how many miles is too much on one

tune link

beautifully modified!

128 and 130i

You should off went with the n54 manifold……

The only 128i manual I found that's under 10k has 173k miles on it...

I’m buying 2011 bmw 1 series 128i coupe with 115,000 miles. For $8000 . Is that fair price?

So hard to find this car in a manual!

90k mile 128i for 9k. Do i buy?

5 speed manual?

4th gen mustang is only 100 lbs heavier and starts with 250HP and 300Ft/lbs torque.

so much freedom in America ^^ this car would be so illegal in Germany sadly.

Torqamp. You asked. It's a pretty stupid simple thing and while it wouldn't be something to run all the time, for those "moments" in Canada, think about 30-40% more wtq. No shame in a straight line. Push to pass for Canada ;) .

lol not a single car you recommended was close to your $10k budget

I hate Miata’s such an ugly car

An s2000 for 15k? What are you smoking? That would be one beat to hell s2k.

Why u should buy a 128/328i cheap, cheap maintenance, gas saver, reliable, other than that stooop trying to make them fast, thats the whole point on why u didn’t get a 135/335i because u were scared of maintenance. Just keep it for looks & slow or for the mountains.

130i for me 😊