Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread (5+ Years of Ownership)

SLOWESTN54

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Feb 9, 2021
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2007 E92 335i

suspenceful

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2015 M3, 2008 135i, 2009 335i
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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Nosrok

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Jan 31, 2017
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So 800+ is the point of no return? How many logs/passes/pulls do you think you put it through at it's highest power? Mines been in the high 600 low 700 range for a while so just trying to do some napkin predictions on when I might be in the same situation.

Also, what oil where you running?
 

suspenceful

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Aug 1, 2017
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2015 M3, 2008 135i, 2009 335i
So 800+ is the point of no return? How many logs/passes/pulls do you think you put it through at it's highest power? Mines been in the high 600 low 700 range for a while so just trying to do some napkin predictions on when I might be in the same situation.

Also, what oil where you running?
It's hard to confirm something like that with so many variables. I think a 100% proper setup with a healthy motor, tune, etc. should hold 700-750whp for a good chunk of time. I did at least 250-300 WOT pulls up to a good MPH with my car before having issues.

I was running Motul XCess 8100
 
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suspenceful

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2015 M3, 2008 135i, 2009 335i
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 its paces so I knew the motor was good. And in doing that, I realized it rips! The 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...
 
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2015 M3, 2008 135i, 2009 335i
Well, I got a DME, CAS, JBE and key from another 135i to get this one 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 with 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.