2012 BMW 135i

This 2012 135i Sport Plus Edition Convertible is quite a rare vehicle, being one of the very last built before it was replaced by the 1M in the 1 Series and it was, in effect, re-imagined as a convertible in the (then) new 2 Series.

This car is in very good condition inside and out and has a full BMW service history. It has always been garaged.

Importantly, it comes with the seven-speed twin-clutch auto box with paddle shift, which is what you’ll want if you’re looking to get the most out of that engine.

This is a car capable of 0-62mph in 5 and a bit seconds. Many of these cars have been, ahem, enthusiastically driven by the kind of people who go to bed wearing Fast and Furious pyjamas and Steve McQueen driving gloves.

Not this one. It has led a sheltered life pottering along leafy Surrey lanes at entirely legal speeds.

Normally, to say a car has had one lady owner from new is pointless and a bit of a cliché. In this instance, it is both true and relevant, because we’ve been assured by the vendor that the owner didn’t drive it very much (as evidenced by the low mileage) and, when she did, it was rarely if ever in the manner of Penelope Pitstop.

She is only selling it because she has decided to go down the electric route and get something that comes with a plug.

The high-gloss Carbon Black (it looks almost dark blue in a certain light) paintwork is largely unmarked and in fine condition. The only exceptions to that observation are a fine scratch, 1.5 inch long, on the nearside front wheel arch, two or three very small stone chips on the bonnet and two small patches of light rubbing on the edges of both doors.

Otherwise, it is unmarked and devoid of scuffs or scratches.

The car’s original alloy wheels have some scuffs and scratches as a consequence of close encounters with a kerb or two and would benefit from refurbishing. The matching Bridgestone Potenza tyres are in good nick and have plenty of wear left in the them.

The shut lines are tight and even, the panels are unblemished (aside form the above exceptions) and perfectly aligned, and the car has a quality of finish that’s more in keeping with its mileage than its age.

The hood is good and works as it should.

The interior is everything you’d expect of a car that, in old money, could be described as ‘barely run-in’.

The hood is in as good condition from the inside as it is from the outside. The carpets, headlining and mats are also in fine fettle.

The grey leather upholstery is in remarkably good condition, with few indicators of age or use. The rear seats, as you can see from the photographs, look as if they’ve never hosted a backside for any length of time. The multi-function steering wheel shows no sign of wear and tear, and neither do the centre console, fascia, dashboard or door cards.

Being a late 2012 model, the car benefits from having an upgraded sat-nav system. The AC and all other electrics work as our friends in Bavaria intended.

The boot appears to be in pristine condition and doesn’t look as if it’s been called upon to do much more than accept the odd bag of shopping.

The undersides are in good condition and the engine bay is as clean and tidy as you’d find on a much younger vehicle.

This car has the potent twin-scroll turbo, 3.0-litre, petrol six with variable valve timing. This is generally considered to be a very fine engine, delivering maximum torque at low revs and making a splendid noise while doing so.

The car has a full BMW Cooper main dealer service history.

* Cooper BMW service – 17.9.14 – 4744 miles

* Cooper BMW service – 30.8.16 – 7846 miles

* Cooper BMW service – 3.8.18 – 10545 miles

* Cooper BMW ‘health check’ – 21.5.19 – 11516 miles

According to the on-board computer (see photographs), the car is due a service in August (based on time, not mileage) for which Cooper BMW have quoted £320.

Since new, the car has passed every MOT with no advisories. It has a current MOT certificate which is valid until 6.8.21

It still has its original manuals and handbooks, toolkit, warning triangle, and first aid kit.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

This is a very good, honest, very-well specified 135i convertible in what appears to be near exceptional condition – inside, outside and underneath. It has low miles, a full and complete history and word-of-mouth evidence to indicate that it’s been sensibly driven well within its considerable potential and looked after throughout the course of its life.

This is a rare car that has what it takes to make summer (and spring, autumn and winter, for that matter) motoring a properly rewarding driver’s experience for many years to come.

We’re confident that this rare car will achieve between £13,000 - £18,000 at auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller in Weybridge; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.