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In those years you’ve got the turbocharged N54/N55 engine and the NA N52 engine (328i). I’ve got a 2013 128i with the N52 engine and it is plenty fast. I didn’t want Turbos due to complexity.
Like just about any BMW they can’t seem to make a reliable water pump and in this generation it changed to an electric water pump. The pump itself operates very cleverly but is still prone to failure around 50+ thousand miles. Consider changing it out if no record of it being done. The pump itself is pricier than the old style water pump. Expansion tanks can also crack around the same mileage. I do most all the work on it myself (the procedure to bleed coolant is incredibly simple).
I wanted the 128i for similar reasons: small RWD coupe, preferably German. So far my 128 has been reliable and very fun to drive. Not sure what reliability will be like past 100K miles but my older (and I feel better made) E46 is past 220,000 miles now and will not quit. Hoping the 128 will at least equal it but it is more complex...
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Kurt
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