Why do I have the "BMW bug" again?? -and hits head against wall. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Maki · #16 08-03-2010, 02:52 AM

None of the 3 series cars after the E30 measure up in build quality to the 5ers. There was a post awhile back referring to Kiplinger's recent "cars that never die" list, which included the W123 diesel and, the E30. Trouble is, the M20 engine in most of the E30 3 series cars is good for only about 170 hp and it has a timing belt. An outfit called Zionsville Autosport sells a "project orca" kit that includes all the components to install an M50 twin-cam engine from the E36, adding about 20 real hp. They also have an instructional CD.

Of all the 3ers, I think the E30 is the most fun. It's fantastically agile and tossable. It's been left behind in the horsepower race, though. An M50 drop-in would make it more competitive.

If that idea is unappealing, how about a 540i six-speed? They come in E34 and E39 versions, more than 280 hp stock with a manual transmission. (Clutches are a wear item!)

My daily is an E34 540i with automatic. Nice highway car but the stick is the one to own.

pawoSD · #17 08-03-2010, 07:17 AM

Whenever I see an older BMW (and I am talking in the 8-12 year old range) they always look a LOT worse than their MB counterparts of the same age. I saw a 3 series from around 96-97 yesterday that was half rusted away!

And the engine sounded like a riding mower. I'll stick with my MB's, besides, BMW are just Bavarian cars, not true German cars.

cjbrown · #18 08-03-2010, 07:30 AM

Wifey's car is a 325CiC, owned it for 5 years, '01 with 90K. Very nice driving car, definitely a firm ride. Maintenance has been realitively low cost because I can do all of the work. But parts are expensive compared to MBZ, and the M3 parts are almost double. While they are more high performance, I would not own one for that reason.

The '01 was a more updated car than previous itterations. '04 was another face lift, again in '07. I would not want any of them over a 100K miles. Up to, but not much over. A gas car does not have the longevity of a diesel, but they run well if properly maintained.

Ours has always gotten amsoil eurospec at 6-7K OCI's. It is sludge free with zero consumption. Trans got changed out to synthetic at 70K, works great. If they are not done then they are generally run 'till they quit, somewhere just over 100K. That's the 'life expectancy' of the trans oil, according to BMW. Not an issue with a stick.

There are some very nice examples of '01 to '06 3-series at good prices. Look for low miles and records. They are a great driver. I bought the used 325 and a new 04 C240 at the same time. There is no comparison, the bimmer is twice the car the benz was. Traded the benz off in about 30 months, we still have the bimmer.

E150GT · #19 08-03-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honus

And while I'm ranting, I do not get the attraction of automated HVAC in cars. Is it really so hard to slide a lever, or turn a knob, from blue the red to increase the temperature? I don't think that a simple thermostat is up the the task of deciding what is needed from the HVAC system in such a variable environment as there is in a car. If my BMW's HVAC ever goes on the fritz, I will be searching for a manual control option to retrofit. I'll bet European BMWs don't have automatic HVAC.

x2. I see this on the Mazda forums. They all want to convert to automatic climate control, and I'm sitting happy as can be with my manual set up. I dont ever want to go back to ACC again.

iwrock · #20 08-03-2010, 12:38 PM

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/1842456344.html

If you do your maintainence yourself, it should not be too bad.

You would basically be maintaining similar items on the motors (timing belts, etc), and if your not absolutely rough on the car and beat it to within inches of its life, it will be a good car.

#21 08-03-2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E150GT

x2. I see this on the Mazda forums. They all want to convert to automatic climate control, and I'm sitting happy as can be with my manual set up. I dont ever want to go back to ACC again.

The auto setup is simple, I never even touch mine.

Emmerich · #22 08-07-2010, 12:46 AM

ANYTHING with 12 cylinders is to be avoided at all costs. Thats why I got the 840.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

You can get a REALLY nice looking and driving 750il, about a '97 or a '98, for about five grand.

Great looking and great driving luxury car.

.....until the dashboard depixillates, the computer and electrical problems arise and won't stop, until the plastic pieces in the coolant system give out, and the transmission destructs at about 150k.

Remember what, the poem says:

"No matter how hard,
I sweat and toil,
I STILL can't afford,
A 750il."

#23 08-07-2010, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmerich

ANYTHING with 12 cylinders is to be avoided at all costs. Thats why I got the 840.

I've been tempted by a couple of V12 cars... just because.

Emmerich · #24 08-07-2010, 12:53 AM

The 750 has 3 computers and they are now at the age the plastic crap starts falling apart due to age. MB and Jag 12 cyl cars suck as well.

#25 08-07-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmerich

The 750 has 3 computers and they are now at the age the plastic crap starts falling apart due to age. MB and Jag 12 cyl cars suck as well.

Obviously, they are not practical drivers; just toys.

mytmousemalibu · #26 08-07-2010, 01:18 AM

Avoid M42 and M44 4cyl bimmers, crappy engine most cases
Avoid the Nikasil block M60 v-8s
Ya the V-12's are trouble in stock form. But the N73's are potent! I havnt been at the stealership in a long time but we never had trouble then.
The E30 is my fave, good lil cars it they are maintained and not rusty

#27 08-07-2010, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mytmousemalibu

The E30 is my fave, good lil cars it they are maintained and not rusty

If I was going to go back that far, I would just buy a 2002; much cooler than anything in the 3-series.

mytmousemalibu · #28 08-07-2010, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

If I was going to go back that far, I would just buy a 2002; much cooler than anything in the 3-series.

Very cool car but practicality wise, avalibility, the "cheap" 2002's are usually pretty rough and the nice ones = empty wallet. I'd love to have a nice clean example for a nice weather/ weekend cruiser. A Tii or a turbo would be the cats meow! We had a real rusty 2002, single carb, pretty beat car, at the carlot, think it sold for $1300. If it wern't a 2002 or older, it would have been salvage yard destine.

The M20 dispite timing belt, is IMO one of if not BMW's best engine. Even neglected they are amazing. They get good mpg, decent power, last a long time, fairly simple EFI, easy to work on amongst its attributes. Work on em bout every day, usually just oil changes on those. They were sopposedlly "higher maintnance" engines compared to all its succesors that low longer needed valve adjustments and cap/rotors and such. Ive seen more than i can count keep on tickin with lackluster maintnance. 300,000 miles plus and still have like new crosshatch in the cylinders and still running like new. The M20 and M10 follow closely in engine quality. The M10 and M30 are damn near the same and all 3 share about the same arcitecture.

I personally love the looks of the E30 and less afraid of ruining a rarer car.

The E30 M3 is my fave bimmer of all, i cant explain why.... Fun fun little car! The sweet S14 engine.... The higher you rev it, the more it loves you!

Maki · #29 08-07-2010, 02:07 AM

Having driven an M60 (4L V8) for almost five years and 90K miles, I'd say the engine gets a bum rap. Some of the early engines with nikasil-impregnated cylinders developed pitting from certain high-sulfur fuels, especially if they saw a lot of short-hop driving. Many, if not nearly all, of the affected blocks were replaced with fresh short blocks (the guy I bought my car from had it done at 62K miles). Sulfur content has been reduced to a great degree in gasoline, so it's no longer an issue even for nikasil engines. But it's easy to check the block number to confirm that it's been replaced.

The 4-liter engine develops 282 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque without enhancements. With the six-speed, the E34 gets from zero to 60 in about 6.2 seconds. Power is in the ballpark with the M5 of the era; torque numbers, I believe, are nearly identical.

Personally, I feel like BMW models have gotten porkier with every generation. The last 5 series I'd own is the E34. The new diesel makes the 3 series interesting, but only as a highway car. BMW realized that the 3 has taken on a lot of compromises -- that's why the company brought out the 1 series.

That said, a well-kept E30 really is an excellent driver. They're widely used in club racing -- NASA even has a Spec E30 series.

RG5384 · #30 03-05-2011, 11:30 PM

Well, I did it. Pulled the trigger on a meticulously maintained, one owner 2002 330i 5 speed, sport and premium package with 107k on it. So far, window regulators have crapped out(expected, clicking when I bought it), repaired the front using zip ties(yes, actually works well now), and ordered two rear ones for a total of 57.00 with shipping.

I LOVE this car. It's funny, when i'm driving it, I could care less how much it costs to keep running, it simply wows me. Handles like a mad women chasing her cheating husband(insanely...), and acclerates almost as strong.

Shifts are crisp, all of the gadgets work(well, except the windows...but i'm working on that.....haha)

FML i'm in deep.