..Interesting reading guys... If I see a BMW next to me at the lights with more than 6 cylinders, I smile, I wave and I think bye bye boys, lift the right foot and let them blast ahead. As we then sit at the next set of lights I wonder, will your car do 500.000 miles of pure pleasure before the junk yard beckons, likely not. Mercedes owners, enjoy ! My 500 SEL will still see off most BM's at the lights anyway.....

I don't think that BMW can can really jusdge the cars by that "race" if I were racing somebody, I think I would have let them pass me by long before 200km/h. Not because the car couldn't handle it, but just because a little race like that on a freeway is not worth the possible dangers involved. I think the only reason this guy passed the Benz was because the Benz driver let him go. Like I said by the time the BMW was finally able to get past our Benz driving friend, the point had been made.

__________________
Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

Hmmm....tell him i'll take him for a ride in a 500E on the Sea-to-Sky highway between Horseshoe Bay and Squamish. You know, the one they modeled in Need for Speed II.

__________________
'94 W124.036 249/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'93 W124.036 199/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs, up in flames...LITERALLY!
'93 W124.036 481/040 leder; euro delivery; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'88 R107.048 441/409 leder; Euro lights
'87 W201.034 199/040 leder; Euro lights; EvoII brakes; 8x16 EvoIs - soon: 500E rear brakes
'70 R113.044 050/526; factory alloys; Euro lights

Come on guys, 500,000 miles, now who really drives a car that long? There are plenty of BMWs out there with high miles and high smiles. I had an '84 318i that I put 180k miles on that car and never had a problem. It still looked and drove like a new car, I sold it three years ago and still see it around. Now I agree that MB makes a better car but the gap is not that large. I wouldn't own either a 7 series or an W140 without some extended warranty, they are too complex. I have my own BMW vs MB story, coming home from Thanksgiving in the 750 I was cruising about 85-90, passing most cars on the road. I noticed a new S closing, so new it had temp plates still. We played in the empty gaps of traffic blasting to 120-130mph. Neither of the cars or drivers showed any measure of discomfort, truely amazing machines. We seemed evenly matched as it should be. The cars occupy the same price range ~$90k. Naturally a S600 thumps the BMW but at a $30-40k price bump as well. I really like the 750, we looked HARD at the S500, fact is, it was not nearly as engaging to drive as the BMW. Granted we will dump the car at 100k miles when the warranty expires but they are NICE!

__________________
1995 G320
1984 280GE
1971 Unimog 416

Here's my humble opinion on this.
I checked my wholesale (dealer) price book printed by Galves - this is the one dealer's use to appraise trade in's. I have listed a BMW vs Mercedes model for model 8cyl vs 8 cyl & 12cyl vs 12cyl. Please don't be shocked what dealers are paying for these cars - Privately you can still sell you MBZ for $3-6K more even higher on the V12's.
This is the only reference I have as the retail guides vary so much.
Bottom line is BMW resale value is much less than BENZ because of
1. Reliability
2. It's a much cheaper car
3. Nobody wants a high mileage BMW

I haven't check the alldata.com site which lists recalls, but you can probably guess who's got more problems.
I have driven them all (my being a car dealer, who lent me his price book) I have driven the 750 and the 600.
I am a big fan of the German product. But my choices remain

Comfort and luxury my 300CE
Performance and Handling my Porsche's
All out Riceboy/Detroit Killer my hvly mod'd CORRADO VR6
Spank all those teenie boppers

I don't think my m104 24v will compete with the 750, but I have spanked many a BMW, HONDA, ACURA, MUSTANG, CAMARO in my VR-6. * * at the track of course * *
NISSAN MAXIMA's - blah I don't even waste my time or fuel.
That's a family car! baby on board type!

I guess when I outgrow the 2dr cpe type style I have developed - I'll opt for a 4dr 500 something.
Until then . . . I'll keep my 300CE - let's not forget that this was a 62,000 car in 1991, and it's only a 6cyl. (I still have the sticker price) What BMW cost $62,000 in 1991?



750 850 560sel s500(sel) s600 600sec
1988 6350 8200
1989 7900 10750
1990 9900 13900
1991 12800 19500 16200
1992 16500 22500 25500 32500
1993 20600 25000 28150 34300 37500
1994 23000 29000 32050 39200 43500
1995 31500 33000 36050 46100 51000

I think that the Bimmers are great cars. They are second favorites of mine. Here's my list Benz-Bimmer-Audi-Porsche and Audi. I really like the A8 the best, and the S-4. Don't fool yourself Bimmers are German, and yes those little Germans over the pond do build the worlds finest autombiles. Bimmers are very well engineered, have great luxury, are safe, handle great (very sporty)and have killer looks.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

Dmitry, it takes no Rocket Whizz Bang to modify an engine for max horsepower, just someone who doesn't care about engine longgivity. Remember when the little 3 Ltr Benz won the Pan American Road Race, Back to Back and then could drive home? I think it was the Gull Wing 300 or something like that. Oh yes the Whale Tails zoom around the streets straight to the service departments. They do an excellent job oilling the tarmack too. I don't want to go any further, just another 35,000 miles and I will have 200,000 miles on my spark ignition, little bitty 300E Benz.Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston!!!

Donald L. Swinford
Tired and Retired 20+ yrs. G.M. Egrng Dept.
1987 300E 168,8-- miles
In service Jan 8,1988

What was the info about that 300SL Gullwing. How fast was it? I ahve seen many pics of it and think its the most beautiful car in the world. What are the performance specs on it.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.