I must be missing something. BMW?

z31maniac wrote:

mad_machine wrote: the M44 and M42 engines do.. and they are STILL expensive

That's why you convert them to coil-on-plug. My kit is in the mail as we speak.

tell me more?!

My commutes are generally abusive. I beat the hell outta my cars peddling through traffic. While, I would love a '91 318is, I don't know if I could afford the care and feeding during my daily commute. Beater Hondas work now... When I have more money, I'll get a BMW.

Every morning, I have the choice of driving a Toyota to work or driving a BMW. The BMW wins every time, unless I need the Toyota as a beast of burden.

I have the choice of a Saab or a BMW.. unless the Saab has not been out in a while, or the weather is nasty.. the BMW is the car I use

My RSX has 162k miles on it, been autox'ing for 3 seasons and beyond wear items has only needed an o2 sensor and the door locking solenoids need to be replaced ($35 each).

Still averages 34mpg driven daily through NH winters (and ice raced). Doesn't burn a drop of oil, doesn't leak anything, doesn't make any strange noises.

Dunno. I thought paying a premium meant getting a premium but I guess premium comes in different guises.

Speaking of plug wires, I just paid $160 for new leads for my E28. That was a bit of a shock, but like someone else said, they're not exactly a frequently replaced part.

Timeormoney wrote: Roger that, coil pack sticker shock

They used to be something like $30 each? I snag 'em from the junkyard. I must have about 20 spares from different M50/S50/S52s that I've hacked up.

mad_machine wrote:

z31maniac wrote:

mad_machine wrote: the M44 and M42 engines do.. and they are STILL expensive

That's why you convert them to coil-on-plug. My kit is in the mail as we speak.

tell me more?!

Do a search on m42club.com, Rob sells a plug 'n play kit for $190 shipped.

ignorant wrote: My commutes are generally abusive. I beat the hell outta my cars peddling through traffic. While, I would love a '91 318is, I don't know if I could afford the care and feeding during my daily commute. Beater Hondas work now... When I have more money, I'll get a BMW.

Since we figured out the knock at idle that developed right after I purchased it. Turned out to be a failed oil pressure relief valve that would not allow enough oil psi at idle to give the chain tensioner enough gutso, letting the chain slap. Part was $25.

It has been fantastic. I found one that had a lower mileage E36 M42 swapped in with Ground Control coilovers/camber plates, Euro grills/smilies, for like $3300 and it's super clean.

Had a shop rebuild the rear suspension (new subframe mounts/RTABs/ebrakes and cables) new pads and rotors all the way around, new shifter, and a few other little details.

Car has been flawless. I'm expecting a clutch replacement sometime this year, at which point, I'll ditch the outrageously heavy 28lb flywheel. And throw on a lightened M20 12lb flywheel and clutch. Which should really wake up acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear.

I actually want to get another 318 to turn into a pure track rat.

Having a BMW is like having a VW except it's worth fixing

I will say this to any naysayer.. you need to drive one before passing judgement. When I bought my Ti, I admit I bought it because it was hard to find a rear drive hatchback.. the fact that it was a BMW was just the icing on the cake.

The first ten miles, on worn out bushings and blown out struts (honestly, when I took them out of the car, they could not hold themselves up against gravity) I "understood" what it was all about. I cannot say for the newer cars, but the E36 really did feel like it connected you directly to the road.. something I had not felt since I had gotten away from my aircooled porsches.

mad_machine wrote: I will say this to any naysayer.. you need to drive one before passing judgement. When I bought my Ti, I admit I bought it because it was hard to find a rear drive hatchback.. the fact that it was a BMW was just the icing on the cake. The first ten miles, on worn out bushings and blown out struts (honestly, when I took them out of the car, they could not hold themselves up against gravity) I "understood" what it was all about. I cannot say for the newer cars, but the E36 really did feel like it connected you directly to the road.. something I had not felt since I had gotten away from my aircooled porsches.

+1. I hate myself every time I say this, but it really is "the ultimate driving machine"

Obviously thats quite subjective, but the only car I've driven so far that is moreso is a miata.

I've owned over a hundred different cars in the last 30 years. Stock and modified, from dead nuts reliable to French. I currently have, as a daily driver, by choice, a BMW with almost 180k on it. In the 3 1/2 years I've had it, it's cost me $1500 in repairs, only one taking it out of commission for more than a weekend (and that was replacing a bad water pump that I had bought aftermarket for cheap at 150k miles. My fault, not the car's), and even the ones taken out for a weekend were my choice of timing, as nothing ever made the car stop working. I bought the car at 143k miles and assumed I needed to do the cooling system, as there was no record of it having been done. other than that, it's been minor things that have been common to a lot of cars of it's age, but delivering performance, luxury, and solidity that can't be matched by cheap, "reliable" beaters. Yes, an S2k might be more reliable up to 100k miles, but from a buying perspective, my car has cost me, including original purchase price, repairs AND depreciation, less than any new reliable appliance that would much less rewarding to drive AND vastly less than any S2k type car.

The driving ability of the cars are amazing. the 740 is a large car, but it gets great highway mileage (up to 30 mpg), is quick and rapid, eats up miles like crazy, and as you attack teh twisty bits, you can feel it shrink around you and become merely an extension of you. THAT"S where all the money in development goes and you just can't get that in a lesser car. I didn't expect it, and I've driven BMWs before (and owned a 2002). If you don't care what the driving experience is, I daresay you're not a "car guy", but a "wheeled-appliance guy." Fine for you, but understand that you're not of the right mindset to "get it."

Chris_V wrote: I've owned over a hundred different cars in the last 30 years. Stock and modified, from dead nuts reliable to French.

Magazine worthy.

It should also be noted that the 740 looks gorgeous on a nice set of rims.

lol a 7 series would be gorgeous sitting on its rotors...wheels are after-the-fact

In reply to 4cylndrfury:

Maybe in Harlem... lol granted it would be sitting on cinder blocks then.

Chris_V wrote: The driving ability of the cars are amazing. the 740 is a large car, but it gets great highway mileage (up to 30 mpg), is quick and rapid, eats up miles like crazy, and as you attack teh twisty bits, you can feel it shrink around you and become merely an extension of you. THAT"S where all the money in development goes and you just can't get that in a lesser car. I didn't expect it, and I've driven BMWs before (and owned a 2002).

Back when I owned a 2002, I also owned an E3. I was always astonished by what the big one could do in the twisties. It's good to hear they still feel like that.

I like your car a lot...

the only sad thing about BMW.. maybe 10% of the owners will ever experience how a BMW can make you a better driver.

good for the rest of us maybe.

mad_machine wrote: It did need a whole suspension rebuild due to blow struts (badly blown struts) and bushings that literally fell apart in your hands (never expected that on a car with 90,000 miles)

For some reason, German companies still have not figured out how to make rubber that lasts more than a couple years without disintegrating. My favorite are the VW oil breather hoses that are made out of non-oil-resistant rubber.

Nowadays, they make them out of corrugated plastic that breaks if you touch it. That is not an exaggeration.

Knurled wrote: For some reason, German companies still have not figured out how to make rubber that lasts more than a couple years without disintegrating.

Explain how BMW manages to find coolant hoses that last longer than some other auto-makers engines then. My E28 had supple original hoses at 200k.

I think some automakers design obsolescence into big ticket items to get you to buy a new car. BMW does it to the cheap, easy stuff that brings service dollars to its dealers but still provides a long service life for the vehicle without tarnishing the reliability of the drivetrain (or atleast they used to).

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: supple original hoses

Supple hoses?

I agree with some here that the cars may be worth their extra hassle, BUT I will say that if someone's Sunfire (or even Corvette) exhibited some of the torturous maintenance required for some of these European cars, nobody would be kind to GM like they are to BMW.

mad_machine wrote: the only sad thing about BMW.. maybe 10% of the owners will ever experience how a BMW can make you a better driver. good for the rest of us maybe.

Good for those of us who buy them pre-owned!

I agree with Chris' comment about the car shrinking around you as you drive it hard in the twisties. I'm always amazed how nimble my E65/E66 750Li feels, especially when I think about how long it is and how much it weighs (published weight is 4550 - I will scale it one of these days to see what mine really weighs). I have a great pic that I'll have to upload of a Smart parked next to my car - the total length of the Smart is exactly hub center to hub center on my car. I have the autocross results with it to back it up too.

Yes European cars need more "care" that cars from other places, but to be honest every car should be looked after that way if it is to be kept in tip top shape. But with that "hassle" you get something that almost feels alive, feels more connected. You can tell what vehicle is doing while you are driving, evasive manuvers will not make your passangers sea sick, get good gas mileage compaired to other vehicals of the same kind and the major components will last a long time.

For me those things outweigh the few negatives there are. Every car is a copmromise in some way, otherwise we would all be driving 1000 hp cars that got 100 mpg were comfortable on long trips and magic in the corners and only cost $2010. Until that day comes I will stick with my "high maintenance" stuff.