Should I ditch my V8 wagon for another V8 wagon?

Currently I'm driving a '00 540i. I love everything about it except for neverending BMW maintenance; it's cool, fast, turns well, gets decent fuel economy, and a very quiet and comfortable place to be. It also doesn't feel very big.

Lately I've been having impure thoughts about late Buick Roadmaster wagons. I'm not a huge fan of the bench front seats, but it will undoubtedly ride smoother than the Bimmer and have lower maintenance costs. There are mods to make any B-body handle, and I think there's a steering rack conversion out there for a quicker ratio, but will it ever feel like a small car? It weighs ~500lb more than the E39- is that something I can reduce without sacrificing anything? I've never driven anything with an LT1, but it seems like it will have more torque than the M62. Can it be reflashed to give any actual fuel economy?

What say the horde?

They're tanks. Glorious big berkeleying tanks, but there is no way you're going to mistake one for a smaller car while driving it- the question is whether you can learn to embrace that.

Sounds like a terrible idea to me. You talk about doing things to make it handle..........so make it ride more harsh like the vehicle you already have?

"Roadmaster" and "handle" should not be used in the same sentence unless you are saying "damn this Roadmaster sure does handle this washboard cracked road well". If you want handling keep the BMW. If you want to drive your living room couch across country in comfort, there is no replacement for a Roadmaster wagon.

slefain wrote: "Roadmaster" and "handle" should not be used in the same sentence unless you are saying "damn this Roadmaster sure does handle this washboard cracked road well". If you want handling keep the BMW. If you want to drive your living room couch across country in comfort, there is no replacement for a Roadmaster wagon.

The 540 is already the most comfortable car I've ever owned, so as long as it's not more harsh than that I'm good. The reality of the situation is that I have to tackle many many miles of mountain roads on a daily basis, and I don't want to be that guy getting passed by a 4Runner. I don't need it to handle like it's on rails, but maybe at least on par with a P71.

The Roadmaster and 540 are polar opposites what about a Magnum R/T?

The Roadmaster is awesome but in a horrible GM way. It's bargain basement parts nailed together by disaffected union employees on a break from drinking. If you value the fit and finish of your BMW you would not like the Roadmaster. But!! If you drive one in good shape I bet you would like it. Replace the blown out rear air shocks with regular HD shocks and you have a car that will give you a comfy ride for a thousand mile day and not complain about it. Power is adequate.

To give you an idea I went from Miata to Roadmaster to LS400. The LS400 handled more like the Miata than the Roadmaster. "Float" and "boat like" are putting it mildly.

Red one

Another red one

Silver one

The 91-93 models have a much nicer interior, but lack the LT1. The B/C/D chassis is capable, but it's not remotely similar to an E39. I've done a fair bit of autocrossing in my stock 88 and 92 wagons, and can confirm that they feel heavy. You can drive them spiritedly, but it's a lot of work, and you'll probably have a sore left knee.

I brought a '95 to the $2016 Challenge. Actually, it brought me. 1800 miles round trip hauling every tool I own.

Yes, the LT1 can easily be re-flashed to control everything from fuel tables to torque converter lockup points. It runs pig rich from the factory.

Economy - mid-high teens. They do better on the highway thanks to their streamline "whale" shape. I got 22 mpg on the Challenge road trip, with hundreds of pounds of tools and extra wheels, with the yawn-worthy 2.56 gears, turning only 1700 rpm at 70 mph. However his car NEEDS 3.73 to feel fast. Trust me.

Reliability - about as reliable as any SBC, except for the dreaded Opti-spark. In the 4,000 miles and two engines (my fault) that I had the car, the Opti never missed a beat. Just make sure its vented and it should last plenty long, because it sucks to replace (removal of crank pulley and cam-driven water pump).

The chassis is stupid simple. I second the heavy duty rear shocks. Also opt for the "Severe Service" front shocks and a stiffer spring for a less boaty experience. Rear sway bar helps too.

Build quality sucks like any other 90s GM. Plastic rattle. Weird resonances. But overall very comfortable.

Awesome year of my life owning this thing! But I am happy to have moved on. It was more like a comfy truck, and I already have a truck.

Another thing, every Roadmaster is 20 years old now. They rust and fall apart. They have huge mileage on the engines and trans. If you can find a low mileage rust free one, it should treat you very well for many years.

Man, in the north east rust belt B bodies have returned to the earth 10 years ago.

B-bodies can be made to handle, but nothing escapes the fact that they are large chunks of iron with a LOT of inertia. Fortunately, GM parts bins are full of interchangeable parts.

Don't worry about brakes. GM did a pretty good job of that for you.

Do: - make sure its the LT1 and not the "baby" 4.3L L99. They look the same from the outside.
- make sure its the 8.5" rear and not the 7.5". I know, you're going to say that all the wagons got the 8.5, but its not true. MOST got the 8.5. I personally owned a 95 Caprice wagon with the 7.5.
- ditch the factory trailing arms on the rear axle. They are stamped steel channel and you can twist them with your hands.
- upgrade suspension bushings to Delrin/aluminum up front and spherical on the axle end of the rear arms
- Bilstien shocks all around
- Impala SS or aftermarket springs all around. I went with Intrax springs which made mine REALLY low, but its actually not too low. You have to work to get it to hit a speed bump.
- new body bushings. Some of the B-bodies (including SS) are missing some from the factory. They had some problems with buzzes getting into the cabin so they just left them out. The ones that actually were installed are likely toast, so just get all of them and replace.
- If you still want more, WS6 F-body sway bars will help. Some guys mix n match Hotchkiss and F-body front/rear for a more neutral match. Getting Hotchkiss for both makes understeer.
- Even with lowering, 285mm rubber fits without rubbing. I was running 285/40-17 on Impala wheels for a long time, and 255/35-20 for a while with no rub.

With all of the above, you'll be at or above 5-series handling, but you'll also be spending about as much as a nice used 540. The upside is cheap parts and easy maintenance.

Mine handles very well... at least better than the seats hold me in place. Shown here with 285/40-17

Damn. Those are sweet rides you guys! I think I'm into it, but I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist for a good example out of the southwest/Texas.

They don't rust too terribly. My Impala is driven year round since 1996 in PA (a few in Austin and L.A.) and it is still very solid after 150k. There is rust, but no holes in the frame, and only one spot of rust-through on the rear quarter.

Its also a body-on-frame car, so they can be fixed a bit easier with mild steel patches on the frame and a 13mm socket to replace a fender if need be.

Oh, and most wagons came with 2.73 rears. Impalas had 3.08. Incredibly rare was a 3.42 with the tow package, but I only ever saw one and it was owned by a former GM employee who had his choice of check boxes. 3.73s wake them up nicely. I went straight to 4.10s which makes first gear kind of a joke, but its in preparation for a T56 (which is a pretty easy swap)

BMW=Fine southern gent

Roadmaster=Hillbilly

Both are fun but who do you want to live with.

dean1484 wrote: BMW=Fine southern gent Roadmaster=Hillbilly Both are fun but who do you want to live with.

On my budget? Whichever one doesn't have expensive parts and glitchy electronics.

Dude.... sportcross.

Good luck finding one.

dean1484 wrote: BMW=Fine southern gent Roadmaster=Hillbilly Both are fun but who do you want to live with.

around here bmw = hood rat or suburban housewife and roadmaster = old guy.

i think i would pick bmw for the fact that OP is considering the roadmonster. haven't had one yet and intrigued. i've had 4-5 b body wagons and always wanted a 5 series.

Appleseed wrote: Good luck finding one.

They're around, I found mine.

http://m.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/Wagon/Lexus?endYear=2017&firstRecord=0&makeCode1=LEXUS&mmt=%5BLEXUS%5B%5D%5B%5D%5D&showcaseListingId=0&showcaseOwnerId=0&startYear=1981&vehicleStyleCodes=WAGON&Log=0?mmt=%5BLEXUS%5B%5D%5B%5D%5D&startYear=1981&makeCode1=LEXUS&vehicleStyleCodes=WAGON&endYear=2017