brian4d said:
After having a couple of Audis, I definitely love those cars; not something that is off the list. Just looking at other options as well.
BMW 3 series
- Thread starter Ballah06
- Start date
After having a couple of Audis, I definitely love those cars; not something that is off the list. Just looking at other options as well.
Have you thought about an S60R for something different? 300HP, AWD and reliable. Struts are expensive, but most maintenance is practical. Nice '04 models can be had for well under 10K.
DOHC Holliday said:
Have not considered that one in particular, but am open to suggestions aside from the 3 series. Of course, ideally it would be something reliable, good on gas (primary concern) and fun to drive...
X5 vs e21, e30, e36 is far from fair. Both from the same company but Mercedes built wonderful cars in the W114 and even W123 class but then built a shitbox in the later C's. The X5 was a rushed plan from the start! Without a doubt BMW builds/built incredible engines - I would damn well say some of the best in the world. Think M10 and all it's variations.
Stay away from the early BMW VANOS stuff. If LR could build motors comparable to BMW and early Mercedes? Then they'd have something!
Stay away from the early BMW VANOS stuff. If LR could build motors comparable to BMW and early Mercedes? Then they'd have something!
Emmodg, I'm also curious about VANOS, but more curious about which engines and transmissions BMW has made that you feel are the best in terms of overall performance and reliability.
The vano system adj. the cam for valve opening. It use the oil pressure to push a piston to move the gear in between the cam and the timing chain, and the seal for the piston will goes bad not hold pressure and cannot get the right timing. Changing the seal restore the lower end guts.
Edited: get the vano seals from Beisan system, last longer than bmw's and it is only 60 bucks and 4 hours of your time
Edited: get the vano seals from Beisan system, last longer than bmw's and it is only 60 bucks and 4 hours of your time
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emmodg said:
Current BMW engines are nothing special compared to the competition. Witness the improvement from the BMW-engined 2003-2005 Range Rover and the 2006+ Jag AJ-V8 version.
However I have to agree re: the old M10/M12 engine. Spent many hours wrenching on a 1972 2002Tii-what a fun little car and solid engine.
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/31678-massive-engines-bmw-m10-turbocharger-video.htm
What Ed said. (Hey, that rhymes!) VANOS is VVT just BMW's version... They go from a mere annoying rattle to complete failure. I think BMW figured it out a few years after it's debut sometime around '95 or '96(?)
BMW has an inline 6cyl. engine architecture down pat! There have been some stumbles here and there but few when compared to their production numbers.
I like early e34's, later e39's.
I really want Volvo to be a good car but sometimes I wonder what the longevity is/will be with their latest offerings. (I have these bad dreams that they could find their way going down the same path as SAAB. I just don't here the phrase "Hey, look at the new Volvo I bought!" or " I think I'm going to buy a new Volvo." I would take a Safari though!)
BMW has an inline 6cyl. engine architecture down pat! There have been some stumbles here and there but few when compared to their production numbers.
I like early e34's, later e39's.
I really want Volvo to be a good car but sometimes I wonder what the longevity is/will be with their latest offerings. (I have these bad dreams that they could find their way going down the same path as SAAB. I just don't here the phrase "Hey, look at the new Volvo I bought!" or " I think I'm going to buy a new Volvo." I would take a Safari though!)
I got a e39 since last July, I actually like the e34 better, the 39 is too rounded up front, it is still a fun car. You don't felt like you are driving a mid size sedan.
I did fix the vanos seals, the suspension is half way done, as still need to replace the control arms, most of the cooling system as the radiator looks ok, but will get the new water pump with the metal impeller rather than the OEM plastic one.
I did fix the vanos seals, the suspension is half way done, as still need to replace the control arms, most of the cooling system as the radiator looks ok, but will get the new water pump with the metal impeller rather than the OEM plastic one.
I miss my E30's too. Its like driving a fast greenhouse. If I didnt live in the rustbelt, Id be DD one.
I have an 03' E46 black on black 5 speed. It gets excellent fuel economy and it's a blast to drive. If you can pick one up in good shape at a decent price I would say go for it. They are just as easy to work on as Land Rovers are (heh!).
to the original poster,
if you find an e46 you're interested in, and it has over 80k miles, make sure the following items have been addressed.
1) oil separator/crankcase vent valve with all 4 breather lines replaced.
2) eyeball bushings replaced.
3) oil filter stand gasket replaced.
all bmw's have cooling issues, but the parts are less expensive than a Volkswagen/Audi group car.
if you work on your vehicles yourself, then a 99/00 would be a better choice for you, they have electric fans instead of the viscous fan, which means you can remove the fan and get to the front end where most of the common cooling components are, i.e. stat, water pump, radiator, etc.
yes, window regulators are a common failure, but are very easy for even diy'ers to do.
whatever you do AVOID and e46 with an M56 motor, it's a california emission car.
AND make sure the vehicle had it's oil changed every 5-7k instead of 15k....you will know when you pull the valve cover. below is a 15k oil service top end
this is 5k
if you find an e46 you're interested in, and it has over 80k miles, make sure the following items have been addressed.
1) oil separator/crankcase vent valve with all 4 breather lines replaced.
2) eyeball bushings replaced.
3) oil filter stand gasket replaced.
all bmw's have cooling issues, but the parts are less expensive than a Volkswagen/Audi group car.
if you work on your vehicles yourself, then a 99/00 would be a better choice for you, they have electric fans instead of the viscous fan, which means you can remove the fan and get to the front end where most of the common cooling components are, i.e. stat, water pump, radiator, etc.
yes, window regulators are a common failure, but are very easy for even diy'ers to do.
whatever you do AVOID and e46 with an M56 motor, it's a california emission car.
AND make sure the vehicle had it's oil changed every 5-7k instead of 15k....you will know when you pull the valve cover. below is a 15k oil service top end
this is 5k
That top pic had more going on with it than a "lax" oil change interval. I've seen M42, S54, old M20's and the like owned by college girls that didn't know what an oil change was that looked better than that!
Several years ago Mobil did an experiment and ran a BMW inline 6(forget which one) for 100,000 miles on a bench night and day with synthetic oil in it then took it apart to find the original machining marks on many surfaces! The valve train looked almost new! Talked with Ray Korman once about what he thought of the "new" oil change intervals BMW was recommending(this was in '02 I believe) and he commented on how he wasn't apposed to it.
E46's are good cars - I wouldn't have an SMG version though.
Several years ago Mobil did an experiment and ran a BMW inline 6(forget which one) for 100,000 miles on a bench night and day with synthetic oil in it then took it apart to find the original machining marks on many surfaces! The valve train looked almost new! Talked with Ray Korman once about what he thought of the "new" oil change intervals BMW was recommending(this was in '02 I believe) and he commented on how he wasn't apposed to it.
E46's are good cars - I wouldn't have an SMG version though.
jb,
you'd be surprised how many bmw's we get in that have top ends like that. extended oil services and the wrong oil will cause that. we've seen a handful of m52tu and m54 motors like that as well. the above picture was from an e34 with a quick lube decal. i would not disagree with you that a motor with synthetic oil used, even with extended oil services would be way cleaner than that, but 9 times out of 10 if you go 15k with conventional motor oil, your top end will eventually look like that. we have found when the top end looks like that, usually after several oil services with synthetic every 5-7k all that sludge 'melts' and returns to a somewhat liquid state and gets captured in the filter. that picture was taken about a year ago, and they have been bringing it in every 5k for an oil service, so far no oil pressure problems.
fwiw, the bottom picture is a customer's car that gets oil changed every 5k miles, over 250k miles on it.
and yes, smg boxes are terrible. the shifting is terrible.
you'd be surprised how many bmw's we get in that have top ends like that. extended oil services and the wrong oil will cause that. we've seen a handful of m52tu and m54 motors like that as well. the above picture was from an e34 with a quick lube decal. i would not disagree with you that a motor with synthetic oil used, even with extended oil services would be way cleaner than that, but 9 times out of 10 if you go 15k with conventional motor oil, your top end will eventually look like that. we have found when the top end looks like that, usually after several oil services with synthetic every 5-7k all that sludge 'melts' and returns to a somewhat liquid state and gets captured in the filter. that picture was taken about a year ago, and they have been bringing it in every 5k for an oil service, so far no oil pressure problems.
fwiw, the bottom picture is a customer's car that gets oil changed every 5k miles, over 250k miles on it.
and yes, smg boxes are terrible. the shifting is terrible.