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Picture of your car (2011)
- Thread starter r.j.s
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A lot of cars will run forever if you maintain them properly. We just sold off a 95 Mercury Mystique we had for a very long time, it had no problems (although, there was a recall where the entire engine wire harness was replaced free
). Of course, it was the four banger model that had no drivetrain issues. The V6s are known to have oil starvation issues (also avoidable)The 300 I have is doing great in that respect too *knocks on wood*. I've heard a lot of complaints from V6 owners, particularly ones with the Mercedes CRD engine lol.
Still, I think the big thing about picking a car is reading about the various versions of a car and buying the one that sounds most promising.
A lot of cars will run forever if you maintain them properly. We just sold off a 95 Mercury Mystique we had for a very long time, it had no problems (although, there was a recall where the entire engine wire harness was replaced free
The 300 I have is doing great in that respect too *knocks on wood*. I've heard a lot of complaints from V6 owners, particularly ones with the Mercedes CRD engine lol.
Still, I think the big thing about picking a car is reading about the various versions of a car and buying the one that sounds most promising.
1995 is nothing. I see BMWs older than that being run competitively at the CCA autocross that also serve their owners as daily drivers.
I am thinking more along the lines of the car in this post. This car is nearing 40 years of age, has 412,000 miles on the odo, is the owner's daily driver, and was in clean enough shape for the owner to take home a trophy from the show.
Along those lines, BMW's Mobile Traditions group recently decided to prove the depth of their resources and built a brand new 2002 Tii from the parts bin (link).
The average American car from the early 70's was turned into a beer can decades ago.
edit: My comment that you responded to was specifically about a Mercedes W201 sedan. My parents sold theirs sometime last year. It had fewer than 100,000 miles and was in near perfect condition. They bought it new sometime between 1982 and 1985. They never drove it and it needed some repair work they couldn't justify financially. They sold it to a shop who probably fixed it and turned it for a quick profit, unless he decided to keep the car for his own use.
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Awesome Limited Edition! I just got the same car in a manual 5 speed. Loving it, and you can just slide in an RCD 510 touchscreen when the time comes.
I got the automatic. Never learned manual, and don't ever plan to, haha.Awesome Limited Edition! I just got the same car in a manual 5 speed. Loving it, and you can just slide in an RCD 510 touchscreen when the time comes.
But about that RCD 510 - not bad for $500. I'd imagine it'd require a new harness, wiring set, etc.? I would love the touchscreen...
i was living the dream where i had enough money to buy an SLS *drools*
and my real car is nowhere near as cool (ford focus)
Sorry to disappoint you, but the interior of my Camaro is quite nice - with the illuminated green side panels, very comfortable bucket seats, and etc.
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The only thing that disappoints me is the distinct lack of photos of the interior Mr Best Buy
Post pics.
My interior is normal. Haha. I've considered adding a touchscreen, but I'm afraid of screwing something up in the installation. Plus, I want it to be in mint condition when it's a collector car fifty years from now! (;
It's not jealously, I just would like to see the interior.
The other bits were tongue in cheek observations from his other photos.
The other bits were tongue in cheek observations from his other photos.
Thanks!
One of the reasons I chose it over a 370Z was the top ....... I would have chosen a different (darker) interior but since the Z4's are now built in Germany it's either take what they have or wait a while longer than for an Ipad2 .
rezenclowd3
macrumors 65816
Personally I love a light interior. That ivory white interior is to die for IMO. I can't see in the picture all too well, but which Z4 model is that?
I've always liked the Roadster. Funky and pretty nifty.
How is your experience with it size wise?
It's rather low to the road.
BMW's and other German cars these days though are no where close to being as they used to be. Putting so much electronics into them. BMW is practically ignoring that they have a problem with the high pressure fuel pump with their N54 and N55 motors. Sure they extended the warranties for it and issued a " voluntary recall", but it's been 5 years now and owners are still experiencing failures.
German cars are great when you're still in warranty. Once they are out, any repair is a costly repair. I wonder any of the old BMW's you saw racing had any engine swaps sporting a LS1 or any other Chevy Small Block V8. It's quite a popular option when the old I-6's finally go.
Everyone who gets into it mentions the height, but in terms of cabin space it is great. Plenty room for two people. Jeremy Clarkson fitted in just fine when he tried it.
The regular model has 80bhp but the Brabus one has 101bhp. It is a noticeable difference (I owned the standard model previously). Brabus model also comes with a bunch of extras (you could option most of these on the standard model):
- Steering wheel with paddle shift.
- Heated leather seats.
- Metal trim on gear stick, pedals and handbrake.
- Side skirts.
- Rear lip spoiler and lower front splitter.
The rims are actually a giant pain - they are the really shiny/glossy laquered finish which corrodes VERY easily. Three of mine are a real mess and I think I might just get a standard finish on them when I get them reconditioned. They are also made out of really soft metal, so dent very easily on bumps in the road.
Here is a picture of the big block (from someone else's car):
698cc inline 3 with turbocharger.
Unfortunately smart discontinued this car a few years ago.
I personally have no interest in the new generations of BMWs. Mike Miller wrote a buyers guide for the E9x and E46 for the June 2010 issue of Bimmer Magazine. He was very concerned about BMW keeping certain service information relating to the E9x generation of cars proprietary, not even disclosing it to their dealer network. That practice adds substantially to the risk of owning such a car long term.
Fortunately my E46 is just about my perfect car. I've had it for 9 years and barring catastrophe (knock on wood) I plan on keeping it for at least another 9. edit: My average annual maintenance costs since the car went off prepaid service early in 2005 have been $1200, excluding tires. I use a competent independent shop for the majority of the work. If I did the work myself I would spend even less. BMWs being really expensive to maintain is a bit of a myth, unless you use the dealer for service.
BMW has always been known for their engines. They tend to last a good long while as long as the owner doesn't let them overheat and avoids a money shift. The older engines don't generally die. Most E30 owners don't put Chevy V8s in their cars, although there are more than a few with an S52 from an E36 M3 stuffed under the hood.
One of the guys who owns the shop I use put a Chevy V8 in his E36 M3. It's purely a race car. This is a photo from an autoX a couple of years ago.
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