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The Car Thread ... !
- Thread starter D.T.
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Good luck man! I don't know how many BMW's you've owned or how long you had your 5er for but for me, it's hard to move to another brand. It's not that I don't think there are alternatives but when you own a few BMW's and then you invest in tools, literature, software and you become very familiar with BMW's mechanicals, it's difficult especially if you work on your own cars.
With my E90 is getting up there in age (still runs wonderfully), it's time to look for its replacement and while there are so many cars to choose from now than in 2005/2006, the only options I'm looking at right now are the 435i Gran Coupe or 535i.
Only 1 BMW. My first car was a 2003 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 HO in 2005 when I got my license. I kept that thing until 2013 when my dad gave me his 2009 E60 535i xDrive... it was certainly a big step up in handling, quality, and technology. The Jeep however, though not quick as the 5 certainly was pretty fast (0-60 in 6.9, pretty good for an SUV back then, still so for a non-car based vehicle). I do miss the practicality of the Jeep.
I really am spoiled with the 5-series. It has over 110,000 miles now and I'm afraid its just a money pit at this point. My drive to work is like 12 miles round trip- lots of stop and go. No other practical means of getting their other than riding my road bike, which occasionally I do. At this point in time, I don't really have space to work on my car living in the city. I have plenty of tools back at my home in CT (my dad is quite the gear head and carpenter as his hobby), there's just nowhere to put them here. I have about 3ft on either side of my car with this parking garage situation.
I can say the -35i is definitely worth it over he -28i. All the CPO 5's that I see are 528i models, as are most that I see around the city. It's a big step down... but in reality I don't really need that power. The NAV screen alone in most of the cars I'm looking at feels like a big step down. BMW was really brilliant with the big, wide format display. A lot of manufacturers STILL haven't figured this out.
It's too bad the new X5 is so cow-like and bloated (and expensive, they're not terrible used). I miss the older models that looked a lot more agile. I know three people with F15's who aren't too happy with it.
The 435i Gran Coupe is beautiful. I don't understand its place in BMW's lineup (or any of the GT models
), but it sure is nice to look at. I've thought about them but really they're too small for what I'd want in a sedan.
I can say the -35i is definitely worth it over he -28i. All the CPO 5's that I see are 528i models, as are most that I see around the city. It's a big step down... but in reality I don't really need that power. The NAV screen alone in most of the cars I'm looking at feels like a big step down. BMW was really brilliant with the big, wide format display. A lot of manufacturers STILL haven't figured this out.
It's too bad the new X5 is so cow-like and bloated (and expensive, they're not terrible used). I miss the older models that looked a lot more agile. I know three people with F15's who aren't too happy with it.
The 435i Gran Coupe is beautiful. I don't understand its place in BMW's lineup (or any of the GT models
The 3/4er and 5er is as small and big as I would go so they naturally fit what I am looking for with regards to size. Having a MINI as a second/weekend car fulfills the need of having a relatively small/fun car.
As for the 35i BMW's, it's a no brainer. As good as the N20 inline-4 is for its size, having driven BMW's with their straight six engine over the years, I don't want to give that up unless I absolutely need to and 300HP/300TQ is more than enough for me.
BMW's have always been very reliable for me (can't say the same about Mercedes) so I'm inclined to stick with BMW for the foreseeable future.
The 4GC is what the F30 should've looked like. But my favorite BMW right now is the 6GC. It looks fantastic! Both of these models are so overpriced though.
http://www.auto.com/cars/bmw-650_gran_coupe-i_xdrive-2013-wba6b4c57ddg67827
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The N20 is a great engine, but I can't get over how rough it is. Not to mention, it sounds like a damn diesel at idle. MPGs are terrible unless you stay out of boost.
The N55/B58 is a no brainer over the N20 IMO.
The 4GC is what the F30 should've looked like. But my favorite BMW right now is the 6GC. It looks fantastic! Both of these models are so overpriced though.
http://www.auto.com/cars/bmw-650_gran_coupe-i_xdrive-2013-wba6b4c57ddg67827
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The N20 is a great engine, but I can't get over how rough it is. Not to mention, it sounds like a damn diesel at idle. MPGs are terrible unless you stay out of boost.
The N55/B58 is a no brainer over the N20 IMO.
Agreed with everything you posted. When the 4er Gran Coupe was first introduced by BMW, the first thought in my mind was that's what the 3er should have looked like without the hatch, of course.
The 6er to me is the ideal BMW less the price of course!
It has the looks both exterior and interior and performance that one would ever need. Other BMW's have one or the other.The N20 is a fantastic engine for a 4 cylinder configuration. It's still rough but even this has been improved upon. Having a inline 4 in the MINI, I know how rough it can get/be and BMW's design of the N20 improves on this a lot. But again, you can't pass up a BMW with its legendary straight-six engine.
Yes, a proper BMW has a straight-six. Unless you're getting a V8/10/12 of course
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Me tooThe 6er to me is the ideal BMW less the price of course!
But the price is just absurd. CPO 640xi GCs have been rare too.
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Yeah my 5 hasn't been too bad in terms of reliability. It's just the out of warranty repair costs that are a killer. Last year I needed $6000 worth of suspension work done. I probably could have saved a bunch had I gone to an Indie, but she handles like a brand new car again.
Luckily this N54 hasn't needed it's Turbo replaced... Yet. Kind of what aim fearing most at this point. *knock on wood*
My thoughts exactly too. I spent way too much time looking for differences between the 3 and 4GC only to find nothing of substance.
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What car(s) do you drive here on MacRumors?
-2004 Mercedes-Benz E320
-2003 Mercedes-Benz C240
-1999 Nissan Pathfinder SE
Go go go.
-2004 Mercedes-Benz E320
-2003 Mercedes-Benz C240
-1999 Nissan Pathfinder SE
Go go go
.http://blog.caranddriver.com/new-genesis-concept-set-to-preview-3-series-fighting-sports-sedan/
New Genesis Concept Set to Preview 3-Series-Fighting Sports Sedan
New Genesis Concept Set to Preview 3-Series-Fighting Sports Sedan
http://blog.caranddriver.com/new-genesis-concept-set-to-preview-3-series-fighting-sports-sedan/
New Genesis Concept Set to Preview 3-Series-Fighting Sports Sedan
Am I one of the few who is very excited for this car? Hyundai has made some serious leaps and by hiring Albert Biermann from BMW M, the new Genesis could be respectable.
I've been super impressed by the Genesis. They make a better "American" car(big, V8, rear wheel drive) than any American maker makes now!
If I were in the market for a car, and couldn't find a reasonable 2012 Town Car, I'd give the Genesis some serious consideration.
On a different note, I visited a local restoration shop today where the owner is absolutely NUTS over MGs.
I went in looking for a speedometer drive gear, and when he was trying to make sure of what I wanted he just pulled a transmission off the shelf and told me to point to the part I needed. I didn't get the part as he wants the tooth count off mine, but said that whatever it was he was sure he had it.
Along with old American iron, there were a bunch of MGs in various states of disassembly around the shop. He had a customer's daily driver MG in the show room getting ready to do some work on it. It wasn't quite to my taste, but was still nicely done. It was a late(77 or so, I think) car with chrome bumpers, a V6, and a 5 speed GM gearbox. It was riding on Minilites, which are a popular aftermarket MG wheel, and IMO look nice without being "over the top." The car was in BRG with a tan canvas top. The 74.5 models on have nicer interiors than the earlier cars, which is one big advantage to them, although to bring it to my taste I would have lowered it to chrome bumper height.
In any case, I very nearly walked out of the shop with the red rubber bumper '75 parked out front, which was offered to me for $1K. I had to slap myself into reality, though, and remember that there's still plenty to keep me busy on my '70. The temptation with rubber bumpers, though, is that no one complains too badly if you do something like drop a V8 into one . The later models also make putting in a Rover V8 easy since the engine compartment was modified for the MGB GT V8.
The other thing that tested my resolve was the Morgan +4 sitting in the show room. It's not finished, but is incredibly tempting. I'm an MG guy through and through when it comes to British sportscars, but I absolutely love Morgans.
I went in looking for a speedometer drive gear, and when he was trying to make sure of what I wanted he just pulled a transmission off the shelf and told me to point to the part I needed. I didn't get the part as he wants the tooth count off mine, but said that whatever it was he was sure he had it.
Along with old American iron, there were a bunch of MGs in various states of disassembly around the shop. He had a customer's daily driver MG in the show room getting ready to do some work on it. It wasn't quite to my taste, but was still nicely done. It was a late(77 or so, I think) car with chrome bumpers, a V6, and a 5 speed GM gearbox. It was riding on Minilites, which are a popular aftermarket MG wheel, and IMO look nice without being "over the top." The car was in BRG with a tan canvas top. The 74.5 models on have nicer interiors than the earlier cars, which is one big advantage to them, although to bring it to my taste I would have lowered it to chrome bumper height.
In any case, I very nearly walked out of the shop with the red rubber bumper '75 parked out front, which was offered to me for $1K. I had to slap myself into reality, though, and remember that there's still plenty to keep me busy on my '70. The temptation with rubber bumpers, though, is that no one complains too badly if you do something like drop a V8 into one
. The later models also make putting in a Rover V8 easy since the engine compartment was modified for the MGB GT V8. The other thing that tested my resolve was the Morgan +4 sitting in the show room. It's not finished, but is incredibly tempting. I'm an MG guy through and through when it comes to British sportscars, but I absolutely love Morgans.
