WTB: Grown-up Car

[SlimKlim]

Cause a $120k+ luxobarge is totally gonna be easier on maintenance than an old Maserati. :-p

Idk if anyone has said this, but why not E39 M5? You can get a clean one for under $20k, with lots of room left in the budget to put up with its finicky bullshit and get some nifty mods. They have android based headunits called Dynavin's and aftermarket, completely keyless entry systems that will effectively bring it into this decade features-wise. 5.0L V8, 6speed, 400hp and panty-droppin' looks. Errybody loves an E39.

[WRXtranceformed]

Not sure why you would spend 34 and a half thousand on a BMW with over 80,000 miles no matter what badge it has on it. That price range buys you a lot of other newer quality used "luxury" cars (many of which could be found CPO with a good warranty) with way less miles and likely a lot more options.

There is way too much BMW fanboi-ism on this board to overcome common sense :lol:

[DavidL]

Idk if anyone has said this, but why not E39 M5? You can get a clean one for under $20k, with lots of room left in the budget to put up with its finicky bullshit and get some nifty mods. They have android based headunits called Dynavin's and aftermarket, completely keyless entry systems that will effectively bring it into this decade features-wise. 5.0L V8, 6speed, 400hp and panty-droppin' looks. Errybody loves an E39.

Yes, please tell me why not! Ive seen all the "be careful with those..." but I need someone to convince me why these are terrible ideas... WAY too tempting.

[Tyler.M]

For 35k you could get a pretty well optioned brand spankin' new camaro. V8, aussie tuned suspension, and looks to die for. or, you could get a pretty well optioned 370z. Or a low optioned/slightly used infitinti g37. or an sti. or an EVO X MR. All of these have plenty of power, and are plenty of fun.

Honestly though, I think you should get something entirely different from your Camaro. I'd go with any of Nissan's speedsters or any of the homologated rally cars. That's what I would do if i had 35k anyways.....

THIS JUST HIT ME. What about a G8 with the big V8 in it? Probably pick up one of those with low miles in your range. 4 door muscle car with an damn fine suspension too.

[SlimKlim]

Idk if anyone has said this, but why not E39 M5? You can get a clean one for under $20k, with lots of room left in the budget to put up with its finicky bullshit and get some nifty mods. They have android based headunits called Dynavin's and aftermarket, completely keyless entry systems that will effectively bring it into this decade features-wise. 5.0L V8, 6speed, 400hp and panty-droppin' looks. Errybody loves an E39.

Yes, please tell me why not! Ive seen all the "be careful with those..." but I need someone to convince me why these are terrible ideas... WAY too tempting.

Well, the VANOS will fail. Not it might, not some-of-them-fail-so-I'm-extrapolating-and-saying-they-all-go, there is a 100% chance it will fail at some point during the life of the motor. Most likely between 100-150k, if not before. The good news is it can be rebuilt at home for $250. I was nervous about tackling mine, but it actually turned out to be one of the most "fun" projects I've done on the car. Variable timing is pretty cool shit, even the miserably unreliable BMW design, so I liked getting to take it apart and understand how it actually functions. Granted, I only had to do it once because I have a 6 cylinder.

Otherwise, I've heard, anecdotally, that they can consume a lot of oil, but the general consensus is that the motors are built loose and its nothing to worry about. They can also be pretty hard on clutches from what I hear, but I don't know if that's "So I was doing this burnout when suddenly...." or "I drove it to work from 0-50k miles and one day had no clutch." I'd imagine the clutch for that big bastard would NOT be fun to pay for, but it could be done at home with an extra jack and some willing friends to help drop the trans.

Other than that I haven't heard of any significant issues with them. Its an old BMW so little shit is going to pop up. As with any 12 year old car, all of the bushings will need attention if the previous owner hasn't already done it. Front suspension, rear suspension, bushings in the driveshaft, shifter bushings and possibly the diff bushings. For what it's worth my car has had a noticeable tear in the driveshaft bushing (giubo) for the past 50k miles, and who knows how old the diff bushings are, its been fine and I'm not driving that easy.

Mechanically, the cooling systems are an issue but if you upgrade the "bad" parts when they fail it becomes a non issue. An all aluminum radiator and water pump with a metal impellor does wonders. Then you might run into knock sensors, o2 sensors, bad coils or a bad MAF at some point, but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. My knock sensors gave out at like 170k, so you can hardly blame them. My o2 sensors are still good, I've never had a MAF failure even running the forbidden K&N intake, and the first set of coils died because I'm an idiot and let them get soaked in oil, and my second set of coils went because I'm an idiot and bought the shitty aftermarket ones to replace the first batch. Brakes would also be expensive because its an M5 and the rotors are huuuuge.

The E39s also have this weird, quasi-common issue with the ABS controller. Which seems like an issue with a lot of vehicles, not just BMWs. Lauren's failed and the shop wanted like $3k+ to replace it. I found a place in Tennessee that rebuilds the existing unit for $160 with a lifetime warranty and its been fine ever since. As far as the interior goes window regulators, window clips, climate control buttons will fall off, pixels in the display will go out, etc.

Like most BMW's all the "important" stuff like the motor and trans are absolute bombproof, so it will always drag you home no matter what. The little stuff can add up, but as long as you're prepared for it and have it budgeted, I can't imagine it would drive you to ruin. Its a hell of a lot of car for the money, especially if you can find one that's had a majority of the stuff I just brain-vomited taken care of. Speaking of which, I know waaaaaaaaaaay too much about old bimmers.

[D_Eclipse9916]

You want to get scared in addition to what he mentioned??

MAFS (dual) every 30-45k
Rod Bearings every 100k
Dash Pixels die...a lot
Window Regulators...oh god the window regulators!!!

[SlimKlim]

Pft. I can do an E39 window regulator in 45 minutes. I have one sitting in the garage waiting to go in Lauren's car when I'm not such a lazy bastard about it. Its really not that bad.

I hadn't heard about the rod bearings being an issue, was that all of them or just the 2000 models? I know the early ones are dinged for being less reliable/consuming more oil.

[Evan]

Not sure why you would spend 34 and a half thousand on a BMW with over 80,000 miles no matter what badge it has on it. That price range buys you a lot of other newer quality used "luxury" cars (many of which could be found CPO with a good warranty) with way less miles and likely a lot more options.

There is way too much BMW fanboi-ism on this board to overcome common sense :lol:

my thoughts exactly

and, those wheels are nasty

[WRXtranceformed]

I paid a few grand less than that Alpina for my CTS fully loaded with every package and like 22k miles on it. Certified preowned with a 60k bumper to bumper and 100k drivetrain warranty. And I haven't had to worry about stockpiling parts for home DIYs to keep it from destroying my bank account, not annoying me or worse, being unroadworthy

BTW, 430whp is only $6k away if you are so inclined. It's the same motor as the V6 camaro and there is a huge aftermarket already and dedicated tuners with supercharger and twin turbo packages.

[davej]

and, those wheels are nasty

To quote another thread, "your eyes, get them checked" =)

Dunno why but the alpina's always did it for me.

Fully agree you can get a new(er) car for the same money but it's not my bank account making the decision, so I don't need to let reason play any part in living vicariously through someone else. :razz:

[HAULN-SS]

The problem with cars like the b7, is that even a kia now has shit like bluetooth audio coming through the factory bumpin' stereo. The B7 doesnt have that, and already makes it feel slightly dated. Just think of how that will feel in 3 - 4 years when you're ready to be out of it.

[ScottyB]

You want to get scared in addition to what he mentioned??

MAFS (dual) every 30-45k
Rod Bearings every 100k
Dash Pixels die...a lot
Window Regulators...oh god the window regulators!!!

don't forget the secondary air pump passageways clogging up like a carbon-filled coronary bypass. should be an easy fix with a drain snake and some brake cleaner amirite?!
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totally awesome cars. i spent a half hour driving one and it was sweet as hell. but its a lot like having a pet elephant that makes amazing noises.

[BLINGMW]

They have android based headunits called Dynavin's...

holy crap those look awesome :o

[Goodspeed]

I'd wait for this to come out stateside with a Chevy badge as planned...

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/2014-che...z2KtYiDG6f

[Levey]

The "SS" attracts me like shiny things do a raccoon or blonde.

[JPolen01]

^Wow. Yes please.

[SlimKlim]

Yeah that thing is going to be sexy, I think I prefer the holden badge to the bowtie though.

They have android based headunits called Dynavin's...

holy crap those look awesome :o

I know right? I would've bought one years ago but they only go back to the E46, no single din options.

[CaptainHenreh]

If I can row my own gears, or if that has a "non-stupid" auto trans, I might have found my next car...

[Goodspeed]

If I can row my own gears, or if that has a "non-stupid" auto trans, I might have found my next car...

You and me both - at least, I really want. I felt so cheated when Pontiac went under and took with it the V8 G8's. When the rumor mill fired up about this thing I was pretty ecstatic. Pretty much the perfect car right there :twisted:

[Goodspeed]

And the eagle has landed. 415hp/415tq LS3, 6spd auto w/paddle shifters. Live unveil at 1pm from Daytona on the Chevy website. On sale late 2013.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/16/this-...vrolet-ss/