2nd hand Beemers - unbelievable value!

[granville]

I always knew BMW, despite the negative representation of their owners from some quarters, were truly fabulous cars.

You didn't have to have a £50k M5 to partake either (though I'm sure it'd be nice).

Build quality appears to have been standard across the range forever and thus longevity; like Mercs, the associated galactic mileages could be racked up with few, if any, reliability niggles.

A mate runs a J-plate 525i. Had it two years. Looks pretty dull, quite unspectacular and alas, ubiquitous to the last. He paid £2500 at the time and it's now worth 50p. For the first time ever, I found myself a passenger on board...

Bloody hell! Where to begin?

1.Engine as creamy smooth as the very best, ever - even with 120,000 miles racked up.
2.Gear change simply perfect.
3.Engine sound really very pleasant indeed;
4.Strong pulling, particulary from 3500rpm.
5.No, absolutely zero rattles or creaks from the interior - quite remarkable!
6.And fast! I mean come on, I'm not talking Griff 500, of course but for such an old box! The insatiable pull as we hit the m-way and that beautiful six-pot just pulled and pulled and pulled - all the way to just beyond an indicated 140 and all the time the chassis...
7...felt ludicrously composed.

I now understand the legend surrounding the last generation M5 and can only shudder to imagine the sheer competence of the existing model.

So what the hell am I babbling on about? Well I guess I'm saying that a 5 series Bee-Em, at least one with 6 pistons, might just be one of the safest bets on the planet for a PHer on a budget. Quite frankly, it was SO good I'm amazed; seriously!

[simpo one]

Mine's a K-reg 730iV8 with 146,000 miles. I've had it for 6 years and still have it because I can't find anything better without spending silly money...

[GregE240]

DeR, perhaps one of the Beemer Massive will enlighten us but a further point might be:

8) Galvanised dustbin stylee with the finest German zinc so your new budget mota won't turn into a a pile of iron oxide in front of your very eyes ?

I think they're galvanised, not sure though.

>> Edited by GregE240 on Monday 30th September 15:57

[granville]

quote:
Mine's a K-reg 730iV8 with 146,000 miles. I've had it for 6 years and still have it because I can't find anything better without spending silly money...

Strangely enough, after I'd finished complimenting the guy on his 'Q-car' he informed me that he would be replacing it with a 530i - presumably using the same V8 as yours.

I remember another chap with exactly the model you have, Simpo and a similar number of light years covered on the odometer; as you say, where else can you get such insane value?

I just love the elasticity of the engines; that 'made for 140 on the autobahn with dismissive ease' quality that only certain Mercs seem to flaunt.

Yep, great, great cars.

[Marcos Maniac]

I've always had a love for Beemers.

First one I owned was a 328i cabriolet, fell in love with it when I saw it sitting on the forecourt of local BMW garage - cost me an arm and a leg (and my driving licence twice). Had to sell it, insurance went through the roof (9points a two bans on licence)

Chopped and changed cars for a couple of years, but still had the BMW urge and plumped for a 3 litre Z3, had lots of fun with it but wasnt to keen on the traction control (switching it off and you got a flahing warning light on the dashboard that was somewhat irritating) sold it quickly when I spotted a Mantis for sale.

Ran about in a Chevvy Blazer as a company/everyday car and when it got to three years old I went back to the Chevvy/Vauxhall dealers to PX it for a new one - and got offered stupid money for it. We were so peeved with them that we went straight to the BMW dealer (they offered 2k more in PX for it) and bought an X5 Sport (kept the BLazer & and bought it off the company dirt cheap)

The X5 is a dream machine, love it to pieces, its got an awesome amount of power when you need/want it and a pleasure to drive.

[marki]

In 1996 or 97 i rented long term (six months) a 520i and i have to aggree with you it was one of the most competant cars i have had the pleasure of using , myself and a friend took it on a ski holiday from Denmark and it was a relaxed cruiser , we maxed it at 220kph which is ok for such a big heavy car , great car i really enjoyed my time with it , not a ball of fire just totally competant

[granville]

quote:
8) Galvanised dustbin stylee with the finest German zinc so your new budget mota won't turn into a a pile of iron oxide in front of your very eyes ?

I think they're galvanised, not sure though.

Yozah, Greg - you must be right about this.

I remember when I was on the prowl for my first real mega car (a 928S2) and the condition of the bodywork of even late 70s examples of the original 4.5 litre models that I chanced upon. From memory, not a trace of oxidation anywhere. I know they had a 10 year warranty in this respect but the paint shop seemed to be over zealous and then some...

The Zuffenhausen approach also seems to have found favour in Munchen. I remember a Y plate (1982/83) 520i nearby being in showroon condition after 20 years - and the bloke never garaged it!

Awesome quality when you think about it.

[toyracer]

i used to run an old E30 320 for commuting - great car, and 700 quid well spent. superb engine, and nicely balanced. Shame some thieving herbert trashed it whilst trying to nick it

[toyracer]

quote:
Plenty of great BMW bargains out there! I personally LOVE the 635 CSI but a ex colleauge of mine had a very unreliable one

i considered an M6 for a while, but i'm downt o one car now and didn't want to put the mega miles from commuting on it (cost wise!). superb cars though. i saw one up for sale with 7000 miles on it (M6), fsh (owned by some foreign royal family) up for close on 30k!!

[nubbin]

In order to justify the expense of my Tamora, I run around in a 13 year old (!) G-plate 525i se auto. Leather interior, nice auto box, leccy one-touch sunroof, leccy windows all round, alarm,everything works, it has a full service history!!!, the paintwork is scratched and fading, it's worth about £1500 (I paid £3000). there's no point trading it, because without spending lots of cash, I won't get anything better. It could do with sharper dampers for cornering but is absolutely brilliant. Perfect car for a student, if he can afford the petrol and insurance. I love it, but I'd really like a 7-series. Maybe treat myself next year.....

[Dazren]

I had a 92 735iSE which I sold for peanuts in January. 110,000 miles and still going strong.

Whoever ended up with the car got the bargain of the century, but what else could I do when running out of garage space and no claims bonuses, and Zuffenhausens finest on the way?

DAZ

(Should have sold the merc instead, the BMW although a lot older handled far better)

[JSG]

I've had a few of 'em as well. The last was a 318 SE, good car but a bit underpowered even for my runabout. I prev had 2 E30 320s which were excellent cars and used a couple of 5 series hacks. The six cylinder cars are great and they all have rear wheel drive. Its a shame that they can have a bit of a naff image these days, you just need to find one that hasn't been messed about with.

Cheers,
JSG.

[Deester]

My Missus has a 1990 520i 6 cylinder. Had it for about 6 months with no problems at all. Keeps up with the best of them on the autobahn.

Excellent motors!

Deester...

[Graham B]

Thought about a 735/740 as a second car but ended up buying an 3.0 MV6 Omega instead. The BM's were seriously tempting as the amount of car and kit you get for the money was amazing.

Ended up with the Omega though as I thought servicing and insurance would be cheaper (the Tvr already costs enough!). Actually as a second car/mile muncher the Omega is hard to beat.

Graham

[CleG]

I had a 525 tdi last year, 105000 not a squeak or rattle .. only prob I found was it was so smooth and quiet it made me want to go asleep on long motorway journeys.

Never had anything wrong just paid for the standard service.

Fantastic car and I will be buying another one from work in the future. I will get the 3-litre diesel next time.

[Cotty]

quote:
A mate runs a J-plate 525i.
6.And fast! I mean come on, I'm not talking Griff 500, of course but for such an old box! The insatiable pull as we hit the m-way and that beautiful six-pot just pulled and pulled and pulled - all the way to just beyond an indicated 140 and all the time the chassis...
7...felt ludicrously composed.

If you like the power of the 525i just imagine how a 325i goes with a lighter shell.

My 1992 325i touring was bought in January 2002 with 54,000 on the clock. I have only put another 3,000 on it as I commute to work via train .

Not a spot of rust, paint is very straight and everything works. I bought it as a long distance cruiser as I kart all over the country and I get out at the end of a day after doing sometimes 3-400 miles with a race in between with no problems. The S1 would have killed me.

When I come to sell im going to get a 325i 2door E30 and turn it into a track car, roll cage and everything. Basically of Sparco makes it its going in, seats, harnesses, s/wheel, cage etc should get the lot done for under £5k

Paul

[williamp]

Anyone NOT had one???

I had an E30 320i SE.

Lovely. I'd still like an Alpina Touring version

(don't ask...)

[raceboy]

I've had 2, an E30 316i, and an E36 320i Coupe. Ideal for learning about rear wheel drive handling

[Big_M]

We sold a H reg 325i convertible to buy the Griffith. Wish we had kept it now as well as buying the TVR. We had a hard top for it as well. Lovely car with only 85,000 miles on the clock.

>> Edited by Big_M on Monday 30th September 20:16

[MikeyT]

quote:
Anyone NOT had one???

Couldn't afford one when younger. Now I can, I don't want one.