BMW, eh?? What is the appeal of a BMW???

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: RichUK
I have driven the E46 M3 (well three, one with SMG) and this can be revved all the way upto 9,000rpm +. I was able to do 110Mph in third gear with three more gears to go. I wonder whether this engine design would be able to peak that high.

That's interesting, because the M3 has an 8k rpm redline.

huh, no it doesn?t i used to be a technician for BMW. And if you keep your foot down it will carry on to rev.

 

[V00DOO]

Originally posted by: Dunbar

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
So what's the deal w/ BMW's?? (BTW, they also have a '98 528i which I didn't much like either, but apparently they liked it enough to buy another one)...And in case anyone's wondering what *I* would do w/ $30K, I just wonder why they wouldn't buy a V-6 Camry or Accord?!

I think it depends on whether you view a car as a means to get from point A to point B, or as something to have fun in. The 5 series in particular manages to be fun-to-drive while maintaining a smooth ride and low levels of NVH. I've also driven the 330 and it's one heck of a complete drivers car. I own an '03 Accord V6 and, while it's a good car, it's no BMW.

Exactly, if you're looking for something nice to get from Point A to B then the Camry or the Accord is a nice choice, but if you enjoy driving I like do then a BMW 540 is a better choice. I must the admit the ride quality is a little rough on the 540 especially with a Sport Suspension. For the record, I just test drove a brand new Lexus ES350 which my cousin bought for his 60 year mother. Although the ride is very nice and comfortable it just too boring my taste. I love driving my E39 6 speed 540I. I used to own Carmy and Accord and they are not in the same league as a BMW especially a E39 540. Here is a thread from the BMW Roadfly forum member who wrote after he sold his 540. It read like his just lost a family member. It's titled "A sad day, sold my 2000 540/6":

After moving to Salt Lake City and buying a bigger, more expensive home, something had to give. A good friend's wife wanted to buy my 540 so she could have a 6 speed, and so they are now happy campers. The only problem so far is that the wife got a ticket within 24 hours of getting the car. I had to educate them about driving school.

That car was the most exciting car I have owned out of almost 70 cars. While it had several odd issues, it never let me down, was FAST, and even got great fuel milage. The E39 is truly one of the most beautiful sedans available, and I will miss it. It made me smile every time I looked at it in the driveway.

I will be flogging a very nice 1991 Audi 200 Turbo Quatrro that has been heavily modified (330 hp out of a 2.2 motor!)and has only 89k miles. Probably a better car here in the winter, but not in the same class as the E39 for every thing else.::::

 

[redgtxdi]

Originally posted by: sniperruff


well, how old are you?

Old enough to have ridden in a half-dozen 80's Mercedes, BMW's & Porsches to know that the BMW interior felt almost (obviously things have moved forward but just nothing like comparing an '88 Jap car to a '98 Jap car) the same now as they did then.

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: redgtxdi

And in case anyone's wondering what *I* would do w/ $30K, I just wonder why they wouldn't buy a V-6 Camry or Accord?!

Hand over your mancard STAT.

Go test drive the new '07 Camry in the V-6 with the standard 6spd auto puttin' down about 268hp in a 3,500lb vehicle with a *beyond* 2007 interior, nearly dead-silent cabin and all the while gettin' 22mpg street & 30mpg highway.............STAT!

 

[Apex]

BMW's are good middle-of-the-road vehicles. They're competent across the board, excel at nothing.

 

[MX2]

I'm with you OP. BMW's don't tickle me at all in my finer places

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: paulney

Originally posted by: Ilmater
Someone tell me what a BMW 3-series has over an Acura TL?

RWD
Handling
Response
Agility

I have both cars, and TL is no match for 3-series in ride
Comfort? Yes
Gadgets? Yes
Fun driving? Hell no

You forgot high repair costs
Ugly Bangle-Design
i-Drive (pure evil)
Did I mention they are expensive to maintain?

 

[boyRacer]

///M stands for money for those heavy ass german muscle cars

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: RichUK
I have driven the E46 M3 (well three, one with SMG) and this can be revved all the way upto 9,000rpm +. I was able to do 110Mph in third gear with three more gears to go. I wonder whether this engine design would be able to peak that high.

That's interesting, because the M3 has an 8k rpm redline.

huh, no it doesn?t i used to be a technician for BMW. And if you keep your foot down it will carry on to rev.

Rich, seriously, it doesn't m8. 8k, end of.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: RichUK
I have driven the E46 M3 (well three, one with SMG) and this can be revved all the way upto 9,000rpm +. I was able to do 110Mph in third gear with three more gears to go. I wonder whether this engine design would be able to peak that high.

That's interesting, because the M3 has an 8k rpm redline.

huh, no it doesn?t i used to be a technician for BMW. And if you keep your foot down it will carry on to rev.

Rich, seriously, it doesn't m8. 8k, end of.

Ok honestly, once the engine had warmed up and the orange and red max rpm indication lights had turned off. I was able to hit around 9,000RPM flat out. Unless I am disillusioned by my memory, this I am certain of hitting.

What makes you think that it has a limit, of 8,000rpm, even if this is what has been stated on paper. Lol I used to test drive the damn things after working on them.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: RichUK
I have driven the E46 M3 (well three, one with SMG) and this can be revved all the way upto 9,000rpm +. I was able to do 110Mph in third gear with three more gears to go. I wonder whether this engine design would be able to peak that high.

That's interesting, because the M3 has an 8k rpm redline.

huh, no it doesn?t i used to be a technician for BMW. And if you keep your foot down it will carry on to rev.

Rich, seriously, it doesn't m8. 8k, end of.

Ok honestly, once the engine had warmed up and the orange and red max rpm indication lights had turned off. I was able to hit around 9,000RPM flat out. Unless I am disillusioned by my memory, this I am certain of hitting.

What makes you think that it has a limit, of 8,000rpm, even if this is what has been stated on paper. Lol I used to test drive the damn things after working on them.

I have one.

 

[DivideBYZero]

PS, the red light never goes out.

 

[nageov3t]

maybe it's just a jersey thing, but every time I see a BMW, the driver behind the wheel totally sucks at driving.

I mean, they're bad even amongst all the other bad jersey drivers

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav
$30K? There are tons of nice cars buyable at that price.

Doubt it. BMW's are amazing cars, and I'd sure as hell take one over a Camry or ACcord any day.

brand new cars w/ decent power/fun/handling (some combo of the 3):

nissan maxima, audi A3/4, mustang GT, charger RT, 350z, s2k, acuras (i dont know acura's lineup, really), GTO

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: RichUK
I have driven the E46 M3 (well three, one with SMG) and this can be revved all the way upto 9,000rpm +. I was able to do 110Mph in third gear with three more gears to go. I wonder whether this engine design would be able to peak that high.

That's interesting, because the M3 has an 8k rpm redline.

huh, no it doesn?t i used to be a technician for BMW. And if you keep your foot down it will carry on to rev.

Rich, seriously, it doesn't m8. 8k, end of.

Ok honestly, once the engine had warmed up and the orange and red max rpm indication lights had turned off. I was able to hit around 9,000RPM flat out. Unless I am disillusioned by my memory, this I am certain of hitting.

What makes you think that it has a limit, of 8,000rpm, even if this is what has been stated on paper. Lol I used to test drive the damn things after working on them.

I have one.

Have you ever taken it to the limiter and held it there (being as you own the car i dont know whether you would have)?

I used to be a Technician for Dick Lovett?s BMW in Swindon, about 4 years ago. I had driven all the latest BMW'a as you would when working on them. And i still stick by my memories. I hit this whilst in second gear IIRC.

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
PS, the red light never goes out.

That i couldn't remember, either way.

 

[TheSlamma]

You get the right to not use your turn signal when you get one.. plus you can drive like a complete moron.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: RichUK
I have driven the E46 M3 (well three, one with SMG) and this can be revved all the way upto 9,000rpm +. I was able to do 110Mph in third gear with three more gears to go. I wonder whether this engine design would be able to peak that high.

That's interesting, because the M3 has an 8k rpm redline.

huh, no it doesn?t i used to be a technician for BMW. And if you keep your foot down it will carry on to rev.

Rich, seriously, it doesn't m8. 8k, end of.

Ok honestly, once the engine had warmed up and the orange and red max rpm indication lights had turned off. I was able to hit around 9,000RPM flat out. Unless I am disillusioned by my memory, this I am certain of hitting.

What makes you think that it has a limit, of 8,000rpm, even if this is what has been stated on paper. Lol I used to test drive the damn things after working on them.

I have one.

Have you ever taken it to the limiter and held it there (being as you own the car i dont know whether you would have)?

I used to be a Technician for Dick Lovett?s BMW in Swindon, about 4 years ago. I had driven all the latest BMW'a as you would when working on them. And i still stick by my memories. I hit this whilst in second gear IIRC.

Does your engine have the

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
PS, the red light never goes out.

That i couldn't remember, either way.

Does my engine have the ...what?

I've bounced off the limiter many a time. It really doesn't go to 9k, and if it did, the limiter has already bounced you for 0.5 of a second negating any power you might get from holding it for another 1k rpm. I can only suggest that it was needle inertia that made it show 9k. They get through the second cog pretty fast...

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Does my engine have the ...what?

I've bounced off the limiter many a time. It really doesn't go to 9k, and if it did, the limiter has already bounced you for 0.5 of a second negating any power you might get from holding it for another 1k rpm. I can only suggest that it was needle inertia that made it show 9k. They get through the second cog pretty fast...

I didnt mean to put that "Does your engine have the". I was going to finish that off by mentioning the double vanos, but that only varied on the S52 engine which was in the E36 M3. I think it was the M3 GT (or something like that), which had the 321BHP 3.2 double vanos engine, over the normal which IIRC was only 280Bhp. Anyway......

Anyway I was thinking down the wrong lines.

Maybe my memory is disillusioned, but I am sure of it. Ohh well.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Does my engine have the ...what?

I've bounced off the limiter many a time. It really doesn't go to 9k, and if it did, the limiter has already bounced you for 0.5 of a second negating any power you might get from holding it for another 1k rpm. I can only suggest that it was needle inertia that made it show 9k. They get through the second cog pretty fast...

I didnt mean to put that "Does your engine have the". I was going to finish that off by mentioning the double vanos, but that only varied on the S52 engine which was in the E36 M3. I think it was the M3 GT (or something like that), which had the 321BHP 3.2 double vanos engine, over the normal which IIRC was only 280Bhp. Anyway......

Anyway I was thinking down the wrong lines.

Maybe my memory is disillusioned, but I am sure of it. Ohh well.

I have the S54, e46 coupé. 343hp.

 

[elmro]

For most guys I know, they choose BMW because it gives a lot of 22 year old girls the illusion that you are rolling in cash.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
PS, the red light never goes out.

I am not sure when they implemented that, but I now for sure that is how it works and it is based off of oil temperature. Even the Z4 has that now.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Does my engine have the ...what?

I've bounced off the limiter many a time. It really doesn't go to 9k, and if it did, the limiter has already bounced you for 0.5 of a second negating any power you might get from holding it for another 1k rpm. I can only suggest that it was needle inertia that made it show 9k. They get through the second cog pretty fast...

I didnt mean to put that "Does your engine have the". I was going to finish that off by mentioning the double vanos, but that only varied on the S52 engine which was in the E36 M3. I think it was the M3 GT (or something like that), which had the 321BHP 3.2 double vanos engine, over the normal which IIRC was only 280Bhp. Anyway......

Anyway I was thinking down the wrong lines.

Maybe my memory is disillusioned, but I am sure of it. Ohh well.

I have the S54, e46 coupé. 343hp.

Well you have my most favourite car of all time. I always thought that they sounded a bit tin canny when pushed hard, but i was told that the exhaust was designed like that due to its motorsport heritage.

Do you have the 18inch wheels or 19inch wheel package installed. I couldn?t stand them using the 18inch wheels. Even though I believe they still had the same rolling radius, from a design standpoint, it looked a hell of a lot better but that is just my opinion.

Ohh and it had to be in Estoril blue with black leather trim my fav colour.

I was told at the BMW centre for development (in Bracknell) that even though the cars are limited to 155Mph, they are geared up to do 197Mph. Now that is amazing IMO. One of the reasons I love the build of the car.

EDIT: In my previous post i mentioned the E36 M3 GT, I remember it was called the Evolution not GT.

 

[DivideBYZero]

It's on the factory 19's and it's PY (not everyones choice, but I love it) over black, all options except folding mirrors and electric rear blind. I used to live not far from BMW UK and my ex worked there for a short time.

 

[pravi333]

there is no explaining something for which you cant get a feel for. If you dont feel its worth its salt then it is not. If you're happy driving a GMC Geo, then the Geo is the best car money can buy.
Now coming to my personal opinion, i own a 3series & the feed back i get from the steering wheel, i havent gotten that in any off the vehicle i have driven under 40k. Ofcourse theres lot off cars out there that can beat a 3series in a straight line but just a handfull when it comes to daily driving. I feel my next upgrade will be an 911 carrera which is in my opinion will give me a better driving feel than the BMW's

 

[Legend]

I wouldn't compare BMW to Accord/Camry. Completely different cars. One is appealing to luxury/performance, the other to reliability/fuel economy.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Just thinkin' outloud. My sister & her hubby picked up a 2003 540i. Nice, low miles, etc. etc. I don't necessarily like the dash layout, but maybe the 2004-up (Bangle versions) would suit me better. Yet, I still felt it was a bit noisy in comparison to today's Japanese cars. (Especially Lexus).

But I went ahead & took it for a romp. Yes, it was fun. That V-8 takes that 5-series & kicks it in the arse, for sure! But, I still felt like I was in a 1980's German luxury car. Hard black leather throughout. Black dash. Red gauges, etc. It just felt like I was in something a generation behind. (Aside from the powerplant & trans. The trans shifted quickly & responsively like a 21st century auto....that part was good).

So what's the deal w/ BMW's?? (BTW, they also have a '98 528i which I didn't much like either, but apparently they liked it enough to buy another one).

And in case anyone's wondering what *I* would do w/ $30K, I just wonder why they wouldn't buy a V-6 Camry or Accord?!

than you would hate the bmw 7xx series