What’s the best BMW you’ve owned, driven and would like?
Discussion
The best BMW I’ve owned I suppose is the e9 3.0 CSI manual I owned in the late 70s. It was a manual high mileage example but it drove fantastically for a 27 year old me. Maybe I’m looking through rose tinted spectacles but I have fond memories.
The best I’ve driven were those when I worked in the BMW dealer network (1976-1995) and had long term company cars that included the early 633, 635, M535, e34 M5 and many high spec e30 325 cabriolets that were lovely cars.
My lottery winner cars would be an early 70/80s M1 and an e9 CSL. Both would be regularly used locally and on long trips.
The best I’ve driven were those when I worked in the BMW dealer network (1976-1995) and had long term company cars that included the early 633, 635, M535, e34 M5 and many high spec e30 325 cabriolets that were lovely cars.
My lottery winner cars would be an early 70/80s M1 and an e9 CSL. Both would be regularly used locally and on long trips.
Tazar said:
My lottery winner cars would be an early 70/80s M1 and an e9 CSL.
I know of an ex-pat businessman from sarf London that has now lived in California for past 30 odd years, and he's a bit of a BMW fanboy, and has 4 mint condition E9 CSL's in his barn size garage (including the one he owned here in UK and took it with him) along with a mint 2002 Turbo and a handful of other nice BM's.Not driven that many TBH, but I still think my utterly clapped out 207k mile rusty e46 330 Touring 6sp drives really well. That M54 is a peach of an engine, and I think a brand new one of these must have been an incredible all-rounder. Love how my brother’s e36 328 Sport coupe drove too.
Next on the list is an e63 6 series. Probably the 3.0 for reasons of sensibleness. Not driven one yet but lovely place to sit. Just hope there are still a few decent ones around.
Next on the list is an e63 6 series. Probably the 3.0 for reasons of sensibleness. Not driven one yet but lovely place to sit. Just hope there are still a few decent ones around.
rottenegg said:
Would like - Z8 
Having owned a Z8 and used as a daily for a while it's certainly not the best BMW I've owned but I'd have difficulty in nailing the best that I have or still do own, the E46 M3 CSL,Z3 & 4 MC Coupe, OG M2 & New M2 but I also think the 1M is well up there, like to own it would have to be the E20 2002 Turbo or the 'batmobile' 3.0 CSL..
I am going to have to caveat my answer.
Best I have owned with my head - F10 530d
Best I have owned with my heart - E24 635CSi
Best I have driven - E28 M5
The BMW I want now - E24 M635CSi (I'll take mine in Artic Blue with navy houndstooth cloth and the gorgeous split rims fitted to the earliest cars please)
Best I have owned with my head - F10 530d
Best I have owned with my heart - E24 635CSi
Best I have driven - E28 M5
The BMW I want now - E24 M635CSi (I'll take mine in Artic Blue with navy houndstooth cloth and the gorgeous split rims fitted to the earliest cars please)
Good question.
I think the one I'm most fond of was as an 18
Yr old kid. I was thrown the keys to a brand new 1996 316 saloon in bright red with leather seats. I thought I was the utter dogs b
ks. My first car was an '89 Cavalier 2.0 and the BMW just felt a million miles further on.
Since then I've driven and owned a few. When I met my wife she had an E46 318 manual. I swear that era was peak 3 Series. Such an amazing car all round.
I then got a 320d auto in 2015 as a vanilla way of doing work miles A to B and it just did what it said on the tin. Didn't give me any bother. Not exciting, not awful.
Last '3' I bought was an M3 saloon in that pale Yas Marina blue. Really enjoyed it. Not at all the same car as the 320d I mentioned above, despite origins on the same platform. As a tool it was brilliant but not something I could fall in love with, perhaps it was too efficient?
No real interest in the current range. Not a reflection of the 3 per se, more new cars as a whole. Too heavy, too little mechanical interaction, too much focus on gadgets and screens. It's not BMWs faultz it's me. I don't enjoy new cars now.
I think the one I'm most fond of was as an 18
Yr old kid. I was thrown the keys to a brand new 1996 316 saloon in bright red with leather seats. I thought I was the utter dogs b
ks. My first car was an '89 Cavalier 2.0 and the BMW just felt a million miles further on. Since then I've driven and owned a few. When I met my wife she had an E46 318 manual. I swear that era was peak 3 Series. Such an amazing car all round.
I then got a 320d auto in 2015 as a vanilla way of doing work miles A to B and it just did what it said on the tin. Didn't give me any bother. Not exciting, not awful.
Last '3' I bought was an M3 saloon in that pale Yas Marina blue. Really enjoyed it. Not at all the same car as the 320d I mentioned above, despite origins on the same platform. As a tool it was brilliant but not something I could fall in love with, perhaps it was too efficient?
No real interest in the current range. Not a reflection of the 3 per se, more new cars as a whole. Too heavy, too little mechanical interaction, too much focus on gadgets and screens. It's not BMWs faultz it's me. I don't enjoy new cars now.
E30 320i. Loved it but my one was prone to the exhaust falling off on a regular basis. But it got me back and forth from Gatwick to the Cotswolds for a year or so!
E36 Z3 2.8 Roadster with the wheel arches from the Z3M roadster rather than the horrid facelift ones. Lovely until someone drove into the side of me on the magic roundabout in Swindon.
E46 330Ci perfect in everyway other than than the melting front wings( I feel I may have written this before! Literally a perfect car. The perfect combination of sport and comfort.
E85 Z4M Flawed and wonderful because of it. Crazy car with a crazy engine.Still have.
F82 M4 non comp. A crazy thing that doesn't have the poncey black badges but has nicer wheels and again is hugely flawed for its power delivery but is a lovely thing on a day to day basis. I used to commute in it for 4 years and now I drive the long way round to the Londis. Still in love with it.
BEST..... The 330Ci coupe, beautiful machine.
E36 Z3 2.8 Roadster with the wheel arches from the Z3M roadster rather than the horrid facelift ones. Lovely until someone drove into the side of me on the magic roundabout in Swindon.
E46 330Ci perfect in everyway other than than the melting front wings( I feel I may have written this before! Literally a perfect car. The perfect combination of sport and comfort.
E85 Z4M Flawed and wonderful because of it. Crazy car with a crazy engine.Still have.
F82 M4 non comp. A crazy thing that doesn't have the poncey black badges but has nicer wheels and again is hugely flawed for its power delivery but is a lovely thing on a day to day basis. I used to commute in it for 4 years and now I drive the long way round to the Londis. Still in love with it.
BEST..... The 330Ci coupe, beautiful machine.
Edited by a340driver on Wednesday 20th November 22:26
I had an E36 2.5 I-6 from new in 1998 to 2017. Lovely car and engine, but being naturally aspirated low-down torque was not the greatest. My favourite trick was to get up into 5th (top) and let it slow down to tick over. It would pull along at 600rpm vibration free, and you could accelerate (slowly) from there vibration-free also.
I now have an F30 335d since 2017 and that is bigger, more comfortable and great around town or on long trips. It has just passed another MOT today, and I got some decent insurance deals yesterday, so I am in love with driving again!
I am always looking at new cars on line, some faster, some smaller and more practical, but when I get out in mine I think, ‘No, I’ll stick with this’.
I now have an F30 335d since 2017 and that is bigger, more comfortable and great around town or on long trips. It has just passed another MOT today, and I got some decent insurance deals yesterday, so I am in love with driving again!
I am always looking at new cars on line, some faster, some smaller and more practical, but when I get out in mine I think, ‘No, I’ll stick with this’.
I have had 15 BMW's over the last 40 years. Some good, some really awful ( the most modern ones! ). For me the best ones to own and drive have been E34 M5 Touring, E39 540i, E12 M535i and I think the best all rounder was G30 ALPINA B5.
Worst definitely has to be E60 530d (uncomfortable) followed closely by G31 530d (unreliable pile of poo).
I was so fed up with the G31 530d and BMW not honoring the warranty ( over 10,000 euros repairs in the first 4 months! ) I have given up on BMW and unlikely ever to go back.
Worst definitely has to be E60 530d (uncomfortable) followed closely by G31 530d (unreliable pile of poo).
I was so fed up with the G31 530d and BMW not honoring the warranty ( over 10,000 euros repairs in the first 4 months! ) I have given up on BMW and unlikely ever to go back.
Quite a few mentions here for the E46 330i M Sport coupe and I'm going for that one, too. Interestingly, it was the cheapest to buy of the six BMWs I've owned, but it was an absolute peach. Techno Violet, manual, with grey leather. A wonderful thing in every way. I traded it in for a new 520d. WTF!
Jayemm's YouTube video this week of the E46 330 had me scouring the internet for another!
In contrast, my 2018 540 was by a country mile the most unreliable car I've had the misfortune to own in my 35 years of motoring. I'm convinced it was cursed! I've never been so happy to see a car go.
Jayemm's YouTube video this week of the E46 330 had me scouring the internet for another!
In contrast, my 2018 540 was by a country mile the most unreliable car I've had the misfortune to own in my 35 years of motoring. I'm convinced it was cursed! I've never been so happy to see a car go.
I've had 12 over the last 22 years, 3 series through to 7 series from 150hp to 560hp saloons, tourings, coupes and SUVs, SE, M sports and M cars from e chassis through to G chassis.
The best owned: If I could have car one back it would be my old e92 M3 frozen silver edition that was a fabulous car inside and out and what an engine.
The best driven: I suppose in terms of objective measurables it would be my old F80 M3, I had that for 3 years and did 90,000 miles in it, in all weathers and into Europe.
BMW I'd like: a Z8 but the Alpina version with the ZF6 as I think that would suit the car better.
Only got one BMW on the drive at the moment a Z4C that we've had from new that's coming up to its 19th year with us, I took that out yesterday (I don't drive it that often) and I have to say it's a great car that engine is so smooth and responsive and it feels so light compared to more modern machinery at 1350kg.
Previously owned it was this -
2006 Z4 Coupe. 19 inch CSL style rims, coilovers. Absolutely loved this.
Best i've owned though is my current one - 2018 M2 DCT. We'd an M140i before it and the M2 is a level above.
Would like to own - i dont see any point in saying "Z8" or "M1" as thats just not happening, frankly. Real world, i'd like to own a late model E92 M2 DCT. A v8 is an itch i do watch to scratch.
2006 Z4 Coupe. 19 inch CSL style rims, coilovers. Absolutely loved this.
Best i've owned though is my current one - 2018 M2 DCT. We'd an M140i before it and the M2 is a level above.
Would like to own - i dont see any point in saying "Z8" or "M1" as thats just not happening, frankly. Real world, i'd like to own a late model E92 M2 DCT. A v8 is an itch i do watch to scratch.
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