Considering a BMW, advice needed!
Discussion
Hello all!
After having my current car written off in a bump earlier this week, I am looking for a replacement. On my list of possible replacements are both an E30 BMW 325 and 525 of similar era.
Test drove a 525i earlier today. F reg, in good nick, but had done 193,000 miles. Dealer only wanted £395 for it, but I think i'll go for a better example. Still, was lovely to drive, and I can't get the sound of that 2.5 litre straight 6 out of my head.
So I would like some general advice on what to look out for when considering one of these cars. Any help given will be appreciated!
Cheers!
Ian
After having my current car written off in a bump earlier this week, I am looking for a replacement. On my list of possible replacements are both an E30 BMW 325 and 525 of similar era.
Test drove a 525i earlier today. F reg, in good nick, but had done 193,000 miles. Dealer only wanted £395 for it, but I think i'll go for a better example. Still, was lovely to drive, and I can't get the sound of that 2.5 litre straight 6 out of my head.
So I would like some general advice on what to look out for when considering one of these cars. Any help given will be appreciated!
Cheers!
Ian
I'd go for the 3 personally since I don't need a car the size of a 5 series. You should also get better performance out of the 3 since it's lighter. The 5 is less likely to have been thrashed however.
Basically mate, I'd say whichever you find first and is a nice example - buy that one!
Basically mate, I'd say whichever you find first and is a nice example - buy that one!
I have had a few of each really. They are different but both good.
My best example of the E30 was a 325i touring, it was unbreakable. However, my favourite between E30 and E34 is the E34 model, especially the 24v model which came in on a J reg I think.
Mileage isn't generally a problem. The 24v is a chain driven engine that rarely presents itself with problems, suspension bushes can be a pain in the arse but other than that they are still one of my favourite cars, you simply can't break them, but just check they have been serviced correctly.
My best example of the E30 was a 325i touring, it was unbreakable. However, my favourite between E30 and E34 is the E34 model, especially the 24v model which came in on a J reg I think.
Mileage isn't generally a problem. The 24v is a chain driven engine that rarely presents itself with problems, suspension bushes can be a pain in the arse but other than that they are still one of my favourite cars, you simply can't break them, but just check they have been serviced correctly.
I'm not too clued up on BMW's, so you'll have to bear with me if I seem to be asking stupid questions.
Why shouldn't I get one in an E34 with an auto box?
And how can I tell whats gonna be a 24V and whats not? When did they change?
And can someone please give me a definitive list of versions of the various BMW models. I have a habit of getting the 'E' numbers mixed up, so would like to know once and for all which is which and when the various different models came out.
Why shouldn't I get one in an E34 with an auto box?
And how can I tell whats gonna be a 24V and whats not? When did they change?
And can someone please give me a definitive list of versions of the various BMW models. I have a habit of getting the 'E' numbers mixed up, so would like to know once and for all which is which and when the various different models came out.
E30 is the 3 series 1983 - 1992 ish Prior to that it was the E21 3 series
E34 is the 5 series 1983 - 1996 - Prior to that it was the E28 5 series
24V engine is identifiable by a larger black cam cover which looks very neat and with "BMW" in silver letters on cover. The 12v Engine is smaller to look at as it is a single cam, and doesn't have any black covering.....You can also see everything as it isn't all covered up. The older 12v's are bombproof as well.
You will only find the 12v engine in the E30 3 Series. They didn't fit a 24v as standard.
Why not an auto?? Well, probably as they aren't that fast, but I have had 2 525i 24v auto's which were very smooth and pretty relaxing to drive but not a tarmac scorcher. The manuals however are pretty lively. Personally I prefer the manuals.
Hope that helps a bit.
E34 is the 5 series 1983 - 1996 - Prior to that it was the E28 5 series
24V engine is identifiable by a larger black cam cover which looks very neat and with "BMW" in silver letters on cover. The 12v Engine is smaller to look at as it is a single cam, and doesn't have any black covering.....You can also see everything as it isn't all covered up. The older 12v's are bombproof as well.
You will only find the 12v engine in the E30 3 Series. They didn't fit a 24v as standard.
Why not an auto?? Well, probably as they aren't that fast, but I have had 2 525i 24v auto's which were very smooth and pretty relaxing to drive but not a tarmac scorcher. The manuals however are pretty lively. Personally I prefer the manuals.
Hope that helps a bit.
silverback mike said:
E30 is the 3 series 1983 - 1992 ish Prior to that it was the E21 3 series
E34 is the 5 series 1983 - 1996 - Prior to that it was the E28 5 series
24V engine is identifiable by a larger black cam cover which looks very neat and with "BMW" in silver letters on cover. The 12v Engine is smaller to look at as it is a single cam, and doesn't have any black covering.....You can also see everything as it isn't all covered up. The older 12v's are bombproof as well.
You will only find the 12v engine in the E30 3 Series. They didn't fit a 24v as standard.
Why not an auto?? Well, probably as they aren't that fast, but I have had 2 525i 24v auto's which were very smooth and pretty relaxing to drive but not a tarmac scorcher. The manuals however are pretty lively. Personally I prefer the manuals.
Hope that helps a bit.
Ta! Much appreciated!
Could you possible give me the 'E' numbers for the models that came after that, right upto the lastest ones?
Now you're testing me..... Taken directly from the great Wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW#Seri
Series Generations
Internally, BMW associates an "e-code" for each generation of a series ("E" stands for Entwicklung, German for development or evolution). These "chassis codes" only change to signify a major redesign of a series, or the introduction of a new series. Motor Trend reported in April of 2006 that BMW will switch to the letter "F" for their future models, beginning with the F10 5 Series replacement.
* BMW E3 — (1968–1977) 2.5, 2.8, 3.0, 3.3 "New Six" sedans
* BMW E9 — (1969–1975) 2800CS, 3.0CS, 3.0CSL "New Six" coupés
* BMW E12 — (1972–1981) 5 Series
* BMW E21 — (1975–1983) 3 Series
* BMW E23 — (1977–1986) 7 Series
* BMW E24 — (1976–1989) 6 Series
* BMW E26 — (1978–1981) M1
* BMW E28 — (1981–1988) 5 Series
* BMW E30 — (1982–1991) 3 Series
* BMW E31 — (1990–1999) 8 Series
* BMW E32 — (1986–1994) 7 Series
That's mine!
* BMW E34 — (1988–1995) 5 Series
* BMW E36 — (1991–1999) 3 Series/Z3 (as E36/7) (1999 model as M3 only)
* BMW E36/5 — (1995–1998) 3 Series Compact (US market known as "318ti"
* BMW E38 — (1994–2001) 7 Series
* BMW E39 — (1996–2003) 5 Series
* BMW E46/5 — (2000–2004) 3 Series Compact
* BMW E46/4 — (1998–2005) 3 Series Sedan
* BMW E46/3 — (1999–2005) 3 Series Touring/Sports Wagon
* BMW E46/2 — (1999–2006) 3 Series Coupe
* BMW E46/C — (1999–2006) 3 Series Convertible
* BMW E52 — (2000–2004) Z8
* BMW E53 — (2000–present) X5
* BMW E60 — (2004–present) 5 Series
* BMW E61 — (2004–present) 5 Series Touring/Sports Wagon
* BMW E63 — (2004–present) 6 Series coupe
* BMW E64 — (2004–present) 6 Series convertible
* BMW E65 — (2002–present) 7 Series short wheelbase
* BMW E66 — (2002–present) 7 Series long wheelbase
* BMW E70 — future X5
* BMW E83 — (2004–present) X3
* BMW E85 — (2003–present) Z4
* BMW E86 - (2006-present) Z4 Coupe
* BMW E87 — (2004–present) 1 Series
* BMW E90 — (2005–present) 3 Series
* BMW E91 — (2005–present) 3 Series Touring/Sports Wagon
* BMW E92 — (2006–present) 3 Series Coupe
* BMW E93 — (2007-present) 3 Series Convertible
* BMW F10 — (2009) 5 Series
* BMW F01 — (2009) 7 Series
* BMW F02 — (2009) 7 Series long wheelbase
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW#Seri
Series Generations
Internally, BMW associates an "e-code" for each generation of a series ("E" stands for Entwicklung, German for development or evolution). These "chassis codes" only change to signify a major redesign of a series, or the introduction of a new series. Motor Trend reported in April of 2006 that BMW will switch to the letter "F" for their future models, beginning with the F10 5 Series replacement.
* BMW E3 — (1968–1977) 2.5, 2.8, 3.0, 3.3 "New Six" sedans
* BMW E9 — (1969–1975) 2800CS, 3.0CS, 3.0CSL "New Six" coupés
* BMW E12 — (1972–1981) 5 Series
* BMW E21 — (1975–1983) 3 Series
* BMW E23 — (1977–1986) 7 Series
* BMW E24 — (1976–1989) 6 Series
* BMW E26 — (1978–1981) M1
* BMW E28 — (1981–1988) 5 Series
* BMW E30 — (1982–1991) 3 Series
* BMW E31 — (1990–1999) 8 Series
* BMW E32 — (1986–1994) 7 Series
That's mine! * BMW E34 — (1988–1995) 5 Series
* BMW E36 — (1991–1999) 3 Series/Z3 (as E36/7) (1999 model as M3 only)
* BMW E36/5 — (1995–1998) 3 Series Compact (US market known as "318ti"
* BMW E38 — (1994–2001) 7 Series
* BMW E39 — (1996–2003) 5 Series
* BMW E46/5 — (2000–2004) 3 Series Compact
* BMW E46/4 — (1998–2005) 3 Series Sedan
* BMW E46/3 — (1999–2005) 3 Series Touring/Sports Wagon
* BMW E46/2 — (1999–2006) 3 Series Coupe
* BMW E46/C — (1999–2006) 3 Series Convertible
* BMW E52 — (2000–2004) Z8
* BMW E53 — (2000–present) X5
* BMW E60 — (2004–present) 5 Series
* BMW E61 — (2004–present) 5 Series Touring/Sports Wagon
* BMW E63 — (2004–present) 6 Series coupe
* BMW E64 — (2004–present) 6 Series convertible
* BMW E65 — (2002–present) 7 Series short wheelbase
* BMW E66 — (2002–present) 7 Series long wheelbase
* BMW E70 — future X5
* BMW E83 — (2004–present) X3
* BMW E85 — (2003–present) Z4
* BMW E86 - (2006-present) Z4 Coupe
* BMW E87 — (2004–present) 1 Series
* BMW E90 — (2005–present) 3 Series
* BMW E91 — (2005–present) 3 Series Touring/Sports Wagon
* BMW E92 — (2006–present) 3 Series Coupe
* BMW E93 — (2007-present) 3 Series Convertible
* BMW F10 — (2009) 5 Series
* BMW F01 — (2009) 7 Series
* BMW F02 — (2009) 7 Series long wheelbase
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