Let's talk BMW's

[45ACP]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: d00df00d

There is only one naturally aspirated 3.0L non-M inline-6 that makes 255 hp.

(the N52B30 in the 2006 330i)

And in the 2006-2007 530i.



ZHP? "The best E46?" That model?

 

[Quattro Pete]

No. IIRC, the ZHP package was offered with the M54 engine, but not N52. ZHP had 235 hp.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Originally Posted By: 45ACP

S52US of the last of the E36 series? Please, be clear. There were several S50 and S52 variants (m52?), including some years that the US version had more HP than the Euro of the same year (S52US?) Its been awhile. BMW had the 333HP 3.2L I6 in the early 2000s M3, but that was an E46 not E36.


Neither the S50B30US (240; '95) nor the S52B32US (240; '96-99) ever had more horsepower than the "Euro" S50B30 (286) or S50B32 (321) used in the E36.

After the furor over not getting the "real" M engine in the E36, BMW put the S54B32 into the U.S. E46 M3, with the attendant rise in price.

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

And in the 2006-2007 530i.


As well as the E85/86 Z4 and later E83 X3. Despite the miniscule numbers sold, I still hope one day to get my hands on an E86.

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
No. IIRC, the ZHP package was offered with the M54 engine, but not N52. ZHP had 235 hp.


Correct.

 

[Norm Olt]

[/quote]

Buyers soon realized that Acura Legends did nearly everything as well as a Sterling 825 and just bought those. The Sterling was allegedly sprung a little firmer with sportier damping. Most drivers wouldn't notice that though. The Acura had arguably a better luxury car interior than the Audi 5000 or Volvo 700 series.

[/quote]

Actually bought a new '86 Legend with the 5-speed manual transmission. Had a friend who bought a Sterling 825. Couldn't believe all the additional features his car had.

When his w/s washer warning light came on (out of warranty, of course) he found that the Sterling had heated jets and, as I recall, two electric pumps. It was shaped quite differently than the one in the Legend as well, what with all the other stuff crammed in under the hood.

As I recall it was about $350+ shipping and a 6-week wait to get one from Jolly Old England! Plus installation...

He dumped his a year later. I sold mine at 138K to a friend who drove it for another 5 years about a hundred miles round trip a day to work. He traded it in on a used RL and drove that one into the ground as well.

Cheers!

p.s. The Sterling did have a beautiful tan leather interior: ours was the standard cloth. In '86 I don't think leather was even available (but I could be wrong)...

 

[Vikas]

Let me bring the discussion back to BMW.

Recently, we (my son and I) saw a late model BMW from behind. It looked like a 7-series but once we got closer to it, we realized it was one of the 3-series 2-door. It looked beautiful. It was NOT an M3 either. Usually, I am not crazy about the 3-series but that car definitely looked nice. My son, who is NOT in to cars, noticed and commented.

Which generation was it?

- Vikas

 

[Hokiefyd]

Might have been the newest one. I love BMW's newest generation vehicles. Both the 3 and 5 look stunning to me.

 

[InvalidUserID]

I'm hoping my next car is a 335i coupe. I've always wanted a twin turbo car and the styling looks great.

HPFP is scaring me and got to make sure I find one with an oil cooler. Logic is saying no, everything else is saying "DO IT!". Haha.

 

[OVERKILL]

Going to look at an older 328i this weekend...... Wife wants another car.

And here I thought I was safe getting rid of the Focus.

ARG!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Let me bring the discussion back to BMW.

Recently, we (my son and I) saw a late model BMW from behind. It looked like a 7-series but once we got closer to it, we realized it was one of the 3-series 2-door. It looked beautiful. It was NOT an M3 either. Usually, I am not crazy about the 3-series but that car definitely looked nice. My son, who is NOT in to cars, noticed and commented.

Which generation was it?

- Vikas

Did it look like this?

If so, that's E92.

 

[Vikas]

Could have been but my recollection is that it looked liked a pre-bangled 7-series from the back.

The one in photo does not look as good as in my memory. It is possible that the photo angle in this picture is somewhat unflattering.

 

[VicVinegar]

The new F30 rear kinda looks like a 7-series to me. I haven't seen one on the street though, nor do I know if they are even available for delivery yet. You can build one on BMW's site though.

Edit: Nevermind, just noticed you said it was a coupe. You definitely didn't see an F30 coupe.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: InvalidUserID
I'm hoping my next car is a 335i coupe. I've always wanted a twin turbo car and the styling looks great.

HPFP is scaring me and got to make sure I find one with an oil cooler. Logic is saying no, everything else is saying "DO IT!". Haha.


My friends inside and outside BMW NA believe that the latest iteration of the HPFP has solved the problem- although in any event the HPFP still has a 10 year/120,000 mile extended warranty. You definitely want the oil cooler. Dinan sells an excellent unit but it is expensive. Speaking of Dinan, my dealer had a 335i coupe mit slushbox fitted with the Dinan intake and ECU flash. It would chirp the tires on the 3-4 upshift.
At 110 mph.

 

[InvalidUserID]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: InvalidUserID
I'm hoping my next car is a 335i coupe. I've always wanted a twin turbo car and the styling looks great.

HPFP is scaring me and got to make sure I find one with an oil cooler. Logic is saying no, everything else is saying "DO IT!". Haha.


My friends inside and outside BMW NA believe that the latest iteration of the HPFP has solved the problem- although in any event the HPFP still has a 10 year/120,000 mile extended warranty. You definitely want the oil cooler. Dinan sells an excellent unit but it is expensive. Speaking of Dinan, my dealer had a 335i coupe mit slushbox fitted with the Dinan intake and ECU flash. It would chirp the tires on the 3-4 upshift.
At 110 mph.


That's good news and I'm glad to hear it. So I'll have to ask, when shopping, "does this have a newer replaced HPFP?".

I've only scratched the surface in researching them, but is the factory oil cooler decent or should I be planning on a Dinan one if I plan on taking it to the track?

 

[rjundi]

BMW's are tough cars....

A pursued unlicensed 16 yr old in his mum's 2009 7 series hit our stonewall at estimated 70MPH went airborne about 20' over lawn (no tracks in snow), then ripped out two bushes, and through a 3' high blockwall and house wall finally stopped him halfway into my closed garage.

Kid was fine.....

 

[Audios]

I too shudder to think about how these cars will hold up. As a shop owner, I try to inform people of what types of issues can plague the cars, mostly electrical, but theres some big ones. Besides the HPFP, wastegates on the twin turbos fail=front subframe comes out. If theyre not blown from overboost, they can be repaired. Great power, but will come at a price, especially the chipped ones.

 

[VicVinegar]

In general, and with the usual caveat of "with proper maintenance", are the naturally aspirated BMWs a pretty good bet as far as longevity and reliability?

For a long time I've toyed with the idea of getting a 330 ZHP or a newer 328 sport package as a "weekend" car. My commute is just too long to subject a nice vehicle to it. Not to mention the condition of some of the local highways I take every day. I-495 in Virginia looks like a warzone some days, terrible pavement complete with debris from the construction projects in the road.

I won't mention what other car I've considered to avoid starting a this vs. that war. Just seeking some feedback on the 330/328s.

 

[MCompact]

The E46 3ers(especially the later cars) have very durable mechanicals. Keep an eye on the cooling system and suspension and you should be good. Window regulators can also be an issue. That said, maintain the car by the book -and change the oil twice as often as the SI system calls for- and you will easily make it to 200,000 miles. My wife's 2004 X3 has essentially the same running gear and over 130,000 miles I've only replaced the pads/rotors and the serpentine belts. And one tail lamp bulb.

 

[45ACP]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Could have been but my recollection is that it looked liked a pre-bangled 7-series from the back.

The one in photo does not look as good as in my memory. It is possible that the photo angle in this picture is somewhat unflattering.


I am too sharp with these BMWs! 2-door 650i.

"Its like a big V8 M3." And yea i know the last M3 was a V8

 

[45ACP]

EDIT: Also please note.. i too saw two new 3-series one behind the other the other day. i suspect one was an E90 and the one in front of it maybe an "F30." The one that was in front had the taillights that had the look EXACTLY like this, with the taillights on the side up from the ones on the trunk, as in the black vehicle that says "335i" here F30 taillights and news while the one behind it had taillights that did NOT notch up on the body up from the trunk, rather continued the line. I minorly preferred the ones that kept the line. Let me see if i can find a photo example...

"Notched up" lights:

2.

"Straight across" lights:

The older they are, the better they look. The new ones look "ok" but i can buy about 5 older ones, depending, for what new costs.

 

[wander2039]

Speaking of BMW's there's a station wagon around the corner from us... so sexy. They're asking $7k not sure on miles/condition, outside looks well cared for.