8 series

[niq_nak]

my dad wants to get a nice "weekend car" and he was asking me for some suggestions. my 2 suggestions were the e34 m5 and the 850. he really likes the 850 so i was wondering what the deal is with these things, why are they 20 grand? were there engine problems, would the 840 be a better choice? etc. can anyone give me run down on em?

[Jarvis]

840 is underpowered. 8 series are too heavy.
90% of available 850's are auto. It's like $5K+ to get one of those trannies replaced professionally. A lot of them will be needed it at this point, too.

I vote for the M5. Much more satisfying to drive. If your dad is going through a middle-life crisis, I could see why the 8 series would appeal more though. Pimptastic.

[Ryan Stewart]

The 8-series was the first iBus car in existence. Electrical gremlins come with the territory, electrical gremlins that cant simply be solved with some solder and splicetaps.

[bimmerlover]

Ah yeah. I have a thing for the 8 series styling.. I think it's a gorgeous car. The V12 is a nightmare though. It would be a very expensive car to maintain. I'd also have to vote M5.

[bimmerphile]

E34 M5's are a lot of fun to drive. Can't speak from personal experience with the 850, but I've driven a 750. Same v12, and probably the same weight.

My vote: M5.


1 <3 S38

[Jon325i]

My vote goes to the M5. The E34 chassis was a solid platform and has proven to be a performer and very reliable. Having the S38 powerplant will require more maintenance than the M30/M50 powered models, but its an awesome engine that makes incredible power that will give some of the latest sport sedans a serious run for their money (if not clean their clock entirely). Here's a link you can pass on to your dad so he can learn more about them....

http://bmwe34m5.com/faqs/?theme=1&level=2&document_id_select=3

Jon

[KenC]

Weekend car = 82 911 SC Targa

[Jon325i]

Weekend car = 82 911 SC Targa

I have to agree with you there......particularly if having 4 doors and multi-passenger hauling are nowhere on the priority list.

Jon

[niq_nak]

ya my vote also goes for the m5, but my vote doesnt count in the end, he wants the 850 and i dont really have a problem with it cus the 8's are probably my favorite body style of any bimmer not that it really matters cus my dad is droppin the cash on it heh. what kind of electrical gremlins are we talking about, how much money to maintain one of these things driven ~3500 miles year.

[KenC]

Why the hell would he want a touring car for a weekend driver?

[niq_nak]

Why the hell would he want a touring car for a weekend driver?

hes not that worried about driving a car hard or anything. he just wants a good looking car to cruise around in every now and then.

[KenC]

Why the hell would he want a touring car for a weekend driver?

hes not that worried about driving a car hard or anything. he just wants a good looking car to cruise around in every now and then.

My case still stands: P-car >> Bimmer

[Jarvis]

he just wants a good looking car to cruise around in every now and then.

Cheaper than M5s or 850s:

[royalflush313]

Weekend car = 82 911 SC Targa

I have to agree with you there......particularly if having 4 doors and multi-passenger hauling are nowhere on the priority list.

Jon

late 70s, early 80's 911s are the most undesirable to me. If I was to get a 911, it would defenetely be early 70s-73 or the 993s, and maybe the 964. If I didn't have the $$$ for those, i wouldn't buy a porsche, and settle with something else, but that's just me.

niq_nak, on what basis is your dad thinking of getting the 8 series?

Back in the days, when I was a lil kid, my dad had an E34 M5, but he sold it real quick, because he had some issues with the tranny. Something about getting into the 2nd gear. I was too young to know what the problem was - but i was recently chatting with a well-known BMW mechanic about E34 M5s, and he too was mentioning the problems with the trannies (it was over my head, i didn't understand haha). Just some anecdotes for ya, something to do lil bit of research on, if you are going that route.

[Jarvis]

i was recently chatting with a well-known BMW mechanic about E34 M5s, and he too was mentioning the problems with the trannies (it was over my head, i didn't understand haha).

You could always just go all out and find a '93 euro M5. 0.2L and 30hp more, plus a different, and 6spd, tranny.