R3V: Which Modern BMW (or Similar) to Daily?

[2mAn]

i used to be a "manual only" fan boy, now I love just being able to coast around and relax in an auto

the only thing I wish I could change is how lazy the auto is sometimes, they adapt to your driving style and if you're heavy footed then when you go to drive light footed the car doesn't go anywhere and you have to bury the pedal.. You basically have to give it some shit before you intend on giving it some shit.

You also cant flatten it turning and it wont kick down mid corner. even with the DSC off. Stupid but safer I suppose.

this.

regardless of what you choose, sitting in traffic with a manual will get old. I was opposed to an auto for my whole life, but now when I get stuck in 405 traffic I just roll the windows down and turn the stereo up. #LAlife

I chose a 2008 C350 because it has plenty of power, looks great and Im not (really) tempted to modify it. Its fairly "old" where it doesnt try to do too many things for me. I might get a Renntech chip to fix some of the laziness MB has programmed in the 7speed, and maybe someday KW V1s, but thats it. This allows me to dump more money into the fun car. Having two modified cars is asking for two cars to be down and looking for a ride. Same feeling with two manual cars.

Time to adult Sina

[freeride53]

Update - it seems I forgot about R3V momentarily, and this thread that I started.

- Sat in, drove an E92 335i. Liked the driving position. Liked it a lot.
- Checking out an E46 M3 with coveted Cinnamon interior today or tomorrow
- Checking out an E39 530i M-sport this weekend in the Bay Area.

I really do like the E46 ZHP, but cannot seem to find one that I deem reasonably priced.

Will report back. :)

[E30 Wagen]

True it's hard to find one in good condition, same for e46s it seems. But if you can find a clean example of either you will be spending less than $5000 and you're still getting a lot of car for the money

[nando]

No e36 love? I'm really happy with my daily e36 328i that I found in good condition with the sport package. They're almost "classic" by now but are a significant step up from e30s in every way except they feel heavier, but that's just my opinion. I'm averaging 27mpg and the power and torque are more than adequate for daily use. Put the difference toward your student loans.

Most E36's are pretty beat by now. THe E46 & E90 are also faster, more comfortable, have better interiors, and get better fuel economy. People seem to want way too much for beat to shit E36 318i automatics around here - while you can pick up a E46 or E90 330i or 328i for $10k all day long that still drives like a new car.

[jeff_b]

Although I daily drive my 1990 325i S50 car, my wife's 2007 328xi with the autotragic is what we jump in for road trips. Very quiet, comfortable and enough giddyup to get where we're going. Solid and reliable. Not bad looking either.

[E30 Wagen]

No e36 love? I'm really happy with my daily e36 328i that I found in good condition with the sport package. They're almost "classic" by now but are a significant step up from e30s in every way except they feel heavier, but that's just my opinion. I'm averaging 27mpg and the power and torque are more than adequate for daily use. Put the difference toward your student loans.

[dereliiict]

I daily my e90 m3. Tons of fun and I drive hundreds of miles a week.

As stated before, I wouldn't go any bigger than the e90. It feels so large, but the m3 is incredibly nimble. Actually handles somewhat vaguely similar to my e30. By that, I mean you can tell that they came from the same school of thought.

That said, my brother dailys a tuned e92 335i, same job. He loves it. Both of our cars have been dead reliable, but then they were meant to be driven. Hard. And that's what they get.

[doorman]

I hear you. Also, paging Swanny...



Nah... I'm in an E39 now and I love it. Mechanically it's been phenomenal (M54B30) - due in no small part to me staying on top of the preventive maintenance - but it's starting to show its age: the door handles are fading and the felt is beginning to separate from the A- and C-pillars as well as above the sun visors.

Coming from that, an E90 is too small - especially if you want to carry adults in the back seat or put a set of golf clubs in the trunk.

In comparison to the E30 the E39 is pretty big......I still love it though!!
Windshield gasket (replaced), wiper arms (soon, maybe), are my big "fade" areas. Being garage kept since new my interior is in real good shape. All pixels still work!

The wife occasionally sits in the back seat of her car when her dad goes somewhere with us. She's about 5'5-5'7 and she never complains. Ours has the split fold down seats so extra big stuff (collapsible banquet tables) haven't been an issue.

[BlackbirdM3]

Define "Modern" by my definition you already have modern. I'm really looking forward to daily driving my '59 Alfa Sprint.

I hear the ZHPs are decent cars, M3s without the S54 essentially. I just worry about all the electronic stuff on anything made after the E30. Big turn off to me.

Will

[flyboyx]

my vote:

135i there is nothing funner(made by bmw) on the road today in that price range. you will probably need to me looking at an n54, so no dct, but a really good fast car. burger tuner adds a lot of power for about 400 bucks.


second choice of the cars you listed would be an e39 m5. i wouldn't be very excited about daily driving this car, but truly an amazing engine and lot of upgrades available for the suspension.

[agent]

I see no love for the E39 here?

I hear you. Also, paging Swanny...

E39-a bit "big" for daily commuting unless it's all freeway.

Nah... I'm in an E39 now and I love it. Mechanically it's been phenomenal (M54B30) - due in no small part to me staying on top of the preventive maintenance - but it's starting to show its age: the door handles are fading and the felt is beginning to separate from the A- and C-pillars as well as above the sun visors.

Coming from that, an E90 is too small - especially if you want to carry adults in the back seat or put a set of golf clubs in the trunk.

[doorman]

E39-a bit "big" for daily commuting unless it's all freeway. My touring always feels big around town.

E90-wife's 2011 328 (xdrive) good around town in the size dept. Decent comfort/acceleration/highway ride. Current mpg is about 21. She's a bit of a lead foot!

[bangn]

i used to be a "manual only" fan boy, now I love just being able to coast around and relax in an auto

the only thing I wish I could change is how lazy the auto is sometimes, they adapt to your driving style and if you're heavy footed then when you go to drive light footed the car doesn't go anywhere and you have to bury the pedal.. You basically have to give it some shit before you intend on giving it some shit.

You also cant flatten it turning and it wont kick down mid corner. even with the DSC off. Stupid but safer I suppose.

[IceWhite]

My Vote: E46 330i ZHP, but if you are in slow moving traffic you might want to consider something in an auto.

[LateFan]

YET another daily thread.

Looking forward to hearing R3V speak.

Thanks,
S

Talk that phresh kid into selling you one of his less coveted 2002s. He has plenty.