Bmw Questions

[Halon]

Hey I feel semi strange asking this considering there was just a whole flame thread about this, but I was wondering if anyone knows much about BMW's. Once I get back to the states, I'm going to need a daily driver car to take me to work and all over cuz the talon is mainly just my toy, not my daily driver. Well I've always really like BMW's and how they look. Well I'm looking at like some from like the 1994ish year range. Mainly the 3 series ones. Just wondering if anyone can comment on them. I DON'T care if they put down 185hp or whatever, im looking more for comments on how reliable they are and if they are known to rust horribly bad, or really easy or difficult to work on. I don't care if you think they are ugly, cuz I like how they look. Anywho, if anyone knows anything about em and could gimme some helpful info, please share all you know with me. Thanks.

Here's kinda an example of the style I'm looking at.

[1ViciousGSX]

I work for a BMW dealer, so ask any questions you have about them.

[Halon]

OK, well I'm looking to get a daily driver car when I come home. I'm looking at all sorts of cars I could get. I'm looking at Mazda 626's, chevy malibu's, grand am's, stratus's, bmw's... so pretty much don't have it narrowed down really at all. BUT, I have always really liked BMW's. So I guess just tell me anything you know about the 318's and 325's. Those are pretty much what I'm looking at. Just a daily driver. I don't care if the 318 is the lowest class BMW and so and so thinks that it's retarded to get the lowest model one. So anywho, like the one above, are those years fairly reliable? Or are they known to break a whole freakin lot? Do you see them coming in and outta the dealer constantly with tons of problems? Any bad recalls or things that aren't recalled but still seem to go wrong constantly (like dsm ISC's)? Does their paint fade horribly like my 95 gst's spoiler did, and heard later that there was no recall, just a lil notice out on it identifying it as an issue. Is there a certain milage that these things will usually die at or will they run longer then a honda? Are they easy to work on? Like oil changing, other fluids, spark plugs and wires? Alternator? They are rear wheel drive right? So do they suck insanely bad in the snow? Any info you can offer, I'd love to hear!

[IndiEP]

I wouldn't mind owning a BMW either. Something thats nice, reliable and, quiet and you only have to change the oil, none of this "well what'll break next."

[520Talon]

Don't forget the Audi's. Stone reliable and Quattro rules the snow. (I drive a quiet, reliable Audi while my Talon sits)

[A//// Guy]

What kind of audi do you have? What year also?

Originally posted by 520Talon@Jul 26 2004, 02:24 PM
Don't forget the Audi's.* Stone reliable and Quattro rules the snow.* (I drive a quiet, reliable Audi while my Talon sits)

Some very few Quattro's are lemons at the start but all of them are very well built, my brother owns a sweet 1999 Audi Quattro 1.8T, :idhitit:

[Goat Blower]

I had that same car, a 1995 325i coupe. It had the optional BMW 17's from a slightly newer year and the rear spoiler, so it looked just like an M3. I sold it for $5500 a year or two ago. I've also had a few Audi A4's and loved them both. I prefer the Audi over the 3-series, but either is real fun with some mods.

[Halon]

NO MODS are gunna go on it. Except maybe a stereo and a nicer muffler tip or sumthin. My talon is what will be modded. But all the audi's or normally look at seem kinda ugly, but I'm gunna look for some more now that you bring em up. Also some of the BMW's are damn cheap, but they have 100,000 miles on them. How long do these things last? Like I wouldn't be scared to buy a Camry with 100k miles, should i have the same mindset with these BMW's? Or should I think of em as more like an escort, meaning when they hit 100k miles the thing looks like its ready to kick the bucket, and the whole car shakes at idle and shit.

[520Talon]

I have a 97 A4 2.8Q. It flys under the radar and keeps me out of tickets. Alot of 90's entry lux and luxury cars have dropped like bombs in resale. Same with a bunch of sports cars. Thank all of the SUV drivers out there who push up the cost of those things while all the good stuff drops. I know I should have no problems going 200K in the Audi and you will not have a problem with the Bimmer either. Try do that without going through a dozen sets of rotors or a tranny with your SUV.

I think what keeps people away are the fact that dealers cost $ and you local mechanics will sometimes up it cause, well its german. If you are willing to get your hands dirty, they are often times easier to work on because of how well layed out most (not all) are. Parts are generally about the same and you have less yard divers looking for parts. I sourced a set of power, heated, leather seats for my A4 after my dog ripped the OG's for $75 each. Try find those that cheap for your DSM.

[Halon]

i just checked out some audi's. Guess I still like the BMW's a lot more. But good to hear that they last awhile. Cuz you can find them for cheap with like 100k miles on em. Well thanx again for all the responces.

[JET]

You might want to check out the mercedes too. They have a name for being a bit more reliable than a beemer. The price should be similar between the two.

[FattyBoomBatty]

Originally posted by vapour24+Jul 26 2004, 03:59 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (vapour24 @ Jul 26 2004, 03:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-520Talon@Jul 26 2004, 02:24 PM
Don't forget the Audi's.* Stone reliable and Quattro rules the snow.* (I drive a quiet, reliable Audi while my Talon sits)

Some very few Quattro's are lemons at the start but all of them are very well built, my brother owns a sweet 1999 Audi Quattro 1.8T, :idhitit: [/b][/quote]
it's only a lemon if it's a buyback. lemon doesn't mean general-all-around-crappy. there is a specific problem that goes wrong with the car many times and/or requires too much work so the manufacturer buys the car back. usually (as far as i know) the compnay will replace whatever defective part and sell the car again, butit is labeled a lemon. we've got a GT2 at morrie's that's a lemon, the first owner in cali said the engine leaked oil. so porsche bought it back and replaced the engine with a new one. now it's just as good as new and fast as hell.

[1ViciousGSX]

Stay away from the Audi. We work on them and they are a biatch to work on. Example, to change the water pump or timing belts requires removing the front end of the body. Yes everything, radiator, a/c condensor, core support, bumper, etc. VW just got a big shock when the survey says "40% of vw owners would not buy another one". Audi is nothing more than a dressed up vw. And the parts are extremely exspensive. How does $9000 for a rebuilt tranny sound for a Quatro? That's the cost of the tranny, not the huge charge for putting it in also.

The 318 is an ok car, but the 325/328 is much better. Those six's practically run for ever. The 5spd is very fun to drive.

[A//// Guy]

How are the older Audis to work on? Like the early 90s models? They shouldnt be as crammed as the newer ones Id think.

[Halon]

i'm actually kinda hoping for an automatic cuz this is gunna be my daily cruiser, and an auto is just less hastle then a stick, especially in rush hour. Not saying I hate sticks, I LOVE sticks in like my talon, or in cars that are fun and you race around in em. But for a daily driver, an Auto is what I want. But hey, if there's a badass beamer sittin there priced perfectly, but its a stick, then i sure aint gunna pass it down. I'll look at mercedes, but from what I've seen, BMW's seem to lose there value quicker then mercedes, which for me is GOOD cuz I'm not buying it for resale. I'm just buying it for a daily driver and if it costs less, then that's even better. visciousGSX thanx for the heads up on Audi's. I didn't like em extremely anyway, but that right there is gunna keep me away from em I think. And VW's too. I've been looking and also noticed how cheap 626's and Altimas are. I really like Altimas, like the 99 style ones. They still aren't a BMW, but I still like em a lot, and they are cheap. I'd like to stick with a 4cyl for gas purposes, and they are usually a lil easier to work on. But like I said before, I wouldn't turn down the perfect car, just cuz it has a v6. Anyway thanx again for the replies. I'm feeling pretty comfortable with BMW's, I think I'll prolly end up with one, hopefully like the one in the picture!!!! maybe put that bitch on some spinner dubs homiez!!!!