BMW question..

[TRD Man]

ah! but see how you go in the next 100k!
I agree the 3 series beemer certainly is a nice drive.
but my money would be on the toyota/lexus equivalent for reliability over the 2nd 100k

No, in fact the reverse is generally true of all Jappas to date. They collapse at the knees at 100k.
The Beemer doesn't. A genuine Kiwi one (not an ex japan with dodgy mileage) will feel as tight at 120k as it did when new. Certainly that's our experience.

[strx7]

the only jappa's that "collapse at the knees" at 100k's are ones with 3 point diamond logo's on them............

[escortman]

ah! but see how you go in the next 100k!
I agree the 3 series beemer certainly is a nice drive.
but my money would be on the toyota/lexus equivalent for reliability over the 2nd 100k

No, in fact the reverse is generally true of all Jappas to date. They collapse at the knees at 100k.

aye? which jappas are you speaking of?

[Leon]

Definitely not any of the one's I've ever owned. I've never had any car fall to bits at 100,000km, be it Japanese or British. The g/f's old EE90 went like a rocket at 350,000km and returned 14-15km/l on a trip.

[Bling]

I thought 100k was only just getting warmed up on a jappa
With 300k being run in

[TRD Man]

I didn't say parts fell off them. "Collapsing at the knees" is a phrase that I use to describe how a car handles at 100k's compared to how it did when new. Because it's about the stuff in and below the chassis line rather than the mechanicals.

As a dealer of 25 years I didn't find a single Jap car that maintained it's handling & road holding characteristics over this length of time. Un questionably Toyota models were the best of the Japs but the Euro's, particularly BMW & Merc, fared much better.

There are of course exceptions to every rule.

[Leon]

Oh right! Worn shocks and bushes, yeah, that definitely happens. I tend to assume anything I buy has stuffed shocks. Certainly the 207,000km Pulsar I bought earlier this year required new shocks.

[TRD Man]

It's not only shocks & bushes. You can replace/renew those.
I'm quite sure it's also a matter of the bodies flexing over time & use.

[Leon]

I can't speak for all cars, but the highest km car I raced was around 260k on the clock, and seemed fine around Manfeild (AE82GT)

[Dell'Orto]

It's not only shocks & bushes. You can replace/renew those.
I'm quite sure it's also a matter of the bodies flexing over time & use.

Interesting you should say that, cause my old AW11 had over 200ks on the clock, rust holes the size of old 50c coins in the A pillars yet the doors still shut with a solider feel than any similar or newer vintage Falcodore I've come across.

[Mr Revhead]

hmm yeah and E36 shocks for WOF's are one of Autoligns faster selling items, 5 series ones are just as fast selling considering the numbers on the roads.
Prob would have sold 4 sets of E36 shocks vs each set of AE1## shocks.

[escortman]

yeh parents recently purchased a 318ti against my recommendations 70000km on the clock and it feels like its about to roll over around the corner

[celica_xr9145]

I some times drive my parents 98 bmw 320i E36 and i think its awesome, the engine is so quiet, its so comfy and feels more together and more tough than all the jap cars ive been in, its a great long distance cruiser.

Shame parts are a wee bit expensive

thats my 2c anyway

[cogent]

I appreciate the e36
Also the E46 has just as many problems. Instead of blowing headgaskets, the rear subframe cracks. Instead of the headliner sagging, the power window buttons fail.

Still, my dream daily for now is a e46 330 coupe, manual. Black exterior on tan interior. tinted out. BBS 18s with black mesh and gold lip. Blacked out front grill kidneys.

[frost]

im sure bimmers have problems too but like others have said there's always a lemon in the crowd, do they have more or less problems then others? i see far more scoobys and bitsamishs then bmws blowing heads after 100,000k

the front uni on my drive shaft snapped last night so i could say toyotas are weak. and it was a brand new replacement part 3 months ago too. (what people wont know is i was raping here to death)

[rollaholic]

yeah NZ new examples will generally be nicer, but much less common than the cheap as chips imports.

to the person commenting re stopping / handling etc - wtf jap cars have you been driving? BMWs have highly average brakes in my experience, unless you are in an M car. they ride comfortably enough, but most understeer and are pretty boaty for my liking. comparing an E36 to a corolla in this regard is rather pointless in my opinion, particularly when you consider the new price of these vehicles - they might be the same price now, which is really a testament to the rolla, but the BMW is supposed to be a luxury sports saloon car that can handle autobahn speeds.

speaking of which, most bmws are geared for that kind of driving so unless you are in a real monster i find they have long legs and plenty of urge past 120ish, but for squirts in traffic they feel every inch the overweight underpowered tank that they are. anything smaller than a 328 is rubbish for overtaking and about as exciting as a ride on the bus.

the only areas the 318 pips a corolla in my mind is comfort and 'im a VIP' factor

BMW do some great cars, but their 'cheap' ones are not worth owning. to quote a great quote i once read - 'buying the cheapest car from an exclusive marque says more about your aspirations than your achievements'

PS if your friend is really set on an E36 (and im sure they are) then you should do everything you can to push them into a 6 cylinder, if only to avoid the cracked head problems

[RS13]

Nope, had a good talk about everything you guys have said, hes' really not that keen anymore! Thanks for the help guys, you probably saved him thousands.