Based on two anecdotes? To counter, I've seen plenty of 150k+ BMWs also that have had no issues other than replacing wear and tear parts. Like I've said before, it's all how you maintain and treat your car. I could also say the LIM gasket issue in the LA1 was a very prevalent problem, which led to many catatrophic engine failures. By your reasoning, the LA1 is potentially unreliable past 50k miles.

Your opinion is based on nothing but your illogical perception. Before you say they're overrated, I'd take a hard look at why you're actually saying it other than maintenance costs and owners.

Never mentioned bringing the GA up. You said you'd rather bring up an "underpowered" car up with mods. Fine. But you won't, not at those price points.

Its hit or miss on the lim. My car has 199,7xx miles. Never in its life has it needed the job. (Uncle was first owner since new)

It definitely is. Same can be said for any motor. Why your buddy's failed at 100k is beyond me. Could be a complete anomaly or an inherent issue.

True yes. And beats me too.

LOL@ BMW not lasting. My current daily e30's odometer stopped at 174k miles two owners ago. Drive it to/from the track and take the kids to/from school on the daily.

The race car has over 200k on it, not many people could catch it in Atlanta...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAd1YeFksoI

This. I know of several BMWs that are tracked and driven to their limits that last and last.

What do you have done to your E30? Where do the baby seats go? haha

Okay, I'll jump in the BMW thing...

I would not say they are bad cars at all.... but I would also say they are over rated. Like most german cars in this country, you pay a premium on them for an imaginary level of superiority. You pay a premium for Audi's right now just because people like their style so they are desirable.

I actually worked on two different 3 series BMW's quite extensively so I do have some experience with them. Some things they actually engineer quite nicely. But then there are other things that they over look or engineer badly that cause problems. They are like any other car or car brand IMO. There are good models and bad models, and each model has it's good point and bad points.

That said, since I think they are pretty much the same as Japanese or American cars, I wouldn't buy one because I don't want to pay a premium price for something isn't any better in my eyes. ;)

I knew you would jump in because I know you've worked on them. At least you can articulate why they are overrated.

In my experiences though, build quality is day and night. Sold my Grand Am with 92.5k miles and everything was rattling, creaking, etc. Stupid little things were breaking after 60k that weren't expensive but annoyances. The Audi just cruised past 92.1k miles on my way to work this morning. Everything is quiet.

From the vantage point of an independent shop (many of the high line cars I see, regardless of make/country of origin, have hit 100k and are on the second or third owner) I've come to a few conclusions, be it Cadillac, Bimmer, Benz, VAG, whatever:

->Second- or third-hand high lines often (but definitely not always!) sell to buyers that want the brand image in their driveway but can't afford the true cost of ownership experience. These folks may balk at paying retail for a proper repair (brake work, tune up, whatever) but then find themselves sorely disappointed when those economy parts don't preserve their perception of what the car should 'feel' like. If the car had been faithfully maintained to the level of its original build quality, it would remain the example of exceptional engineering in which it started life.

->High line makes are well built and feature-rich, but can be fraught with idiosyncrasies. The enthusiast finds pleasure in learning what makes his example tick, and takes pride in keeping it maintained or improving upon it. The casual owner waits until little things become big things and then turns white when the repair bill shows up. This owner then tells his buddies about how his car is a lemon that isn't worth the cost and continues to neglect the maintenance for another 10k miles before selling it to the next sucker -- at which point the circle continues. I don't believe this type of situation is an accurate barometer of the true character of a carmaker or its products.

->Volkswagen badged products have all the high-cost annoyances of their Audi stablemates but are marketed as, well, a 'peoples' car.' I hate seeing these things come in. It's a largely middle class ownership base and the cars always seem to bring premium brand repair and maintenance costs; it can be very challenging to explain to a V6 Passat owner why his timing belt job will cost so much more than his neighbor's Accord.

I for one work at a shop and I personally like the e46 and the newer 5series of course. I personally like BMW's. However I must say that I've noticed a lot of BMW rims crack it seems or at least that's what I often see at my shop. Then again that's probably just because a lot of customers abuse their cars. Yes a BMW will cost quite a bit to maintain, however id still enjoy owning one.

BMW parts are no more expensive than any other. OEM timing belt kits for an e30 are $45, top end gasket kits are $100-ish ($260 from the dealer, even), control arm bushings - $30, wheel bearings ~$100 etc etc


I have 4 e30's, an e36, an Excursion and a 93 Camaro lol.

Baby seats? My oldest is 15 :P

and TBH, after the e46, BMW dropped the ball. Gone are the days of high-strung naturally aspirated inline 6'ers. e9x m3 is just a "German Muscle Car"

Here's how one of the cars ended up today. Using it to mock up a couple of roll cages going to clients, then off to the frame machine so a cage can be welded in permanently. (instagram pic @wottech)

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps44454824.jpg

I'll just leave this here..

http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/...pse96542ea.jpg

Wait you got a mustang now?

Le sigh

I'll start a thread with details.

Sonic blue or GTFO

Why in gods name a mustang

Well looks live we have lost redneckshade

4x4 Mustang

Well, like I said... in my experience... they aren't any better. My friends '00 3 series had all the finish peeling off his interior parts and all the upholstery fabric was coming unglued and flapping in the wind. Also the rubber trim around the door openings was constantly coming unglued. Most of the mechanicals were pretty solid, but the plastic T-stat housing and coolant tank both failed early and needed to be replaced, and he had a nagging problem with a cam timing sensor that kept setting codes even after being replaced.

There was also the fact that there was no easy way to drain and fill the trans fluid, and the owners manual said that it and the diff fluid never needed to be changed, while everyone on E46fanatic said that if they weren't changed you would have problems. And quite a few cars had problems with weak/thin sheet metal on the unibody at one of the rear suspension piece attachment points that caused the metal to tear and need a very costly repair (luckily my friends never needed that). His did like to eat rear tires though. Always wore down the tread on the inside of the tire, even with a proper alignment.

I liked it's suspension design though and the nice flat under tray on the front, the brake cooling ducts incorporated in the front bumper, and the power rear quarter windows that would pop out for ventilation. Like I said, really well engineered in some areas... and in others they did things that just seem stupid.

Oh gawd please tell me the timing belt has been done already?

The biggest reason I walked away from an s4

No sir. I was very worried about it. But it only affected pre 10/2004 builds IIRC. Newer engines are still showing few signs of failure (that are reported anyway). I got very paranoid a couple years ago and tried to get it fixed under warranty but my mechanic looked at the car and said all was good. Still no clacking or wierd noises at startup. I don't run her hard until she fully warms up.

Please don't become a douchebag mustangbro.

Just ordered some black plasti dip today - gonna black out the chrome around the windows. Anyone ever done this yet?

People want me to do that...

Yes it's been done before.

lol No I mean does anyone know how to do it? Like where to tape off?

Really? Since when?



lol

home depot is beginning to carry plastidip, but it's still hit or miss around tampa stores.

masking tape and newspaper. and dont worry too much about the overspray, plastidip does peel off easily when dry, if it's thick enough.

if he's doing the chrome trim around the window i wouldn't worry too much about the glass. a simple razor blade and some glass cleaner would take care of that. tape off the painted parts and have fun.

Pepboys carries it, however, I used to work for them and that was a rather painful experience so I don't recommend doing business with pepboys.

Im gonna guess that I should just take a razor and cut the stuff in the crack of the door?

I had the same thing with Autozone. Were the employees just dumba$ses or what?

Burning the midnight oil

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps56510a07.jpg

Nice!!!

Aaron's car at 0:30. from march 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oj_rPTKRYE




at 0:09, stewartfn18's vette is in the background, turning left.
at 0:19, the camera turns to my g8. you can hear my exhaust into 2nd gear, i'm louder than the viper lol
feb 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6G2GKtbYbw

One of the guys in my old unit had a 3series coupe. Nice looking car in 2door form. But he had his issues too, one being the coolant tank as well.

Management sucked, the district manager was a dumbass, me and him didn't get along what-so-ever. He tried to give me some bogas final write up (when I did nothing bad and had never been written up before). Well long story short, I got in touch the CEO and my write up was dismissed and he was written up for writing me up without valid reasoning. He really didn't like me especially after all of that happened. Well I disliked him too so I moved on.

I got another snowday. 4+ snowdays and 2 late starts/early closure. In college that is a lot to miss lol. Oh well only have one class today