That million mile 325...

Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:12 pm

Shows as an E36 according to DVLA

wbaa2317LAE73037 vin ??? also regged as an import

1990 year lol 192 bhp ?? double lol

date of 1st reg 23.01.09

i still want it

Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:20 am

On_a_Roll wrote:It's a PR thing for Mobil and not really that indicative of how good BMW engine's.

It's a rolling road, no temperature variations, no stop starting, no cold starting no lateral loads etc.

I'm sure most decent engines could do okay...

A very good PR excercise,

I'm sure that when they set the rolling road up those many years ago, the combined effort of both Mobil and BMW had only the article in the sunday papers on their mind..

My 20 year old M20 B25 recieved nothing short of sheer abuse for 24 months, 80 miles per day, 5 days per week. I don't know of a car that will lap up such punishment, and only trouble the owner with say a prop bearing or similar ...just to keep your spanner skills in.

ok there are a good few modern cars that probably can, but for £700, the iconic styling, comfort and "as daft as you want to be" RWD benefits there is no alternitave.. Which has been quite adequately demonstrated by mobil, and the engineers at BMW who knew full well that their legendary straight 6 could easily cope..

cracking article - has anyone seen any RHD red sport leathers?

Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:27 am

tbh this million mile test doesnt really mean anything. you could attempt and succeed at doing this in any car really. it was maintained to a ridiculously high level and everything was changed when and where it was needed. the car wasnt phrased by an uncaring owner who would have run it on very low oil levels.

to me the test doesnt really mean anything.

Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:42 am

then why would they bother?

Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:58 am

Barx325i wrote:then why would they bother?

publicity stunt because this sort of thing has never been done before and a million miles is an unheard of figure for a car to travel but due to the maintenance this car received it could be done in any car..

Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:06 am

I guess we'll never find out.. I doubt a car of the same era would have coped as easily, as has been documented.

I agree it's not impossible, but it's just funny to me that they chose the e30 325i.

Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:09 am

My Audi has done 600K, and it's a 2002 plated.

Bulletproof!

Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:37 am

Barx325i wrote:I guess we'll never find out.. I doubt a car of the same era would have coped as easily, as has been documented.

I agree it's not impossible, but it's just funny to me that they chose the e30 325i.

Good few Mercs and other taxi's around the world from the early '90s go round the clock...
W142s and the likes spring to mind.

I reckon the E30 didn't need half as much servicing as it got really as the test had so little strain on it compared to what it would get in real life but it was mostly just precaution really too as it would be pretty embarrassing if the engine gave up the ghost at 8 or 900K

Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:43 am

Barx325i wrote: it's just funny to me that they chose the e30 325i.

Does seem slightly odd to choose a 'sports' orientated model to do a durability run, but I guess it was a quality brand with a reknowned smooth running, well-balanced, unstressed engine, so it makes sense in a way.