E30 Zone

Hi all,
I've just made a BIG mistake
I have bought a '92 520i auto to replace my '89 318i. Well not really to replace it, I just fancied a change to be honest and apart from tappet noise, my E30 drives superbly and looks really cool
Having driven both cars today, I really prefer my E30.
I reckon it should fly through its next MOT and there's still thousands of miles left in the old girl yet.
My E34 wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding in comparison,it's too heavy and feels like I'm driving a tank, a bloody slow one
I only bought it because my wife fell in love with it,well it's a "nice colour".

I think I'll polish it and bang it on eBay or Autotrader.

Let this be a warning to you all...
There's no substitute for an E30.

Now,where did I put that digital camera?

Cheers,
Ian

Glad your coming back to the dark side.

You should have got a bigger engined/non-auto E34, they are nice cars

Is it a M20 or M50? I had an E34 525i (M50) for a brief, then sold it to my mate, since when we have done many roadtrips, and I have to say its a great car for such a big boat! As for speed it is pretty much up with my E30 325i




Andy

It's an M50.

i love e34's. i'm only 20 and i've had loads. ive had three 520i's, two 525's, a 535i sport, a 525i e28, a 528i e28, an e36 318i and... a '88 astra.

i have to say i have a 535i e28 and it is a great car just can't inspire me like my e30. congrats on the new car

m8 u should of got a 2.5 24v 520 i is to gut less for that body ive just sold a 525 i 24v se auto & fair does to will bloody shift not bad on fuel nither im on the hunt for a 525 touring now

calipsodream wrote:m8 u should of got a 2.5 24v 520 i is to gut less for that body ive just sold a 525 i 24v se auto & fair does to will bloody shift not bad on fuel nither im on the hunt for a 525 touring now

Can we have that in English?

On topic I've always fancied an E34 for going up and down the motorways, which is what they're for really, you're never gonna enjoy driving it as much as a lighter car.

forget the 5er i'll take the 508 in your sig...a real bmw great

the 520i is not very liked here...its massively underpowered...whether in E12, E28 or E34 bodies...

the smallest engine for the 5 should be the 2.5, a realisation BMW came to with the new 5

what about the 518i??? i heard that was quite nippy. lol

GypoE30 wrote:the 520i is not very liked here...its massively underpowered...whether in E12, E28 or E34 bodies...

the smallest engine for the 5 should be the 2.5, a realisation BMW came to with the new 5

There is a 2.0 model of the current 5 series - the 520d. It is reasonably nippy though, 0-62 in 8.6 seconds, 139mph flat out. (BMW's figures - that top speed one seems wrong to me...)

Power isn't the issue - its torque / gearing and consequent driveability and fuel economy. The 2.0 M20 and M50 are a little short of torque for the E34s size.

2.0 sixes are typically less torque-optimal than equivalent fours in my experience (i.e. you have to rev them more for less mpg). Only go for the 520 if you find a mint example and enjoy travelling relatively sedately - it will be too frustrating otherwise.

The E34 is a great car, even today. It handles really well and is robust. Only possible flies in the ointment are the slightly "flash harry" image (although most of us E30 drivers have to put up with a bit of that thanks to a minority of idiots) and slight lack of interior space relative to its girth.

If I had the space, I get a 525 tourer or an M5 (saloon or much rarer tourer) - the best versions of the E34 in my opinion.

i regard the E34 & E32 7 series as the last of the properly built BMWs

it all went a bit Tamiya after that IMO

E30BeemerLad wrote:i regard the E34 & E32 7 series as the last of the properly built BMWs

it all went a bit Tamiya after that IMO

I agree with the sentiment, especially as far a styling and interior design principals. Nothing remotely "Tamiya" (at least in the negatrive sense) about my E46 330Ci (although in fairness it was late model which normally have all the faults ironed out).

The E30, E32 and E34 remain among my favourites - if only because those were the cars to have when I was first paying attention.

I also like Tamiyas, although my current 1/10th scaler is a 2 Speed 4WD pull-start kyosho (bimmer shell naturally). Tamiya, rather like BMW have a reputation for quality and innovation. Price is the main difference

know what you are saying fella, likewise the E30, 34 & 32 were largely the beemers of their time when i was growing up (now 31 )

Having had the use of an E46 Compact for 9 months or so I wasn't massively impressed with the feel of the car from materials/ solidity point of view. Front bumper etc flimsy as hell, applying any pressure and it buckles in when washing the car, doors when shut give a sound more akin to a panel van. Seats were very low rent in feel. It did drive very well and was incredibly well balanced but was utterly gutless in 316ti form. 112bhp for a modern 16V 1800cc engine is a disgrace.

Tamiya and the plastic population is what me and my friends used to refer to them as, first R/C car was a grasshopper! Eventually had a kyosho turbo mid optima, but wanted a Kyosho burns as they were the loony petrol powered version, when petrol stuff wasn't well known.

Anyway, i'd happily schlep about in a 525

bottlecapE30 wrote:forget the 5er i'll take the 508 in your sig...a real bmw great

Ummm I don't see a 508................Oh you mean the BMW 507 in his sig sorry my bad.

E30BeemerLad wrote:
Tamiya and the plastic population is what me and my friends used to refer to them as, first R/C car was a grasshopper!

I had a Tamiya Grasshopper(with a few (Hornet ?) upgrades) when i was a kid

Andy335Touring wrote:

E30BeemerLad wrote:
Tamiya and the plastic population is what me and my friends used to refer to them as, first R/C car was a grasshopper!

I had a Tamiya Grasshopper(with a few (Hornet ?) upgrades) when i was a kid

mate got a hornet the same christmas i got the grasshopper, gutted doesn't begin to describe my mood, whingey brat

I'd love to get another R/C car or helecopter but i always end up spending my spare dosh on ther stuf

have to agree its a bit harsh to judge an e34 on 2 litre auto. I imagine a 320i auto would be pretty slow as well.

was quite tempted by a 535i Sport I saw advertised for £800, probably falling apart for that price though.

Well, I'm just loving my e34 m5 ! I'm only keeping it until i decide what to do next but its just great.
Steve.

mysteron35 wrote:Well, I'm just loving my e34 m5 ! I'm only keeping it until i decide what to do next but its just great.
Steve.

An M5 is in a different league, you're not allowed to comment

E34's are a much bigger than E30's

You should get a 525i Sport