Poll Best used BMW 4 door

[sanpt7777]

Just for fun, everyone likes polls

If you were to buy an old BMW for whatever reason; call it your first car, a beater, a track toy or a project to restore; what would it be and why? What's your budget? What do you want from the car? Restore it to stock spec or modify it to suit your needs better?

Ideally pick one. If you must, pick two and explain your choice. Must be 4 door.

 

[sanpt7777]

So, being realistic about me and my lifestyle, I would choose a manual E46 320i F1. They are readily available in Mexico and prices are reasonable. The F1 package is pretty much Mexican M Sport. They have M Tech body kit, style 68 wheels, alcantara sport seats, sport steering wheel, and I believe thicker roll bars/lower springs. The most important thing, it's one of the few BMWs that is very easy to find both in good shape and with a manual transmission in Mexico.

The reason I pick this is because I want a car that does everything, even if it excels at nothing.

I absolutely love the E34, but they are hard to come by for me, and the E36, while [I've read] is a raw driving experience, is not priced reasonably where I live. They go for 85% what a clean 320i.

The E46 is good looking, it will not break the bank at the pumps, it will handle nicely with the F1 package, it's fairly modern and safe. I would mod only the suspension and probably add led tail lights (like the M3 coupe). I would also improve the sound system and that's it.


If I could, I'd send the engine for a rebuild at metric mechanic for 7700 RPM of fun tho

F1 320i


F1 interior

 

[Giannis]

E46 with a M54 engine. Period.

Or else a descent E39 with a M54 engine. Period.

 

[sanpt7777]

E46 with a M54 engine. Period.

Or else a descent E39 with a M54 engine. Period.

I believe the M54 is good for 230hp right?

 

[ateekt]

My vote goes to E39, followed by the E46. Both are fairly newer bodies & sized decently to be safe family sedans. I've owned both cars in the past & E39, IMO, is ahead considering the major factor of the interior space, specially the rear leg room. Nevertheless, both are among the Germany's best.

 

[Mr Robert]

E46 with a M54 engine. Period.

Or else a descent E39 with a M54 engine. Period.

If you can find an E46 that has been spared from rust and with such an engine, go ahead. Lovely cars!

 

[sanpt7777]

I guess that if you have the big bucks, an E32 would be nice too

http://www.mcsmk8.com/88-750IL/750IL.html

Fog lamp washers for heaven's sake

 

[SKY]

E46 and E39.

BMW's finnest!

 

[klier]

My vote goes to E39, followed by the E46. Both are fairly newer bodies & sized decently to be safe family sedans. I've owned both cars in the past & E39, IMO, is ahead considering the major factor of the interior space, specially the rear leg room. Nevertheless, both are among the Germany's best.

But the E46 drives far superior compared to E39.

Does a used M6 GC CP count?

 

[sanpt7777]

E46 and E39.

BMW's finnest!

I'm stunned with the results honestly guys. I included the E30 and its contemporary E23 and E28 siblings because I thought that way the E39 and E46 would have it harder.

The E46 is the clear winner.

I'm in love with the E34, but it has to be my second choice after the E46. The 46 is just an ideal car. It's good at everything

But the E46 drives far superior compared to E39.

Does a used M6 GC CP count?

Well klier, you obviously are a tasteful guy, picking the GC
I'd say you can include it, but you have to consider this poll is taking the price of the car, reliability, handling, pretty looks, etc, into account. The idea is what's the best 4 door BMW as a whole package.
But if it fits the budget, why not? A V12 E32 is still going to be very expensive so...

They say that the E39 has steering box in the V8 (not sure about M5), and steering rack in the 6 cylinder cars.
You want the 6 cylinders if handling is what your after, from what I've heard, since I haven't driven them, but it seems to be the general opinion.

But I still agree with you that an E46 will probably spank an E39 in terms of driving, stock vs stock

 

[klier]

But I still agree with you that an E46 will probably spank an E39 in terms of driving, stock vs stock

Yeah, E39 was fantastic back in the day but right now it sort of feels like the car is not welded properly or something, it feels very "flexible". Not exactly a good thing. E46 holds up much better imo.

 

[Giannis]

Yeah, E39 was fantastic back in the day but right now it sort of feels like the car is not welded properly or something, it feels very "flexible". Not exactly a good thing. E46 holds up much better imo.

Both the E46 and the E39 suffered from easy-to-destroy strut towers. Many cars have their (especially front) strut towers cracked or bent. It's quite common and relatively easy to fix. It's one of the many reasons that E46 and E39 felt flexible after so many years.

The other reason is that despite their amazing on the road behaviour, their chassis wasn't the most rigid in their segment. In fact, they had one of the most flexible chassis!

 

[sanpt7777]

Both the E46 and the E39 suffered from easy-to-destroy strut towers. Many cars have their (especially front) strut towers cracked or bent. It's quite common and relatively easy to fix. It's one of the many reasons that E46 and E39 felt flexible after so many years.

The other reason is that despite their amazing on the road behaviour, their chassis wasn't the most rigid in their segment. In fact, they had one of the most flexible chassis!

How can they mask a soft chassis? Is the suspension design that good?

Maybe a strut brace and fender brace could help prevent this before it happens?

 

[klier]

How can they mask a soft chassis? Is the suspension design that good?

It was not soft by any means in the day. Now, nearly 20 years later the cars are much much stiffer and you instantly feel that when you are used to modern Bimmers vs the E39.

And the M6 GC was a joke, you can buy all the cars in the poll 3 times and you still have money left compared to M6 GC CP

 

[Giannis]

How can they mask a soft chassis? Is the suspension design that good?

Maybe a strut brace and fender brace could help prevent this before it happens?

The E46 and E39 suspension and setup was not just good, back in their day. It was f*cking brilliant!

Now, about the chassis. The E46 had the front strut towers pushed to the very front, quite away from the A pillar. That was not good for the overall stiffness, but did wonders for the side profile, handling and weight distribution. A strut brace made a noticeable difference.

It was not soft by any means in the day. Now, nearly 20 years later the cars are much much stiffer and you instantly feel that when you are used to modern Bimmers vs the E39.

If I recall correctly, a E46 had a stiffness of 16000 Nm/deg, when the S60 had 20000. I think that the F10 is around 50000.

 

[DblPen]

If I recall correctly, a E46 had a stiffness of 16000 Nm/deg, when the S60 had 20000. I think that the F10 is around 50000.

e39 - 24000 nm/deg

 

[sanpt7777]

I was going to mention the S60 too, Giannis.

My gut tells me my mom's 2013 Ford Escape is more stiff than those BMWs
But that's just progress, it's also 10 years newer

It was not soft by any means in the day. Now, nearly 20 years later the cars are much much stiffer and you instantly feel that when you are used to modern Bimmers vs the E39.

And the M6 GC was a joke, you can buy all the cars in the poll 3 times and you still have money left compared to M6 GC CP

Sorry klier, that was a terrible joke, so I did not get it
I really thought you were serious haha. Even used (2014?) I guess you could indeed buy all the cars 3 times. I think you can get a nice E46 for the price of the competition package alone
But the M& GC is lovely anyhow
I remember going to an Audi dealership to see the cars, the A7 B&O sound system costed more than my VW

About the chassis , I get it now, it's soft by today's standards.

 

[sanpt7777]

So, I've been checking the classifieds, testing the waters, to see how prices are and what cars I can expect to find.

I'm set on the E46 as next car.
As I said originally, I see a lot of silver 320i 5 speed manual. The thing is, I only like black cars when it comes to me actually owning them. I see there are some black E46s available but for some reason none are manual, nor are they are 320i. Most seem to be armored too when they are black. Does the automatic really take something from the true driving machine?

320i Manual > 325i/330i Automatic?

Seems so hard to find a car the way I want it. I was going to get one ordered to spec back in 2000 but well, I was 7. So used it is.

Looks like I will have to give up on some of the following:

Must be, in order of importance:
-Pre-LCI
-Good condition
-Black or any variation of it (Black Sapphire, etc)
-Manual box
-4 door

The other day I saw a black, pre LCI, manual, well taken care of 330i 2 door coupe but it's sold apparently. That's the closest I got.

Should I settle for an auto and call it a day? I feel like a good auto is better than a bad manual. I also do left foot braking on both manual and auto so it's not like my left foot is sitting there motionless in an automatic.

 

[bmwblog]

Just for fun, everyone likes polls

If you were to buy an old BMW for whatever reason; call it your first car, a beater, a track toy or a project to restore; what would it be and why? What's your budget? What do you want from the car? Restore it to stock spec or modify it to suit your needs better?

Ideally pick one. If you must, pick two and explain your choice. Must be 4 door.

Great topic! We used your idea as inspiration and gave the forum credit. http://www.bmwblog.com/2015/10/20/which-used-four-door-bmw-would-be-your-first/

 

[sanpt7777]

Great topic! We used your idea as inspiration and gave the forum credit.

Thanks a lot I liked your choices, not the cheapest but very cool and still doable with some saving

I'd pick an M540i as my first if I could, but no, so I guess it's gonna be a manual 320i or a steptronic 330i

Just have to invest in my first business ventures and see if it pays off