Re: bmw-digest V9 #1569

[Damian Christopher Ooi <riesling@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

   I just bought a '84 E28 520i (with about 200K km on it) about 4 months
back and it is in immaculate condition. Well, some cosmetic damage to the
paint job but everything else was perfect. The only thing I had to do was to
change the starter motor...and this was its first major mechanical repair
after 16 years, nothing else in the car had been touched, all original parts
since the car was manufactured! The previous owner was also a stickler for
regular maintenance and it came complete with maintenance records since she
bought it from the dealership 16 years ago. I can also testify to its
toughness..having driven it through the country from Canberra to Adelaide
and back, that's some 6000 km.
   The engine is as quiet as a mouse (the previous owner tuned to a
classical channel while I test drove it). The fuel consumption is comparable
to most 2000 model cars...it's about 12L / 100km (a Toyota Camry (same
2.0L), voted Australia's most economical family car drinks at 11L / 100km),
this is testimony to its EFI and engine resiliance! I am personally
astonished by its durability (it was parked near the beach by its previous
owner, but there had been no visible signs of rusting or corrosion except
for a chip on the paint work). Truly, a BMW is a performance machine....I
should know, I drive one :)

Damian
'84 E28 520i
PS. I haven't started on it's excellent handling!

> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 05:00:56 EDT
> From: JHahn22@domain.elided
> Subject: I think I want a bmw
> 
> OK guys, I sent my first BMW post a few days ago about my desire to drive a
> BMW as a pizza delivery car.  I am pretty mechanically inclined, have owned
> an Alfa Romeo spider for three years and do all the maintenance myself.  I
> also have maintained a couple other cars in that time (a Nissan, and a
> Hyundai).
> I have had a bunch of people email me back saying that bimmers are fun but
> live their lives in the shop.  Thing is, everyone who wrote these things
> seems to be referring to post 92 BMWs.  From my limited experience with a
> buddy's 87 325i, with 150k, I was very impressed.  Several people have also
> said that the E30's were fairly reliable cars.  I have a lead on what sounds
> like a nice 89 at a nice price, but I keep getting emails from people who are
> telling me I am crazy.  I realize I have to follow a maintenance schedule
> which includes timing belts, oil changes, and other stuff.  And the things
> that tend to break sound fairly doable with a little guidance from websites
> and you guys.  My girlfriend is telling me to give up on a fun pizza car and
> buy a Honda.  And yet other's have said that, when properly maintained, a BMW
> can outlast the hell out of a Honda.  So the decision will be up to you guys.
> Should I give up on a small, fun, different, rear wheel drive delivery car,
> or would a decent E30 fit the bill?  Please try to email me off digest with
> answers.  If you email me with positives or negatives, please tell me your
> experience with 80's bimmers, not some late model M3 that lives in the shop.
> Thanks for the help,
> Jake Hahn
> Bryan TX

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