Need some insight on a possible purchase...

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:40 pm

I have been contemplating getting something practical and an autocross toy. One of my customers has mentioned that his 94 miata will be up for sale later this year. I figure I can sell my car and get that as well as another vehicle for not too much more. For my primary driver, something like this has a lot of appeal. Any 5 series owners have some thoughts...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/426487064.html

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Miata yes, 8 year old BMW no.

IMHO, the cost of entry in such a vintage doesn't include the $2-3K of getting it back to good enough. Especially if you are thinking about throwing some coin at the Miata.

YMMV.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

BMW = only for the mechanically inclined. Be prepared to tinker and read a lot of forum posts about issues. Mechanically durable but there is a lot of stuff to go wrong. Unless you're tolerant of little stuff being wrong (which you aren't and I'm not either).

Don't get me wrong, I love my 540i, but I like to call the car "over designed and under-engineered". It's like BMW intended for a lot of stuff to make it just past 100k. Now a well-kept one might just ride, drive, and run fine for years with little work, but it's going to be a crap-shoot at that mileage. You'd be better off with a Protege5 with half the mileage if you want a car you don't have to work on.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:59 am

If I was going to buy that 528iT, I would only buy it at a price where I felt comfortable putting another $3-4k into it afterward, perhaps almost right away. Control arms, thrust bushings, shocks, guibo coupling, etc, and if not done recently: water pump, radiator, thermostat and all hoses. Also plan on complete fluid changes.

If the car really did have a caring owner who threw stuff like this at it, and it has all records to prove it, and it passes a thorough PPI which includes a compression test and leak down, it might be worth looking at. I'm not real familiar with 6-cylinder E39s, but I do seem to recall there was some issue with the VANOS (maybe?) on those motors of that vintage that should be investigated. Also, it is an automatic, and a BMW automatic at that mileage is nearing the danger zone from what I understand assuming it still has its original "lifetime" fill fluid.

EDIT: I can't tell for sure from the pic if it is an auto or not. If not, it is a really rare car with a 5MT.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:10 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

You'd be better off with a Protege5 with half the mileage if you want a car you don't have to work on.

X eleventy billion

Protege5 can be had for cheaper than that BMW as well.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

if/when you part the 3 out to sell it, let me know.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:08 am

Jeb Brookshire wrote:

I have been contemplating getting something practical...

Are you talking "real" or "pretend" practical.

Buy a used, but in good condition Civic or Corolla. Of it you want to go "upscale", an Accord or Camry.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

obviously, I'm pretty biased, but if you took a couple parts off of your car, it could serve dual duty quite well, unless you think its too small. Put the stock springs/shock mounts back on to make the ride a bit more comfortable, put the stock exhaust (or maybe a stock speed3 exhaust) to quiet it down a bit, and the 3 serves dual duty quite well. Then again, what do I know, the only person who ever rides in my car ever is my wife, and she drives something even less practical than my car.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:22 pm

What brands of cars/trucks these days are relatively LOW maintenance after 100K? Assume they are "daily driver and highway" driven, not autocross or track.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

DickRasmussen wrote:

What brands of cars/trucks these days are relatively LOW maintenance after 100K? Assume they are "daily driver and highway" driven, not autocross or track.

The E36 chassis 3-series are quite good well past 100k with a known list of refresh work required at about that mileage.

Brad Mackey · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:00 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

What brands of cars/trucks these days are relatively LOW maintenance after 100K? Assume they are "daily driver and highway" driven, not autocross or track.

Hey Dick, how about this:
My last three "low maintenence" vehicles:
1988 Ford Taurus----307,000 miles. Only major things were alternator (1) and power steering pump (1). Traded it in on:
1995 Taurus-----286,000 miles. Repl. Struts (once, at maybe 200,000 'cause one was leaking a little) Tranny failed in Huntington, WV, where I bought:
2001 Mercury Sable----219,000 miles. One screwy electrical problem at about 120,000; A/C Compressor at about 200,000. Sold recently, still in great shape.

3.0L pushrod in all of 'em. Changed all fluids and rubber parts pretty much according to Ford's schedule. Only weak point on these cars was the brakes until I figured out they need a softer brake pad to eliminate shudder. Switched to Hawk HPS's and the problem disappeared. These cars were dependable, and even at 300,000 miles, burned maybe a 1/2-quart of oil in 3,000 miles. Bulletproof, but short on style.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:16 pm

Brad, Thanks and good to hear that our Mustangs (111k and 49K) may have lots more relatively trouble free miles.

Anyone else: Any other brands that typically can push or exceed 200K with few problems?

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

How's the Taurus SHO held up as a high-mileage car? I always kinda liked those.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

KendtEklund wrote:

How's the Taurus SHO held up as a high-mileage car? I always kinda liked those.

Ask Art about the $250 water pumps. I wouldn't touch the Yamaha motor with a ten foot pole, and a 20 year old Taurus doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Wes Eargle wrote:

KendtEklund wrote:

How's the Taurus SHO held up as a high-mileage car? I always kinda liked those.

Ask Art about the $250 water pumps. I wouldn't touch the Yamaha motor with a ten foot pole, and a 20 year old Taurus doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

That's exactly what I was worried about - good info.

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