Newbie here...Want to get a new car

[Ace Boogey50]

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[Ace Boogey50]

sorry...I'm 19 soon to turn 20....i've been saving money to get a nice old car that i can restore and make it as close to new as possbile...i want to feel good about the car i drive....these cars would be high mileage cars(to save money and start my restoring process and get a new engine)..an 850ci but keep it original(i love this classic car)... an m3 E36 an hook it up with stellar upgrades....or just a get a used m5 ..does anyone have experiences with getting new engines for these and did the positives out weigh the negavtives...i would like to hear your stories and your opinions

[BimmerBoyZ3]

Moving to General Knowledge as this isnt a direct swap question.

[Ace Boogey50]

anybody...i just want some informed info

[webdesigner]

Go for the 850 if you can keep up with a project like that.

M5 would cost a lot, an E36 would be easier per-se but they're a dime a dozen.

[xatlas0]

sorry...I'm 19 soon to turn 20....i've been saving money to get a nice old car that i can restore and make it as close to new as possbile...i want to feel good about the car i drive....these cars would be high mileage cars(to save money and start my restoring process and get a new engine)..an 850ci but keep it original(i love this classic car)... an m3 E36 an hook it up with stellar upgrades....or just a get a used m5 ..does anyone have experiences with getting new engines for these and did the positives out weigh the negavtives...i would like to hear your stories and your opinions

Why would you need a new engine unless the old one was destroyed by something? "High mileage" (meaning, when the engine actually needs a rebuild due to wear) is more than 300k miles on pretty much every BMW engine. If the compression and leakdown are good, leave it alone.

The cost involved is more about everything around the engine. PS pumps, secondary air pumps, intake manifold gaskets, transmissions, etc. The engines themselves are fairly worry-free, as long as you don't monkey with it and do the requiered upkeep.

I also wouldn't go quite so far as to call the 850 a "classic" car yet, considering you can't get classic tags for it. Plus, you'll learn to hate working on that cramped V-12 and tempermental 4HP24 or 5HP30 transmission.

[Ace Boogey50]

xatlas0...a little harsh...its alright....but i'm just trying to get my foot into this whole thing...would you say a v-8 would be less of a hassle

[xatlas0]

xatlas0...a little harsh...its alright....but i'm just trying to get my foot into this whole thing...would you say a v-8 would be less of a hassle

Hah! The V8 (called the M60, then later the M62) had a fatal flaw in the material used, casuing most of the engines to be replaced. Look up "Nikasil" to get the full scoop.

Let me put it this way, I got my CS (the car in my sig) with a blown engine for ~3k back in 2005. I was ~21 at the time. In retrospect, I would not have bought it, as it has sucked too much of my time and money, both of which I really don't have to spare at this point in my life. There is a reason older cars are usually in the hands of older people: they cost more to keep running. Heck, the E31 (the body code for the 8 series) used a lot of specific components, which cost more since they were used only in that car. So, a part that may cost ~200$ in another BMW would cost double for an E31. Things like that are why it really wouldn't be a good idea to start there.

If you really want to get your hands dirty, start with something cheaper, that way you will have more money for the inevitable repairs. I'd suggest an E34 525 or 535, as those are solid cars with relatively cheap parts that can actually be fixed by a shade tree mechanic without an electrical engineering degree, unlike the 7s and 8s. I'd skip the 540, as it used a Nikasil engine, and the engine bay is crazy cramped. (oh how I wish it wasn't, my hands would be far less banged up)

[BrokenBimmer533]

e30? Easy to work on, parts are relatively cheap.

[Stealthyfish]

e30? Easy to work on, parts are relatively cheap.

+1 it's also a classic :dunno

[ohnoes]

Hah! The V8 (called the M60, then later the M62) had a fatal flaw in the material used, casuing most of the engines to be replaced. Look up "Nikasil" to get the full scoop.

Only the M60s have this defect; all the M62s used Alusil and were fine.

OP, I would get an E36 M3. It will be the least maintenance-intensive of the three cars you're considering--and the most fun to drive.

[MIMI1]

im currently reviving a 98 m3 but it was neglected big time

i suggest something cool such as an E28 or E34 M5 to bring back to its glory

something wagon

something that parts aren't ridiculous to find for

[ohnoes]

i suggest something cool such as an E28 or E34 M5 to bring back to its glory

...

something that parts aren't ridiculous to find for

*Ahem*

[frey328is]

i saw an 850csi at the mechanic i go to...he said they are a pain to work on because they have 2 of everything

and thats coming from a bmw trained master tech

id go with an e30, im currently looking for one to fix up and everything i have heard says they are relatively cheap and easy to work on

[MIMI1]

*Ahem*

ok standard e28 or e34 :(