Looking at an e34 for my wife as a daily driver, from an 325i what do you thinK?

[Vonbimmer]

I really like the body style and I an really familiar with the M50 since it is just the little brother to the S50 in my M3. That said I am curious how the car is on power and handling.

Thanks in advance!

[4500 RPM]

Power isn't hot...but you can chip it and see decent gains.

Handling is great with 17"s. I hate the recirculating ball steering though...

It's a great wives' car, which is why I think about dumping it for a GTI...

[sausrigging]

gti's the answer lol

[attack eagle]

what YEAR 325 are you asking for a comparison to?

e30? e36?

[CWB]

what YEAR 325 are you asking for a comparison to?

e30? e36?

+1

[Vonbimmer]

Well we have an E90 325XI and she is tired of worring about people bumping into it constantly as well as dealing with the payment. She said she's not too worried about the power side of things so that's a plus.

[ThoreauHD]

They are releasing the BMW 1 series in the US shortly. Your wife might be interested in that. Great gas mileage and a car that has a look all it's own. And it's pretty cheap too.

[Vonbimmer]

Very true, I saw one in Road and Track and it looked sweet. We were thinking for $3-5K how could we get a better car than a 525I.

Then if we drive it for a few years and want something else we would have saved a ton on the $540 per month lease payments on the E90.

[attack eagle]

true, I pulle up next to a blue 1 series hatch about 3 days ago... Funky looking but not bad.

[ThoreauHD]

Yea, if you are trying to get rid of payments and only do 3-5K- and do better than a 525. I dunno. Even camry's and civics cost more than that. I think, as Jack Nicholson once said, it's as good as it gets.

[Vonbimmer]

I thought about having small payment on an E39, but I don't really see any bang for the buck there, am I missing anything with that thought?

[Alan]

E34 to E39 is a huge difference, especially if you are talking about a later model E39. The luxury level went up a whole lot with the E39. The late E39s are very similar to the interior in my new (to me) E38. I was amazed at how huge a jump in luxury I made from the E34 to the E38.

I loved my E34, still do (will maybe buy it back one day). But they are getting to the point where they are pretty old and the interior is starting to really show its age. The exterior design, however, is so timeless, it will always look good.

Mechanically, the E34 will be easier and cheaper to repair. More electronic stuff in the E39s to go bad. Your tire wear (especially if you opt for the E39 sport package) will be MUCH better in the e34. The E39 handles AMAZINGLY for its size/weight, but the way you do that is with big camber, large contact patches, aggressive suspension. The E39 tears through tires. On the plus side, you'll see as good or better fuel economy, possibly LESS maintenance as you will be getting a much newer car, more modern interior quipment, quiter cabin. You also get the benefit of the 2.8L which, really, is better suited to the 5 series than the older 2.5L.

Honestly, I think going from an E90 to a E34 may be too big a step back for your wife in many different areas. A very nice, well cared for 528i with low miles would probably be a better choice.

Have you considered a early E46 325Xi?

[sarends]

I agree, I went from an E39 M5 to an E34 540i/6 and I am OK with it. But, I LOVE BMWs - I love the raw untamed feel of an E30 or 2002, etc. But, I would not want to make my wife go from a smooth E90 to a somewhat raw (by comparison) E34. AN E39 is an entirely different car - as smooth or smoother than the E90 and much more refined than the E34.

Comparing the same model of E34 to an E39, the E39 is always more refined and the E34 is more raw. I think your wife would prefer the E39 - mine used to drive my E39 M5 and enjoyed it (never ever stepped on it even a little), but she has driven the E34 once.

E34 to E39 is a huge difference, especially if you are talking about a later model E39. The luxury level went up a whole lot with the E39. The late E39s are very similar to the interior in my new (to me) E38. I was amazed at how huge a jump in luxury I made from the E34 to the E38.

I loved my E34, still do (will maybe buy it back one day). But they are getting to the point where they are pretty old and the interior is starting to really show its age. The exterior design, however, is so timeless, it will always look good.

Mechanically, the E34 will be easier and cheaper to repair. More electronic stuff in the E39s to go bad. Your tire wear (especially if you opt for the E39 sport package) will be MUCH better in the e34. The E39 handles AMAZINGLY for its size/weight, but the way you do that is with big camber, large contact patches, aggressive suspension. The E39 tears through tires. On the plus side, you'll see as good or better fuel economy, possibly LESS maintenance as you will be getting a much newer car, more modern interior quipment, quiter cabin. You also get the benefit of the 2.8L which, really, is better suited to the 5 series than the older 2.5L.

Honestly, I think going from an E90 to a E34 may be too big a step back for your wife in many different areas. A very nice, well cared for 528i with low miles would probably be a better choice.

Have you considered a early E46 325Xi?