e34 M5 Sedan

[LongRanger]

These cars were 'hand-built,' pretty much to order. American versions were expensive but European cars were even more, usually much more customized and, after '93, more powerful:

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...orm_display=51

Vehicle appears to be properly tagged as 'federalized.' Special paint, an M-cloth interior, and the final 3.8 liter (~350HP) motor and 6-speed. Missing the proper forged 10-spoke wheels, I believe. And no mention of the 'Nurburgring' (adjustable) suspension. A custom, hand-built, German sports sedan . . . for $17k.

Oh, yeah . . . car'll do +170 MPH.

Achtung! Löschen Sie das links, bitte!

Rick Kreiskott

[mrbeverlyhills]

Its a great car and the right color, stealth grey, pretty heavy miles though and for us here in CA a mandatory trip to the referree station every 2 years for smog.

With the horsepower wars underway amongst the German manufacurers for the last 12 years there are some pretty decent alternatives:
A 2002 AMG E55 with 70,000 miles can be had unmolested for $13,000-$15,000 and that is the last of the handbuilt AMGs, stunning performance, loaded with modern safety items and built like a tank.

Thanks for sharing.

[Mr9146]

A 2002 AMG E55 with 70,000 miles can be had unmolested for $13,000-$15,000 and that is the last of the handbuilt AMGs, stunning performance, loaded with modern safety items and built like a tank.

But they'll eat you alive in tire costs...

[Mike Baum]

... if all of those hot roded baby carrier wouldn't look so damn boring ...

[mrbeverlyhills]

Yep, $375 apeice at the rear each and only good for 8,000 miles with a firm right foot but I save with the 911 tires and the smile is worth it!

[LongRanger]

. . . aka Hellwagen --- when you absolutely positively wanna to really haul your babies:

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...orm_display=51

This one's a little 'too' . . . but only ~850 units were ever built. Most Tourings are very special, if not always . . . restrained. Small batches of custom colors, leather-everything interiors, electronic damper control (over 15-years ago), etc.

And Tourings were the $h#t. This one looks to have the forged split-spoke wheels as well as one of the more, um, 'special' colors these cars could have. So NOT like Mercedes or Audi. And, unlike the contemporary AMG products, these M-cars were available only with the manual transmission. For that reason alone, M-cars are unique, both in character and feel.

And regarding horsepower or comparing 'numbers,' past or present . . . I've driven several e34 M5s. To me, they're not particularly quick or torquey. But. These cars push a LOT of power (~400 hp) out of a 3.8 liter motor. For comparison, Porsche's own GT3s just reached those kinds of outputs with that displacement. And the Big Sixes in these cars wind up like a turbine --- not a muscle-car. Inside, they're pretty cozy, too --- very much the 'velvet glove.' But, especially if you're driving, once they power up --- very 'fisty.' The sounds and sensations are WAY different from the ones with a larger-displacement motor, V8s or V10s. Instead of growling or rumbling . . . these cars sing.

There's no metric for it . . but I love to hear this car 'work.'

IMHO, barring some really serious neglect and/or mechanical misfortune, mileage in these cars is pretty much irrelevant. These were/are high-end cars, even 15 years on, and take some commitment to run. But I doubt if many of us are unfamiliar with keeping older exotic German machinery working properly. And BMW loves their older furrier M-cars, and supports them through their Mobile Tradition program. Just fly on . . . and don't hit anything too hard.

And still costs less then AMG's ugly-ass E63 will depreciate in the next year!

Rick Kreiskott

[Mr9146]

Rick, that is one sexy b!tch.

Love the color combo on the interior, but I'm a dirty bastard and I can't see myself keeping it clean for long.

[LongRanger]

. . . and with that leather dash, and console . . . and door-tops . . . and door-pulls . . . and head-liner . . . you'll swear you're hearing cows moaning as all that stitching tightens and pulls on a hot SoCal day!! . . .

Then again . . . I hear Lexus makes a nice quiet car.

Easy to clean, too.



Rick Kreiskott

[Mike Baum]

That at least has a very cool color combo and I can throw the dog in the back - I currently drive a super boring 3 series station wagon as a daily driver. Only reason I bought that car was my 70 pound Golden Retriever ...

Still, I am not getting four-door "super cars": Isn't there so much more fun to be head with, and cheaper, with two doors in a lighter car? I think I can buy a boring family sedan for cheap and a Lotus or something for fun (Early 911, 914, Alfa, what have you).

[LongRanger]

. . . Still, I am not getting four-door "super cars": Isn't there so much more fun to be head with, and cheaper, with two doors in a lighter car? . . .

That's kinda why I post about cars like this, to bring up the whole price/value aspect. I mean, to me, this isn't a 'super car.' It's a hand-built, 4-passenger, 170 MPH alternative to a warmed-over motor . . . or a really nice paint job.

Or the soccer-taxi/dog-hauler many of us think we're stuck with.

Rick Kreiskott

PS And Mike, I don't know which BMW wagon you've got --- e46 3-series? --- but an e34 M5 weighs ~3650 lbs . . . about the same. Maybe less. And for $17k --- I could buy a LOT of gas before I paid the same.