Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Coffey
Beat me to it. Specifically, I'd love to have a later (`95+?) 3.2L Euro car.
IIRC, they are good for nearly 100hp over the US variants, w/ ITBs, better VANOS, and a 6-speed gearbox.
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Thanks, everyone. I knew that I'd get some real world experience here. Everyone knows that the European cars got the different engine and trans, the difference was actually 75 HP, (240 vs. 315). They are no doubt more exciting cars but I would argue that the U.S. version is a far better car to actually use as a car. The U.S. engine is as low maintenance and tractable as any basic BMW 6 of the era, even gets decent fuel mileage. They generally never need expensive engine work, (the VANOS issue is a big nothing to a former air-cooled 911 owner), there is one for sale in L.A. right now w 315k miles that is in perfect running condition.
They are durable, non-finicky everyday cars w decent performance and great torque that you can take to the track. I have a great love for e34 M5 cars because of styling but they are high maintenance, very expensive mistresses that would be insane to daily drive. Even though we got the de-tuned motor in those, it has ITBs and sucks fuel like a 737. I've seen them for sale w $20k recent maintenance receipts.
I remember going to Beverly Hills BMW to browse the inventory in '95 and the e34 M5 was still available as well as the brand new M3. The new e34 540i was out and was absolutely killing the M5 sales. You could get a manual trans car in the same body that outperformed the M-car w for less $$ that would need no expensive/weird maintenance in the near future. Yes, it wasn't an M-car but you have to put the collectible factor aside, people bought new BMWs to drive. Hardly anyone was buying a new M5 and taking it out to Willow Springs or Chuckwalla.
Anyhow, that is sort of how I look at the Euro vs. USA e36 M3. I have never even given them a glance over the years because they were not, "real M-cars" but now I think they may be even better because of it, for a DD. They definitely got the real suspension and seats, etc.
I know that none of this is right or wrong, just opinion. Just car guys shooting the bull, what this forum is best for, IMO.
