Shame on me for not reading the e49 forums or searching for M62 issues

[7thPorsch]

I can remember my 83 E30 like it was yesterday. She ran for over 300k miles on one engine, one transmission and she even after all the miles she still looked great. Then came the E46. We had some hic-ups, e.g. fuel tank strap that broke at a spot weld and nearly sent us into paranoia about the cars safety. And of course the E46 rear end bushing that kicked my butt for years. However, the `straw that broke the camel’s back` was the M62 engine and matching BMW auto tranny. At 140k miles, without a gentle touch the tranny would go into `safe mode` and of course the dreaded M62 engine timing chain failure sends M62 into safemode. I watched my dad get abused by Caddies his whole life. GM’s lack of quality in the 70s and 80s was unsurpassed. Do you recall the M62 from Detroit, yes the dreaded Caddie Diesel engine? In the 80s, I can still remember seeing a diesel caddy swinging from a crane like a piñata along I-25 in Colorado. The sign on the Caddie read `$50 a swing` and the parking lot was full. Would you pay $50 to take a swing at an M62 ? We might need more than 1 crane, since you could be swinging at E38s, E39s, E31s, E53s or even a Range Rover.
Shame on me for not reading the e49 forums or searching for M62 issues....

[RANDY P]

For starters, the level of a BMW VS a GM from that era there's no comparison- my point is, the E38 / E39 was and in many cases STILL is on the bleeding edge of drivability and performance- something no Caddy (with the exception of the CTS-V today) never had. You couldn't get 100K out of an early GM without something major blowing up- except possibly, the L05 350 and that's a dog performance-wise.

Anyhow, life with an E39- at 162K mine has eaten:

Intake manifold gaskets

Final Stage Resistor

Transmission

MAF

O2 Sensor

Radiator (2x) and overflow tank/ water pump

Starter

Alternator

Sunroof links (rattling sunroof)

Lower control arm bushings, rear ball joints, and upper and lower links

Struts

Front timing cover seals / Valve Cover Gaskets

intermediate brake line tubing next to exhaust manifold

WIth the exception of the front timing cover seals / gaskets, transmission, and brake lines- all that stuff is low dollar DIY. I spent $3.2K on transmission rebuild including labor, full warranty at local AAMCO (a great shop) and those other bits at local BMW shop which total less than $1.6K, and out of that deal I got a car that looks and performs like new- suspension and trans and all broken cosmetic / functional bits fixed.

At 162K, the car uses ZERO oil between oil changes (7.5K intervals) no leaks, no CEL, EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WORKS, no strange noises, rattles, nothing. Apart from some slight customary wear on the steering wheel (which will be rewrapped shortly) and some slight leather wear on the driver's seat (it's slightly shiny, not matte) there are no issues at this mileage.

I expect to do the timing guides soon, if not definitely by 200K.

I paid $5900 for the car with issues 1.5 years ago, dropped $5k since then (trans failure was last month) and after budgeting the timing guides be into the whole thing maybe $12k.

Got a dead-nuts reliable BMW v8 that looks and performs like new, with a rebuilt suspension, transmission, and timing guides and consumes ZERO oil for that $$$.

Some say its bad math to throw as much money as the car is worth into it- I say it's better than throwing money away in depreciation (and maintenance!) and PAYMENTS and INTEREST on a new one, even a new Honda.

I'll take my E39 over a modern one, now that I KNOW what can break has been fixed. It's a bargain in my book...

rjp