OT: So my truck just got totalled and I am looking for a new car!!

ae1969 · 10-08-2001, 09:05 PM

Some schmuck decided to toast my winter vehicle (SNIFF).... oh well ...I wasn't to attached to that truck anyways....

But I have narrowed my search to ...

BMW 525 ~1990
Benz 300e ~1990

Does anyone have one of these, and have you had any major issues. I found a few specimens of each type with about ~100,000 miles. Any opinions.....

Alex

Rollins · 10-08-2001, 09:44 PM

I would take the bimmer hands down. The Benz is a nice car as well, but the bimmer would be more fun. I personally would veer away from the 525 and look for an early to mid 90's 3 series car. Been thinking about doing that myself. Good Luck!
-Tim

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Get the Benz....geeet ttthheee Beennnzzzz....
-Z.

85944na · 85944na's Garage

Get the Bimmer.

My mom has a 525 wagon, really nice car, kinda slow though, get a 5sp(wagons only came in autos). My dad had a 300e, it was really nice, but no fun, comfortable yes, but it just was not fun. A 535 might be more fun?

ae1969 · 10-09-2001, 09:44 AM

...so any issues with either one... mechanically.

I was also looking at a low mileage mean looking 750i (I don't think I am old enough to be driving that car), but I heard they had major block problems.... so I walked away....

So I was curious if the 300e or 525/535 had any major issues.... I have a friend who has a 300e and that thing is solid as a tank, he has put over 300k on it.

85944: did your parents car stay in the shop most of the time.... or just the usual oil change...etc ...... no weird crap like the timing belts on our 944's????

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

drive them both. you'll soon figure out which is the driver's car.

also, those two cars are not in the same price category. a '90 300e will be around $10k, while a '90 525i will be about $6500. the '91 and up 525's used the newer m50/52 engine, desirable. the 535i is an even better choice, imho.

85944na · 85944na's Garage

STAY AWAY FROM THE 750, my bro has one, and your not too old, its fast as hell!! and a lot of fun, and it nickel and dimes you to death!, my dads benz got a new alternator, oil changes, thats really it, but the tranny was acting up a bit, my mom's wagon needed a driveshaft, ac work,blower motor resistors, other than that nothing really. e34 5-series are very reliable in my experience(i've worked for bmw dealers as a detailer/lot guy) and i've seen a lot of high mile 5-series with no problems. DO NOT buy a 530 or 540, they have the block problems, not the 750. the 535 is a 3.5 liter straight 6, with a 5sp that would be my choice, the 525 with a stick is still nice, but the 535 will be more fun obviously.

85944na · 85944na's Garage

btw, dads 300e was an 84 with 80k, moms wagon is a 93 with around 100k, (dad switched to a 92 325is...smart man)

Doug914 · 10-09-2001, 10:54 AM

Have heard that the early 7 Series cars were notorious for electrical system problems, FWIW. Don't know specifics, though.

--Doug

fty · 10-09-2001, 12:45 PM

so are 944's.....................German electrical engineering needs to take a class in Japan!!!!!!!!!-chris

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Nabeel · 10-09-2001, 02:09 PM

I almost bought a 1992 525i 5-spd. I can tell you that it was a really fun car to drive, especially with the manual tranny. BMW builds the best straight-six engines in the world. I also test drove a 1990 300E. The Mercedes felt more solid and Mercedes cars generally age very well and they are very classy. They also handle quite well if you really drive it aggresively. Still, its not as good as the bimmer.

Try to find a 5-spd 535i. They have loads of torque and their engine is wonderful. Except for the 540 and M5, this is easily the best 5 series built for that bodystyle.

porschepatron · 10-09-2001, 02:10 PM

Both are excellent choises I however would take the 300 E over the BMW. Some weak points on the Benz are : C-seal (very common)and cam seal , control arm bushings, and injection (CIS which is a real pain in the ass to tune) also timing chain and tensioner should be serviced at least every 100,00 (check chain rail guides for wear while your in there). Mercedes made their bottom end pretty much bullet proof however it is not uncommon for a head gascket to go after 100 too. The earlier 300 was a 2.6 and in 89 I believe they went to a 2.8 a 4matic (4wd) option was available in 87 on. Not sure of your budget but I would shoot for a later 2.8 because it is a tad quicker and the interior went through a make over in 90 or 91. If kept up it will last fore ever. My d/d 87 190 e has over 221,000 on it.

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by porschepatron:
The earlier 300 was a 2.6 and in 89 I believe they went to a 2.8 a 4matic (4wd) option was available in 87 on.

actually, all the 300e's were 3.0l up through '92 (hence "300"), unless it had the smaller 2.6 engine. 4-matics had same 3.0l. beginning in '93, the standard engine was 3.2l, and the cheaper version was 2.8l.

porschepatron · 10-09-2001, 02:22 PM

Also Blackfoot makes a good point about price consistancy. I might consider looking at a post 92 3 series if you are intersted in BMW. This is when BMW changed body styles (much more sporty and fun to drive IMHO).