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BMW Driving Experience

84 messages,  Last post on Jan 18, 2013 at 3:29 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X5, BMW Z4, Car Comparisons, Performance Mods, Scheduled Maintenance, Motorsports, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan

Messages Page 8 of 10

#62 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [dieselone] by roadburner

Sep 21, 2011 (10:53 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Sep 21, 2011 10:13 am)
BMW did have issues with the M3 3.2 I6 around 02-03 IIRC. I don't remember how wide spread, but low mileage catastrophic engine failures were reported and I believe BMW extended the warrantys on those engines.
 
Right. Although there are still some techs and mechanics who believe that the redline of the S54 was initially set excessively high and that exacerbated the problem.
 
There's only one other chronic BMW engine problem that I know of. Back in the 90's BMW decided to use Nikasil engine blocks in their M60B30 and M60B40 V8 engines. The high sulfur content of US(as well as UK and Brazilian) gasoline caused erosion of the upper cylinder walls. To BMW's credit it replaced the affected engines with new engines using Alusil blocks and extended the engine warranty to six years/100,000 miles.
 
As for owner abuse, I've told this story before: Back when Erik Wensberg was BMW NA's M Brand manager he told me about a guy who had his new E36 M3 towed to his dealer- with a seriously blown engine. The guy claimed his new Bimmer "just died" while he was cruising down the interstate(his prior car was an Oldsmobile, BTW). It turns out that the E36 M3's ECU records the highest rpm reached by the engine. When they interrogated the ECU it showed 9000 rpm(!). Guess whose warranty claim was denied?

#63 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [roadburner] by uplanderguy

Sep 21, 2011 (11:05 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Sep 21, 2011 10:53 am)
There's only one other chronic BMW engine problem that I know of. Back in the 90's BMW decided to use Nikasil engine blocks in their M60B30 and M60B40 V8 engines.
 
Our friends lived in the same town we did when they had the BMW--which would be mid'90's. Theirs was a 5-series V8, I do know that. The numbers prefacing "V8" above don't mean anything to me.

#64 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [dieselone] by fintail

Sep 21, 2011 (11:21 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Sep 21, 2011 10:13 am)
Yes, but this was a 90s car.
 
If it was a nikasil car with extended warranty, sounds like the dealer should have handled it better then. Oh well.

#65 of 84 don't mind the post heading by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Sep 21, 2011 (11:31 am)

Lots of these posts were moved over from the UAW discussion (the BMW is union made, after all - at least the ones manufactured in Germany).
 
Carry on.

#66 of 84 Remembering my first BMW experience. by andres3

Sep 22, 2011 (2:20 pm)

I was lucky enough to drive a late 80's and early 90's 3 series BMW's. They were a friends dad's car. By the time my friend got to drive them, each was old, especially the 80's one.
 
I have to say, neither impressed me at all.
 
They were probably the lowest basest model available. Underpowered, underwhelming. The handling didn't jump out at me, but then again, I didn't drive them the way I would now to take advantage and really test the handling. I just remember the underpowered nature bothered me as a teenage driver. The interior's were nice though. I might have not had the same appreciation for RWD back then as I might now.

#67 of 84 Re: Remembering my first BMW experience. [andres3] by robr2

Sep 22, 2011 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Sep 22, 2011 2:20 pm)
Don't forget - it's more fun to drive a slow car in a spirited manner than a fast car the same way.

#68 of 84 Re: Remembering my first BMW experience. [robr2] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Sep 22, 2011 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 22, 2011 2:22 pm)
Maybe that's why my in-laws got rid of theirs ten years ago when they moved to the UP from Nevada and got a Buick instead. Even though he was a (too) spirited driver. She's calmer all the way around.
 
They said they'd never find a mechanic up here to keep it running and I can't say I see much of anything but Buicks around..

#69 of 84 Re: Remembering my first BMW experience. [robr2] by andres3

Sep 22, 2011 (2:55 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 22, 2011 2:22 pm)
I think that's true to a certain point. I really didn't become a driving enthusiast until I got my A3. The Audi inspired me to want to drive for the sake of driving alone. Before that, I used to hate driving and dealing with "traffic" and CA drivers.
 
I even had a 2003 Accord LX V6 Coupe, which was pretty fast and handled "above average." That being said, I never took the Honda out onto the back roads of San Diego county unless I had a destination to go to for another reason, because it just didn't inspire me to. Once I got the 2006 A3 that all changed. I started to study maps and seek out the best twisty roads. I autocrossed for the first time, I visited a track for the first time, all thanks to Audi. I would drive without a reason to drive other than enjoying the drive itself.
 
When gas went north of $4/gallon, I saw the bright side of things; less slow drivers on the road.

#70 of 84 Re: Remembering my first BMW experience. [robr2] by andres3

Sep 22, 2011 (3:07 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 22, 2011 2:22 pm)
Don't forget - it's more fun to drive a slow car in a spirited manner than a fast car the same way.
 
Also, if that were completely 100% true then there would be more enthusiast drivers in enthusiast clubs for slow cars like double decker buses, food trucks, and Camry's than for fast BMW's and Audi's, and Porsche.

#71 of 84 Re: Remembering my first BMW experience. [robr2] by roadburner

Sep 22, 2011 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 22, 2011 2:22 pm)
Don't forget - it's more fun to drive a slow car in a spirited manner than a fast car the same way.
 
Exactly. My Club Sport goes from 0-60 in 7.8 seconds, while my MS3 only takes 5.4 seconds. Both are fun to drive on the road and on the track, but you can thrash the Club Sport on the street without the fear of attracting unwanted attention.

Messages Page 8 of 10

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