It also costs alot more!!

 

My 540 was 8900 dollars and was/is in impeccable shape.
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Yeah too steep for me. I cant go over 5K. Its gonna come down to either a Suby wagon or a 96-97 A4.

 

FWIW, mine was purchased two years ago, it is the last of the E34s (1995), and it had a ton of options.

You should be able to pick up an early 5 for 5K no problem. Since you are not mechanically inclined the 525 is a MUCH better choice. This 540 is a very close second to the 951 as the biggest PITA I have ever worked on. The 525 is kids play by comparison.
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Aren't the trannys in those a dangerous proposition as well? Don't the 540's have the one that cannot be rebuilt?

 

OK. I need AWD drive. I did a quick A4 search and theres dozens of 96-97 A4s in the 5K range. And I know I can get a Suby wagon for that. I may go up to the Porsche/Audi dealer this weekend and take a look. All I need is 5spd, and cold weather pkg. Im 30yrs old and have never had *** warmers.

 

*** warmers suck. They always make me feel too hot.

They are rebuildable but certainly not cheap.
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Ha! I use them in the dead of summer in my dads car!!!

Im the guy who goes out at lunchtime in the office parking lot and sits in the August sun-baked car with the windows up. Man that feels good.

 

OK, it looks like BMW is winning, so I gotta throw in my opinion...
BMW's really suck, IMHO. Yes, they are faster, handle better, are more reliable, and hold resale value almost as well as Porsche. However, I found that BMW is nearly not as owner-mechanic friendly. Shop manuals are expensive and not as complete. Parts manuals are almost non-existent. My '96 328iA requires BMW-only computers to diagnose some problems, including why my airbag light is on.

My '83 944 (Auto) has been thru blizzards, floods, 110F sun, off-road, on race tracks, days of steady driving, passed thru the most miserable ghettos imaginable and thru some of the highest $$$ areas in the country - all without any major problems. The BMW can't take more than 1/4" of snow before it's uncontrollable (IF it will even move), is very sensitive to tires (Michelin - bad, Dunlop - good, Bridgestone - so-so), the A/C is marginal (even after I replaced the $500 control), and overall, the quality (of mine) is the poorest I have seen in ANY vehicle.

I bought the BMW new in November, 1996. Since then (120K) I've replaced the A/C control, the radio, the taillights, the water pump, the radiator, the thermostat, temperature sender, radiator coolant tank, front rotors and calipers, and the steering pump pulley (not to mention regular maintenance items not on the Porsche, like the cabin air filter). The clear coat has almost all flaked off, obviously due to a manufacturing defect which BMW refused to do anything about. The "wood" gearshift **** is cracked in two places, the driver's seat leather has almost worn thru where an internal brace rubs (same thing on the Porsche, but it took a lot longer), the airbag light is on inexplicably, and there is now a vibration in the driveline (and no, it's not the guibo).

And ... when the water pump went, the radiator flange broke (hose was fine) while I was standing over it. I ended up with 2nd degree burns on my arm and face. I really hate this car.

Most people like their BMWs. I would pick the Porsche.

 

It does not require BMW only computers, it requires a scanner with the proper connection. Anyone working on BMWs should have one. I have one at my house for my own personal use (no, it wasnt cheap). If you think that a 328 is harder to work on than a 944 you must not have gotten very far into the 944 yet. For that matter drop the exaust on a 951 and tell me that a worse car to work on has been produced.

As for your cooling system nightmares, I would echo those. The only thing that has pissed me off about the BMW is the 9 miles of coolant hoses and how they seem to randomly spring leaks on a regular basis.
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apparently the E36 radiators (at least M3, i don't know about the standard E36's) are cheap and routinely crack at the neck. i found this out last month when i paid about $600 to repair that and a few minor things. but that's the only mechanical problem i've had with this car. most of the people i talk to generally say this engine is very durable and long-winded.

lol, everyone's experience is different. i've just been lucky enough to drop over $8000 each on three separate 944s in six years

 

Joseph, I dont think it is 3 series, I think that BMW uses a crappy supplier, the radiators are a common failure in the 5s too. It *could* have something to do with the age of the cars but to be honest, my 1 yr old radiator really looks like it needs to be replaced again as I am starting to see a little seepage around the neck and end tanks.
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Thanks for the reply, Matt.

"It does not require BMW only computers, it requires a scanner with the proper connection. Anyone working on BMWs should have one. I have one at my house for my own personal use (no, it wasnt cheap)."

I was told (two independent sources) that the AC control can only be programmed by BMW to read degrees F and that the air bag system also requires a BMW program to check and reset. These are apparently different from the engine (OBD II?) scanner. I have too many vehicles to buy scanners for.

"If you think that a 328 is harder to work on than a 944 you must not have gotten very far into the 944 yet."

Just the opposite. I've completely stripped a 944 and only had a problem with the torque tube, sunroof mechanism, and those *&$%# rear speakers. Of course, some repairs are always more difficult on one car than another - like replacing the oil cooler, or even the oil filter on the Porsche. My point was that there seems to be a lot more (and better) information available on the 944 than on the 3, not just due to age.

 

I stripped many a 944s (about 50) by myself down to the shell and cut up for disposal. I say the 944 is MUCH harder to work on. Try putting them back together after you strip it. Just my opinion.

 

BMW's are great cars, and I agree with Matt about the 540. I have an E39 540i sport and it screams. All of my friends still think the porsche is faster because of the badge! Silly people.