| Author |
Message |
martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member
Username: Mw360
Post Number: 622
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 5:01 pm: | |
Not a single problem with my '01 M3 6 spd after 8 k mi.
The 360 going in for an exhaust leak tomorrow.! |
allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Junior Member
Username: Allanlambo
Post Number: 76
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 4:30 pm: | |
Want a nice german sedan? Buy a Mercedes. |
Rehan (F3606m)
New member
Username: F3606m
Post Number: 44
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 1:15 pm: | |
I have to agree with Jim, i had 3 BMW each i kept for about 3 years and never had any problem with anyone of them. Only time i ever went back to the dealership was for service. |
Jim Conforti (Lndshrk)
New member
Username: Lndshrk
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 12:59 pm: | |
Assumptions, Assumptions..
Ernesto.. just because you see a dealer lot full of
M3's.. doesn't mean the M3's are at fault.
Most of those cars are 10/01 to 12/01 cars.
(You're in PR, right?.. I pretty much know of
each of those cars from my friend Oscar V. at
Servicio Euromecanico)
10 cars in 10 years.. yup. But since I owned
(and own) them 2-3 wide, the average time is
about 3-4 years ownership and 40-60k miles.
Currently I own both an 01 M3 and an 01 MZ3
both with the S54B32 motor. I drive 'em both
like I stole 'em, and haven't had a single
problem with either of them.
Of course, I only deal with 1000 or so of these
cars monthly, from all over the world, in my
business.. so what do I know. |
Ernesto (T88power)
Member
Username: T88power
Post Number: 818
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 10:04 am: | |
Wow... 10 Bimmers in 10 years... that is not a big vote of confidence for their reliability - unless you measure realiability only during the first year. I, for one, tend to keep cars just a big longer!
By the way, the local BMW dealer's service lot is jammed packed with M3 with broken engines and M5 with tranny/engine problems. So Allan is not making this up.
Ernesto |
Jim Conforti (Lndshrk)
New member
Username: Lndshrk
Post Number: 19
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 1:51 am: | |
M3's built between a week in late October, to
early December 2001 have problems.. due to
a bad "mix" of bearing manuf. and clearance.
The remainder of the M3's are either related to
the SMG, or whiny, underskilled, misshifting
drivers.. funny, but my "non-car-girl" wife can
seem to manage one fine.
We won't talk about the 745i, because electrical
problems are the least of it's problem (hang
Bangle from a tree).. did I just say that?? ;)
I haven't seen a single M5 with a clutch problem.
(I have seen a few misshifted, and one early one
that was put together WRONG)
BTW, Allan.. if the techs would actually spend
a second and call HUS before they do something
stupid, there'd be a LOT less "dead" 745i's.
|
allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Junior Member
Username: Allanlambo
Post Number: 74
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 1:25 am: | |
Yes Bmw's are very reliable! Lets see, M3's engines are not grenading, the M5's dont have clutch problems, the new 745's arent plagued with electical problems to the point that no one can fix them and the there are pink elephants flying in the sky. Get real. |
Jim Conforti (Lndshrk)
New member
Username: Lndshrk
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 11:35 pm: | |
Personally,
I don't know what part of BMW you were employed by,
I've been designing modifications for these cars for the
last 10 years, and would have to say that they are
some of the MOST reliable cars I've ever seen.
I've only owned 10 as daily drivers in those 10 years.
The biggest problem with BMW's isn't that they are
unreliable, but that NA doesn't release enough information
to the techs/dealers, and the cars are very complex.
Comparing a DIABLO and a Z8 is bit of a misleading
comparison, dontcha think?
|
allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Junior Member
Username: Allanlambo
Post Number: 71
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 2:19 am: | |
I used to be employed by Bmw, and pretty much had my choice of cars to drive. The Z8, in my opinion, style wise is very bland, acceleration is ok, engine sound is non existant, clutch and shifter is very vague etc. To me, just an overgrown Z3, with too many zeros. It really just does nothing for me. For that matter, neither did the M5. I liked the M3 the best, but after being with Bmw for soo long and seeing how they really are unreliable, hugely depreciating, over hyped vehicles, i wouldnt own any of them.
On a side note I did have a little bit of fun one night, when we took a Z8 and raced it against my then 1992 Lambo Diablo. By 100mph, the Diablo was a good 7-8 car lengths ahead and continuing to steadily pull away. |
ross koller (Ross)
Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 429
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 2:43 pm: | |
allan, why was it boring? the reviews of it in the various mags told a different story. tell us more please |
allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Junior Member
Username: Allanlambo
Post Number: 70
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 2:22 pm: | |
i have spent many many hours behind the wheel of a Z8, and ill tell you that truthfully, it is a very boring car. I feel sorry for all the fools that spent 200,000+ on the first ones, as theyd have difficulty getting 80,000 now. |
Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member
Username: Parkerfe
Post Number: 1404
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 3:55 pm: | |
Arthur, the Z8 will run away from a 348 like it was going backwards. My on M5 will outrun my 348 and the Z8 is lighter than the M5 with the same drivetrain. |
Peter S�derlund /328 GTB -88 (Corsa)
Member
Username: Corsa
Post Number: 258
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 05, 2002 - 5:48 pm: | |
The gear box is crap if you are used to a Ferrari box. When you release the clutch, be prepared for a BIG surprise... 2 or 4, 2 or 4, hope it will be right this time... 2 •••• declutch fast.
Caio
Peter |
Rehan (F3606m)
New member
Username: F3606m
Post Number: 42
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 9:21 pm: | |
I have a 550 Maranello and a Z8 and i must say they are totally different cars to drive. The Z8 Feels much better built and drives alot smoother, while feeling just as tight around the curves. It doesn't have the raw power and edginess of a 550 but it alot more comforatble to drive. The comfortable drive though doesn't take away any confidence from the handling of the car. I wouldn't give up my 550 for anything but for day to day drivability, comfort, handling and power the Z8 is hard to beat. |
arthur chambers (Art355)
Member
Username: Art355
Post Number: 693
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 9:12 pm: | |
On the way back from the Hillclimb in Virginia city in 00, I ran into one on the way down the hill. I was in the 348, and found that the 348 was much faster, and after a while, the guy's wife made him slow down and let us go around him. We knew that because you could see her yelling, and making jesters at him. (spelling intentional)
Art |
Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member
Username: Wsawyer
Post Number: 480
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 7:10 pm: | |
What is it with BMW and these large noses on their sports cars? As someone (Tim N?)once said here, the Z3 looks like a big shoe, and the Z8's nose is about 2 to 3 inches too high. Lower it and it and it's looks will improve greatly. |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2931
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 3:36 pm: | |
I think it look ugly and is WAY overpriced for a friggn BMW.
I rather buy 5 308GTS than one Z8.
|
Bob Campen (Bob308gts)
Member
Username: Bob308gts
Post Number: 326
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 5:56 pm: | |
Other than the the drivetrain, the M5 and the Z8 are different. The Z8 does have an alum. frame/ unibody much like the 360. |
Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member
Username: Benjet
Post Number: 808
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 10:16 am: | |
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/z8/ |
William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member
Username: Countachxx
Post Number: 1430
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 7:44 am: | |
its a good looking car, it may share the engine & drivetrain with the M5 but thats it cus the M5 is a much larger sedan so they obviously cant share any chassis parts. Ive heard prices have softened considerably |
ross koller (Ross)
Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 365
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 7:32 am: | |
well the word is that it is their current flagship and that they lose money on every one (much like it was with the 850) and they will discontinue production soon. so it could turn into another 507 for rarity.
i like it because it looks sufficiently retro but modern workings. like a cobra for the millenium. i also imagine that it can probably easily be hopped up a bit. is there a bmw chat site? |
TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 1459
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 7:27 am: | |
I think Tako on this board has one |
Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member
Username: Doody
Post Number: 493
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 6:55 am: | |
my understanding is that this car is little more than an E39 M5 with different skin. i don't see how the skin doubles the value. i enjoyed my M5, but it was not a sports car of that sort of dollar caliber. if in fact the z8 is a rebodied m5, i find it hard to believe it's worth the money.
my two pennies.
doody. |
ross koller (Ross)
Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 364
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 6:14 am: | |
this car intrigues me. i have read all the stories in car mags, which are usually glowing. but i don't know anybody who owns one to give me some real impressions. anybody here fit that bill? |