View Poll Results: 850Ci ACS or E39 M5?
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Help me choose the ES's garage pal!
#1
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Help me choose the ES's garage pal!
MODS: DONT MOVE THIS! I put it here for a reason.
Down to two cars, really. I’ve considered a ton of them - E34 M5, E46 M3, E55 AMG, 996 911, etc etc. What it comes down to is one of these two:
1) 1993 BMW 850Ci ACS
http://tomnlisa.homestead.com/CarPictures1.html (that exact car)
Sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiupn9BTPBg
2) 2002 BMW M5
http://www.gt40se.com/bmwm5/bmwm51.jpg
Sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmgqDURRmD4
Here’s my reasoning for them:
1) The 850 has a sweet history. BMW invested over a billion dollars into the 8 series, and I think it looks absolutely fantastic. That V12 can sound pretty cool, and it’s a really unique head turner. This particular car has a fully documented history, TONS of upgrades (dinan parts, M5 differential, AC Schnitzer bumpers, etc). The interior is pretty dated looking, but my focus would be on the road, so I don’t really need a bunch of features in there. Unfortunately this car’s an automatic, but Getrag is selling new-old-stock CSi 6 speed transmissions, and I could buy the car and convert it to a manual for about the same price as a M5. Cons: It’s older. The previous owner was **** about replacing every single part that wasn’t 100% tip top, but it’s still over 15 years old, and ball joints and stuff won’t be at their best. It’s also less powerful than the M5, on the scale of 50 hp and similar torque.
2) The E39 M5 is highly regarded as one of the best cars BMW has ever built. It’s fast as hell, sounds great, and quite modern. It’s very comfortable, but it’ll rip your ***** off if you let it. It’s also a pretty darn good track car. It’s practical with 4 doors, but I already have a 4 door car (very boring and slow, though) - so I don’t necessarily need that. Cons: very expensive to insure. It’s also very bland looking - it just fades in with all the other hondas and the million other 5 series on the road. It’s not really a thing of beauty like the 8. They’re typically driven pretty hard by their owners. I would pretty much leave it stock, but it does only come in a 6 speed, so I wouldn’t have to worry about a manual conversion.
Mileage is negligible, both cost about the same to own / buy. Let me know what you guys think!
Down to two cars, really. I’ve considered a ton of them - E34 M5, E46 M3, E55 AMG, 996 911, etc etc. What it comes down to is one of these two:
1) 1993 BMW 850Ci ACS
http://tomnlisa.homestead.com/CarPictures1.html (that exact car)
Sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiupn9BTPBg
2) 2002 BMW M5
http://www.gt40se.com/bmwm5/bmwm51.jpg
Sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmgqDURRmD4
Here’s my reasoning for them:
1) The 850 has a sweet history. BMW invested over a billion dollars into the 8 series, and I think it looks absolutely fantastic. That V12 can sound pretty cool, and it’s a really unique head turner. This particular car has a fully documented history, TONS of upgrades (dinan parts, M5 differential, AC Schnitzer bumpers, etc). The interior is pretty dated looking, but my focus would be on the road, so I don’t really need a bunch of features in there. Unfortunately this car’s an automatic, but Getrag is selling new-old-stock CSi 6 speed transmissions, and I could buy the car and convert it to a manual for about the same price as a M5. Cons: It’s older. The previous owner was **** about replacing every single part that wasn’t 100% tip top, but it’s still over 15 years old, and ball joints and stuff won’t be at their best. It’s also less powerful than the M5, on the scale of 50 hp and similar torque.
2) The E39 M5 is highly regarded as one of the best cars BMW has ever built. It’s fast as hell, sounds great, and quite modern. It’s very comfortable, but it’ll rip your ***** off if you let it. It’s also a pretty darn good track car. It’s practical with 4 doors, but I already have a 4 door car (very boring and slow, though) - so I don’t necessarily need that. Cons: very expensive to insure. It’s also very bland looking - it just fades in with all the other hondas and the million other 5 series on the road. It’s not really a thing of beauty like the 8. They’re typically driven pretty hard by their owners. I would pretty much leave it stock, but it does only come in a 6 speed, so I wouldn’t have to worry about a manual conversion.
Mileage is negligible, both cost about the same to own / buy. Let me know what you guys think!
#6
I have always loved the 850 as well, it an exotic for christs sake. Tough to find a csi. If its an auto though id have to give my nod to the M. Converting that 8 series would be a nightmare im sure.
#7
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Actually, it's not too bad of a job. I enjoy that kind of stuff. And by the time I buy it, my friend will have his shop built, and I'll have access to a lift
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#11
8 it is
YES, the inside is dated but you know some day, it will be a classic. And now, it is a head turner
M5? only hard core Bimmer fans know how good that car is. For others, it's just another BMW
YES, the inside is dated but you know some day, it will be a classic. And now, it is a head turner
M5? only hard core Bimmer fans know how good that car is. For others, it's just another BMW
#13
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I have. I'm easily capable of doing the service myself, but they're way more reliable than people give them credit for. I mean, I don't expect a 400 hp M5 to be trouble free, but as long as you give it a work out now and then and don't just putter around town, it should be fine. Even the Vanos solenoids aren't really a big deal - and that's the biggest issue with E39s.
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