The smooth-running Inline 6 to be replaced?

Is that a surprise?

DAS

Well, it's not just unwanted upshifting, there's unwanted downshifting as well.

Not really, otherwise I wouldn't have bought a 323.

Definitely a bit of a "motorhead", though... 8)

Supra *Turbo*. With 6-speed manual. 8)

Ha, ha, funny guy! I believe Dave said his first BMW had like 190,000 miles on it, so he should have had to changed it at least once. He also stated his second BMW has only 90K, so he may or may not have changed it yet.

I have 126K miles on my 90 E34 535i, 5spd manual and last year had one shop inspect my control arm bushings. I was told one side was cracked. I was told to replace the bushings with ones from the E32 750i (green, liquid filled) would cost about $400 for the pair. Not too bad and will probably get it replaced some time this summer. Good Luck!

What's a "smaller car?" Would the 1 or 3 Series qualify? What about the 5 Series, both the 550i and 535i are available with manual transmission, albeit with the dreaded clutch delay valve.

The latest issue of Roundel has an article on how to remove and replace the CDV, so you can make a larger car more pleasant to drive!

Actually, BMW autos are supposedly quite good. Its only when they breakdown in a little over 100K miles that makes it worrisome.

If you like SMG, the new 7 speed DKG (double clutch gearbox) found on the E92 M3 is suppose to be even better! Again, how is the reliability? Good Luck!

None.

I bought it at auction with about 90,000 miles and sold it at around

160,000. I didn't change the thrust arms.

Not yet. Both the front struts have been changed due to the spring platforms shearing off - so I doubt I could be accused of only driving gently on billiard table smooth roads. ;-)

Not a trace of wheel shimmy on mine yet.

On my E34 535i, I've actually had "wheel shimmy" at the dreaded

55-60mph, but both times, it turned out to be an out of balanced wheel. Since then, I've always did the cheapest thing first and checked the wheel balance. Good Luck!

Call the Pope! It's a bloody miracle!

--scott

Not at all.

How about some numbers?

Both, but mostly the latter as everything is stress that much more and you have to trash the engine to get sparkly performance. The nice thing about [big] BMW I6's and V8's is the good torque at moderate revs'

The turbo motors should need to be "thrashed" less, due to their low-end torque. I think that's the whole point of them (fewer revs for better efficiency).

Compare the 3.0L M54B30 with 231hp @ 5900 rpm and 220 lb-ft @ 3500 to the new 2.0 turbo 4, with 240hp @ 5,000 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at just 1,250 rpm.

Don't confuse old-school turbo motors with these new direct-injected turbo motors...

Good post!

Last time I looked (a few years ago) there was a 25 to 30% premium for an extended warranty on a turbo.