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Those were the days of the can't-kill-'em 170 and 225 slant sixes, the sturdy and under-appreciated 273, 318 and 360 small blocks, etc. The days of carburetors and points/condenser distributors. If you had a vacuum gauge, a compression gauge, a timing light, and an educated ear you could diagnose darn near anything!
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They used that 318 was so good they used it up through the 90's I think. The 225 "leaning tower of power" was one of the most robust engines I have ever seen. The only real weak point was the Holley 1920 carbs that needed periodic rebuilding. The AC compressors back then kind of looked like a Harley V twin!
I just had a 2014 328 loaner car, and I'm bummed out. The new BMWs with electric steering and lightweight plastic interiors feel like Toyotas. I'm very upset with the electric steering. You can practically turn the steering wheel with one finger.
I guess I'll keep my 2011 328i coupe for the next ten years. It is old school with hydraulic, very stiff steering, and a more solid-feeling interior. It doesn't get good mileage in city driving though.
I'm praying that BMW will fine-tune the new electric steering to give it the stiff, low-assist feel of the previous models.
I just had a 2014 328 loaner car, and I'm bummed out. The new BMWs with electric steering and lightweight plastic interiors feel like Toyotas. I'm very upset with the electric steering. You can practically turn the steering wheel with one finger.
I guess I'll keep my 2011 328i coupe for the next ten years. It is old school with hydraulic, very stiff steering, and a more solid-feeling interior. It doesn't get good mileage in city driving though.
I'm praying that BMW will fine-tune the new electric steering to give it the stiff, low-assist feel of the previous models.
I agree completely, the tactile feedback of the road is one of the things that made BMW. I will always love the E46 M3!
Don't get into a manual M3 then, your X5 might get sad and lonely when you don't come back..
I dunno about that!
I have an X5M! I think we have a little more room for road trips in the X5 and it has enough power to put a whoopin on cars that don't know what this thing has under the hood haha
Since this thread is comprised of BMW fans, I should probably let you know that my next project is converting my 2003 540iT (that's touring) into an M5T. I recently purchased all the parts I need for the conversion - S62, 6-speed, LSD, all the shafts, wiring, clutch, etc. Hope to have it done late summer (it's a bit beyond my knowledge level - especially the coding portion, so I'm having a shop do it). Maybe we need a C-D BMW specific meet up afterward?
That's what I have now. A 2002 model convertible. However, I'm in the market for an off-lease 2011 M3 convertible to replace it and hopefully will have one by the end of the summer.
I'd take an X5M over an M3. Every new gen of the M3 has been worse than the one before it. That M5T (assuming the T means you are going turbo) sounds fun - what kind of results are you expecting?
Great cars, the stereotype just couldn't be more accurate. Well, maybe with Infiniti G-drivers (IE "I drive a rayce kar! Vroom vroom!")
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