Performance

[Alexlind123]

I am condidering an e34 for my first car and have made up my mind except for one thing. Performance. The 8.4 second 0-62mph isnt that great but how do the cars really perorm when passing, on hills, etc.?

[Kalevera]

Depends on what you get, buddy.

My 535 kicks ass. Perfectly great engine and superb highway performance. A manual would be nice for around town performance, I guess. The only problem is not driving too fast - 90 feels like 50. But, that's why I've got a Valentine One :)

M20 powered 525....eh, I dunno. Maybe with an EAT, but I've never driven one, so what do I know? The M50 525 that I looked at last summer was alright, though.

[infinity5]

which engine? the 540 is extremely fast as i hear it, but you have to remmber these cars were made for crusing the highway, not racing off the line. at high rpms i know my car pulls pretty damn hard, but from a dead stop its a slug. you won't be disappointed an e34 if you drive it though. they may not be that fast, but they handle amazingly and are rock solid.

everything in them feels well built, heavy, and expensive. thats what i love the most :)

do a test drive, and check out the 3'ers too. i'm sure they're a bit more suited 0-60 times.


I am condidering an e34 for my first car and have made up my mind except for one thing. Performance. The 8.4 second 0-62mph isnt that great but how do the cars really perorm when passing, on hills, etc.?

[liquidtiger720]

525iA= no performance. I think 540i's, 530i's and 535i's are the only way to go for e34 performance.

[infinity5]

i wish i could see what my car would be like with a manual... i have this feeling it would open up a whole new world*disney music* of power. the auto shifts at like 1500rpms sometimes, its nuts.




525iA= no performance. I think 540i's, 530i's and 535i's are the only way to go for e34 performance.

[Alexlind123]

Sorry i was looking at the 535i (so prior to '94)

[pundit]

Sorry i was looking at the 535i (so prior to '94)
The 535i's are no slouches. The manuals will out perfom the autos as you can really work the engine within it's optimum rev range 3,500 to 6,000rpm. The auto does have a sports mode which will cause it to shift at highers revs than the normal economy mode which makes for brisker acceleration when flooring it. Not a lightweight car, so not stunning off the mark, but once you hit the sweet spot you will realise what strong smooth power delivery they have. Unlike many engines which become harsher as the revs increase, these things actually become 'creamy' smooth in the upper range. IMO BMW wrote the book on six cylinder engines! ;)

[Jose]

These are not too slow at all(a good manual should do 0-60 in 7.3 sec ).If you're getting a manual, you might consider a flywheel exchange once you get it. Changing the dual mass flywheel by a solid one from a E28 model makes a very noticeble increase in the reving of the engine at low rpm's. Bare in mind that the transmission fluid has to be changed from ATF to regular transmission oil due to the strain on the gears in result of the non dual mass flywheel.

[digitaldragon03]

i wish i could see what my car would be like with a manual... i have this feeling it would open up a whole new world*disney music* of power. the auto shifts at like 1500rpms sometimes, its nuts.
Sport mode, it shifts from 4500 to 6000 rpm. Its harsh on the gas though.

I love my 540, its pretty damn quick for a big heavy luxury sedan. The torque is blissful.

[Rory535i]

My car being an auto isn't very quick off the mark but like everyone else has pointed out, once it's moving and in the high revs it performs very well. I've held off wrx imprezas, legacy turbos and an audi a8 3.8, all from about 50mph onwards though.(obviously the subarus would thrash me off the lights!) My 535i is my second car and I love it to bits. Just be aware of the not so great fuel economy.

[bondheli]

As far as I know the m20 525i engine is the bottom of the barrel for hp (at 170 hp). It's a ballet dancer under 3200 rpm in an automatic car, but drop it down to 1, let it rev to 4k, then 2 to 4k and so on, it will get you going pretty fast.
Remember, the 90's mustang gt's only made about 190hp and they wern't much lighter. If you want cheap hp, your best bet is an Iroc, but BMW is the ultimate driving machine...
In a BMW the interior is extremely quiet, the steering and handling are like butter, and the ride is like nothing else. Only now are they starting to put independent rear suspensions into cars like the mustang (as of 2000) but BMW has been doing it for 17+ years. And although alot of people won't say it on this board, it does still come off as a $$ luxury car to people not in the know.