Goodbye BMW(somewhat)

[Wyn]

So.. I sold the 91 525im... and bought this:


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/428586765_5fca9a3a7f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/423329170_4ce778cd7e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/452010806_6a9993864e.jpg

It's a '96 Volvo 850 Turbo with 120K. I don't like the FWD or automatic, but it drives great, has decent power(222hp) and soon, I will be getting a re-tune to give it a reliable 275hp/280tq with only an exhaust/ECU mod.



But.. My dad still has a '98 528iM and mom has an '02 530i sport, so I cant get completely away from the Bimmers.

I miss the sound of the M50 already. But it will be nice to have 275hp on hand.

[525SEI BRIT]

I have to ask why? And especially a Volvo!!

Oh well sounds like your happy, and that's what matters, its you that has to put up with it after all!! May be there are just no more Bimmers left anywhere for sale!

But unlike your user name Wyn, I think you've lost... the plot!!;)

[Macv]

Boo. Dumb. Eww.

I do like Volvos, I just don't like replacements.

[brick8]

Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850. Won't handle as well as an e34 but it will accelerate faster. Make sure the timing belt is changed on schedule, or else...

[rob101]

Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850. Won't handle as well as an e34 but it will accelerate faster. Make sure the timing belt is changed on schedule, or else...
should have been

Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850i. Will handle as well as an e34 and it will accelerate faster. No need to change any stupid timing belts, because it wasn't built by scandavians working for a company that is majority owned by an american company. You have joined an elite niche which includes jeff (regal) and many other captains of industry by buying an 8er.

[attack eagle]

Too bad it wasn't an 850R, but it will still be a ton of fun, and fast as hell.

it has almost every positive thing that an e34 does except its a little ugly and FWD. I was impressed with my brother's 96 850R, except the silly built into the compressor CBV.

[jgardia]

So, you changed a bimmer for a shoebox?

Sorry, nothing personal.

Jose


So.. I sold the 91 525im... and bought this:

It's a '96 Volvo 850 Turbo with 120K. I don't like the FWD or automatic, but it drives great, has decent power(222hp) and soon, I will be getting a re-tune to give it a reliable 275hp/280tq with only an exhaust/ECU mod.



But.. My dad still has a '98 528iM and mom has an '02 530i sport, so I cant get completely away from the Bimmers.

I miss the sound of the M50 already. But it will be nice to have 275hp on hand.

[e34musician]

It's funny. I went the opposite way last year going from 95' 850 GLT brick to 94' 530ia bimmer. I am happy on what I did... I was able to sell the brick at almost the same price I bought it anyway (after having it for 1.5 years) - good deal! It handles pretty good (not as good as the E34 though). Freeway & road noise dampening is not as good as the E34. Suspension is tight and strong but bouncier than E34. The main reason I sold it is because it's pretty sluggish (yours are turbo, should be better, but require more maintainance).

I changed themostat and timing belt myself... Pretty easy to DYI on the 850.

Watch out for the gear position switch (PNP switch) if you have an auto. I actually still have a new PNP switch at home - haven't had time to put on ebay yet. PM me if you are interested.

[e34musician]

Forgot to mention that I miss the 60/40 rear seat folding option and the head rests on the rear seat on the 850 GLT. We don't have that on the E34.

[Wyn]

It's funny. I went the opposite way last year going from 95' 850 GLT brick to 94' 530ia bimmer. I am happy on what I did... I was able to sell the brick at almost the same price I bought it anyway (after having it for 1.5 years) - good deal! It handles pretty good (not as good as the E34 though). Freeway & road noise dampening is not as good as the E34. Suspension is tight and strong but bouncier than E34. The main reason I sold it is because it's pretty sluggish (yours are turbo, should be better, but require more maintainance).

I really like driving this car. Once the turbo spools up, any hint of sluggishness disappears, and once the ECU goes in, it will be even better(hello 275hp!). The car doesn't handle as well as the e34, but it sure is a hell of a lot more nimble. I got the car for an AMAZING price, had hour mechanic of 15 years check it out, said it's in perfect condition inside and out, and would be stupid not to buy it. It has all the records from new, and well, it's a pleasure to drive.

On the highway it will pull away big time from my dad's '98 528im... so while that's not that fast of a car, he was mad my little turbo brick was faster.

[attack eagle]

Forgot to mention that I miss the 60/40 rear seat folding option and the head rests on the rear seat on the 850 GLT. We don't have that on the E34.
i have 60/40 folding seats... and I could have headrests if I wanted them... you just had the wrong e34 :D

[bmwrp8]

why not try the e36 or e46 m3? or e34 e39 m5?

[632 Regal]

LMAO Carbonate silver?


should have been
Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850i. Will handle as well as an e34 and it will accelerate faster. No need to change any stupid timing belts, because it wasn't built by scandavians working for a company that is majority owned by an american company. You have joined an elite niche which includes jeff (regal) and many other captains of industry by buying an 8er.

[attack eagle]

why not try the e36 or e46 m3? or e34 e39 m5?

Perhaps because they cost 3-5 times as much as an 850? My brother picked his 850R wagon up for $4300, documented vehicle in excellent mechanical condition. I don't particularly love their looks (as is evident by my choice), but I found the Volvo for my brother. He wasn't enamoured either until he took it for a drive. :D Good fast rugged cars.



The fun to $ factor is significantly higher with the Volvo. And it's much more humiliating to your average muscle car owner to be trounced by a "soccer mom" wagon.

[bigtisas]

Which one has better reliability? Before I bought my 92 525ia, I looked at the Volvo as well.

[Bill R.]

Here a very common problem on the 850 for example... comes out to a minimum flate rate time of 8.7 hours and in most cases considerably more.
The evaporator core replacement, or how about the repeat knock sensor failures that are so much fun to get to. Or the climate control sensors, or window regulators or the broken ,rattling dashes. Or the transmission pnp switch failures, etc. etc... I like the cars but the repair costs and the costs for parts is way up there




Perhaps because they cost 3-5 times as much as an 850? My brother picked his 850R wagon up for $4300, documented vehicle in excellent mechanical condition. I don't particularly love their looks (as is evident by my choice), but I found the Volvo for my brother. He wasn't enamoured either until he took it for a drive. :D Good fast rugged cars.



The fun to $ factor is significantly higher with the Volvo. And it's much more humiliating to your average muscle car owner to be trounced by a "soccer mom" wagon.

[Kalevera]

Here a very common problem on the 850 for example... comes out to a minimum flate rate time of 8.7 hours and in most cases considerably more.
The evaporator core replacement, or how about the repeat knock sensor failures that are so much fun to get to. Or the climate control sensors, or window regulators or the broken ,rattling dashes. Or the transmission pnp switch failures, etc. etc... I like the cars but the repair costs and the costs for parts is way up there
I wondered how long it was going to take for you to pull those pictures out and scare this fellow (into a honda).

[Milkboot]

Looks like your going to Turbobricks.com :P

[Bill R.]

No, never been there until just now.. the pics are from a customers car.



Looks like your going to Turbobricks.com :P

[attack eagle]

you won't find me in a Volvo, but even the e34 has it's bugs.

That being said, I think the e34 is the better car.

[bmwrp8]

you won't find me in a Volvo, but even the e34 has it's bugs.

That being said, I think the e34 is the better car.

AMEN!!:D

[Wyn]

Some of you people here seem to want to make the 850 out like a POS that will need nothing but repairs. I had my e34 for 5 years. I had to replace the guibo twice, the fan selector blade things, thrust arms, bushing, o2 sensors, among other things. Plus it had 230k miles when I sold it. It was by no means a perfect car, am I going to miss it? Yes.

Do I enjoy driving the Volvo, yes. Is it funny that stock for stalk, I tied our 530ia sport in a little race with my dad? yes to that too. This car is in perfect condition and I foresee years of driving pleasure with it.

It's not like I didn't want another e34, but unfortunatly, they are as rare as the Jade Monkey out here in WI. Even rarer to find one with a manual tranny.

[Ross]

After a few meals of lutefisk you'll be hungry for wurst und schnitzel again.

[scott540]

Some of you people here seem to want to make the 850 out like a POS that will need nothing but repairs. I had my e34 for 5 years. I had to replace the guibo twice, the fan selector blade things, thrust arms, bushing, o2 sensors, among other things. Plus it had 230k miles when I sold it. It was by no means a perfect car, am I going to miss it? Yes.

Do I enjoy driving the Volvo, yes. Is it funny that stock for stalk, I tied our 530ia sport in a little race with my dad? yes to that too. This car is in perfect condition and I foresee years of driving pleasure with it.

It's not like I didn't want another e34, but unfortunatly, they are as rare as the Jade Monkey out here in WI. Even rarer to find one with a manual tranny.

Wyn, Holy crap, are you in Appleton? So am I! Crazy

[Wyn]

Yep, and if anyone in the area wants two 16" T-star replicas, just ask. haha.