BMW vs Volvo -safer?

[kjbcpa]

I recently bought a 1997 540 (70K miles, one owner, etc.)

I know its not an E34, but I've spent much time on this board (reading and learning about my recently sold 1990 525) and have a great deal of appreciation and respect for the regulars here.

In your opinion, which is the safer car for my wife and age 8 boy: 1997 BMW 540, 1994 Volvo 850, or should I have kept the 1990 525? Volvo has the safety reputation, but to me the BMW's feel much more solid (and we do not want to join the SUV ranks).

What do you think?

[winfred]

ether one will be able to take a good hit, the e39 was designed later then the 850 so may have a slightly newer design on the frame but they have the same general safety equipment, front and side bags

[Zeuk in Oz]

Does either car have side or window airbags ? In my opinion window airbags would make a difference, but then again Volvo's SIPS is a pretty good invention as well.
At the end of the day I would say both are safe cars. The Bimmer might be better at avoiding a prang given its superior roadholding.
The Bimmer would also be much more fun to drive. :D

[winfred]

i can't remember when the e39 got window bags, there should be some little tag or badge if it has window bags

[bimmerd00d]

Mom's 2000 528iA has the head protection system and side airbags.

[tim]

The e39's got side impact curtains standard in 1999. They were an option in earlier years on sports models and 540i's, so if you give me the last 7 digits of the vin I can check it.

The e39 received the highest safety rating ever for any passenger car from the nhtsa. The volvo is damn good though, so you really need to make the choice on aesthetics. The volvo is fine if like driving tractors. Part of its safety in my mind, is that gutless worm of a motor. (sorry to volvo fans)

tim

[winfred]

i almost hate the 850 in terms of the general design (how it's put together) and i like volvos, it's just a cheeply built agravating piece of ****


The volvo is fine if like driving tractors. Part of its safety in my mind, is that gutless worm of a motor. (sorry to volvo fans)

tim

[tim]

I like volvo's in general too. But that one pisses me off. Nothing I've driven of theirs (excluding perhaps the s80 turbo), has ever touched the '83 242 turbo my wife had when I met her. Great car, easy to work on, adequate accelleration, cruise at 80 all day. Best seats in the business back then. Just my $.02

[johnnyturbo2002]

I recently bought a 1997 540 (70K miles, one owner, etc.)

I know its not an E34, but I've spent much time on this board (reading and learning about my recently sold 1990 525) and have a great deal of appreciation and respect for the regulars here.

In your opinion, which is the safer car for my wife and age 8 boy: 1997 BMW 540, 1994 Volvo 850, or should I have kept the 1990 525? Volvo has the safety reputation, but to me the BMW's feel much more solid (and we do not want to join the SUV ranks).

What do you think?
we have both a '95 540 and a 98 xc and it seems that they are both comparable in crash tests. (there's a European site that does great comparisons) The xc does have side impact bags which your bmw might have...I am not sure. they are totally differnt in driving habits and it seems that in my family we will swap the car seats to have fun driving or to take longer trips where we need the wagon room/4wd. I think that due the technical advances and the ever changing crash zone changes that BMW probably makes I would say that your bmw is probably safer but only because of the newness of it.
If you're hit by a semi it doesn't really matter, be careful.

[winfred]

the 850 has seat bags for the side and the e39 has door bags


The xc does have side impact bags which your bmw might have.