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[justme]

Moral: is the german car any better, I don't think so.

The German car better than what, the Omega (which happens to be German)? That's where they're all built by Opel, the Vauxhall ones are simply RHD models re-badged.

They aint designed there though. Or they collared some of the best. I certainly would not associate the meega with German engineering far far from it.

[sounds2k]

the trouble is - as has been discussed here and probably many, many other places and times, is that nowadays cars are built (down) to a price - prpobably even more so now. As a result corners are cut - and reliability and build quality inevitably suffer ...

[V6_MAT]

Funnily enough I have been recently 'window shopping' on auto-trader when bored at lunch-times.

The general theme is generally how much speed can I get for under £10k, coupled with a desire for a reasonably large car (ie no hot hatches etc) so its pretty good on the motorways.  Oh, and RWD.  Not too fussed about MPG, as long as 25mpg on a cruise is a possibility and some degree of reliability would be nice!

The E34 M5 keeps popping up, the old straight 6 with 340bhp has some appeal
E39 M5's are j-u-s-t about gettable, an awesome drivers car - but reliable? & running costs???
Plenty of V8 engined mercs (inc CLKs, E55s, and even S's!)

but what I really want is a Monaro.
God I like those. Just imagine the engine :-)  That would wake up the neighbours with a nice exhaust!
Just not quite there yet price-wise as they are all nearer 15k.

Not looking to do anything in a hurry so maybe they'll come down in  a bit.

The 2.5 elite is running great, but just fancy a v8 under the hood....

[Markjay]

My worry about M5s is the same as I had in the eighties about Capri 2.8s, Golf or 205 GTI, etc - you will be hard pressed to find a second-hand that has not been abused... no such problems with Omegas, you still get the ocassional low-mileage one-middle-aged-owner FSH ones cropping up...

The M5 has another problems from my point of view, servicing is even more expensive than your standard extortionate BMW prices, especially such things as discs and pads etc.

[mantahatch]

BMW are nowhere near as reliable as people think, has anyone on here still in the trade heard about the new (last 4 years ish)BMW auto gearbox problem, that once again BMW are denying that they have a problem with.

There's a very easy solution to this one: don't buy an auto. BMW's autos are just as much a pile of junk as the next manufacturers, they're almost guaranteed to fail once the miles start racking up. If you're lazy and have a warranty then feel free, but don't expect it to be reliable on any make -- you only need to spend 5 minutes browsing this forum to see the number of Omega auto gearboxes that fall to bits, BMW are no different. Funnily enough the 6-speed manual in my 840 remains totally reliable when you add two turbos to a V12 and put 600 BHP through it.... go figure

Hello
I seem to have upset someone and I apologise for that, no offence was meant. If I may continue, I am not talking about high mileage examples. these BMWs in the local shop are leased cars with no warranties from BMW and are very new. And yes of course any auto box can fail, but I do not recall many Omega boxes failing within 12 months.

[tunnie]

Saab 9000 is a thought really not sure what i want to do, i want something with more grunt and to be an auto, but i am not after a V6 Omega, i know a 3.0 V6 is fast as the Senator, most likey faster..... but!

It does not feel fast!

I have driven JamesV6's 2.5 CDX Manual.... and well again it felt no quicker than my 2.2. Made a different noise, but did not seam to go much faster.

It would be different if the car was fully loaded, but with just me in the car..... i felt no sizeable difference.

I'd like a supercharged XJ but they are a little to steep for me at the moment.

[sounds2k]

... shame you aren't a bit closer or I'd take you out in the Saab ...  

the trouble is you get used to a certain level of acceleration so a fast car only feels fast for a while ... then you get used to it and want more!!!  

[tunnie]

... shame you aren't a bit closer or I'd take you out in the Saab ...  

the trouble is you get used to a certain level of acceleration so a fast car only feels fast for a while ... then you get used to it and want more!!!  

I am not far actually  

I can take South Eastern Trains and be in Dartford in 30 mins, i think some of them go towards your way....  

[Elite Pete]

I would have this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-BMW-750iL-AUTO-BLACK-7-SERIES-STUNNING_W0QQitemZ270177804895QQihZ017QQcategoryZ9837QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[tunnie]

I would have this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-BMW-750iL-AUTO-BLACK-7-SERIES-STUNNING_W0QQitemZ270177804895QQihZ017QQcategoryZ9837QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is nice!!!

Is it really classed as a classic?? - My 1992 Senator was not....

[Elite Pete]

I would have this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-BMW-750iL-AUTO-BLACK-7-SERIES-STUNNING_W0QQitemZ270177804895QQihZ017QQcategoryZ9837QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is nice!!!

Is it really classed as a classic?? - My 1992 Senator was not....

I thought a car had to be over 25yrs old before it got classic status but its still a top car for little money

[Nickbat]

Look Tunnie, if you want FAST, you can still stay with GM:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-LOTUS-CARLTON-OPEL-OMEGA-65-000-WITH-HISTORY_W0QQitemZ320173536305QQihZ011QQcategoryZ43114QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[tunnie]

Look Tunnie, if you want FAST, you can still stay with GM:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-LOTUS-CARLTON-OPEL-OMEGA-65-000-WITH-HISTORY_W0QQitemZ320173536305QQihZ011QQcategoryZ43114QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That will go for 15k easy .....

[Martin_1962]

I would have this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-BMW-750iL-AUTO-BLACK-7-SERIES-STUNNING_W0QQitemZ270177804895QQihZ017QQcategoryZ9837QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wonder why he has to sell?

[Paul M]

BMW are nowhere near as reliable as people think, has anyone on here still in the trade heard about the new (last 4 years ish)BMW auto gearbox problem, that once again BMW are denying that they have a problem with.

There's a very easy solution to this one: don't buy an auto. BMW's autos are just as much a pile of junk as the next manufacturers, they're almost guaranteed to fail once the miles start racking up. If you're lazy and have a warranty then feel free, but don't expect it to be reliable on any make -- you only need to spend 5 minutes browsing this forum to see the number of Omega auto gearboxes that fall to bits, BMW are no different. Funnily enough the 6-speed manual in my 840 remains totally reliable when you add two turbos to a V12 and put 600 BHP through it.... go figure

Hello
I seem to have upset someone and I apologise for that, no offence was meant. If I may continue, I am not talking about high mileage examples. these BMWs in the local shop are leased cars with no warranties from BMW and are very new. And yes of course any auto box can fail, but I do not recall many Omega boxes failing within 12 months.

You haven't upset me I'm just stating the reality.... autos and reliability don't belong in the same sentence, and BMW are no exception. Incidentally the Omega automatic is the same one used in some BMWs, what does that tell you? I have owned two BMWs that have served me well, both 6-speed manual V8s (a 540i and 840Ci), there's no way I'd buy an automatic version of either, not only because it kills the driving enjoyment but also because (based on what I read on the forums) you're doubling or trebling your chances of having a major failure. Yes they can suffer things like water pumps leaking especially on high mileage models, but I've had both the water pumps replaced on my 840Ci and they're not expensive if you buy OEM part from Euro Car Parts or similar (about £40 for the main water pump IIRC). The gearbox almost certainly will not fail, and the engines seldom give serious problems either. The V12 is a bit more problematic, but that's because it was too sophisticated for its time (3 ECUs, 2 airflow sensors, 2 electronic throttles etc). The V8 is a newer design and with the exception of the early Nikasil models (a problem that also affected Jaguars, but none of which are in the E39) they are pretty reliable.

Just my humble opinion.... I have no particular affiliation for BMW, I bought one because it's a good car to drive and for its uncommon looks and it hasn't let me down. I bought the Omega because it's cheap to buy and cheap to run, and is RWD. I have no doubt that the new Bangle era BMWs are built down to a price, and are unlikely to be anywhere near as solid as older models are. The E39 is good though, the E60 (new 5-series) I'm not so keen on.