Arne answers questions.

[240260280z]

Hmmm I just worked on a colleagues 2003 BMW 330. Internal fabric on A pillars and B pillars coming off, window seals falling off, water pump and belts failed, front caliper seized.... buy a BMW and I guarantee you will be wrenching

I'd say get a Ferrari 250 GTO kit or a factory five kit. Good investment, prices are only going up:

Here is a nice page: http://www.ffcars.com/forums/18-factory-five-cars-sale-wanted-sponsored-intercity-lines/

[Jeff G 78]

I'm happy and sad for you Arne. Best of luck with your search.

[Gary in NJ]

I'd say get a Ferrari 250 GTO kit or a factory five kit. Good investment, prices are only going up:

Good suggestion. Check out Factory Five's soon to be released 818 design. A mid-engine flat-four turbo (from a Subaru WRX). It's on my list.

[Arne]

Hmmm I just worked on a colleagues 2003 BMW 330. Internal fabric on A pillars and B pillars coming off, window seals falling off, water pump and belts failed, front caliper seized.... buy a BMW and I guarantee you will be wrenching

Hmmm. He must be hard on cars. I drove an E36 328i as my daily for 8 years. It was almost totally trouble-free. Same with the E21 323i (euro) that I drove for the 5 years prior. Edited October 15, 2011 by Arne

[240znz]

Good luck with finding what you need to fill the gap Arne. Keep us posted on what that gap filler is.

Thank you for all your help to me and others over the years you've been here.

Cheers

James

[26th-Z]

My E46 (2001 330Ci) is the same way. Piece of junk. I'll never buy another BMW.

[Travel'n Man]

My E53 (2005 X5) is one of the best vehicle's I have ever owned - bought it new - 230,000 miles and still driving like new - a few issues but nothing major, but one fantastic vehicle. Drives like the day I bought it!

[ta240]

Hmmm. He must be hard on cars. I drove an E36 328i as my daily for 8 years. It was almost totally trouble-free. Same with the E21 323i (euro) that I drove for the 5 years prior.

It seems like all I hear on that brand is either they were great or terrible. Not sure how much of that is luck of the draw and how much is proper maintenance. But it seems like if you get a good one you are set and if you get a bad one the ownership experience isn't much fun.

[Arne]

I suppose. All of the BMWs owned by myself, my family, neighbors and friends have all been extremely reliable cars. No real problems with any of them.

But I don't think I want something as modern as a Z4 for my play car.

[240260280z]

Saw a Z1 in Paris in 94 or 95

Cool at the time but now looks like a TR-7

[Gary in NJ]

My E46 (2001 330Ci) is the same way. Piece of junk. I'll never buy another BMW.

I had the same car. Loved driving it, hated owning it. It was in the shop every 6-8 weeks for yet another check engine light. Ate tires for breakfast. Luckily I had two-years of free maintenance. The very day it turned two it was traded for an A4.

[Walter Moore]

The infamous "Service Engine Soon" light?

And here I thought that the SES light was only a constant "feature" on GM products...

I guess that the more complicated you make the car, the more often it will need repair. My son had a 325ES that worked great, until he lost a timing belt. The thing that impressed me was that it was 21 years old, and two different BMW dealers actually worked on it at various times. That never happens around here with "foreign" cars. I have had cars that were half that old turned away from Volvo, VW, and Toyota dealers sight unseen just because they were "old". (When I called for service they said no before I could tell them what was wrong.)

Speaking of which, have you considered looking into a Volvo 740/760? I had a 164E which was pretty interesting, but had an OHV engine. By the 7 series they were OHC. Avoid any Volvo with a V6 however. The inline 6 was OK, but the V6 was the same basic Renault/Peugeot piece of junk that came in the Delorian. It was underpowered and had serious reliability issues.