Posted by Erk on November 18, 1999 at 15:40:14:
In Reply to: Re: E12 or E28 for fast fun? posted by Frank H. on November 18, 1999 at 11:13:03:
: : : I'm looking to buy either a 528i or a 535i and want some opinions. First off I had a 1979 528i std as my first car and loved it. It made a howl like a jet plane...do they all do that? My dad bought the car new but he always thought something was wrong w/ the exhaust. The car was fun to drive but a little slow and had too much body roll. How many of you have had e12s and e28s. Which was most fun to drive and own? Which is easiest to upgrade for performance? Thanks Rick D
: : I currently have 1985 E28 M5 and 1980 E12 M535i
: : The E28 is more refined - faster (almost 170mph) with vastly superior handling
: : On the other hand due to the gearing it is less easy to drive slowly.
: : The E28 has anti-squat rear suspension. Stiff suspension isn't ideal on the
: : increasingly pot-holed German roads. Motronic (E28) is more refined (could be interpreted as less fun) than L-Jet (E12)
: : The E12 feels like a MUCH older car. Very much like driving a large '02.
: : Better around town (!) but quite tiring on long runs over 90-100 mph.
: : No anti-squat here - the height of the rear is proportional to your gas pedal position!
: : Noticibly softer suspension setup on the E12.
: : If rust is a problem where you live then stay with the E28. If not then consider an E12. They're fun and getting rarer by the day!
:
: James,
: Don't you live in England? If so then the M5 you have is a euro one (286hp). While I agree that
: the E28 M5 is quicker and faster than the old E12 M535i (it doesn't after all have that fancy twin cam head?).
: After driving a US M5 and comparing it to my 81 M535i I'd agree that the M535i drives alot like a big
: 2002 tii but I didn't get the impression that the M5 felt like that much a newer car than my M535i, either. Granted I
: have a very low mi M535 which still feels very tight with it's stock suspension. The biggest improvement you
: can do to a stock M535 is upgrade the 14" wheels to the 16" Alpinas --with that combination the car handles
: much better . The M5 was a Dinan upgraded car Stage II (chip and suspension). Still, on the track I could keep up
: with this M5 in all but the straights (the M5's more hp (300) and aerodynamics compared to my lowly E12's 220 and close to .4 CD)
: but in the turns our cars were very close (maybe I'm a better driver??) This could be do to the US car having the much heavier
: bumpers and weighing close to 3600 lbs compared to my M535 which is about 3300 lbs.
:
: So Getting back to the question E28 or E12. Go with the E12 if you have the mechanical skills to work on the car yourself.
: It is much simpler than the later E28 in suspension and electric gizmos.And there is very little a home mechanic cannot fix.
: If you like have more creature comforts buy the E28.
: Either way you'll be getting a nice car.
: Frank
The Bavaria Weighs 3100 lbs and can be lightened by removing stuff like the rear seat, etc. Of course it is less refined than either the e12 or the e28. Put in the 3.5L and you are good to go. Now, I don't have any of the technical comparisons, so maybe Bill Bowes can help us out with that, but Don't rule out the Bav!!