Oatz Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 (edited) Having recently been kindly donated a 1991 e34 525ise (M50). I'm amazed at how well screwed together this 135k mile, 17 year old living room is and after a bit of research I've discovered the e34 is pretty much bullet proof and I'm loving the old school drive. This got me thinking at just how many manufacturers have lost their way in recent years by over obsessing with the bottom line and thus having detrimental affect in terms of quality, reliability etc, Mercedes being a prime example So I've been thinking about over engineered, forgotten, old school retro cars and the question is are there any old over engineered, hidden gems at the bottom of their depreciation curve like the e34 5 series or classic Saab 900 turbo anyone would like to personally recommend? 190 Merc? Edited October 28, 2008 by Oatz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Cracking topic! Can't offer much though, I'm only a youngster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven944 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Merc 124 series ? Volvo 760 ? nah, that's stupid. Audi 5 cylinders - hell yeah ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven944 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I used to own a Merc 300CE 24-Sportline with 100k miles on it. Utterly hewn from the solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 My Corrado was certainly better made with less rattles than my MkIV Golf although it did go rusty where the hatch wires enter the roof & I know a lot of people complain about the door handles & sunroof I never had a problem with either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I had a Corrado VR6 that was a rattly bag of nails at 55k miles. Just goes to show. Solid cars I've had include Mk. I Subaru Legacies and Saab 9000s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I was going to mention the Mk 1 Legacy. I've seen some with ridiculously lunar mileages. Of that kind of era, one of the best must be the early Lexus LS400s. And from before that, I once nearly bought a 1976 Toyota Crown with 400,000 miles on the clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Having recently been kindly donated a 1991 e34 525ise (M50). I'm amazed at how well screwed together this 135k mile, 17 year old living room is and after a bit of research I've discovered the e34 is pretty much bullet proof and I'm loving the old school drive. This got me thinking at just how many manufacturers have lost their way in recent years by over obsessing with the bottom line and thus having detrimental affect in terms of quality, reliability etc, Mercedes being a prime exampleSo I've been thinking about over engineered, forgotten, old school retro cars and the question is are there any old over engineered, hidden gems at the bottom of their depreciation curve like the e34 5 series or classic Saab 900 turbo anyone would like to personally recommend? 190 Merc? Not bad for cars that ave been sitting around in the British mouldy weather. There not near a touch of some the beauties i have had in the USA! My partners grandfathers 454CU Silverado is an 89 with near 820,000K of serviced miles! Still hauls ass, snaps your neck if she slids in to (top) 3rd at less then 30 but other then that its a go'er! They dont make em like that anymore, these days is Camrys, Civics and Accords and Outbacks pushing the miles. We have a 2.4 Dodge Status that drinks almost as much oil as it does petrol, everything works its with just shy of 180K on the clock. I think its the weather here and people like to have new cars that kicks the older ones in to touch. They fall in to the wrong hands or just end up not getting driven. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Having recently been kindly donated a 1991 e34 525ise (M50). I'm amazed at how well screwed together this 135k mile, 17 year old living room is and after a bit of research I've discovered the e34 is pretty much bullet proof and I'm loving the old school drive. This got me thinking at just how many manufacturers have lost their way in recent years by over obsessing with the bottom line and thus having detrimental affect in terms of quality, reliability etc, Mercedes being a prime exampleSo I've been thinking about over engineered, forgotten, old school retro cars and the question is are there any old over engineered, hidden gems at the bottom of their depreciation curve like the e34 5 series or classic Saab 900 turbo anyone would like to personally recommend? 190 Merc? A great topic, here are my experiences : I also once had an '91 E34 525i SE, took it from 100k to 150k with only a replacement rad (top hose bracket had cracked, which I could have bodged back together, but new rad was cheap), and no other faults. It sold almost instantly. I also had a Volvo T5R TWR spec (1 of only c.6 made IIRC), boughts from a main dealer with 100k on the clock and a 1 year warranty (there's confidence), took it up to c.160k. Had only a couple of electrical niggles to do with an aftermarket immobiliser, otherwise rock solid. A car I deeply regret selling to this day. Very quick (c.286 BHP), big, safe and handled fairly well too. Sold it within 24 hours to a guy who came 250 miles and paid cash ! I recently had a '97 BMW E39 528, bought from a BMW main dealer (sold as seen) with c.160k on the clock, ran it up to 170k, only a coil spring went (£7 for a pair off fleabay). But... compared to the previous cars, there was an awful lot to go wrong, I was just lucky. A neighbour of mine is a BMW Master Technician, I've discussed high-milers with him many times, his theory (on BMWs anyway), is as long as you pick something with full history and not too many owners you'll be OK with the 6 cyl engines. That has indeed been my experience. I spent many years in R&D and Quality measurement / control for the Auto industry, there was a concerted effort to give cars a 10 year / 100k lifespan which was implemented in the mid 90's by the mainstream players. I reckon an early 90's Merc, Volvo, Saab or 6 cylinder BMW should do very many miles without too much bother. I don't know anything about Lexus but have heard similar things about them too. An interesting twist is the very long warranty times offered on certain new cars (5-10 years for certain Koreans), maybe others will follow suit and we'll start seeing cars cable of big miles again. I'd love a Saab 900 turbo, Volvo V90 (look it up), Merc CE Coupe, or another E34 BMW, regardless of mileage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oatz Posted October 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 What about the Merc SL? These seem to be pretty reasonably priced these days, anyone know anything about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 What about the Merc SL? These seem to be pretty reasonably priced these days, anyone know anything about them? Nope, other than they're prob out of the same mould and will run forever, typical SL owners are unlikey to have abused 'em either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I nearly bought a Peugeot 309 with 330,000 on the clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Of that kind of era, one of the best must be the early Lexus LS400s. Oh yeah, I was going to come back and mention that one. Also I once had a 1980s Honda Accord with front wings made out of gaffa tape but everything on it worked perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Alot of the old Hondas and Toyotas are exported out the Africa. The Legend being one that drops like bomb here but is highly respect and loved outside Europe with either Honda or Acura badges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I nearly bought a Peugeot 309 with 330,000 on the clock. You see thats the thing, it had acutally only managed 33000 miles (Peugeot after all!?) before it was laid up to rest as everything fell off. The only thing that still went around was the speedo and it was doing treble time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Peugeot 504. And in saloon form is still looks OK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I was going to mention the Mk 1 Legacy. I've seen some with ridiculously lunar mileages. I was speaking to a Subaru dealer who said that they'd taken a Legacy in part exchange from a rural vet, and given him a price based on it having done 62k miles. It was only after he'd done the deal that they realised they'd misread and it had actually done 620k miles. Made the 550k miles between my three Legacies seem distinctly unimpressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I was speaking to a Subaru dealer who said that they'd taken a Legacy in part exchange from a rural vet, and given him a price based on it having done 62k miles. It was only after he'd done the deal that they realised they'd misread and it had actually done 620k miles. Made the 550k miles between my three Legacies seem distinctly unimpressive. No wonder the Vet bought another Subaru! With a part ex like that, he'll be a happy bunny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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