Hartge Cars

[flango]

I know this is an MB forum but does anyone have experience of Hartge tuned cars? I've been offered a Hartge BMW 335i running 380 bhp and I'm considering buying this as my daily driver. I know the car's history well and the guy that owns it and its been meticulously looked after.

I've driven a few early Hartge cars and driven this one but would be interested in comments on reliability, could it be a daily driver?

Any comments about Hartge cars at all would be welcome, I know the exclusive dealer at the time was/is Birds

All input welcome

cheers
Ian

 

[Simon_M]

I think Birds is still the case.

I have been looking at the Hartge tuning box and suspension for my BMW 335D but externally I want it untouched. In Europe they honour the warranty period of the factory and had had some free fitting offers recently. Saying that I am not aware of anyone claiming under the warranty though.

Seems no different to someone like AC Schnitzer IMHO.

I think the resale is very limited with these cars though.

How much has been done to the car? I tried to investigate insurance for the Alpina and it was a joke.

Any pics?

 

[John Jones Jr]

I know this is an MB forum but does anyone have experience of Hartge tuned cars? I've been offered a Hartge BMW 335i running 380 bhp and I'm considering buying this as my daily driver. I know the car's history well and the guy that owns it and its been meticulously looked after.

I've driven a few early Hartge cars and driven this one but would be interested in comments on reliability, could it be a daily driver?

Any comments about Hartge cars at all would be welcome, I know the exclusive dealer at the time was/is Birds

All input welcome

cheers
Ian

I can't comment on a Hartge car but having driven my buddies previous E92 335i, it was rapid & truly excellent for a non ///M car. Which begs the question with me anyway, is a Hartge version really that much better than the factory car?

 

[John Jones Jr]

Worth a read. Not OTT pricing either.

3 Series (E92/E93) | Birds

 

[Charles Morgan]

I think Birds is still the case.

How much has been done to the car? I tried to investigate insurance for the Alpina and it was a joke.

Any pics?

Birds are just round the corner from me, very reputable (if expensive) firm.

My Alpina, admittedly not a new one, is under £300 to insure on the drive - I take it the Swiss like to gouge?

 

[John]

No experience of them but I remember watching a video clip from around 2003, when I was considering a B3 or B10, which compared the E46 Alpina B3, E46 M3 and E46 Hartge V8.

Only thing I learnt about the Hartge was it was a handful to drive apparently!

 

[Doodle]

They used to be past-masters of cramming very big engines into very small BMWs - usually an M5 motor into the 3 series.

This you ended up with an E30 sporting a 3.4 straight six, or an E46 with a 400hp+ V8.

 

[flango]

I can't comment on a Hartge car but having driven my buddies previous E92 335i, it was rapid & truly excellent for a non ///M car. Which begs the question with me anyway, is a Hartge version really that much better than the factory car?

OMG Yes this thing is lethal. I have just sold an M3 CSL the 0-60 on that was 4.5 seconds a standard 335i is about a second slower than that. The owner of this car reckons it's 4 seconds 0-60 and I wouldn't dispute that it makes my old M3 look slow. It's got hybrid turbos, hartge headers, hartge ECU the full works and that's my dilemma is it too highly strung to be a daily driver?

Going for a proper test drive over the Christmas period as the owner does not want to sell until next year

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[E270 Owner]

Depends how its been tuned, a daily driver I would want something more standard and not so esoteric
to withstand daily driving stresses traffic jams (stopped) slow traffic crappy road surfaces,
I have had a few performance cars for daily use they soon become drive way ornaments
after a few weeks due to impracticality and discomfort.

Then again depends how much and what type of "daily driving" you are doing.

 

[John Jones Jr]

OMG Yes this thing is lethal.

Perfect for a daily!

Wise cracks aside, judging by what you've said about it, it sounds exciting and with a bit of luck maybe only a small premium over a standard car. If in doubt go for it!

 

[John]

This is the clip I was on about - looks ancient now like it was recorded in the 70s... :

[YOUTUBE]di2X-yOSLuE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Simon_M]

This is the clip I was on about - looks ancient now like it was recorded in the 70s... :

[YOUTUBE]di2X-yOSLuE[/YOUTUBE]

That is superb, like a 70s p0rn0...

 

[Sp!ke]

That is superb, like a 70s p0rn0...

Hairy?

 

[mct_cars]

All the way through that I was expecting to enter the Twilight Zone.

The kid inside me wants the Hartge (which after a lifetime saying it wrong, I can now pronounce.)

 

[jamesfuller]

My mate Dave still has a Hartge M3, he used to drive it to Italy and back every month with work, also Germany a fair bit. 1987, 170mph and the cylinder head has been off once!

Having driven the twin turbo's I can honestly say the standard one feels a bit on the slower side if your used to something light and revvy.
Hartge dont do things by halves, I would say the turbos being more efficient will probably run at favourable temps etc, are no more likely to give problems over the standard ones.

I have also found modern Hartges drive like old Alpinas, it needs a driver, not a traction control operator! You will love it, just make the man maths add up!

 

[John]

That is superb, like a 70s p0rn0...

Just watched it again. Comes complete with porno sound track and the bloke who was the voice of KITT (probably).

 

[flango]

Just back from test driving this and what an awesome car. For a weekend car it would be brilliant for a daily driver my suspicions were correct it's too highly strung the race clutch would be a nightmare in everyday use its also very noisy inside the cabin another thing that would get on my nerves. Also it was very tail happy but to be fair I wasn't driving it in the best of conditions for grip as a weekend car I'd have it in a heartbeat but as a daily driver I'll pass

I now have another dilemma just talking to a Mate of mine in Ireland about a tribute rally that us being held at Knockhill in May to commemorate Colin McRae winning the world championship 20 years ago and during the conversation on cars he tells me he is selling his wife's Subaru Impreza now this is not a normal Impreza it's fully standard inside but has a full race engine and sub 3 second 0-60 mph needless to say I will be heading over to Ireland shortly so will post a separate thread to see if we can get a mini GTG in

 

[Charles Morgan]

You won't be going near Co. Derry in a car big enough to fit some W114 bumpers by any chance Ian?

 

[flango]

You won't be going near Co. Derry in a car big enough to fit some W114 bumpers by any chance Ian?

I'm going to County down which is not a million miles from Derry. I'm probably going to fly in and out of Belfast but if I can combine it with a work trip to Cork I would take the Volvo and ferry then I would have room for your bumpers

How desperate are you I should have my plans and dates sorted over the next week

 

[Charles Morgan]

No rush - a really helpful chap from this forum has what I need but a bespoke journey is out of the economic question and they are a hefty parcel to ship!