Not on EBay but……

[AMGeed]

Wow that's stunning

That is rather nice.
But £25k for a 1990 model?

 

[NickW205C63]

I've owned BMW's, a 640d and a M135i (4 pot). They make great straight 6's. They arguably make the best quality interiors of the German marques right now, although the new E class looks premium. I simply don't like their new design direction and their interiors are "meh" to look at.

 

[NickW205C63]

That is rather nice.
But £25k for a 1990 model?

I guess it's a restoration and that's what he / she has put into it. I think they have enough of a cult following that somebody will jump on it imho

 

[AMGeed]

I guess it's a restoration and that's what he / she has put into it. I think they have enough of a cult following that somebody will jump on it imho

Understood Nick. I don't really follow BMW and their values.

 

[NickW205C63]

Understood Nick. I don't really follow BMW and their values.

Nor do I, but from my endless YouTube viewing, people love em.

Only one I'd LOVE is a 1990's 8 series ...

 

[SpikyMikey]

I've owned BMW's, a 640d and a M135i (4 pot). They make great straight 6's. They arguably make the best quality interiors of the German marques right now, although the new E class looks premium. I simply don't like their new design direction and their interiors are "meh" to look at.

I reckon the interiors aren't as good as they used to be. One of the things that impressed me about my old E91 was that the interior 'hex' aluminium trim was real aluminium and not plastic looky-likey.

 

[Will]

That wouldn't be me Will.
The loan X5 was a horrible thing. Loaned for 2 weeks when some fool reversed into my E55 two days after I bought it.
I never gelled with it and found it cumbersome and probably put me off those huge SUV's that clog the school run today.

But I just never had a desire to own a BMW, although the 7 series my brother in law owned was pretty smooth, his earlier W140 S class was far nicer.
I understand they make a great "drivers" car, whatever that means, but the modern models leave me pretty cold in their design, albeit they may be excellent cars. But I've never not liked the brand as such.

I've never owned, or driven a VW or Audi either.
Cue more discussion

I was about to say, the X5 is chalk and cheese compared to the E-class and C-class Mercedes you have owned.

Have to compare apples with apples, have you driven an ML or something similar?

For someone who’s into the sportier MB models, AMGs and the like, BMWs are probably a reasonable alternative - they’re slightly sharper to drive - Mercedes have always been more executive, luxury sort of segment although that’s changed significantly over the last decade or two with all the smaller models and AMG-line models etc.

Don’t mistake me for being a BMW fanboy because I sure am not, but I bet you’d enjoy a drive in an M5 or something coming from a background of E55/E63 etc

VW make great everyday cars

I think of an Audi as a posh VW though and although they used to have decent interiors I’d probably always prefer an MB alternative at the premium end

 

[AMGeed]

I was about to say, the X5 is chalk and cheese compared to the E-class and C-class Mercedes you have owned.

Have to compare apples with apples, have you driven an ML or something similar?

For someone who’s into the sportier MB models, AMGs and the like, BMWs are probably a reasonable alternative - they’re slightly sharper to drive - Mercedes have always been more executive, luxury sort of segment although that’s changed significantly over the last decade or two with all the smaller models and AMG-line models etc.

Don’t mistake me for being a BMW fanboy because I sure am not, but I bet you’d enjoy a drive in an M5 or something coming from a background of E55/E63 etc

VW make great everyday cars

I think of an Audi as a posh VW though and although they used to have decent interiors I’d probably always prefer an MB alternative at the premium end

No Will, no ML experience at all. Are they that different to the X5 and the like.?
You are correct, I have been used to E and C classes and I'm happy with the choice.
Had a BMW caught my eye back in 2003 when I got my first W210 I may well be singing from a different hymn sheet.
As it is, its just one of many brands I've never had the pleasure of owning or driving.

 

[E55BOF]

BMWs are designed to be sporty cars, AMGs are more hot rods with big, powerful engines; they tend to have handling (relatively) to match. I had a first-generation 528i many many years ago, but it didn't feel particularly quick or special, which is not something I'd say about any of my AMGs. I think I just like hot rods...

 

[Will]

BMWs are designed to be sporty cars, AMGs are more hot rods with big, powerful engines; they tend to have handling (relatively) to match. I had a first-generation 528i many many years ago, but it didn't feel particularly quick or special, which is not something I'd say about any of my AMGs. I think I just like hot rods...

I think 25 years ago I might have agreed with you. But modern AMGs are not one trick ponies anymore.

I reckon if you took a passenger ride in a modern AMG at Brooklands for 15 minutes you’d be astounded at how different the experience is compared to what you’re used to

Modern AMGs corner like they’re on rails by comparison - the suspension, brakes, tyres, gear changes etc are in a different league

 

[E55BOF]

I agree the balance is different nowadays, but most of mine have been nearer the hot rod end of the scale. I like what I'm used to...

 

[Will]

I agree the balance is different nowadays, but most of mine have been nearer the hot rod end of the scale. I like what I'm used to...

The new stuff is even quicker in a straight line, but far more capable in the corners

They do the hot rod thing just fine, only downside is a trade off in terms of ride comfort from the old days of 17/18” wheels and chunkier tyres etc.

 

[E55BOF]

The new stuff is even quicker in a straight line, but far more capable in the corners

True, but not nearly proportionately much quicker as much more expensive, though. A lot of money for not that much gain in bang for buck, and on the crowded, potholed roads down here where I live, there's not much opportunity safely to exploit the better cornering.

They do the hot rod thing just fine...

I know, but so do mine...

I'm not impressed by gimmick-stuffed modern stuff. I don't care for the fascias, I don't like or want a touchscreen, I don't want, let alone need, most of the latest gimmicks (though admittedly, a 360-degree camera I would like), I play my music off an SD card; I don't even want Distronic, because when I'm driving I concentrate on that.

I'm a dinosaur driving a dinosaur, and I'd have to spend a good deal of money to buy anything significantly faster that would replace the CLS63.

I'm retiring next month, though, so I will need a pipe, some slippers, a flat 'at and a nice stuffed cushion for the rear shelf.

Or possibly not...

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

True, but not nearly proportionately much quicker as much more expensive, though. A lot of money for not that much gain in bang for buck, and on the crowded, potholed roads down here where I live, there's not much opportunity safely to exploit the better cornering.

Apparently a brand new190 2.3 16v list price was £21,940 in the UK, which is equivalent to £62,741 today after accounting for inflation.

 

[JHS]

I had a 320i straight 6. It was very pretty and incredibly smooth, sounded great revving it through the full range. But, the quality of the car was inferior to a Ford Sierra. The interior fell a pieces, and the suspension design was extremely basic and designed for cheapness to make. But for some reason people preferred them to fords. I suppose the 3 series was the spiritual successor to the triumph dolomite. And the five series the modern day triumph 2000 or Rover 2000.

My H reg 320i decided to blow the head gasket the week before I was due to change it, apparently a known weakness on cylinders 5 and 6. The cost of the repairs was stratospheric.
Horrible car, the rear grip was like a duck on snot.

 

[NickW205C63]

My H reg 320i decided to blow the head gasket the week before I was due to change it, apparently a known weakness on cylinders 5 and 6. The cost of the repairs was stratospheric.
Horrible car, the rear grip was like a duck on snot

Thread creep apologies.... but beautiful Shepherd

 

[JHS]

Thread creep apologies.... but beautiful Shepherd

Thank you. Molly sadly crossed the rainbow bridge last September. Still missing her.

 

[NickW205C63]

Thank you. Molly sadly crossed the rainbow bridge last September. Still missing her.

Ours is 6 on the 16th. Wonderful dogs.

 

[Darrell]

That is rather nice.
But £25k for a 1990 model?

The Touring models are going for big bucks now.

 

[Will]

Apparently a brand new190 2.3 16v list price was £21,940 in the UK, which is equivalent to £62,741 today after accounting for inflation.

I think the list prices crept up over the years - but more significantly the options list was long (and cars were basic as standard) so most would have cost quite a bit more than that.

Pretty much everything was extra back then - radio, air con, leather seats, airbag, rear headrests, ASD, heated seats, electric seats, memory seats, light up vanity mirrors, auto gearbox (yes on the 16v!), etc.

You could probably spec one up to £30k which can’t be far off the price of a modest home back in the early/mid 80s?