Goodbye BMW(somewhat)

[Wyn]

So.. I sold the 91 525im... and bought this:








It's a '96 Volvo 850 Turbo with 120K. I don't like the FWD or automatic, but it drives great, has decent power(222hp) and soon, I will be getting a re-tune to give it a reliable 275hp/280tq with only an exhaust/ECU mod.



But.. My dad still has a '98 528iM and mom has an '02 530i sport, so I cant get completely away from the Bimmers.

I miss the sound of the M50 already. But it will be nice to have 275hp on hand.

[525SEI BRIT]

I have to ask why? And especially a Volvo!!

Oh well sounds like your happy, and that's what matters, its you that has to put up with it after all!! May be there are just no more Bimmers left anywhere for sale!

But unlike your user name Wyn, I think you've lost... the plot!!

[Macv]

Boo. Dumb. Eww.

I do like Volvos, I just don't like replacements.

[brick8]

Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850. Won't handle as well as an e34 but it will accelerate faster. Make sure the timing belt is changed on schedule, or else...

[rob101]

Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850. Won't handle as well as an e34 but it will accelerate faster. Make sure the timing belt is changed on schedule, or else...

should have been

Congrats. 1996 is a good year for the 850i. Will handle as well as an e34 and it will accelerate faster. No need to change any stupid timing belts, because it wasn't built by scandavians working for a company that is majority owned by an american company. You have joined an elite niche which includes jeff (regal) and many other captains of industry by buying an 8er.

[attack eagle]

Too bad it wasn't an 850R, but it will still be a ton of fun, and fast as hell.

it has almost every positive thing that an e34 does except its a little ugly and FWD. I was impressed with my brother's 96 850R, except the silly built into the compressor CBV.

[jgardia]

So, you changed a bimmer for a shoebox?

Sorry, nothing personal.

Jose

So.. I sold the 91 525im... and bought this:

It's a '96 Volvo 850 Turbo with 120K. I don't like the FWD or automatic, but it drives great, has decent power(222hp) and soon, I will be getting a re-tune to give it a reliable 275hp/280tq with only an exhaust/ECU mod.



But.. My dad still has a '98 528iM and mom has an '02 530i sport, so I cant get completely away from the Bimmers.

I miss the sound of the M50 already. But it will be nice to have 275hp on hand.

[e34musician]

It's funny. I went the opposite way last year going from 95' 850 GLT brick to 94' 530ia bimmer. I am happy on what I did... I was able to sell the brick at almost the same price I bought it anyway (after having it for 1.5 years) - good deal! It handles pretty good (not as good as the E34 though). Freeway & road noise dampening is not as good as the E34. Suspension is tight and strong but bouncier than E34. The main reason I sold it is because it's pretty sluggish (yours are turbo, should be better, but require more maintainance).

I changed themostat and timing belt myself... Pretty easy to DYI on the 850.

Watch out for the gear position switch (PNP switch) if you have an auto. I actually still have a new PNP switch at home - haven't had time to put on ebay yet. PM me if you are interested.

[e34musician]

Forgot to mention that I miss the 60/40 rear seat folding option and the head rests on the rear seat on the 850 GLT. We don't have that on the E34.

[Wyn]

It's funny. I went the opposite way last year going from 95' 850 GLT brick to 94' 530ia bimmer. I am happy on what I did... I was able to sell the brick at almost the same price I bought it anyway (after having it for 1.5 years) - good deal! It handles pretty good (not as good as the E34 though). Freeway & road noise dampening is not as good as the E34. Suspension is tight and strong but bouncier than E34. The main reason I sold it is because it's pretty sluggish (yours are turbo, should be better, but require more maintainance).

I really like driving this car. Once the turbo spools up, any hint of sluggishness disappears, and once the ECU goes in, it will be even better(hello 275hp!). The car doesn't handle as well as the e34, but it sure is a hell of a lot more nimble. I got the car for an AMAZING price, had hour mechanic of 15 years check it out, said it's in perfect condition inside and out, and would be stupid not to buy it. It has all the records from new, and well, it's a pleasure to drive.

On the highway it will pull away big time from my dad's '98 528im... so while that's not that fast of a car, he was mad my little turbo brick was faster.