New additions to the fleet

[2cams70]

For those of you who think working on Lotuses can be a right PITA recently my 16 year old son thought it would be perfectly sensible and a great idea to buy a 1999 E38 V8 BMW 735iL as a practical first car even though he's only just got his Learner's license. Seems like my son is a chip off the old block. Apparently the model has lots of "gangster" street cred and he's been saving up his money from working at McDonald's. Unfortunately I'm really not the person to take with you when it comes to checking over an interesting, unusual or rare car because generally the evaluation result tends to be something along the lines - "Yes it has a few little problems to be expected of anything that age", and then follows the fatal words "BUT WE CAN FIX THAT".

I've just downloaded the BMW workshop manual and it's 4,375 pages long! Yes it has the well known ZF 5HP24 transmission problems. I priced a used transmission from a wrecker and the quote was $2,750. I think I'll be becoming familiar with the innards of ZF transmissions somehow. At my age I don't particularly relish lying on my back beneath a car wrestling with 100kg's worth of transmission. As a bonus the timing chain tensioners also need replacing on the quad cam V8. It also has an in block coolant cooled alternator for a bit of extra novelty in case you become bored.

On a somewhat brighter note I recently took delivery of a new Ford Fiesta ST. What a hoot! The 3 cylinder engine is truly amazing. Not only is it quick and with a seemingly flat torque curve from 2,000 - 6,500RPM it is also very refined and economical. It has a shift warning to tell you when to change up and you really need it because I've often been in 3rd on the highway instead of 6th because it's just so refined when you aren't gunning it. When you are gunning it however it makes a fantastic sound. Runs on 2 cylinders when cruising on the highway and the transition is undetectable. Technology has certainly come a long way. Handles great too - not super sticky but mildly oversteer lively for a bit of fun.

Although it's 50 years younger somehow I think the designers had a couple of early high performance Escorts tucked away in their garages. The DNA is definitely there - a growly high tech performance engine, good spirited handling and sharp steering.

I'm seriously thinking of buying it outright and putting it away once my company lease on it finishes. Last of it's kind before the onslaught of boring EV's. There will be no more purist manual transmission ICE driver's cars on the drawing board. This generation is the last forever.

[661]

I saved my McDonald's income to buy my first car, ALH661H, which I still have today.
I'm liking your son's style.

[h20hamelan]

Big project, and what sorts of gangs does he roll with. Grans for Grans I hope
My older 2 boys wont touch vehicles, middle guy just turned 17 went through a few cars. Ended with a 1979 Volvo 242 which now has the 16v head and 5 speed Tremec. Luckily I talked him out of a bike.
I like his choice of a little souped-up tractor engine rather than a complicated V8, though I bet the V8 sound and is simply amazing!
The 8yr old talks of nothing other than cars etc, so maybe he will be more mechanically inclined.

Agreed about the newer Ford engines, as for a V8. I am sort of keen to try Ford’s cross-plane found in some Mustangs.
I am still running a 06 Focus as the winter service rig, with some bolt-on parts. Nice flat and torquey. Same lineage.

[mbell]

Personally I think your son has good tastes, but I've been running a e39 540i 6 speed for last 11.5 years...

I describe the car as reliably unreliable. In that all the cars do the same things and all the issue are well know. So fixes are well documented for almost everything*. And as long as you don't ignore things they're unlikely to break down on you.

They certainly not low maintenance cars thou. I reckon the 540/740 is higher maintenance than the e39 M5! In they have all the same issues, but the M62 adds the 110 degree cooling system and timing chain guide isues over the S62. So you have more cooling system issues (blown hoses + radiators, failed water pumps etc) along with the timing chain guides.

If you haven't researched the timing guide job already, your in for fun. Book time is 20+ hours on it. Mine went at 155K miles and I wimped out and paid for it to be done. As didn't want a week of the car in the garage in pieces and me having to stress if i could get it back together without blowing the engine. Bill was over 4K$. I also recently paid for a clutch doing on it, as I didn't want to spend the day on my back under it wrestling with the gearbox.

Overall they a really good car and actually reasonable straight forward for the home mechanic to work on. I would say it is well worth it to refresh the suspension, especially shocks. Made a massive difference to my car. Also I suggest replacing the cooling system while you have it apart for the timing chains.

* Just last week I found the first item where the fix wasn't documented, how to rekey a driver door lock.

[2cams70]

Thanks for your comments guys. I'm going to do some further basic checks and some more research on the BMW but for now I've managed to put it off for a bit (or perhaps a long time!) by telling my son he needs to do more work at McDonalds to pay for the parts!

[alan.barker]

BMW Z3 seem not too bad or Honda S2000
TVR Wedge V8 lots of noise.
Alan

[alanr]

I have recently found myself drawn to and looking at Alfa's again!
I know, I know, the dreaded rust!.... but many years ago I owned an '74 Alfa 2000GTV (105series) which I truly loved but I subsequently rolled and wrote off on a twisty country lane trying to avoid a head-on with a Cortina which came around a bend on my side of the road!
Would it be completely mad to buy a 105 series Alfa nowadays?...I am a bit out of touch with them but buying an ex-South African car appeals and should be relatively free of rust...Yes?..No?
I also once owned a BMW 2002 Tii which was a fantastic car generally at the time but the troubles and cost of refurbing the Kugelfischer injector pump nearly broke me at the time....and the 2002 tii does look very boxy nowadays compared to the Alfa which to my eyes is a pure work of art to look at!

Would it be completely mad nowadays to own a 1970's Alfa?

To be clear, no intention of parting with my +2. an Alfa would be in addition.

Alan

[h20hamelan]

better keep your +2, for when the Alfa breaks down

[alanr]

A good thought!...nice photo.
Not sure an Alfa is any less reliable than a +2 though? A problem is a problem I think whatever the make of car!

Alan.