New BMW Project - What Would You Do

[Group.america]

I put this thread here and am unsure if this is the right spot.

I have usually bought cars that are either stock or already modded. At this time I own an old '99 E39 BMW 540i and was thinking of doing her up to be a loud beast but I have several options

1. N54 Project - 2010 BMW 135i

Add RB Turbos, do full Cobb stage whatever tune, exhaust FMIC etc. I can buy a marginally water soaked "Sandy" BMW 135i with 35-40k miles for around $16-17,000 that has been put ship shape into stock condition. In actuality, the insurers qwrote off a tonne of cars that had water just into the cabin in any car park - One of the cars I checked has the factory performance upgrade claiming 320 horsies and from my prelims seems to be in excellent order. Having a mate who does my work check it out tomorrow.

Title is a rebuilt NY title after salvage

I estimate total project costs = $26k (initial). Sell old car approx $4k

Positives - it would be a little rocket

Negatives - probably unsaleable in NY (any rebuilt title is tough), 135's are small and I have a high frame, maintenance costs and any labor costs in NY and Hamptons are insane

2. Buy ABR's modded perfect little M3 - as per the sale thread here

Thread: 1998 turbo E85 4 door M3. No sunroof! 620hp/740tq Fastest E36 in Texas?


http://www.bimmerboost.com/showthrea...t-E36-in-Texas

Negatives - I will die

Positives - I will die in style going effing fast

It is a magnificent car and as a long term-er I could always sell her to some Hamptons twat who wants to drag off his Maserati mates

I would get to drive it back to NY stopping at every E85 gas dealer

I get to see the beautiful south again (having driven through 43 states my faves are all south)

Costing = $17,500 OBO + flight and hotel etc, new title in NY etc. Sell old car for approx $4k


3. Supercharge my 1999 540i(A)

My car has 110,000 miles all city to Hamptons or the last dude just drove it to the train station. I did shred the front 2 sides of the bumper/fenders a year or so back and had the bodywork repaired but like all NYC cars there are taxi love scratches everywhere and a small ding where the garbage boys decided to use my car as a bumper for ice hockey practice.

Supercharger install and all labor costs = $8000
I guess I would need new exhaust etc = $1200+
Suspension and other approx $2000

Project cost (initial) at least $11,200

I guess if I sold it as is I would get around $4k in NY if lucky.

Negatives

Automatic
14 year old car
May need extra work unknown at this stage

Positives

Already has okay torque and nice comfortable ride, great sounding engine which will be a thundering beast if supercharged.. Get to blow by my wife's (inheritance friends) in their new cars
Be fun to do

Better the devil you know



I have already found the right people to do the 540i and the N54 work if I go either way

Question - which option do y'all think ???

[continue5]

If I were me, which I am.. I would just supercharge out my own car. But that's just me just like that's just you, everyone has an opinion and it will differ greatly. Do what's best for you. Not us, not god.

[deadmn1337]

They are all good options, the real question is are you happy with the comfort of your 540i? If so, supercharge it and keep it. If not, then its time to change up cars and you probably want to sit in both and see which you fit better if you are of a larger build. I personally would go with the 135 N54

[mjmarovi]

Option 2 all the way. That price for the 135i isn't that great considering rebuilt title, not great at all. Supercharger on your own car? Sure if you really love your car. Sounds like it could use a paint job, and I think you'll find $11,200 will grow by quite a bit especially on an older car with all those miles. Option 2 is the highest performer, best shape, and easily best investment. You'd be taking advantage of someone else's costs and losses in performance mods. To me in my shoes, pretty clear cut. Now if it was a 135i with a clean title and good resale value, I may be singing a different tine., but that option would depend on your bank account.

[Sticky]

If it is to be a toy might as well buy a car someone else already did up.

[Sticky]

Option 2 over number 3 all the way.

Option 1 is more refined, option 2 is more fun and cheaper plus figured out .

[bobS]

Why not buy a 135 that isn't salvaged but is a little older/cheaper? It will look the same.

I'd go with the 135 bc it's fun to build your own car and the m3 for sale is a beast that might not be very reliable bc it's so highnstrung/modded. Or you better have a good shop that knows e36 m3's local to you.

[Black335i]

Buy a stock used 335i for about 16-22 and put a used jb4 on it. Its a daily so you want it to be reliable. Driving a race car usually means stuff breaks

[Group.america]

I can't buy ABR's car due to fascist NY title and emissions, so looking at option 1 -

Found a JB4'd 335i, 2007 model here ... Link is here

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/3952491095.html will check her out tomorrow

or there is a more basic model for around $16k I may look at..

I looked at a lot of cars on the weekend and y'day and researched a ton more...

Sadly several of the Long Island dealers are lying thieving skanks...

I even caught 3 of the official dealers turning back odometers and falsifying Car Faxes... appalling but check this one out. It is so blatant, the idiots even post the FREE CARFAX report with their advertisement showing how they have turned back the odometer... also check the Car Fax, it is really strange (2006 BMW 650i that appears NEVER to have been worked on)

http://www.bmwofsouthampton.com/used...f5384e47f8.htm

http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...80173&zipCode=

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions.

[Sticky]

I don't know what to say about the 650i but if you are looking for performance it won't excite you.

[Group.america]

^^ A+

Wasn't looking to buy it just rechecking the dealer's validity mate