Thoughts from a new owner................fficeffice" />
............ I picked up my new toy just before Christmas, having searched for 3 months for the right car. I finally settled on LE No 9 sold to me by a midlands based board member, having been to view all manner of cars from early 3.6’s to late 3.8’s. I found a huge variation in the standard of cars for sale with the buying process turning into a bit of a mine field in the end. Still, I feel like I have bought the right car, although only time will tell as to the financial wisdom of my decision.
My first drive in the car was awful. I had a 100 mile journey home and having picked up a cold the week before just wanted to be back at home and in bed as soon as possible. The car left no impression on me whatsoever, although that would soon change....... Once the worst of the cold had passed I decided to go for a drive and make sure I had made the right decision.
During the first 10 miles I was aware of a very large car (I am used to Lotus Elises and Caterham 7’s) with slow, dull steering, a controlled ride and nicely weighted pedles and gear change. Once the engine was warmed through I started to extend the revs and was initially disapointed by the lack of torque and the feeling of weight blunting performance. Using more of the revs and holding the gears longer allowed me to see the first glances of Dr Jeckle come out from behind Mr Hyde. Above 4,000rpm the engine started to come alive, singing smoothly all the way round to the red-line, moving the big old girl along at an indecent speed.
The further we went the harder I pushed. Incredible body control and stunning traction shining through, whilst the fantastic engine sang away to me from under the bonet. The sterring continues to disapoint, but only because the rest of the car seems so alert and responsive. Other annoyances, well the headlights are useless (I thought I had left them off the first time I drove in the dark) and the fuel economy is shocking, but that is it. It really is a stonking bit of kit, that I hope will see me through another 94,000 miles.
A good decision? At the moment yes. I miss the intamacy of a proper sports car, but as a super saloon it is stunning. Financially it has the potential to ruin, but choosing a car for me is never a rationalle decision, so as long as it continues to put a smile on my face I will be happy.
Agree with all the above. The old '5 is a slow burner and doesn't really get out of bed for less than 4k RPM. However, once on song it is really a rather brilliant peice of kit. Whilst the steering is probably a little on the slow side, the turn-in is still amazingly sharp for such a large and heavy car.
I've had mine for three weeks now and despite constant jibes from just about everyone about buying an old 'banger' (if only they understood), I love it to bits.
A perfect compliment to it would be a mildly fettled E30 M3...
Alex, welcome to the community. The first thing I did was change the headlights....there are some wonderful kits out there to allow you to see where you are going. Tyres also make a difference to the chassis behaviour and a UUC short throw system for the gear change is well worth considering. Otherwise keep an eye on oil consumption, and just enjoy the ride.
__________________
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out,shouting, 'Holy sh*t! What a ride!'"
E34 M5 LE 20/50 Rosso Red
Last edited by legacy260; 2nd January 2008 at 15:45.
Well done Alex
If there is a big step in the power / torque curve, especially from 4k up
I would investigate engine setup ( valve shimming), then look at possible malfunction
of resonance flap & the two solenoid valves on charge side & discharge side
to the resonance flap diaphragm.
3.8 will need more tinkering to get best from.
Its worth it though.
Good luck
Farrell
Last edited by farrell; 2nd January 2008 at 19:38.
I thought there was a natural step up in power at around 4k as they come on cam? Mine feels like it really kicks in at 4k noticeably - so this isn't the norm?
I was thinking of getting valve clearances checked anyway, but reading this has made me think I should get it done now.
Well done Alex
If there is a big step in the power / torque curve, especially from 4k up
I would investigate engine setup ( valve shimming), then look at possible malfunction
of resonance flap & the two solenoid valves on charge side & discharge side
to the resonance flap diaphragm.
3.8 will need more tinkering to get best from.
Its worth it though.
Good luck
Farrell
Hi Alex,
I think I mentioned to you previously that I killed a 3.8 & it was almost definitely down to not having the valve clearances set up properly-I would suggest getting it checked out immediately if Mr Farrell thinks that this is a possibility, last thing you would want is for your new toy to die in the same way that mine did !
There's a natural step as the resonance flap turns @ 4-4.5k rpm.
Below this threshold, the 3.8 especially should exhibit significant torque.
If torque fill feels flat & the engine labours from 2-4k rpm, then theres
a huge step, then its clearances or resonance flap / supporting system.
Many cars that have closed clearances below nominal will possibly feel a reluctance
to produce power at 6,500 rpm up don't feel like they have any torque.
That is significant when you consider where peak power actually occurs on
the S38.
Its always been noted that many of these cars drive so differently in terms of power
delivery.
Some of that is down to engine build tolerances & how they have been run in etc.
The strongest engine I have sampled is Steve Halls 3.8
Its just a good engine.
I can feel a big difference in some of the cars that have come my way.
After shimming, the differences are much closer.
Farrell
Last edited by farrell; 3rd January 2008 at 17:25.
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