Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
vinceg101
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by vinceg101 »

Karl Grau wrote: Apr 26, 2022 9:36 PM
pbp338 wrote: Mar 20, 2022 12:18 PMWhich BMW is the perfect car for a road trip
e39 530i. This thread can be closed now. ;)

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=131368&p=1389793&hilit=#p1389793
I'll second that.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=156484&start=100
BMWCCA2
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by BMWCCA2 »

In my over 50-years of BMW ownership, I've made many cross-country, or half-way cross-country, trips. As the current owner of (2) E28s, an E34, (2) E39s, down to only one E82, and now an E90, I guess I'm experienced enough to have an opinion. I've also made several trips well over 1,000 miles in 2002s and 1600. Each one has endearing qualities. I've recently travelled from Wisconsin and Texas to Virginia in E82 128is, from Virginia to Oktoberfest in SC in my E39 530i Sport 5MT, from VA to Hilton Head Ofest in an E82 128i Msport 6MT, and to The Vintage in my '85 535i last year. And I can't resist mentioning a 1,000-mile trip of which 500-miles were on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the BMWRA rally last year on my R1150RS.

For me, even at over 6-ft tall, the seats and size of the 2013 128i Msport 6MT just fit me so comfortably with all controls needed in easy reach, including Navigation, Bluetooth, and USB iPod connectivity, and with visibility nearly on-par with my 2002tii. In fact this car is so much of a modern 2002tii at a near identical outside dimension, but with double the horsepower, that I feel right at home carving up mountain roads or long-distance trips on the Interstate. The E39 may be smoother, but the E34 is more responsive than the E39. If isolation is the goal, then the E39 would be the winner, but I still want as much involvement and connection to the car as I can. Maybe that's just from my humble '02 beginnings. Honestly, I could hop in any of them and have a great trip. But I'll likely keep the E82 longer than any of the others, should I need to pare down to just one car. It's just that good and that much fun. :dunno:
alkalineom3n
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by alkalineom3n »

2001 E38 is my choice. Racked up 245k on mine and it soaked up every single mile. Active massage seats, heated whatever you want, COMFORTABLE, and smooth on demand power. The long wheel base models are particularly well riding.

Big and roomy, but still sporty enough to exercise when you want it to!
gwb72tii
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Joined: Sep 21, 2021 4:58 PM
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by gwb72tii »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Apr 27, 2022 9:06 AM In my over 50-years of BMW ownership, I've made many cross-country, or half-way cross-country, trips. As the current owner of (2) E28s, an E34, (2) E39s, down to only one E82, and now an E90, I guess I'm experienced enough to have an opinion. I've also made several trips well over 1,000 miles in 2002s and 1600. Each one has endearing qualities. I've recently travelled from Wisconsin and Texas to Virginia in E82 128is, from Virginia to Oktoberfest in SC in my E39 530i Sport 5MT, from VA to Hilton Head Ofest in an E82 128i Msport 6MT, and to The Vintage in my '85 535i last year. And I can't resist mentioning a 1,000-mile trip of which 500-miles were on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the BMWRA rally last year on my R1150RS.

For me, even at over 6-ft tall, the seats and size of the 2013 128i Msport 6MT just fit me so comfortably with all controls needed in easy reach, including Navigation, Bluetooth, and USB iPod connectivity, and with visibility nearly on-par with my 2002tii. In fact this car is so much of a modern 2002tii at a near identical outside dimension, but with double the horsepower, that I feel right at home carving up mountain roads or long-distance trips on the Interstate. The E39 may be smoother, but the E34 is more responsive than the E39. If isolation is the goal, then the E39 would be the winner, but I still want as much involvement and connection to the car as I can. Maybe that's just from my humble '02 beginnings. Honestly, I could hop in any of them and have a great trip. But I'll likely keep the E82 longer than any of the others, should I need to pare down to just one car. It's just that good and that much fun. :dunno:
Curious, what is your tii's VIN?
bbaxter
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by bbaxter »

I would say that my wife's car would be the perfect road trip car. "Al" my '84 533i would be the fun car for a trip, but fun isn't practical. Michelle drives a 2014 MB E250. Bought it when it was one year old with 16,000 Mi. It is not a very common car. I have only seen two others. Five passenger E series comfort. 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel with twin turbos. 200 HP and 385 torques. The little four-cylinder is small and light, which makes the car handling pretty nimble. A 22 gal. fuel tank and 42 MPG means you can go over 900 miles on one tank of fuel. We have 115,000 miles on the car now and haven't had any problems. Soft grippy summer tyres make it a fun drive.
BMWCCA2
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by BMWCCA2 »

gwb72tii wrote: Apr 27, 2022 10:06 AMCurious, what is your tii's VIN?
Chamonix 2760439
Inka 2761398

Do you have one, too?
524tdAviator
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by 524tdAviator »

bbaxter wrote: Apr 27, 2022 6:54 PM I would say that my wife's car would be the perfect road trip car. "Al" my '84 533i would be the fun car for a trip, but fun isn't practical. Michelle drives a 2014 MB E250. Bought it when it was one year old with 16,000 Mi. It is not a very common car. I have only seen two others. Five passenger E series comfort. 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel with twin turbos. 200 HP and 385 torques. The little four-cylinder is small and light, which makes the car handling pretty nimble. A 22 gal. fuel tank and 42 MPG means you can go over 900 miles on one tank of fuel. We have 115,000 miles on the car now and haven't had any problems. Soft grippy summer tyres make it a fun drive.
I second this! We love our 2015 E250 diesel with only 40,000 miles on it. It's the best road trip car! 949 miles on one tank at EPA rating of 45 MPG HWY. I can get 54 MPG doing 65 MPH on a flat road and 49 MPG doing 70 MPH on a flat road. A solid 28 MPG in town.
gwb72tii
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by gwb72tii »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Apr 27, 2022 7:11 PM
gwb72tii wrote: Apr 27, 2022 10:06 AMCurious, what is your tii's VIN?
Chamonix 2760439
Inka 2761398

Do you have one, too?
I do! Hence my user name
VIN 2762267
Colorado
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by BMWCCA2 »

gwb72tii wrote: Apr 28, 2022 9:17 AMVIN 2762267
Colorado
Plastic or aluminum intake runners?
John in VA
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by John in VA »

gwb72tii wrote: Apr 28, 2022 9:17 AM
BMWCCA2 wrote: Apr 27, 2022 7:11 PM
gwb72tii wrote: Apr 27, 2022 10:06 AMCurious, what is your tii's VIN?
Chamonix 2760439
Inka 2761398

Do you have one, too?
I do! Hence my user name
VIN 2762267
Colorado
'74 Chamonix tii here - 2780572
gwb72tii
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Joined: Sep 21, 2021 4:58 PM
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest

Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by gwb72tii »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Apr 28, 2022 8:29 PM
gwb72tii wrote: Apr 28, 2022 9:17 AMVIN 2762267
Colorado
Plastic or aluminum intake runners?
what kind of question is that? jk

plastic
BMWCCA2
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by BMWCCA2 »

gwb72tii wrote: Apr 30, 2022 4:35 AMwhat kind of question is that? jk

plastic
Just being a '72 doesn't mean plastic intakes. There is a cut-off date.
BMWCCA2
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Re: Opinions. Which BMW is the perfect car for a road trip

Post by BMWCCA2 »

Sorry, the board has a bit of latency today for some reason.
Last edited by BMWCCA2 on Apr 30, 2022 8:26 AM, edited 1 time in total.
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