dlomonosov
11-20-2006, 10:48 PM
Hey guys. I currently own 2001 GS430 Sport with coilover suspension and other suspension mods. I just can't get this car to feel alive on the road and have a good steering feedback close to BMW. My previous car was E46 2000 323i and I loved it. It was so much fun to drive eventhough it was not near as fast and powerful as my GS430. GS is a nice looking car but the fit and finish is like a camry and not is tough, stirdy and german like. I mean the design came out in 1998 and it shows. There are a lot of creeks and rattles in the car, the doors do not shut tight and stitdy like BMW. The stock suspension and front end and steering are a joke. I had to get all these aftermarket mods to get the feel and ride better. Had to replace tie rods, ball joints, rack joint at 90k miles. I did not have any of this on my e46 with 110k miles. The GS's engine and tranny is very good and it smooth and 5.7 secs fast 0-60mph.. But my e46 had door seal problems, window regulator motor failed and then tranny had to be replaced wich set me back $2,200 since I knew a friend mech that ot me one from junk yard. So that upset me a lot about BMW, but I think it was just luck. But then I found out that that particular tranny was developed by GM and not ZF like the 328i that year had, did you guys know that? The 323i non-steptronic that I had uses GM tranny!! Same as in Rodeo and Catera!! Anyway, after the e46 I told myself I will not buy another BMW without warranty and though I would enjoy the GS. I was wrong and realize that there is no other car for me but bimmer. Nothing outhere I test drove, drive and feels like bimmers I drove, and not one car had as good steering feedback as the bimmer and over all drive feel, tranny shift and how tranny works so perfect with the engine. Enough about that. I decided to get into a new car. So I was thinking to look at bimmers and MB's. Since both are german and fit and finish and built quality and materials used inside out are near the same. I test drove 2003 E500 15k miles and CLK55 with 40k miles. Both cars had very simular feel on the road, eventhough CLK was AMG tuned. Steering was numb and diconnected from the road like my GS, a bit better. I hated the MB tranny and though GS tranny was better in shifts, E500 over-reved and shifted rough and feld like american car. The inside of both was very nice, E500 was better and fresher inside. So that kind of drove me off from MB. I test drove new 330i and 530i and loved them both. Now, my main point of this thread. I spend sometime on Edmunds and read reviews on 2004 545i and 2003 745i and they were scarry. People said to run away from those cars and get a Lexus. lol. And I am running away from Lexus for different reason. The new GS430 is very nice and fit and finish is very close to german, very refined and their NAV is the best on the market. But still numb disconnected steering and road feel, boring. 2003 M3 reviews were almost all positive. Seems like they took care of all the bugs and engine problems that they had in 2001-2002 cars, thats is what I read. So are the 7 and the 5 are that problematic, I definetly do not want my car to spend time in dealership as people describe. I mean I know many people dislike the new 5 and 7 design, but I think it is so hot and mean looking and I like the simple but rich fit and finish materials used on inside. So, I would be happy with all 3 and I know what you guys will ask me? It depends what you need out of the car? I know all 3 cars are in 3 different classes, but I love all 3 and would be happy with all 3 for many reasons. But I am leaning towrds M3. It was my dream car since I saw 1995 model and always wanted one. Plus it looks like it has less problems then 5 and 7. I would get one in Silver or grey with black interior, 6 speed and Nav and premium package. 7 or 5 in silver/black, grey/black or white/beige with sport package. Sorry for long one. I just have a lot to say.. Thank you..