My 1989 BMW 525i Best Handling BMW

RaptorKTM · 10-11-2006, 12:00 AM

Well just like the title says this car is by far the best handling bmw ever. it doesnt look like much but let me tell you i have 300,000 miles on this beast and it has never stopped going. I take it to all the backroads and everything and the handlign on this car is just incredible. alot of it has to do with the fact that there is no computer controlled stabilty control or any of that junk, just straight bmw power. I have tested it on turn agains my 3 and i can corner almost 10-20 mph faster in some places with this car. But as far as 0-60 the 3 wins of course but as far as handling and other type of performance the 5 just beats it somehow.

just4kickz · 10-11-2006, 12:39 AM

*shrugs*... haha never ridden in that...

Ray · 10-11-2006, 01:40 AM

I love how that car can generate that type of performance and satisfaction with such an unassuming image.

RaptorKTM · 10-11-2006, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeThirtyEye

I love how that car can generate that type of performance and satisfaction with such an unassuming image.

this is a perfect statement. i completly agree, i mean at first glance it is just a big sedan but once you get into one of these and put it to the test it will impress the hell out of you

Ghunger · 10-11-2006, 11:46 AM

Best handling BMW ever? Not to say it's not a very nice car, but that's a pretty big claim. I've never driven that particular car, but I have driven an E36 M3 and would guess it that 5 series would be hard pressed to out handle it. Car and Driver did rate it the best handling car in 1997. (not BMW, Car) If I can find the article I'll post it. Then of course there is the E46 M3 CSL, which I have no experience with but understand is quite an amazing car.

DFW_M · 10-11-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghunger

Best handling BMW ever? Not to say it's not a very nice car, but that's a pretty big claim. I've never driven that particular car, but I have driven an E36 M3 and would guess it that 5 series would be hard pressed to out handle it. Car and Driver did rate it the best handling car in 1997. (not BMW, Car) If I can find the article I'll post it. Then of course there is the E46 M3 CSL, which I have no experience with but understand is quite an amazing car.

Wait a minute, so you never tried basically any of those cars you listed, yet, you doubt in his claims??? The guy owns the e90 which was claimed to be one of the best handling 3-series ever, and tells us from his own experience about the 525. Who the hell cares what the C&D people say? They are paid to say whatever they are told to say...same as every other media

KL2DC · 10-11-2006, 12:05 PM

The E34 was a great car

ward · 10-11-2006, 12:08 PM

the E34 was probably lighter than the E90

although the Z4 reams both at handling

KL2DC · 10-11-2006, 12:10 PM

I think the E90 is about the same size as the E34, maybe bigger cabin space

I remembered it to be a very lively car....I missed it, my dad had one for a while.

Ghunger · 10-11-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr325i

Wait a minute, so you never tried basically any of those cars you listed, yet, you doubt in his claims??? The guy owns the e90 which was claimed to be one of the best handling 3-series ever, and tells us from his own experience about the 525. Who the hell cares what the C&D people say? They are paid to say whatever they are told to say...same as every other media

What are you talking about? I said I've driven an E36 M3, I own an E90 and I've ridden in several E46 M3's and 330 coupes and 5 series' (I didn't mention those since I havn't actually driven them) All the M cars were in a completely different league than the 5 series' I've ridden in. If you think a 5 series can outhandle an M3, of any vintage, You must be smoking something pretty good.

RaptorKTM · 10-11-2006, 04:04 PM

well the points about the 5 I was making was from my own testing. I mean I currently own a 2005 BMW M3 CS which you may have seen pics of, that car will destroy the 5 no question. The point about the 525 that i was making / trying to make was that it handles better then any of the e90's. I apologise i was re-reading and im typing diffrently then what i am saying. So I apologise.

shragon · 10-12-2006, 06:41 PM

i used to have a '95 525i.

i upgraded to eibach pro-kit springs and koni yellow shocks. handled well for it's size and age. without the upgraded suspension, i wouldn't say it handles better than my e90. when i got my e90 with sport package, i thought the stock zsp setup on the e90 handled just as well as my e34 with the upgraded suspension. all in all, it was a very good car with not too many problems. then my tranny went out at 149k and i decided it was time to move on. i still miss my e34, especially since it was totalled a few months after i sold it. RIP.

Marven · 10-12-2006, 09:47 PM

Your's was really nice Rob...

I had one too - see my sig...I had it for 7 years and it had 190,000 miles on it without any major problems..see my sig..

my wife has just got a job offer and she needs to drive...she has to drive my new E90

..now I wish I had kept my E34

M.

ZuerstBMW · 10-12-2006, 10:33 PM

Beautiful 525i shragon

shragon · 10-13-2006, 03:34 AM

i liked yours too Marven, it was clean!

thanks ZuerstBMW!

JonMad · 10-19-2006, 06:26 PM

I used to have an E34 540i. Great car. I wonder how much your 525's ability to outhandle your E90 is down to your vast familiarity with it and it's limits, having done many if not all of those 300,000 miles?

My last car was a Peugeot 306 Rallye and I did 90,000 miles in it in 4 years, including 7 track days. I've done 18,000 road miles in my E90 and it will still be a long time before I feel confident driving it anywhere near as quickly as I did the 306.

10-11-2006, 12:00 AM	#1
RaptorKTM Colonel 236 Rep 2,366 Posts Drives: 1 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 1 M [0.00]	My 1989 BMW 525i Best Handling BMW Well just like the title says this car is by far the best handling bmw ever. it doesnt look like much but let me tell you i have 300,000 miles on this beast and it has never stopped going. I take it to all the backroads and everything and the handlign on this car is just incredible. alot of it has to do with the fact that there is no computer controlled stabilty control or any of that junk, just straight bmw power. I have tested it on turn agains my 3 and i can corner almost 10-20 mph faster in some places with this car. But as far as 0-60 the 3 wins of course but as far as handling and other type of performance the 5 just beats it somehow.
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10-11-2006, 12:39 AM	#2
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 336 Rep 11,025 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	shrugs... haha never ridden in that... __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
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10-11-2006, 01:40 AM	#3
Ray Member 306 Rep 22,825 Posts Drives: three series Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sfCA iTrader: (0)	I love how that car can generate that type of performance and satisfaction with such an unassuming image.
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10-11-2006, 11:46 AM	#5
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Best handling BMW ever? Not to say it's not a very nice car, but that's a pretty big claim. I've never driven that particular car, but I have driven an E36 M3 and would guess it that 5 series would be hard pressed to out handle it. Car and Driver did rate it the best handling car in 1997. (not BMW, Car) If I can find the article I'll post it. Then of course there is the E46 M3 CSL, which I have no experience with but understand is quite an amazing car. __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
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10-11-2006, 12:05 PM	#7
KL2DC Moderator 318 Rep 17,767 Posts Drives: F36 428i,E90 328i, E85 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (23) Garage List 2015 F36 428i [0.00] 2011 E90 328i [0.00] 2006 E85 Z4 3.0i [0.00]	The E34 was a great car __________________ Official DC Metro Registry - Current, New & Prospective Area Members Roll Call!
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10-11-2006, 12:08 PM	#8
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	the E34 was probably lighter than the E90 although the Z4 reams both at handling
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10-11-2006, 12:10 PM	#9
KL2DC Moderator 318 Rep 17,767 Posts Drives: F36 428i,E90 328i, E85 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (23) Garage List 2015 F36 428i [0.00] 2011 E90 328i [0.00] 2006 E85 Z4 3.0i [0.00]	I think the E90 is about the same size as the E34, maybe bigger cabin space I remembered it to be a very lively car....I missed it, my dad had one for a while. __________________ Official DC Metro Registry - Current, New & Prospective Area Members Roll Call!
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10-11-2006, 04:04 PM	#11
RaptorKTM Colonel 236 Rep 2,366 Posts Drives: 1 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 1 M [0.00]	well the points about the 5 I was making was from my own testing. I mean I currently own a 2005 BMW M3 CS which you may have seen pics of, that car will destroy the 5 no question. The point about the 525 that i was making / trying to make was that it handles better then any of the e90's. I apologise i was re-reading and im typing diffrently then what i am saying. So I apologise.
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10-12-2006, 06:41 PM	#12
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	i used to have a '95 525i. i upgraded to eibach pro-kit springs and koni yellow shocks. handled well for it's size and age. without the upgraded suspension, i wouldn't say it handles better than my e90. when i got my e90 with sport package, i thought the stock zsp setup on the e90 handled just as well as my e34 with the upgraded suspension. all in all, it was a very good car with not too many problems. then my tranny went out at 149k and i decided it was time to move on. i still miss my e34, especially since it was totalled a few months after i sold it. RIP. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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10-12-2006, 09:47 PM	#13
Marven First Lieutenant 37 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Sedan Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: TeeDot! iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Your's was really nice Rob... I had one too - see my sig...I had it for 7 years and it had 190,000 miles on it without any major problems..see my sig.. my wife has just got a job offer and she needs to drive...she has to drive my new E90 ..now I wish I had kept my E34 M. __________________
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10-12-2006, 10:33 PM	#14
ZuerstBMW ¡Viva España! 373 Rep 7,803 Posts Drives: 2023 230i Mineral White Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Apollo Beach, FL. iTrader: (68)	Beautiful 525i shragon __________________ 23 G42 230i Mineral White Cognac, Aluminum With Mesh Effect Interior Trim MODS Clear Guard, 15% Ceramic Tint, Floating Caps
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10-13-2006, 03:34 AM	#15
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	i liked yours too Marven, it was clean! thanks ZuerstBMW! __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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10-19-2006, 06:26 PM	#16
JonMad Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 235 Posts Drives: 320d SE;Mazda MX-5 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 1990 Mazda MX-5 [0.00] 2005 BMW 320d [0.00]	I used to have an E34 540i. Great car. I wonder how much your 525's ability to outhandle your E90 is down to your vast familiarity with it and it's limits, having done many if not all of those 300,000 miles? My last car was a Peugeot 306 Rallye and I did 90,000 miles in it in 4 years, including 7 track days. I've done 18,000 road miles in my E90 and it will still be a long time before I feel confident driving it anywhere near as quickly as I did the 306.
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