Car of the year 1978

No it wasn't.

1978 COTY was the Chrysler Horizon. The 928 won
in '77.


The E23 never won any award apart from the ADAC
(German AA/RAC) Lemon award in 1980 for most
unreliable new car - it tied with the Triumph Spit-dire.

"What Car" wouldn't know a good car if it ran them
over.

There were many better cars than the E23, most of
which cost a lot less money. There was nothing the
E23 did that another car couldn't do better.

The e23 was a successful car whether you like it or not. Thay sold well and people that have had one liked them very much so.

Drew540i wrote: "What Car" wouldn't know a good car if it ran them over. There were many better cars than the E23, most of which cost a lot less money. There was nothing the E23 did that another car couldn't do better.

The E23 was ahead of it’s time and was the development test bed for BMW’s future models. Things we take for granted now, were all there in these advanced cars;
ABS, A/C, PAS, OBC, cruise control, check control, electric windows, roof, mirrors, electric seats with memory and heated options, airbags (US market) and ‘Motronic’ (digital engine management). 1980 fuel injection on all models. 1981 ABS standard on 735, optional on other models. 1983 onwards, Switchable 4 speed auto available (in association with Motronic, more economical than 5 speed manual).

Jaguar and MB had to play catch up to all of these advances.

M3AG wrote: MB and Jaguar are still playing catch up!

with the possible exception of Bangle styling AG

I think the current shape XJ8 is just lovely.

and they say the diesel Jag is so quiet & refined you cannot tell you are in a tractor powered car.

The E65 on the other hand is, eh, different. The latest E65 facelift cars have huge slabs of chrome slung over them, which look like a panicky afterthought to me.

AG will now kick my ass, as I know an E65 is on his buying list

e28 boi wrote: Drew540i wrote: There were many better cars than the E23, most of which cost a lot less money. There was nothing the E23 did that another car couldn't do better. how do you now?

Owning about 6 old E23's, that's how! They were a
good old bus but not really exceptional in any area.
The V8 Mercs were a lot faster. The big Peugeots
like the 604 rode better. The XJ's rode and went
round corners better. A Rover SD1 had a lot less
windnoise. An Austin Maxi had more room in the
back.

And the E32 was just a massive advance in every
area. Yours for about £500.

But for all that, an early (79/80) Polaris silver 735i 5
speed manual with black leather would do it for me
....................... ............yeaaaaahhhhhh

Those early L Jet 3.5's used to go like a rocket and
the handling on the pre 82 cars was, er, 'entertaining'
in the wet. And the 1979 745i is as fast as the current
E65 monster - food for thought eh?

Drew540i wrote: Maybe I should buy Hiab's Bronzit 735i Exec and be part of the posse?! I must be missing something............ :-o

With an e39 540i the only thing missing will be a wedge from your wallet come resale time lest it was bought in traditional manners Andy?
If so let me know when you wanna sell,,,,,,

Drew540i wrote:  And the E32 was just a massive advance in every area. Yours for about £500.

£500? you must mean a late V8?

Roger bought an E regd E32 off fleabay for £250. its just passed its MOT with no work being needed. the fan coupling has just died though.

Roger also bought a set of "star" shape alloys for it with good tyres for about £25.

cheaper to run an E32 than a Fiesta, except for juice of course

Del64 wrote: With an e39 540i the only thing missing will be a wedge from your wallet come resale time

Hardly. It was only £3800 or so. The manual box
hurts the resale and it would have been £5000 as an
auto. I'm on the case of a 51 plate 530d auto, ex
unmarked cop car in Silver with wing/bumper/bonnet
damage.

E23 Confession: there was a green 728i manual on
fleabay a month back. It didn't sell but I had a fifty
ready for it - next years 'Ring weapon.

Christ, even the Krauts would be concerned at the
sight of that bugger going though the karusel.
Sideways.

"Sheisse!! Der mad Englander mit die alte BMW
Panzer kommt!.........."
You'd have people interviewing you.

But I lost the number.........

Absolutely. With the 728i diff you'd need to secretly
crane a distributor 3.5 in there and weld the diff up.

The E30 M3 boys would sit up and take notice if that
thing went hurtling by.