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My bro in law bought his wife a nice little Christmas present - a 1995 E320 wagon (they had a good year, NASDAQ not withstanding). As it sits here waiting to be delivered Christmas day, I got to take a (very) little drive and see how it felt and compared. They are very different cars, but it was good to see another nice car and have the experience reinforce my own (fairly recent) purchase. Some notes---
Bigger than the e34 wagons (no $h|t!), but most of that size is out the rear end, where there is space for a foldaway 3rd seat. Okay for kids, and since they have 4 of those, a real decision maker in favor of this car. The BMW was way too small for them, and they have been MASSIVELY disappointed with the Chrysler Town and Country they currently use.
Lots more grunt off the line (again - no $h|t!). Bigger motor, more torque - yet the difference in acceleration is not that great over my little M50. BMW always gets more out of their engines than MB, and this is no exception. Add a chip, and I'll stick with the 2.5 liter bimmer. Throw in the option of the M60 3 liter? You know where to find me.
Ergonomics in the driver's seat - NOBODY does this like BMW, and this highlighted the fact for me quite well. My father in law kept turning on the cruise control when he made left-hand turns. You have to reach out and under the steering wheel to get to the headlight switch. Lots of controls are down and away from the road, which is where one should have their eyes. Not at all impressed. And no glove box. Hmmmm.
Fun to drive? not. It feels like an amazingly well-put together station wagon (which it is) rather than a driver's car with a hump on the back (which the bimmer is). Those little stock 195/65 Continental's don't help much. The stopping power is nothing near my Touring. It doesn't feel sloppy like a Buick, but it doesn't feel connected either.
Cost - actually pretty comparable, when I look on line. This dealer was asking a LOT more than Edmunds list, though I think my bro in law got a good deal. Generally about 5K more than a comparable year 525iT and 3K more than a 530iT.
They will love it for a long time. It is a Cali car with only 40K miles on it, and it really is a fine bit of machinery. As I mentioned, with 4 kids to cart around to school, the bimmer wasn't even an option. With my one kid, the bimmer is perfect. I might have to step up to one of the MB's someday when there are more pitter-pattering little feet, but I think there will always be a bimmer in the stable from here on out.......
If anyone bothered to get this far - thanks for listening!
Merry Christmas!
--Micah O'C
'92 525i Touring
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