"n54 & s38" (straight6)
04/14/2015 at 03:19 • Filed to: Jaguar, F-Type, M5
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"n54 & s38" (straight6)
04/14/2015 at 03:19 • Filed to: Jaguar, F-Type, M5 | 6
| 22 |
I was cruising with a couple of my groomsmen the other day to go check out suits in my E34 M5 when this dude in a Jaguar F Type R screamed by me and passed me on the left like I was standing still. The noise sounded like a cross between a sport bike and a muscle car. This thing was easily louder than my M5 with a carbon fiber intake, no cats, resonator and X pipe. Crazy. I kind of really want one now in BRG or a bright blue.
Here's some M5 shots from an impromptu photo shoot the other night.
MisterBelding
> n54 & s38
04/14/2015 at 04:23 |
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E34 M5 with Style 5's...good taste, sir!
Jobjoris
> n54 & s38
04/14/2015 at 04:35 |
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Forget about that F-Type. Your E34 is way more awesome. Way more.
samssun
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 07:39 |
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Why? Styling or nostalgia? Objectively, we're talking about a 3500 pound sedan with a 6 speed manual and a good-but-not-great I6 with 300-eh horsepower, versus a 3600 pound coupe with a 6 speed manual and a monstrous V8 with 550 horsepower, plus 20 years of stiffening and suspension work.
The E34 is a great car for poors and cheap Jalops. The F Type R is a flat out great car (and at 100k, better be).
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Jobjoris
> samssun
04/14/2015 at 08:15 |
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Why? Styling or nostalgia? Objectively, we're talking about...
Both. And wait a minute: 'Objectively'? You want to compare these two objectively? You can't as it involves emotions. That's why you're over here on Oppo. And objectively comparing cars that differ almost 30 years of age on characteristics like these is nuts. I'm not questioning the quality of that F-Type R - I understand it will be quicker on a track if that's what you want to point out to me. And I actually like it. But I'm just complimenting someone with his own epic choice of mobility.
Naming that S38BX 'good-but-not-great': What engine was good-and-better-then-a-S38 back then if I may ask?
The E34 is a great car for poors and cheap Jalops. The F Type R is a flat out great car (and at 100k, better be).
LOL@E34 M5 for poors and cheap Jalops. You clearly never owned a '80s high performance Tuetonic beast and had it maintained by a specialist. These can really be money-pits.
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samssun
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 08:25 |
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That's true, I haven't owned an 80s German beast, but I own an early 90s Japanese sports coupe, which I put in the same category: cheap up front, fun to drive, and a pain long term.
315 or whatever horsepower from a 6 was impressive in the early 90s, and the I6 has inherent appeal, but today there are a ton of very capable and fun cars. If a car is measured by how it responds to your inputs, it's hard not to argue for the Jag on accel, decel, grip, handling, noise, aesthetics, and even quality.
As nifty as the BMW is, if you had the resources to make the F Type R as affordable as the E34 is to you now, tell me you wouldn't grab the Jag...
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n54 & s38
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 08:45 |
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Exactly. Its probably tougher to find parts for my M5 at this point. Besides, the M5 isn't my daily. My 335xi 6 speed is. Although, what would I know? I'm just a poor jalop.
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n54 & s38
> samssun
04/14/2015 at 08:47 |
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Despite being slower than my 335, it's actually making more horsepower. With mods, it's making about 350 hp
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n54 & s38
> MisterBelding
04/14/2015 at 08:53 |
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wow, good eye to be able to spot the Style 5s from one small picture. Thank you. They're actually my winters. I have a set of pristine throwing stars for my summer wheels
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n54 & s38
> samssun
04/14/2015 at 08:55 |
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also my M5 is a 5 speed and there's no F-Type R with a 6 speed manual.
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Jobjoris
> samssun
04/14/2015 at 08:58 |
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So an early 90s Japanese sports coupe is for poors and cheap Jalops as well? I find such a statement pretty offensive? But English isn't my native language so maybe I'm not picking up some nuances.
But you prove my point instantly:
but today there are a ton of very capable and fun cars
Of course there are. But the S38, in it's days (which is 30 years ago!), was not a good-but-not-great I6, it was simply epic. So please, never call it 'good-but-not-great' again.
If a car is measured by how it responds to your inputs
I feel like I'm turning in circles: Back then there were not many better in this then this E34 M5. Extreme low kick: Certainly not an XJ-S. Because that's what your obvious liking had in mind when it comes to performance?
As nifty as the BMW is, if you had the resources to make the F Type R as affordable as the E34 is to you now, tell me you wouldn't grab the Jag...
Well, maybe you're right on this one. But if I had the resources to make the F Type R as affordable I would probably have the resources for that Cayman GT4 as well. Or a 911 GT3 RS. Or an E92 M3. Or an... M4? And then I'm not so sure anymore about this F-Type R. One thing I'm certain of: It would not be an F10 M5.
So again: you can't objectively compare these. One can just express one's preferences.
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Jobjoris
> n54 & s38
04/14/2015 at 09:01 |
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HAHAHAHA! AWESOME RESPONSE!
I can only compliment your choice of cars. I tip my hat for you dear, but utterly poor, sir!
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n54 & s38
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 14:30 |
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exactly. We're talking about a car that, at the time was one of the fastest production cars in the world and a luxury sedan. It kept up with 911s, low-end Ferraris and non-ZR1 corvettes back in its day. The sound of an S38 on full boil at 6000 RPMS is incredible. Especially with an intake, chip and exhaust. The way that it pulls at higher RPM is fantastic, borderline exotic sounding and despite it being faster and torquier, something that the N54 in my 335 can't hope to duplicate. Even at idle, it sounds like a muscle car. Idles at 900 RPMs too. I should post some soundcloud recordings at my car
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Jobjoris
> n54 & s38
04/14/2015 at 15:22 |
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Let's just say not everyone understands history the way it really was. Calling the S38 a 'good-but-not-great' engine: It quite shocked me, really.
Even an old carbureted M20 can sound amazing. My last BMW I6 was an M54B30 in an E85, that sounded glorious as well, especially with the top down blasting through the Alps ;-)
Now all I have left from Munich is my 2002 .
But yes: I would certainly recommend you to post the recordings!
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n54 & s38
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 15:35 |
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What year, what model 2002? btw, if you like German cars, check out this site http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/
Also a good way to see the market value of 2002s today, etc.
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Jobjoris
> n54 & s38
04/14/2015 at 15:49 |
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It's a '73 2002 touring automatic being converted to tii-spec with a Getrag 245 5-speed. Colour Inka Orange, seats E21-Recaro's. I've documented it a bit on Oppo (that's what the link is about) but lately it's been a little bit quiet due to my re-housing.
I love German cars but living in Euroland makes that lust easy to live with. Got an '87 G50 3.2 911 as well.
But I will check out that germancarsforsale forsure ;-)
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n54 & s38
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 16:23 |
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that's fantastic. Would love a 2002 myself. I'm kind of a BMW nut, especially the older ones. I'll check out your Oppo post right now in fact. Love that color too!
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Jobjoris
> n54 & s38
04/14/2015 at 17:26 |
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I'm running into a problem with that Getrag though, I'm in need of one of it's bearings (part number 23 12 1 205 123) which seems impossible to get. Some German ex-Bosch employee is overhauling the Kügelfischer as we speak so it's really getting a huge project. Can't wait to finish it, I hope to drive it this summer. That colour is epic. Had a 320/6 E21 in Phönix Rot, that seemed to be a slightly darker Orange. And sounded GLORIOUS!
I'm a BMW-nut as well, looking for a used 125i/135i convertible for mrs. Jobjoris as we speak ;-)
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n54 & s38
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 18:35 |
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Yeah I hear you. My E34 is has been extensively refurbished but some things like the Getrag 280 transmission are NLA from BMW. Good luck; i really hope you get to drive her this summer as well. She's in amazing shape though. New paint, refurbished suspension, new S38 engine. Few tasteful mods like M-Tech mirrors, steering wheel and shadow line trim. Also updated with satellite radio, new speakers, Bluetooth, xenon lights, etc. Here's a few posts with some backstory on her. First one is from that site when a previous local owner had her up for sale.
http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/euro-bmw-e34-m…
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samssun
> Jobjoris
04/14/2015 at 18:51 |
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Yes, buying a 90s Japanese sports coupe or 80s/90s M car in the 2000s, or a decade old AMG, are what Jalops without piles of money do: instead of buying something newer and blander, we go older to move up the car food chain, and pay for it in maintenance and old-high-end-car annoyances.
My point was that it's one thing to acknowledge cars that were awesome for their day and offer affordable performance today, but quite another to go full bore hipster-nostalgia-glory and declare them better than today's crazy feats of engineering. I'd take an F Type R, Cayman GT4, or M4 over the most pristine E34, E36, NSX, Supra, etc.
wafflesnfalafel
> n54 & s38
04/15/2015 at 00:18 |
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Agree - had an F Type R blow past me in one of the covered sections of I-90 east of Seattle. He leaned into it just before getting to me and it kicked down a gear, then let off to get than nice snorty crackle it does. Though is it just me or do they ride kinda funny - I've seen a few and they seem to do that front to back bounce thing, (like Porsche GT3s do when pushed.) Love that M5. Underrated 5 series body style.
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Jobjoris
> samssun
04/15/2015 at 05:51 |
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Being called a hipster, that's a first... Well: I own two Volvo wagons, maybe that confused some people ;-)
I'm not going full bore hipster-nostalgia-glory and declare anything better. I just said I think, as a BMW-enthusiast, I feel the E34 M5 being more awesome. And 'awesomeness' is a very personal, subjective, completely unmeasurable thing. And my point in the initial post was to compliment it's owner in the process. But if that makes me a hipster: So be it.
I understand your point but that point is quite obvious: there's 30 years difference in age and R&D between these. Which I already acknowledged in my first reply to you. And again: I think it's pretty offensive to start about people with a love for or even owning older M-cars as being 'poor and cheap Jalops'. Just my two cents.
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samssun
> Jobjoris
04/15/2015 at 06:52 |
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Ok I'll go from another angle. If we had piles of money, we'd just buy a new 488 (RS7, S65) and get back to life. Maybe pick up a pristine E36 (GNX, 240Z) for weekends.
Instead, we congregate here to agonize over beater Miatas or 2000-ish AMGs with electrical gremlins or 3000GTs with boost leaks as an alternative to accepting our place in life and signing the Camry lease. That to me is what makes Jalopnik/Oppo different from random car sites.
But I'd still take a 991 Turbo in a heartbeat.