DeepPower
Searchng4Truth
Is fb = Facebook? Where is that club and the classifieds? I need to buy another car quickly, and if I can't buy another SHO fast I'll have to settle before my insurance rental benefits run out.
A Time for Mourning... SHO Totalled.
- Thread starter DeepPower
- Start date
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thegreatbriguy
SHO Member
yes, facebook. I think those specific cars were also listed on craigslist.
there are lots of good SHO's out there. check out the classifieds here, people also post cool stuff they found.
if you can't find what you want ask I or someone else can surely help you find another SHO.
you want one near texas?
thegreatbriguy
SHO Member
someone posted the one i mentioned in sho finds
https://shoforum.com/index.php?threads/1989-shos.136100/
https://shoforum.com/index.php?threads/1989-shos.136100/
DeepPower
Searchng4Truth
Please post a link to the Facebook club. Thanks.
Yes, I'd prefer one near Texas, transport costs will be less expensive. I'm not going to risk a breakdown driving a new used car a long distance. As you go further away car transports costs get so high it makes it not worth it financially. For example, transport to Dallas from Chicago or NYC is $700-$900.
The driver at fault was not insured, so until I get my settlement I'm just looking for a cheap car to get me by. The advantage of a SHO is I'm familiar with the car so I know what to look for when buying.
I saw the Craig's List post. Two SHOs in Minneapolis for $8800? No, not even one for $4400.
thegreatbriguy
SHO Member
DeepPower
Searchng4Truth
I ended up getting $1500 for my '89 SHO from the insurance company. The big issue was the mileage - over 300K miles and the value plummets and I had 317K miles. The insurance guy showed me the form, he gave me most every break and even classified the engine as showroom condition.
My next car will be an automatic. I did not come out of this accident totally uninjured. I've lost some eye/hand coordination that may never come back. There is also some neck issues that prevents range of motion. My MTX days are over.
Here is my Garmin GPS Webcam of the crash. At the moment of impact the Garmin was thrown from its mount.
Video text shows location and speed.
I'm selling the police grill and the Konis, along with some other spare parts. My post in the classifieds should be live by tonight.
My next car will be an automatic. I did not come out of this accident totally uninjured. I've lost some eye/hand coordination that may never come back. There is also some neck issues that prevents range of motion. My MTX days are over.
Here is my Garmin GPS Webcam of the crash. At the moment of impact the Garmin was thrown from its mount.
I'm selling the police grill and the Konis, along with some other spare parts. My post in the classifieds should be live by tonight.
luigisho
SHO Member
That sucks. Seeing those type of accidents alot recently. People taking their eyes off the road and r/t goes out the window. Sorry you got tagged. You looking at anything specific as replacement?
DeepPower
Searchng4Truth
The video proved to my insurance company that I did not cause the accident - I did not stop suddenly. I strongly recommend a dash cam for everyone, mine is in my Garmin 50LMT.
For a replacement I'm thinking about a 2003 BMW 530i automatic. It's the last year for the E39 body and ultra-reliable if I replace the water pump & thermostat assembly. It's fast, smart looking, and unique - basically a German SHO that keeps it's value.
Eventually I will also own an ATX Gen 2 SHO. I've learned the financial folly of having a car that is more than 20 years old for my only ride.
For a replacement I'm thinking about a 2003 BMW 530i automatic. It's the last year for the E39 body and ultra-reliable if I replace the water pump & thermostat assembly. It's fast, smart looking, and unique - basically a German SHO that keeps it's value.
Eventually I will also own an ATX Gen 2 SHO. I've learned the financial folly of having a car that is more than 20 years old for my only ride.
luigisho
SHO Member
I always have my eye open for a SHO replacement. Been eyeing 5 series for a few years. Do any of the used market newer series (late E early F series) have fatal flaws that are no go?
DeepPower
Searchng4Truth
For the E39, the fatal flaw is the cooling system. On a stock E39 the stock cooling system can be difficult to maintain and cause overheating. Copy/paste from my extensive notes:
- Replace stock plastic water pump with metal water pump. (It's easy to replace, it's at the top-front of the I6 engine).
- Replace the thermostat in plastic housing (all one piece) with aftermarket thermostat with metal housing with bleeder valve, makes cooling system maintenance simple.
- Replace upper & lower radiator hoses with silicone hoses
- Auxillary fan dies - replace it
- Rear rubber subframe bushings. Go bad around 100K. "the rear subframe bushings require quite a lot of work to replace. It requires taking the entire rear suspension off and dropping the subframe."
- E39 diverter valve, pin comes off and ruins the engine. Rebuild it.
- Crankcase vent valve diaphragm breaks, engine runs lean and rough.
These are my notes on the fatal flaws and except for the subframe bushings all are easy to fix.
Other important but easy to fix issues is rebuild the VANOS variable valve timing unit, replace oil pan sensor & ignition switch. Electronic dash pixels go out. All easy to fix.
On a sport package equipped car the tires wear quickly, especially the rears. Expensive to maintain. Avoid sport package if you want reliability.
The most reliable year for the E39 is the last year, 2003. It's also the last year a BMW looked like a BMW.
The I6 530i is the best, 230hp, 220 lb-ft torque (sound familiar?). Expect 23mpg city and 28mpg highway.
The I6 525i is underpowered.
If you get the unreliable V8 540i you need to join BMW's Adopt-a-Mechanic program and expect to replace the transmission.
The E39 community has some of the same mutual support as the SHO, with a hint of arrogance thrown in and lacks some of our warmth.
This is the video handbook:
pjtoledo
'ol man in the SHO
don't be so fast to give up on something, with time you will learn to adapt and overcome various issues.
way back in the spring of '92 a disk blew out in my back, damaged some nerves, and took out a lot of the usefulness of my right leg. we had bought the '92 SHO just 4 months before that and there was no way I was going to give that car up. for quite a while after that I either laid my foot on the gas or lifted the entire leg. the result wasn't pretty, or smooth, for quite some time. fast forward to today, I have had manuals almost constantly since 92 and enjoy the **** out of driving my '05 Ranger. with a manual of course. hang in there.
Perry
