Opinion on Mustang GTs?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Now Rip,..don't be talking about cheezy plastic stuff.  Your BMW has plastic radiator tanks, a plastic thermostat housing, and a plastic water pump impeller which will deteriorate and/or need replacing at about 50K.

Personally, I would not wait that long to replace them as if any of the above components fail, then you are pretty much looking a replacing the head, as it will crack from the sudden change in temperature and heat.

Although the newer engines (>3.0) seem to have improved the area of the head cracking.

INTERIOR Skuzzy, INTERIOR!

[Skuzzy]

Hehe,..I would rather have cheezy plastic on the interior than under the hood.

I don't know about the 93 model.  The 2.5 and later sizes use the referenced plastic components under the hood and have a reputation for failure.

Don't get me wrong Rip, I think BMW engineers some fine automobiles, but why on earth they used plastic for some of the most critical components under the hood, is a mystery to me.

[senna]

Originally posted by funkedup
Live axle isn't just a comfort problem.  It really screws up handling when there is a bump in a corner.  Probably not a big deal unless you are racing in the Mille Migilia or something.  

I might have owned a Mustang if it not for the solid rear axle. I was very disappointed when I first noticed this as I inspected a 5.0 a while back. The car was fast, dam fast. A solid rear axle is obsolete in todays world off independant 4 wheel suspenion in just about every car. Still I remember the Mustang doing fairly well in holding Gs on the skid pad under steady state cornering. I imagine it didnt do as well in the slolam course where its twisting left and right. Perhaps solid sway bars and big GoodYear Eagles allow it to do well on the skidpad. Still I would almost buy it except for the rear suspension.

[GtoRA2]

I am pretty sure plastic radiator tanks are pretty standard now. I bet 90 % or more of car makers have gone this route.

Have not heard about anyone else going with a plastic water pump impeller though.

[Martlet]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
I am pretty sure plastic radiator tanks are pretty standard now. I bet 90 % or more of car makers have gone this route.

Have not heard about anyone else going with a plastic water pump impeller though.

I'm not up on autos, but boats have been using plastic impellers for years.

[Skuzzy]

Gto,..I know the overflow tanks are plastic, but BMW is using plastic for the upper and lower radiator pressure tanks.

My Volvo, nor Infiniti have plastic pressure tanks.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Don't get me wrong Rip, I think BMW engineers some fine automobiles, but why on earth they used plastic for some of the most critical components under the hood, is a mystery to me.

Iit was a 93' 525i that sold me on BMW brand.  A friend left it at my house and borrowed my truck...he left the keys and said "Drive it..."  I was in the camp of "Yeah, catch me DEAD in a BMW, status symbolizer!"....well, I drove it, and quality slapped me in the face, especially cornering! Day 2 of driving this around I was thinking this whole time that the car had low milege, imagine my shock when I read "90,000" miles...and imagine my shock when the owner said "thats 190,000 miles, its turned over once already..."  Only thing "Doug" had done to it was tires, brakes, normal wear and tear stuff.

Keep in mind I have no "brand" loyalty, except maybe Ford trucks, had nothing but good luck with Ford Trucks...., and I'm the first to heckle a bad brand, even if I own it.  If and when this brand does me bad (Like Audi did) I'll be the first to flame them!

[GtoRA2]

Skuz Hmm really?

My 2002 chevy truck does, the 2001 cougar I had did,  hmm the 2000 jeep wrangler did... lol.

I knew a guy who worked at a radiator shop. He built my 4 row radiator for the GTO, and the one in my old blazer I sold, good work, at cost lol. He did not like plastic tanks cause they where easy to crack when you recored the radiator, but said they where ok, as long as you didnt get to hot as they could melt. But as long as the cooling system is in good working order things dont get that hot.. So I guess the pressure tanks as plastic can be ok, lol darn cost cuts.. hehe

My sister had a 91 Camaro, they had that happen, lol in under 20k.

[senna]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Iit was a 93' 525i that sold me on BMW brand.  A friend left it at my house and borrowed my truck...he left the keys and said "Drive it..."  I was in the camp of "Yeah, catch me DEAD in a BMW, status symbolizer!"....well, I drove it, and quality slapped me in the face, especially cornering! Day 2 of driving this around I was thinking this whole time that the car had low milege, imagine my shock when I read "90,000" miles...and imagine my shock when the owner said "thats 190,000 miles, its turned over once already..."  Only thing "Doug" had done to it was tires, brakes, normal wear and tear stuff.

Hate to sound like a propeller head all the time but only the radiators housing is plastic (at least on beemers). The core or grill part of the radiator is still aluminum and is fused or appended with the plastic housing during a manufacturing process. Seems solid, havent seen one busted yet. I imagine its easier or cheaper to build these than the welded aluminum ones (aluminum is more expensive to use and weld) and more efficient than other materials non aluminum. All aluminum radiators cost bucks. Besides the core does all of the cooling, the housing just needs to not crack.

[Skuzzy]

Well, I be darned GTo.  You learn something new everyday.

On the BMW, the thermostat housing and water pump impellers are the most likely to fail.   The thermostat housing will usually start leaking on the backside, at the base.

The water pump impeller is known to just explode, sending bits of plastic into the water jackets and/or causing the thermostat to stick.

Good news though.  All the after market parts are metal.

[Ripsnort]

The thing I really hate about the 3 series BMW is I CAN'T GET A GUNRACK IN THE BACK WINDOW!

[Skuzzy]

I am sure someone in Dallas, Tx makes a gun rack for the 3 series Rip.

[Saurdaukar]

Skuzzy - dont forget the radiator neck issue.  

Metal impellers are usually listed as updates for the E36 BMW's, dunno about the E46's though.

Every car has its problems/advantages/disadvantages.  You want A/C - buy a BMW.  You want to buy tires often - buy a Mustang.  You want to drive around in a go kart... you do what I did... god help me if I want to turn the AC on though....

[Furball]

you should get a TVR not sure if they are legal over there yet tho!

[TPIguy]

My car had plastic tanks on the radiator. Until one day i was tuning it in the driveway, and it decided to split and spray me w/ hot coolant.

Its all aluminum now.