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I’d like to consider myself a practical person. This could partly be the reasoning behind my aversion to the SUV. Sure, these vehicles can go anywhere, but how much of the time do you really need a car like that? Then we have the crossover. Don’t want the whole hog when it comes to four-wheel drive capability? Cool. We’ll slap some plastic fender flares in a contrasting color on an otherwise decent looking estate vehicle, jack it up a bit, add all-wheel drive and call it a day. A car like this might be a bit more fuel efficient and realistic for everyday use than a purpose built truck, but let’s face it, wouldn’t a regular estate vehicle suffice for most? Looking over this low mileage 2001 BMW 325i Touring for sale in Florida brings that question to the forefront.
We’re raised in the US to think that all BMWs are all full-leather, optioned-out, powerful luxury machines. Then we ‘Mericans set one foot in Europe and see BMW cabs and dented city cars running around on steel wheels and get thoroughly confused. Unfortunately for us, BMWs standard of engineering and handling extends much further than just catering to yuppies. Fortunately for us, some zealous souls bring these oddities over, like today’s diesel E39 wagon. Sure, I’d love a 540iT or even a 528iT, but wouldn’t it be sweet to get Prius gas mileage with the good looks and handling of the E39 longroof? Today’s your chance with this double-import, first to Canada and then officially to the US. Cloth seats and celsius temperature readings mean this is no American Bimmer, and that makes it an interesting proposition indeed.
When friends and associates come to me and ask for my advice on large SUVs, I can’t help think that if I’m going to have a utility oriented vehicle with a large engine, why not make it fun? This is exactly where the E39 BMW 540i Touring comes in. Sure, it doesn’t have all-wheel drive, but it does everything else a mid to large sized SUV can, and rather well. Under the hood is the familiar 4.4 liter V8, coupled to a 5-speed automatic gearbox. Add to that cornering abilities that no truck could match and you have a recipe for family fun. As BMW’s commercial for the E39 stated when it debuted “why float through life, when you can drive?”
As we start to finish up Wagon Week, let’s take a look at a car that’s been arriving on these shores at a solid clip now that many of them have reached 25 years old: the E30 Touring. But this Touring is a bit unique in that it is powered by the 2.4 liter turbo diesel engine. We featured this particular car earlier in the year and now it is back on offer, a perfect curiosity for oil burner BMW fan.
The below post originally appeared on our site March 9, 2014:
My neighbors’ clean and utilitarian 325i wagon was recently demolished by a texter in a Prius barely 50 feet from our shared garage. Now they’re on the search for another German wagon, so what a great time for Wagon Week! Theirs was a rear-drive automatic, but today’s takes it to another level with the ability to row your own gears with all-wheel drive traction. It’s not that fancy, but that’s what I like about these E46 wagons as they get a little older. They’re clean and can be had without an overload of technology while still providing a luxury sport experience. With a rare combo and low miles, this is a very enticing wagon.
