1992 Volvo 240 2.0 Estate vs 1996 E34 525ix Touring

Hello everyone!

I know this may be an insane comparison, but that’s actually what I’m considering buying as a daily driver. I’ve come across two really nice units and would like to hear your thoughts. On paper the BMW seems better in every single aspect, much more powerful, rarer in that AWD estate configuration, and probably more comfortable though I have no first hand experience with any of these cars.

Both have A/C which is a must where I live, and I like both equally. Mileage is similar (230.000km on the BMW, 270.000km on the Volvo). Volvo is manual, BMW is automatic.

The BMW is fully specced and seems like the “sensible” option. But still can’t help but to love the rugged look of the Volvo, its reliability, cargo capacity and presence.

Any opinion from first hand experience with those cars, will be extremely appreciated as I can’t make up my mind. How comfortable are they, reliability issues, handling, would you choose one over another depending on if it was going to be used to commute or for long trips, anything that you come come up with will be helpful.

Thanks to all of you in advance

Some pictures attached,

 

First, a note - I'm judging this as if they were the American versions of these vehicles. The Volvo would be a later model 245DL, and the BMW would be a 530ix, I'm guessing.....

If you value usefulness over having a good 'driver's car', buy the Volvo.
If your values are reversed, take the BMW.

 

Thank you!

The BMW is a 6 inline 192hp, with somehow modest performance because of the auto box and additional weight of the AWD, but seems to be quite nice to drive according to this fella:



The Volvo, with its 110hp is clearly slower though not by a huge margin considering its manual transmission and weight (350kg less).

Your advice seems spot on, I think I’ll enjoy the BMW much more, and yet the Volvo looks so special…

 

Those photos don't appear to have been taken in the Dutch Antilles. Still, the Netherlands can get quite warm, nowadays.
That would be a wise choice, to buy a vehicle which already was delivered with factory air conditioning. On an old American car, it isn't as difficult to add air conditioning where it wasn't already there, given that there is quite a bit more room for doing so

A 40.000 kilometer difference shouldn't affect reliability between the two that much. Most important is if maintenance schedules have been timely honored or not. Neglect can turn out to be quite expensive. Especially, if you don't perform repairs yourself.
Both B.M.W. and Volvo share German parts, such as engine management systems and even engines, if that Volvo happens to be diesel-fueled

Assuming that the Volvo weighs 350 kilograms less, it's because it isn't AWD?
Workmanship and reliability shouldn't differ that much, between the two, depending on the ages of both vehicles. Reliability between newer vehicles of that sort may differ more, given dramatic redesigns of B.M.W.s where, for example the coolant thermostat, is no longer industry-standardized. But now is of an in-house design which isn't interchangable with other brands anymore. Case in point: it is external, mounted between hoses. Unless you can successfully open it for element replacing, it will need to be purchased as an overly-expensive entirely-housed unit. I don't know what Volvo has been doing lately, concerning parts exclusivity, though. I'm guessing, they may be more conservative in their approach?
As far as handling's concerned, having driven both brands, both handle quite well, both giving good steering feed-back. However, the laws of physics make it impossible for the Volvo to match B.M.W.'s fully-independent suspension. If you're not expecting driving either one on the Autobahn to their limits, the Volvo's ride and handling should suffice

 

Thanks for your answer and the advice regarding handling

Cars are sold in Holland but I live in southern Spain, A/C definitely a must

The Volvo is a 1992 model and the BMW was 1996 (it seems it has been sold now…) I guess the weight difference is because of the AWD, auto transmission and probably heavier engine.

So now I have to decide if I go for the Volvo or keep looking for another 525ix so I can doubt about everything again

 

That's what you should be most wary of. Garages in the Netherlands are allowed to do their own government-mandated inspections. Thereafter, there's no guarantee that they leave the garage in a safe condition: https://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/threads/is-my-wagon-a-wagon.49642/page-6 I would call this "Dutch Roulette"

 

Thanks for the advice! I didn’t know that.

That’s not allowed in Spain, but in any case Government mandated inspections, at least here in Spain, are no warranty at all. They are basically a way to rip you off every year. Mechanical checks are extremely limited; for instance cars with serious structural damage due to corrosion get passed, the engine never gets checked, most of the times they never even open the bonnet.

The only care about CO2 levels, making sure the car brakes (not to a really high standard actually) and applying the strictest rules regarding headlights in Europe, not to make sure the lights don’t blind anyone (somethind I’d support) but to make sure fitting tested street legal LED bulbs, which improve safety, is such a nightmare that you give up.

I’ve seen downright scary vans, almost falling apart pass the test and a 5 years old car having to return another day because he forgot to fill up the wipers liquid and they couldn’t check if the system worked. A friendly inspector would have opened the bonnet and fill it up in a sec just to check, but as I said before the engine bay seems off limits to them most of the time.

I'm so sorry about the rant. I just had a kafkian experience just 2 weeks ago, I read “government mandated inspections” and felt an itching all over my body.