Home » The Lower-Case i’s Have It: 1992 BMW 735i vs 2000 Infiniti i30

The Lower-Case i’s Have It: 1992 BMW 735i vs 2000 Infiniti i30

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Good morning, Autopians! It’s Thursday , and this will be the final Shitbox Showdown for the week. Tomorrow, we’re trying something a little different with the three winners. Today, we’ve got a pair of faded sporty-ish luxury-ish sedans to look at, but first, let’s see which manual you wanted to save:

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Narrow, but decisive: Saab remains undefeated. But if everybody loves them so much, why did they go out of business? That’s a question for another time, I think.

For your consideration today are two executive sedans: one established German, and one up-and-coming Japanese. Neither one is really a luxury car, but they’re both nice and comfy. And neither one could be considered a sports sedan, especially with automatics, but neither is a slouch when it comes to acceleration or handling. And both are well-built enough to still be worth considering at over 200,000 miles. And, both feature a lower-case “i” in their model name.

1992 BMW 735i – $2,350

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Engine/drivetrain: 3.4 liter inline 6, 4 speed automatic, RWD

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Odometer reading: 237,000 miles

Runs/drives? Very well, according to the seller

The seller of this E32-chassis 7 Series has it listed as a 735iL (L for long wheelbase), and the badging bears this out, but the rear doors of the L always looked awkwardly long to me. Looking at a comparison photo, I think this is a standard 735i, and the seller doesn’t know what the L they’re talking about. If I had to guess, the trunk lid has been replaced with one from a 735iL; note how the pinstripe stops at the lid.

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What we do know is that this car is powered by a good old M30 inline six, as a BMW should be. No overly-complex V12, no V8s that eat their own cylinder liners, just BMW doing what they do best. It’s backed by a four-speed ZF automatic transmission, but that’s no great surprise, especially in the US. I think I’ve seen exactly one manual E32 here ever.

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For being well north of 200,000 miles, this old BMW looks to be holding up remarkably well. There are a few tears and popped seams in the seats (regrettably patched with what looks like masking tape; maybe they thought it was the right color), but the emerald-green paint looks quite nice. And since it’s a simple car, at least compared to BMWs ten years newer, there’s a good chance most stuff works, or can be fixed.

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A laundry list of new parts is encouraging as well. This car actually looks like a hell of a deal, the more I look at it. It’s not terribly economical, but it could be a lot worse, and you could probably break 300,000 miles if you take care of it.

2000 Infiniti i30 – $1,995

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Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter V6, four-speed automatic, FWD

Location: somewhere outside Modesto, CA

Odometer reading: 212,000 miles

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Runs/drives? nicely, the ad says

Infiniti has gotten a lot of mileage out of a simple formula: take a Nissan, wrap it in a fancy designer dress, and sell it for more money. No complaints here; my wife’s car is an Infiniti QX4, which is a Nissan Pathfinder with delusions of grandeur, but it is a really nice car. It’s amazing what some leather seats and a little extra soundproofing can do.

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This car, like several Infiniti models, is based on a Nissan model that was not otherwise sold in America, in this case a Nissan Cefiro. It’s very similar to the Nissan Maxima, maybe too similar; I don’t think many buyers felt the Infiniti badge was worth the premium. And you could get a Maxima with a manual, which made it the enthusiast’s choice.

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The i30 is powered by a three-liter version of Nissan’s VQ six-cylinder engine, which saw duty in everything from Altimas to Z cars over the years. It’s a good sturdy engine, if a little rough around the edges, and here puts out a respectable 227 horsepower. But sadly, an automatic was the only available transmission.

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Condition-wise, this car looks pretty good at first glance. But comparing the underhood photo to the interior photo shows something concerning: I’d like to know why the firewall and inner fenders are maroon, while the rest of the car, including the door sills, is silver. Something is hinky here. The ad says the car has a clean title, but I’d like to know what color the inside of the trunk is.

Neither of these cars is quite on the up-and-up, but both run and drive well, and for around $2000, that’s not nothing, these days. Which one is a better deal? You tell me.

QuizMaker

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Justin Short
Justin Short
2 years ago

I don’t care for BMW hype, and yet I still like this 735i.
Ran the VIN, it’s an i not an iL, and I still like it better than that Infiniti.
On the i30 the inner fender tops are maroon, which to me says respray, … maybe the entire front end was replaced? And that scares me, A LOT, even more than a well aged BMW!
And that beemer ad sucks less too! 😉

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
2 years ago

Like others here, I’m no BMW guy, but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick this BMW over that Infiniti.

Matt Woods
Matt Woods
2 years ago

Let’s see…
Unknown potential issues with the BMW, or knowing the Franken-finiti will be a disaster, and potentially very unsafe…

7 it is.

Baron Usurper
Baron Usurper
2 years ago

Infinity, because my Nana had one just like it about 10 years ago and she passed away recently.
Sure, it’s going to just sit around like a Tracymobile, but it would make my mom smile for a bit.

Clusker Du
Clusker Du
2 years ago

Come on! The best looking 7-Series or a Maxima with a nose job?

Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell
2 years ago
Reply to  Clusker Du

Agree the bee emm dubbaya is better looking of the two

Col Lingus
Col Lingus
2 years ago

Never truly was impressed by either offering here. But if forced to take on one of these, well it’s BMW. Because you will always find some other fool to deal with it when you are ready to give up. The other one, not so much.

05LGT
05LGT
2 years ago

The newer Infiniti was in the lead until it became obvious it’s a post wreck Frankenstein. NOPE! If they’re both money pits, I’d rather burn $$ in a 7.

Mike S
Mike S
2 years ago

No contest. That Bimmer is still a gorgeous car 30 years later, while that Infiniti looks like the beat up, crunchy steed of your local Tony Montana wannabe.
$2350 for that 7 series is pretty much F-it money for most of us.

Dogisbadob
Dogisbadob
2 years ago

an older BMW is scary, but it’s old enough to be exempt from inspection LOL

Bob Jablonski
Bob Jablonski
2 years ago

BMW For me today even though it has no useful parts for my 850

Outofstep
Outofstep
2 years ago

I’m not a BMW guy but damn that 7 series looks gorgeous and it’s probably something that wouldn’t be too hard to work on. Reupholster the seats and cruise to your hearts content.

Citrus
Citrus
2 years ago

The i30 is one of those cars where whenever I see it I go “huh, an i30, I’m surprised to see that.” It’s up there with the Eagle Premier and the Kia Borrego in the “unremarkable cars I always notice because I’m convinced nobody bought one” stakes.

Anyway the BMW is at least nice looking when it inevitably breaks – I might even argue for it being the handsomest 7er – so that one, obviously.

James Mitchell
James Mitchell
2 years ago

I’m a total BMWphobic but that’s a nice looking car that’s old enough that it might be worth the trouble.

As for the Nissan? I had a similarly aged Pathfinder, it does not endear me. And that paint situation under the hood? That is not a place of honor. No highly esteemed deed is commemorated there.

IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
2 years ago

This really isn’t a fair fight. A fancy Nissan against a true luxury car that’s built like a bank vault and still has a presence to it after 30 years? One car screams “Connoisseur” while the other screams “I steal catalytic converters for a living”. The BMW wins by a kilometer.

Thomas Metcalf
Thomas Metcalf
2 years ago

Not even a contest. BMW all the way. A little bit of upholstery work and that’s a very decent car.

Shooting Brake Advocate
Shooting Brake Advocate
2 years ago

I’ve low-key wanted a 7 series for awhile, so that inline six-powered RWD piece of German engineering wins hands down for me.

Brummbaer
Brummbaer
2 years ago

Great color, great styling, very nice interior, albeit the masking tape is certainly a turn off. Fix it with some Gorilla tape in the nearest color match. To me at least, the whole car expresses understated luxury with BMW’s much vaunted handling.

The Datsun’s grungy steering wheel, dirty engine, opaque headlights make it a loser right out of the gate.

BMW all day every day, and I hate BMW drivers!

Data
Data
2 years ago

Back when BMW was not an Angry Birds pig faced monstrosity.
That color difference on the i30 is a glaring red flag.

Gilbert Wham
Gilbert Wham
2 years ago

BMW aaaallllll the way. Even if the Infiniti wasn’t so dubious looking, it’s still hideous looking.

Shop-Teacher
Shop-Teacher
2 years ago

Either one of these will need wrenching on to keep going, and there’s no engine bay more miserable to work in than one with a transverse V engine in it. Plus the Infinity is uggo. I’m not a BMW guy, but gimme the BMW.

Acrimonious Mofo
Acrimonious Mofo
2 years ago

This hardly seems like a fair fight. I mean there are probably enough BMWphobics to garner some votes for the i30, but come on man.

IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Tucker

And we do appreciate your efforts, Mark. Sometimes it’s fun to have a comment section where everyone just mercilessly shits all over a car that never stood a chance against the winner.

CPL Rabbit
CPL Rabbit
2 years ago

This is gonna be a blowout.

Timothy Arnold
Timothy Arnold
2 years ago
Reply to  CPL Rabbit

Indeed

Man With A Reliable Jeep
Man With A Reliable Jeep
2 years ago

If I wanted a 4th Gen Nissan Maxima, I’d just go buy one.

I’m not really a BMW guy, but I know what I like. And I really like the looks of the E32 7 series. Always have. Possibly even more than the E23 7 series. For some reason, the looks of the sharp, chiseled front fascia evinces the presence of something predatory, avian, or raptor-like. I dig it. The exterior styling carries presence with understatement, while the interior mirrors this, along with the nostalgic materials and construction of the period we as a collective know (and love) so well.

BMW E23 7 series.

Dogisbadob
Dogisbadob
2 years ago

it’s a 5th gen Maxima 😛

Man With A Reliable Jeep
Man With A Reliable Jeep
2 years ago
Reply to  Dogisbadob

Ah, dammnit. You are technically (no, actually) correct, the best kind of correct.
At least I was close, heh.

DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
2 years ago

Warren Zevon sang it best…
“Big gorilla at the L.A. Zoo
Snatched the glasses right off my face
Took the keys to my BMW
Left me here to take his place”…..

I picked the BMW.

Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell
2 years ago

‘Excitable boy, they all said..’
This was a puzzler.
Infiniti: Was ready to skip ahead and vote for this; but the maroon engine bay gives me pause..
BMW: with that many miles and years, gotta be on borrowed time. Expensive repairs waiting to roll down in an avalanche. An avalanche down the mountain.
to Infinity and beyond!

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago

Worked as a service writer for a couple years. From my experience, Nissan based cars of the early 2000s-2010 just had shitty electronics. Saw several customers just nickel and dimed to death by them. Power window here, power lock there, HID ballasts, just little stuff that would take a couple hours of digging

No thank.

Besides, RWD > FWD

Rollin Hand
Rollin Hand
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

The Bimmer all fay every day. Yes it may have issues over time, but you know if maintained that inline 6 will eat miles with smooth style.

Caveat: I watch M539 Restorations, so I feel like I can handle a Bimmers vagaries well.

Timothy Arnold
Timothy Arnold
2 years ago
Reply to  Rollin Hand

No, that would be the 750iL.

Michael Beranek
Michael Beranek
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

RWD > FWD?

Not in all situations. When the roads get straight, flat, and frost-heaved, and when the snow and ice fly, I’ll take FWD all day long.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago

Boo this person, everyone! Booo!! Boooooo!!!

Mr. Canoehead
Mr. Canoehead
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa
Fruit Snack
Fruit Snack
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

I agree, had my share of old Nissan reliability, the BMW is way better in every way.

Plesiomorphus primitivus
Plesiomorphus primitivus
2 years ago
Reply to  Fruit Snack

Ha ha ha. Exactly. Nissan reliability? I have been looking for this mysterious beast.

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