I didn't "get it" but now I do...

I know, I know... I'm going to get shit for this, but oh well. It is what it is.

So, like most of you guys I'm sure, I never really "got" the whole BMW thing. They were just boring, utilitarian looking cars with no personality. Blah blah blah. I knew they were good on the track (with curves, not straight lines ) but I still didn't get it, nor did I have any inclination to.

But.

Big BUT.

Outlook changing BUT...

I've been driving that old, beat up, piece of crap 328i, that's 17 years old, as a daily driver for the past week. And now I get it. I totally get it.

The thing is an absolute hoot to drive. It handles nice. It accelerates nice. It stops nice. It sounds nice. Everything about it is nice. And pleasant. And unhurried. And controlled. And composed. And... Fun. 

And being 17 years old, EVERYTHING still works. Cruise? check. AC? Ice cold, literally - 29* blowing out the vents! Windows? Auto down on ALL FOUR windows and auto up on front ones, way back in 96, STILL work! Heat? Smoking hot. Heated seats? yup. Moonroof? Of course.

This car is probably the most perfectly suited commuting/enthusiast's car that I have ever owned. Ever. It is just a plain old fun, interactive, communicative, quiet, and composed ride to and from work. And I am just grinning ear to ear. In a lowered car. On snow tires. And this is a clapped-out, beat-up old turd of a BMW. If the crappy ones are this nice... What's a nice M3 like?

How about a nice M5? Well, I'm sure I'll be able to tell you some day soon...

Because I get it.

Just shut up and drive one. Borrow a friend's. Or your secretary's. Or your buddy's girlfriend's. Because, like me, I'm sure you'll "get it" too...

Oh, and did I mention that driving it like I do, enjoying running through the gears from every stop light, 80 mph with the cruise on to work and back, tossing it through the backroads in 3rd and 4th, etc, etc... That I am getting 27.4 MPG????? That's TWENTY SEVEN miles per gallon!

Hallelugah and holy shit.

LOL^

I agree with you mostly and totally know what you mean, I've experienced it myself, it just depends on the BMW/German car you wind up with and what could happen to them.  Myself, I like the E30s.  They are old though, and old+electronics=sh*t! f#%k!!!!  I'd still like to have one.  The later ones kind of worry me but not terribly.  I like the E39s a LOT, I've known several people with them.  One friend had a real nice 540i, he still does, I think it's a 99.  That car drives awesome, but it has had some collossal issues, for some reason the car started burning oil because of some gasket that went and blue smoke was everywhere, some kind of timing chain/belt (I'm a n00b so I don't know the setup) guide went, which required removing some big crazy crank bolt that is almost impossible to remove even at the dealer, and the craziest was the hood cable replacement where he was quoted a few grand for the job.  He wound up doing it himself.

At the same time, I've known a few people with the 528s that had hardly any problems, and one of these cars was akin to a Badass forum slut and had a silver front fender with a maroon body, and a billion miles on it.

I've wondered if any of the BMWs produced in Mexico were/are for the US market.  Maybe the problematic ones were those cars.  I know a lot of people have reported more issues with the Mexican made Chevy Suburbans and stuff compared to the Ahhhhhlington TX built trucks.  I'd be pissed if my German cah was made south of the border, I'd expect to pay half price for the damned thing. 

I drove a 7 series sport package a couple of times (with a big dent in it), and I though that thing was awesome. But I'd be afraid to own one for sure!


All in all I'll stick with what I have for a while, because the SS might as well be an E30 with a fully modded suspension compared to what I'm used to.

My first car was almost an 88 325i coupe.

GasTT wrote:

My first car was almost an 88 325i coupe.

Cool story, bro.

Obviously, I didn't "get it" 

See, I couldn't even think about the prices for some parts...

I'm sure it's fun. Just like an Audi is an awesome car....under warranty...

Thanksgiving day 1988, Rolled a 1983 535 at 100 MPH when i was 16 (i was passenger) car was completely destroyed, the trunk was in the back seat, the engine was out of the car, cops said we should have been dead. pass compartment held strong. The hood came back through the winshield about 3 inches. Didnt' have a seat belt on, and i still think that saved us, and we landed upside down in a ditch.
Took 5-6 minutes to find a way to get out, it was terrifing. I finally kicked the rear drivers door open and climbed out. Car stopped and gave me a rid to drivers house. I can still to this day remember it like it was yesterday.
First time i ever saw my dad cry.
No doubt in my mind that car saved our lives. I may joke about them, but i have the upmost respect for the foundation that car is built on.

That's a pretty scary story, Glen. Your friend make out ok, too? They are pretty solid cars. I'm impressed.

And Matt, it's funny you mentioned Audis... The BMW guys won't even go near those. "Too complicated and too expensive to fix!" lol

I'm just really surprised by how much this car has blown me away. It's just a cool, fun car.

only 2 injures, his pride, and i injured my shoulder. I wish i know where his dad put the pictures. You wouldn't believe the destruction.

Wow Glen......looks like it was YOU who almost died & made this the BMW forum

Wow I guess I did. Have to go buy one now. Or leave this forum.

This thread needs more LSx.

Steve, I lol'd. Sorry Glen, it was at your expense.

So anyways, this series of pics speaks for itself. I took them on my ride to Hollands this morning...






That was with about 240 miles on the tank already (15 miles after I would have filled the marshmallow with 20 gallons!) and when I filled it, the gas light had been on for about 10 miles and it took 14.5 gallons to fill. When I filled it, the range noted on the On Board Computer was "475+ miles"! I was like, "yeah, right!"  But it looks to be about right.

So what could possibly make this better?


And that was after backroad driving to the junkyard and back, and then 10 miles of backroad driving to my house in traffic on 125 off the highway! Holy Schnikes!

I'm not going to give up this car very willingly, I can tell you that much...

Damn Glen.  That's nuts.  I've always wanted one of the "shark nose" 5 series...all the more reason to buy one now I guess.

Bill, I was at Hollands today too!  And I actually foun' shit!

Lmao @ Spaceballs reference

Yes! Finally someone else gets it! 

528i stick shift. I recently went to NH, cruise at 73, averaged 29mpgs in a decent size car! I've put about 35k on mine and have only had to do a water pump, t-stat, and plugs. All of which were super easy to do. NEVER have I owned an lt1 car that I drive the piss out of and not have to major repairs, often. I'm not knocking b-bodies, at all. Matter of fact I'm itching for another wagon as a toy. But I promise if you folks gave a bimmer a chance you wouldn't regret it! 

Crovo, it is hilarious to read and hear about how the bimmer guys stay WAYYY away from vw/Audi, I was considering an a4 Quattro as a winter car until the bimmerforums guys chimed in. Ill end up getting an awd e30, or a Subaru most likely.

Maybe I should get a bimmer to drop an LSx motor in. Maybe Bmw is the new B-body?...... I still don't get it.

What can they be had for?

I'd like to replace my wife's '05 Malibu Maxx with a larger family car.  A BMW wagon might be nice.  But, I've always felt that BMWs are for guys with deeper pockets thanks to cost of ownership/cost of maintenance issues.  Maybe I'm wrong.

I'm in this one for like $650.

But I would now also like to put my wife in an AWD 5 series wagon when it's time to get rid of the malibu. I think you can get into a really nice one for about 15 grand.

And it's just so hard for me to believe that a car that's this much fun to drive, this enjoyable, gets mileage this good!

The wife is thinking about getting a Malbu Maxx if you're serious Bull.

Oh I get it now.

Lamest video evar! 

But yeah, that would be awesome! Way overkill in this car, but wicked awesome! I think a stock 5.3 may be overkill in one of these!

Since I can't for the life of me figure out how to quote without me response in the quote, I will say this. It is lame, so is this better?

In the reply window, in the bottom row of icons, the last one on the right looks like a printed sheet of paper. Click it and it reverts back to the old style reply. It was pissing me off like crazy too, so I spent some time and figured it out.

Also:
http://www.vorshlag.com/index.php?cPath=1_4_63
http://www.nash8503.com/Conversion_Kits.html
http://sambergperformance.com/?product_cat=bmw-e36

etc....

toomanytoyz wrote:

In the reply window, in the bottom row of icons, the last one on the right looks like a printed sheet of paper. Click it and it reverts back to the old style reply. It was pissing me off like crazy too, so I spent some time and figured it out.

Thank you Mr. Prezident!

Could just get one of these with a super-charger...........

BTDT.

Shit you not, this is almost as much fun. Doesn't have the power, of course, but is a much nicer car. Go figure.

toomanytoyz wrote:

BTDT.

Shit you not, this is almost as much fun. Doesn't have the power, of course, but is a much nicer car. Go figure.

I don't think i'm the only one thinking this.....you have gone totally OFF THE MAP!

Working over 5 years at 2 separate independent shops, I have literally driven every thing with wheels, Audi's, VW's, Subaru's, Yota's, Nissan's, Mercedes, all the BMW's 3, 5,and 7's.

That being said I ain't trading any of my GMs for ANY of em

Ya want fun, re-sale value, fast & 27 mpg? Get a C5-C6 Vette  

(oh, not going to beat it at an auto-cross either)

Find me one for 500 bucks and I am SO IN!

toomanytoyz wrote:

Find me one for 500 bucks and I am SO IN!

If the challenge is 500 dollar beaters, going to be hard pressed to beat "the Turd". 100k of MY abuse, and over 32 mpg. See you when there is 8-10 inches of snow, or some crappy dirt road.

I've left many a euro-car in a ditch behind me in the snow.  

I'd take you up on that challenge, but we all know that no matter HOW MUCH I love this thing right now, there ain't a chance in Hell that I'll have it come winter.

toomanytoyz wrote:

I'd take you up on that challenge, but we all know that no matter HOW MUCH I love this thing right now, there ain't a chance in Hell that I'll have it come winter.

Yeah something shiny will drive by soon...

Paul, I've put 30k on the caddy no major repairs yet!! Simple stuff starter, coolant leak at restrictor, blown up wheel bearing... Gas and go!

toomanytoyz wrote:

...... there ain't a chance in Hell that I'll have it come winter.

Anyone else looking forward to this being gone sooner???...

toomanytoyz wrote:

BTDT.

.....Doesn't have the power, of course, but is a much nicer car. Go figure.

Wait....What?....

toomanytoyz wrote:

BTDT.

Shit you not, this is almost as much fun. Doesn't have the power, of course, but is a much nicer car. Go figure.

You know how i know your crazy? ^^^^^^^^

V8Killer wrote:

Could just get one of these with a super-charger...........

Could get a Black trans am, nah, thats been done.

Yes BMW engineers put lots of bright lights in the cluster that are always on, because their owners have ADD

Im out...... joining the Toyota forum.....



this site floats like a cadillac but stinks like a beamer

This all makes me wonder..

...are Pontiac Aztecs cool yet?

MASShole9C1 wrote:

This all makes me wonder..

...are Pontiac Aztecs cool yet?

NO!

Exactly

Is it ONLY cuz...Crovo hasnt bought one yet?

Hell naw!

I was thinking of getting a 17 yr. old C5 but I haven't been able to find one. You'll only get 30 MPG on the highway anyway.

Well, it's officially an epic fail... 

I tire of this subject...

sdstick wrote:

I tire of this subject...

It's tough being old isn't it gramps.

sdstick wrote:

I tire of this subject...

Lol

No Moa wrote:

sdstick wrote:

I tire of this subject...

It's tough being old isn't it gramps.

Buwhahhaha


Must be a quarter past nap time