06-30-2015, 12:49 PM
What's more fun that maintaining one decade-old M? Plus it has a tape deck. :lol:
So, the wife and I are expecting our first child (w00t!), due in November. The M3 only has two doors, and the suspension is just a little too stiff - I don't want to be jostling the baby around. It's also just tightly wound in general. Since we got the luxo-Jeep, my better half much prefers that and so we rarely took the M3 when both of us had to go someplace. And in all honesty, it was getting a bit tiresome for longer trips even for me, if we want to talk first-world problems.
So I started looking at sedans/wagons. I'm spoiled rotten, and the only things that really turned my head were e39 and e60 M5's, and e90 M3's. I drove one DCT e90, and really liked it much more than I expected. I decided to continue looking, and if push came to shove (read: the baby comes), I'd pick one up. Horrible "safety" car, eh?
I almost pulled the trigger on a 2002 M5 that an old friend checked out in ATL...and I'm super glad I didn't. This thing came along, and it really was the right car to buy.
It was both a bitch and a pleasure to drive back from San Antonio. I'm taking a co-driver next time.
![[Image: 52b6a8bc5530b1ae62a4516c705eb827_zpsnblwqvc0.jpg]](http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f354/huntwc/e39/52b6a8bc5530b1ae62a4516c705eb827_zpsnblwqvc0.jpg)
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![[Image: bb1bb393637e7cde8f401f26aeaec1f8_zpsixedequx.jpg]](http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f354/huntwc/e39/bb1bb393637e7cde8f401f26aeaec1f8_zpsixedequx.jpg)
![[Image: 096894175b2b4d9341de5be73043f55c_zpsfx2sclp6.jpg]](http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f354/huntwc/e39/096894175b2b4d9341de5be73043f55c_zpsfx2sclp6.jpg)
![[Image: 5e1860c8bf4e17db273bd490168a6b03_zpschc4qkls.jpg]](http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f354/huntwc/e39/5e1860c8bf4e17db273bd490168a6b03_zpschc4qkls.jpg)
I've never owned a car in the exact spec I want. This is both the perfect color combination and has all the options - there weren't many, so it's basically fold down rear seats and upgraded audio.
It was owned by an older gentleman since 2011 when it had 67k miles, and I found it on the BMWCCA classifieds. It has 102k now. And I mean a gentleman - this transaction was as civilized as you can imagine. He and his wife picked me up at the airport, insisted on treating me to the best Mexican food I've ever had - it really was just lovely.
And man, he loved it. I have receipts out the wazoo. I spoke with him for hours, the shop that maintained it while he owned it, and the detailer he took it to. I'm uncomfortable being put in the care of such nice paint. PPI confirmed everything he disclosed. Anyway, we need some lists.
The good.
Modifications (all done by current owner)
The bad.
I have about 1500 highway miles and just a couple around-town miles...I fucking love it. It's a relaxed, comfortable, torquey version of my e46, which is exactly what I wanted. It is a 15 year old, 100k mile car, so it has a couple squeaks/rattles here and there, but I'm looking forward to getting in there and tinkering. I don't actually have any modification plans yet - it has a REALLY nice sounding exhaust that isn't too loud, and the suspension is lower but still very comfortable.
I don't know what's in store for the e46. I have no plans to sell it, but I can totally see getting sick of maintaining two old M cars, and I don't like the idea of it sitting outside (wife gets the other half of the garage). So we'll see. If the M5 tickles the same parts that the M3 does...who knows.
In conclusion, Daddy has his family sedan, and everyone needs a V8. I'm very fortunate. Let's hope this thing doesn't fall apart.
So, the wife and I are expecting our first child (w00t!), due in November. The M3 only has two doors, and the suspension is just a little too stiff - I don't want to be jostling the baby around. It's also just tightly wound in general. Since we got the luxo-Jeep, my better half much prefers that and so we rarely took the M3 when both of us had to go someplace. And in all honesty, it was getting a bit tiresome for longer trips even for me, if we want to talk first-world problems.
So I started looking at sedans/wagons. I'm spoiled rotten, and the only things that really turned my head were e39 and e60 M5's, and e90 M3's. I drove one DCT e90, and really liked it much more than I expected. I decided to continue looking, and if push came to shove (read: the baby comes), I'd pick one up. Horrible "safety" car, eh?
I almost pulled the trigger on a 2002 M5 that an old friend checked out in ATL...and I'm super glad I didn't. This thing came along, and it really was the right car to buy.
It was both a bitch and a pleasure to drive back from San Antonio. I'm taking a co-driver next time.
I've never owned a car in the exact spec I want. This is both the perfect color combination and has all the options - there weren't many, so it's basically fold down rear seats and upgraded audio.
It was owned by an older gentleman since 2011 when it had 67k miles, and I found it on the BMWCCA classifieds. It has 102k now. And I mean a gentleman - this transaction was as civilized as you can imagine. He and his wife picked me up at the airport, insisted on treating me to the best Mexican food I've ever had - it really was just lovely.
And man, he loved it. I have receipts out the wazoo. I spoke with him for hours, the shop that maintained it while he owned it, and the detailer he took it to. I'm uncomfortable being put in the care of such nice paint. PPI confirmed everything he disclosed. Anyway, we need some lists.
The good.
- The fucking color combination and full leather. Seriously, everything is covered in leather.
- Everything works.
- Motor replaced at 37k (alleged money shift, was before PO owned it).
- Front seats reupholstered in OE leather, and steering wheel redone.
- Suspension and brakes redone as of 80k miles.
- Cooling system (rad, thermostat, water pump, fan clutch, expansion tank) at 75k.
- Well maintained in general - no leaks and lots of little stuff done.
- New Continental DW's. Those are 19" OEM replicas, and it came with a set of BBS LM replicas (no tires), too.
Modifications (all done by current owner)
- Dinan suspension.
- Dinan cat-back.
- Dinan little stuff (strut bar, tune (lol), pedals, shifter).
- That M-color pinstripe is paint. I thought it'd be the first thing to go, but I kinda like it.
The bad.
- Only noteworthy wear is the front door pulls. Whoever decided they should be leather is a moron.
- Has been intermittently been throwing a code for cat efficiency for awhile (not currently). It goes like a raped ape, gets expected MPG, and doesn't currently have a CEL, so I'm just keeping an eye on that.
- Didn't notice it until I got home, but the front suspension has a squeak.
- I'm anal and hyper-sensitive...but it might have a vibration accelerating in lower gears? I'll get under it and check out driveshaft stuff and motor/trans mounts. It might just be a V8 thing.
I have about 1500 highway miles and just a couple around-town miles...I fucking love it. It's a relaxed, comfortable, torquey version of my e46, which is exactly what I wanted. It is a 15 year old, 100k mile car, so it has a couple squeaks/rattles here and there, but I'm looking forward to getting in there and tinkering. I don't actually have any modification plans yet - it has a REALLY nice sounding exhaust that isn't too loud, and the suspension is lower but still very comfortable.
I don't know what's in store for the e46. I have no plans to sell it, but I can totally see getting sick of maintaining two old M cars, and I don't like the idea of it sitting outside (wife gets the other half of the garage). So we'll see. If the M5 tickles the same parts that the M3 does...who knows.
In conclusion, Daddy has his family sedan, and everyone needs a V8. I'm very fortunate. Let's hope this thing doesn't fall apart.
2001 M5
2016 M3
2014 Grand Cherokee
Been had: 1984 318i | 2003 S2000 | 1990 330is | 2005 STi | 2005 M3
2016 M3
2014 Grand Cherokee
Been had: 1984 318i | 2003 S2000 | 1990 330is | 2005 STi | 2005 M3
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