LordBeaverbrook
Anybody ever owned the model that made BMW famous? The 2002 (the Bavaria and 3.0 CS were pretty badass too, but the 2002 tii was the prototype for the Ms)? I have a '76 and my original '75 in the garage just waiting to be restored into one badass 2002 one of these days.>
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I have owned several 2002's including a Tii and in its crude form was a great car but when you built one with 330 HP, a performance flywheel/ clutch, 5 speed and limited slip diff they will fly, Add a lowered coil over suspension and Heim joint steering and bushings huge sway bars, toss in some big disk brakes and this car will literally fly around corners (OK not fly but). While the 2002 was a cute functional, 5 seat coupe that got good mileage and didn't brake down often, people like LBb and myself want to go fast and stick it in the apex as we take curves and corners and the 2002 was not that car... until the 2002Tii. Once this car showed it could handle and be hot hatchback quick, the tuners hit it like a tone of bricks and still do today. Here is one well worth noting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE5jJSWi1jo. This project and any 2002 requires a lot of upgrades and improvements but it's a fun car when done. Restoring a late version with the huge bumpers is not financially viable as the weight and styling is amiss unless you are sentimentally attached. Kinda like an SO LOL.
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I have owned numerous BMW 6 and 8 series cars. I was in a love/hate relationship with all but my 1989 M6 and I still have her. The M6 isn't a super high maintenance bitch like my 8 series coupes were and far less expensive. Everyone who sees her lusts after her, not just as arm candy or for a romp down a winding road on a sunny day, but as a exquisite example of a fine quality performance automobile. This car has it all, even as old as she is, can still turn heads, drop jaws, and leave you breathless when she throws you deep into the drivers seat and takes you to a level of performance that leaves you breathless. A super rare car that was only sold in limited quantities in North America (about 500 a year) that has held it's resale value. Haurgarty collector insurance has her covered for $25K. and I have seen asking prices of nearly $30K. All this without the high maintenance and repair costs as all the bugs had been worked out in the emissions/ fuel injection system and it doesn't have 42 micro processing units and fly by wire/electric steering crap . *As a car, it was well described on the "crazy hot matrix" video as a unicorn!!*
My other Bimmers were a 1992 850i and later a 97 850Csi, Both had definably made me a regular at the repair/ service facilities with the electronics systems failing oil leaks and cooling issues. There I got to meet lots of other stupid people, I mean nice people, with high level educations,who just accepted that $500 for front brakes and $800-1000 for a 60K service back in the 90's was the norm. Not me, I found someone who wanted to own them before they went out of warranty and I was out of there.
Between Bimmers I bought a 1992 Mercedes 500E on a lease return in 1994 with 16K mikes on the clock. It was highly regarded as the new sports sedan and all the magazines were calling it a beast and comparing it to the 6cyl, M5 only more powerful and refined. It's 5 liter/ 32 valve aluminum V8 has variable valve timing and produced 326HP and 350 +ft/lb of torque. The drive train and brakes are from the S class and the SL sports cars tucked nicely into a mid sized E class sedan that was hugely popular.
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I love this car and still have it today It's name is "Permagrin". This car cannot be referred to as a "her" as it is anything but feminine more like an amazon warrior with it's flared fender wells, lowered suspension, and sports steering it has been called a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". It has the initial appearance of a suburban housewives grocery getter until you notice it's lowered stance, air dams, side shirts, and witness it jump from 0-60 in 5.9 seconds. This car can put a smile on your face instantly.
The W124 500E is potentially collectable and there are some being sold for over $30K and some asking nearly $50 today. The car sold new for $84-85K new just 23 years ago and were snapped up quickly.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/mercedes_benz/500e/1663938.html
There were only 1506 (500 a year) 500Es ever brought to the Americas and very few gray markets made it across the pond and only 5 in the UK. This Mercedes is hand built and fabricated in a partnership with Porsche in their factories and is believed to be the guiding force behind buying AMG and bringing it in house.
I have since owned 2 SLK AMG cars: A 2004 SLK32 AMG followed by a 2009 SLK 55 AMG. Both of these cars were fantastic cars and the 32 was only replaced by the 55 due to being sandwiched between 2 cars totaling it. I will buy another if anything happens to the 55. Both great cars no service issues, great looking, faster than hell but I still like the lines of my Datsun 240Zs YUP! I said it Datsuns,
I started buying and restoring Datsun 240Zs in the 80's as a money making hobby and after building a couple decided to build something for myself to drive and maybe autocross. The rest is history, I have been doing so ever since They are fun cars, very good looking when in show condition, easy to work on, hot rod and pretty much bulletproof even when tweeked with such crazy things as putting Chevy350HP V8s where 150HP 6cylinders were. They are easy to work on, most of the first 4 generations of parts can be crossed, and I can sell them as fast as I finish them (a little too fast sometimes). I have enclosed pictures of my 73 240z 325HP naturally aspirated 6 cyl, 6 speed trans and 5.23 posi rear end. Note the roll bar.[ATTACH][ATTACH]
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I don't like any of the crap they sell now for cars but I do have to drive a respectable upper scale car for business and that is my SLK if I didn't, I wouldn't. People comment more on my classic Z's and the M6 Bimmer than anything else, but I feel the best car I have ever owned is my 1992 500E, Barr none.
The cars they sell today are all look alike crap and they keep telling us that we have to have personal assistants in our cars, a module to control the heat and a/c and even roll the windows up when it's raining. Jeez these cars can park themselves and even apply the brake when you are too busy daydreaming when you should be driving.
Yes This is A BMW
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really this is a BMW not a Ford or a Mazda
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I have had 5 and 7 series….love them all!!
