A warning about getting into older BMWs

Some of you might be wandering over to the Classic BMWs becuase of their price, because of the mods out there, or just because... But you will learn that you have a "disease". It's caused by cars. Like an -ism, this is a "disease". I have it. Not sure if it's contageous. But Below is a response from the BMW2002FAQ.com to me blaming them all for my "disease".

Enjoy and heed the warnings.

~Vroomer

Originally Posted by Gordon

Vroomer, I'm so sorry that I have been a real bad influence on you, we just twisted your arm so hard to join the 02 community. I must not have been that bad of an influence on you, because I only helped corrupt you part way. You had to have an 02 after we all brought our 02's to Bimmerfest in Santa Barbara last year. But when I showed up to Palo Alto in my 70 E3 2800, you didn't go postal and go out and buy an E3. I've got to try harder next time to corrupt you over to the dark side. You know you are really an old BMW pyscho when you have an 02 AND something in your stable like a NK, E3, or if you have real deep pockets, an E9. Once you start driving an E3/E9 with a M30 six engine, you'll be hooked. Congrats on your find. I'm guessing we will soon see your Z4 on craigslist to help finance your touring restoration.

This below email is from the E3 email list in regards to a new list member wondering if he should restore his E3 2500. You could easily subsitute 2002 in place of E3 and we would all agree that we all suffer from the same incurable disease, 02itis... Group, I am right on this one??? Read on.

G-Man
74 tii
73 Bavaria
70 E3 2800

This list will coerce you at gun-point to forsake all of your friends and family in the interest of restoring, to an obsessive, compulsive degree, your 2500. This list will also compel you to devote 95% of your disposable income to parts purchases, the other 5% being devoted to the purchase of band-aids and "adult" beverages.

This list will threaten you with bodily harm unless you purchase at least one Getrag 265 5-speed overdrive transmission, a set of rear headrests that don't match your interior, a set of used BBS wheels, a Suspension Techniques spring and anti-sway bar kit, a set of wider and lower profile tires, a Crane ignition unit, and an aftermarket sport steering wheel (probably Momo) even though you don't have an adapter yet. The threat of bodily harm will be for real, and must be taken seriously.

You will waste time at work calling three time zones away in search of a side-loading limited slip differential. In October or August you will drive a minimum of 300 miles to drink beer with, and look at the cars of, people whom you have never before met. You will do it again the following year.

You will subscribe to the CS Registry and First Fives mailing lists for no apparent reason. You will come to like and admire Bill Bowes for no apparent reason.

Within three months of starting the restoration, you will purchase a 1972 Bavaria as a parts/donor car. It will be Sahara with a tobacco interior. Within twelve months you will purchase a second parts car because you will have decided to restore the first parts car, rather than parting it out. The second parts car will be a '73 Bavaria. It will be either faded Fjord blue or faded Polaris silver, and it will have a very nice blue vinyl interior. The radio antennas on all three cars will be located in different places. You will lose sleep over this.

You will curse the previous owner ("PO") who failed to return tools to the toolkit in the trunk, unless you are a patent examiner, in which case you will wonder what all the fuss is about.

Within 6 minutes of getting your 2500 running, you will decide to transplant a later 3.3 or 3.5 liter engine from an '85-'89 E28 five series.

You will labor over the decision to transplant a fuel injection system onto the car, but you will eventually succumb, and you will rejoice in your decision. Thereafter, you will seek out E36 M3s driven by mere children, for the pure pleasure of racing them to the next corner. Typically you will win, albeit through sheer recklessness. As you drive away from them, you will realize that they will never amount to anything. They will come to fear you and all that you represent.

Paul at Maximillian Importing will put you as number 7 on his speed-dial. Jim at Mesa will know your children's birthdays.

You will learn to speak pidgeon-German. You will develop a taste for an obscure, caustic ginger ale which can be used in place of hydrogen peroxide.

On a business trip you will be seated on an airplane next to a man named Walter Eschelbach. You will bitch-slap him with no explanation, and then order an Orangina from the flight attendant.

Anyone on this list will tell you the same. Am I right, folks?

Ciao,
DHW

Wilkommen Sie to the Madness.
("Mad Gau Disease" as it is know by the afflicted)

I have been "cursed" with the same disease. Last year I sold my E46 M3 for an Alpina e28 B9, and I am about to sell my wife's X5 4.6is because I bought her a 1988 M5 and am building it to "her" specs. We are at a point in our life where making a car payment instead of saving for retirement is foolish.

Even though the newer BMWs have much more technology, we still like the "feel" of an older BMW. There is a vast difference between the two.

I hope there isn't a cure for this disease!

Wow, Vroomer that picture of your garage is a great picture. You have two great cars there depicting many sides of BMW. The present and the past.

Thanks. The picture will be updated soon.

Unfortunately, I have the BMW disease. And this disease has come to put me at odds with the community I live in. They have a "2 car rule". Car #3 will be coming home at the end of this week. Now to hunt some more space/storage. Or else the Z will have to sleep outside.

~Vroomer

me too

i cought the bmw disease when my dad brought home a 2000 330i. Now ive bought a e30 325e, now im selling that and moving onto a e36. Nothing will ever float my boat like a bmw.

It is really sick when they start multiplying...

Now, which one to bring to Bimmerfest.....Hmmmm??

the hatch. Alot rarer and different. Abit of Eye candy

+1 with DominguesE30 I would like to see the hatchback there myself!

WOW! NICE CARS STEVE THEY ARE BEAUTIFULL!!!!!
I HAVE THE SAME THING I HAVE A 2002 325i AND A 1985 318i AND LOOKING FOR THE 3rd ONE IM TRYING TO GET ME A 1969 OR OLDER ..... BIMMERFEVER ........

Oh, It will be the Touring at least. Maybe both cars.

Originally Posted by Steve in SB

I'm jealous now

Man, there are some gorgeous pictures floating around in this thread. I'm new here, so I'd like to say "hello" and share a picture of my little beauty:

Wow, that guy DHW knows a thing or two about a thing or two.

The day I caught the disease. Notice I "forgot" to spread my mulch; more important things to do, I guess...



DHW didn't mention rusty, unsafe U-Haul trailers anywhere. He needs to update his findings.

www.e9coupe.com

Malaga

Bittin' by bmw bug eh! I'm trying to get that myself. But a bit different tact, I think. There's a fellow who has reproduced the pre-war 327 roadster body on a vw bug length wheel-base and I think it would be appropreate to use beamer running gear instead of the normal (and ready availability) chevy/mustangII/ford 9" set-ups. Question is, which one would be best in terms of F/R trac and 6cyl mtr.,trans. for donation? Now I've looked all over the web and got squat in useful information, real tech stuff by the year, or models, or whatever to start the hunt. Any ideas, sources?
Thanks folks, Keruth

1. "Beamers" are BMW motorcycles...

2. The 327 was a cabriolet because it was a 2 +2. (About 300 coupes were made). Roadsters are 2 seaters.

3. Check out the BMW2002FAQ. Those guys have done wonders with the 2002 frame/body and different engines. Like putting the S-14 engine and trans out of an M3 or the M54 engine and trans out of the Z4 into those little cars.

Great cars, guys !

Keep up with the spirit, may the white propeller be with you

Bumb for the rookies... You've been warned.

Originally Posted by Vroomer

Bumb for the rookies... You've been warned.

I have already been diagnosed!

Mike,have you found a donor car yet? I hear the disease is transfered via some insect that apparently bit me too.Currently restoring a 84 318i.Thae paint came out as a bute! now for the interior.

Originally Posted by JAKE325

Mike,have you found a donor car yet? I hear the disease is transfered via some insect that apparently bit me too.Currently restoring a 84 318i.Thae paint came out as a bute! now for the interior.

Not yet! Looking around though! Now I want a 2002!

Originally Posted by Mike_Check

I have already been diagnosed!

The only cure for a regular 2002 is a Touring. Been neglecting my 76 ever since I got the touring.

Unfortunately, it attracts all sorts of strange creatures....

:drool:

That thing is ridiculous! I've never seen one like that . . . which I'm kind of ashamed to admit. I've got the bug too, but only if 80's count. Dang e24 and e28 are sucking up my life!