Ownership Experience of Old BMWs

[PSUEng]

I think this is a good point. Depending on what you want out of the platform; a driver, a garage ornament, or a restorable project, impacts how easy the ownership experience is. Primarily, I would want a driver example. Something that's relatively feasible to keep in good running condition, making reliability and availability/affordability of parts a factor, but I don't need to replace every bit and bob with an OE part. Somebody that wants to fully restore a car will have a harder time.

While I'm constantly trying to find little things to improve on my M3, it's definitely a cosmetically imperfect, not restored, driver. And I would be perfectly happy with a vintage BMW of similar condition.

Also, I got the same email from BMW about the new X5, and I'm also very glad we bought a 2025 when the moronic tariffs were announced.

I think the word that will start to become prevalent here is "preservation" and not in the "museum quality" sense. Rather, in situations where in the past a part might just be replaced, going forward, it's repaired/rebuilt. Like David's steering rack service, or rebuilding brake calipers, and so on. I personally think the electronics are going to get tricky, as those parts go NLA and repairability becomes difficult.

[Bimma360]

I think the word that will start to become prevalent here is "preservation" and not in the "museum quality" sense. Rather, in situations where in the past a part might just be replaced, going forward, it's repaired/rebuilt. Like David's steering rack service, or rebuilding brake calipers, and so on. I personally think the electronics are going to get tricky, as those parts go NLA and repairability becomes difficult.

Touché. Post a pic! Show these mofos a vintage BMW. Silver, mtech 2, stroker, alpina wheels? Do I remember that right?

[sapote]

E24/E28 are another model that are always catching my eye, but as they're even older I wonder what it's like to own one of those. At heart, I guess I'm just the last of the GenXers 80s/90s kid that wants to drive my car from the 80s listening to Depeche Mode and New Order.

I bought my first E9 Coupe' in 1987 -- 1974 3.0 CSi manual Midnight Blue, and a year later I bought an Automatic 1973 3.0CS Metallic Silver, which I sold really cheap in 1997 or around that time. Few years ago I stripped the CSi down to metal, got matching new paint but have not put all back together yet. I'm in SoCal so the cars are rust-free, but most of them gone due to rusted out.

[tnord]

E9s are cool, but they're 50 years old now. Where are you getting parts from? Does BMW Classic support it?

[sapote]

E9s are cool, but they're 50 years old now. Where are you getting parts from? Does BMW Classic support it?

I often find parts on ebay.