Help me pick a decent daily driver !

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Sarc

Yeah, me too.

Me three. That's how I know about the $8500.00 deal, I peeked at it awhile back.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Me three.

Me fourth

[RANDY P]

after seeing these cars dammit the Devil (the voices in my head) started talking to me again.


The voice said: "500E / E500 time...You'll be cooool in one of those..."

I must obey.

hopefully BRB.

rjp

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

E39. Fantastic mix of sport and luxury.

We have a winner ;-) Although a lucky winner ! (and for the mini fans above, I did own a mini, great fun but it just is not a 2 kids car)

So I did buy a car this week end... For giggles, let me first tell you about the 2x E46 M3s I saw first, priced at 14 and $16K respectively. Who knew ? Subframe cracks are an epidemic on those things. Both had'em to a degree. Both were beat to hell...
That said I enjoyed the test drive, I might keep an eye open for a decent one someday.

At this point, my mechanic wisely observed that I did not know jack-$H#t about BMWs, I'm a porsche guy first and foremost, so he took pity on me and pointed me towards a customer car that might be for sale, on which they had 7y of records and $15K of aftermarket warranty repairs done. A 2000 528i, steptronic (ugh), with wood trim (Kill me now).

Not exactly exciting, but the entire mechanicals have been gone through over the years, cooling, suspension, $$$ electronics, you name it. I bought it on the spot when I saw it because the owner was only asking $6000, which seemed really good for a nice 2000 of known condition.



The exterior was somewhat rough as it lived under a tree (sap, scratches, a few dings, buckets of leaves around the charcoal filters), and somehow the tranny which did PRND well could not go left into sports/manual mode. I took a shot anyway... It responded to treatment *very* well ;-) The sap took 1/2 a day of goof off, 90% of the scratches disappeared, and the tranny had a electrical connector that fell out of its receptacle under the shifter console - once plugged in, all resumed normal operation. WOW ! Just wow... I offered to cure my wife's headache simply touching her forehead at this point, such was my streak of good luck ! ;-)



I am not overly excited by the power, but it's RWD, roomy, comfy as hell, safe, it's not a Korean car, everything works, and once I replace the headlight covers, it'll even be presentable ;-)

Both my neighbors already offered to buy it from me for what I have in it when I get tired of it, so I guess it's presentable enough ;-)

[RANDY P]

had that exact car in a 02 (2002 E39 530 sport) same color.

Was a great car- traded it on a Trailblazer SS

Oh, and when the blower behind the dash stops responding to the fan controls on the dash it's the blower resistor on the RH side of the console, way forward and under the dash.

They all do it eventually.

[willtel]

If the wood interior trim really bothers you take a look at the 3M Di-Noc vinyl. I covered the wood in my 325i with the carbon fiber look vinyl and it looks good and is much cheaper than replacing the trim pieces. Once I get a new shift knob my interior will be wood free.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by willtel

If the wood interior trim really bothers you take a look at the 3M Di-Noc vinyl. I covered the wood in my 325i with the carbon fiber look vinyl and it looks good and is much cheaper than replacing the trim pieces. Once I get a new shift knob my interior will be wood free.

that is exactly what i was thinking... Was pulling the trim hard ? Is it looser now, do you replace clips, or is it jsut an easy off-On job ?

did you do the shifter console too ?

[willtel]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

that is exactly what i was thinking... Was pulling the trim hard ? Is it looser now, do you replace clips, or is it jsut an easy off-On job ?

did you do the shifter console too ?

Pulling it all off in my 3 series was easy, it is press fit, there are pins on the trim pieces that push into squishy clips in the dash and door panels. They did not loosen up any from being removed. I did the shifter surround too, mine is a manual and I had it off in minutes. All told it took me about 2 hours using a hair dryer to get the vinyl to flex around the corners.

Mine looks exactly like this.
Carbon fiber interior trim wrap complete! - E46Fanatics

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by willtel

If the wood interior trim really bothers you take a look at the 3M Di-Noc vinyl. I covered the wood in my 325i with the carbon fiber look vinyl and it looks good and is much cheaper than replacing the trim pieces. Once I get a new shift knob my interior will be wood free.

was that graphite or black you used?

[MotoSook]

Told ya...E39.


The vinyl cover is cool. Maybe when I get a few more cracks on the wood....kinda wonder if it wont be too ricey in a couple years.

[willtel]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

was that graphite or black you used?

Mine is black, I think this is the graphite color.

[RANDY P]

black it is...

It's hard to tell which way to go.

Where did u order it from?

[willtel]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Where did u order it from?

The place listed on the photo above. 3M DI-NOC Carbon Fiber Vinyl | Carbon Fiber Gear, I got a 12x48 piece and it was barley enough for my 4 door wagon so i had to be really careful about how I cut it.

[RANDY P]

I just ordered a 72" x48" piece in Black-

One question, is it dull or somewhat shiny- hoping it's shiny...

looks like everything is gettin carbon fiber. Might even do the dog

rjp

[RANDY P]

[Deschodt]

Well, I did it... Before, after....





Now lets see it it stands up the test of time, FL heat and humidity, etc...

Still, it does not shout Grandpa anymore. I hope it does not shout "rice" instead ;-) but I like it. I truly hated the wood, even aluminum foil would have been an improvement...

If you want to play the error game, I made 2 mistakes. Spot them if you can ! Well maybe more, but 2 that I care a little more about (which is still not very much).

[kaisen]

Great job lining up the weave. Except behind the hazard switch, or is that just the photo illusion?

[RANDY P]

Looks good. Only thing I'm noticing is it's not really scratch resistant. Oh well.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Nicely done!

[RANDY P]

oh scratch in ashtray lid and bubble on edge by gear shifter.

Let's put it this way: I know those firsthand. Your work is superior to mine, I will admit that.

rjp