A story of lust, regret and joy. (535, 330, M5) Pics too! [Archive]

View Full Version : A story of lust, regret and joy. (535, 330, M5) Pics too!

Tcdoe

02-24-2007, 02:49 AM

I have to confess something, I got sidetracked last autumn. I started wanting something newer,
faster and more economical than the 535i. So I bought a 2001 330Ci Individual thinking that if it
costs 6 times more than my 535i, it's gotta be at least that much better.

http://kiksu.irc-galleria.net/f/images11/00/00/10/93/47871858.jpg

Well, not exactly.. Sure, it was more sophisticated, a bit faster and a lot more economical. It was
even faster around the corners, but somehow it lacked character, it was actually quite boring.
We have always joked with a couple of friends that 300-series beemers are
inferior compared to 500 and 700, but I thought that wouldn't apply here, seeing as this e46 was
10 years newer and everything. Wrong again, it was actually quite squeaky
and had a few nasty plastic rattles that the e34 doesn't. Also it was nowhere near as quiet at
highway speeds as my 15-yo. e34.

Luckily I managed to sell the e46 for what it had cost me, so basically I got to experience a
newer BMW for three months for free, not bad.

After selling it I jumped back in my 535i and oh wow, was it fun as ever to drive. Even though it
has less power the stiff suspension, deep exhaust note and an idle that shakes the entire car
makes it feel like something truly special. It feels like raw power and the torque
wipes the floor with "the worlds best engine" 3.0 in the 330.

However, one thing I missed was the increased performance. This, and looking at my bank account
after selling the 330Ci made me quickly decide that now or never was the moment to get that
E34 M5 I had been wanting since a little kid.

I present to you: 1993 BMW M5 3.8 Nürburgring edition in Avus Blau/Silbergrau :D

Go to page 2 for pics.

New Owner 95 E34

02-24-2007, 03:58 AM

Beautiful car! I can only imagine how stoked you must be to get out and find some fast, winding roads somewhere. Can't wait for more pix!

jrobbo

02-24-2007, 04:44 AM

Nice! Well done. From the looks of it, it's running an aftermarket exhaust, probably an Eisenmann rear muffler I'm guessing.

Can't wait to see more pics

John

Jon K

02-24-2007, 06:47 AM

Looks like triflo

Dave M

02-24-2007, 08:12 AM

WOW, great story, even better ending.

Dave

DanDombrowski

02-24-2007, 08:20 AM

Sounds like the same story as mine - I went up to a 2001 330Ci Coupe as well. I cant say I like the E34 more than the E46, but I definitely know what you mean when you say that you jump into the E34 and say "I miss how this thing handles".

I guess thats why Im putting so much cash into the car so that my sister can drive it and I don't have to get rid of it. Nice M5!

Tcdoe

02-24-2007, 09:43 AM

Actually it's a Supersprint catback exhaust, surprisingly loud even at idle, but not disturbingly so at cruising speeds.

Those are just my winter rims, Styling 18, 8x17" in front and 9x17" in the rear. The tires are 225 wide front and back, way too narrow in the rear. :(

Summer wheels are sweet 18" Alpina Softline 2pc with polished lips.
Can't wait to get them on, it would be legally possible 1st of March, but I
think it's gonna take at least another month for the snow and ice to melt away.

http://www.performancealloys.com/images/products/wheels/large/alpina_softline.jpg

BillionPa

02-24-2007, 12:28 PM

yooouuuuu bastard!

bigtisas

02-24-2007, 04:33 PM

Good story. Now I want a M5 e34.

MTechnik540i

02-24-2007, 11:24 PM

Congratulations!

Looks like you got ahold of a nice piece, I'm definitely fond of Avusblau!

Now, just swap the wheels!

I have to confess something, I got sidetracked last autumn. I started wanting something newer,
faster and more economical than the 535i. So I bought a 2001 330Ci Individual thinking that if it
costs 6 times more than my 535i, it's gotta be at least that much better.

http://kiksu.irc-galleria.net/f/images11/00/00/10/93/47871858.jpg

Well, not exactly.. Sure, it was more sophisticated, a bit faster and a lot more economical. It was
even faster around the corners, but somehow it lacked character, it was actually quite boring.
We have always joked with a couple of friends that 300-series beemers are
inferior compared to 500 and 700, but I thought that wouldn't apply here, seeing as this e46 was
10 years newer and everything. Wrong again, it was actually quite squeaky
and had a few nasty plastic rattles that the e34 doesn't. Also it was nowhere near as quiet at
highway speeds as my 15-yo. e34.

Luckily I managed to sell the e46 for what it had cost me, so basically I got to experience a
newer BMW for three months for free, not bad.

After selling it I jumped back in my 535i and oh wow, was it fun as ever to drive. Even though it
has less power the stiff suspension, deep exhaust note and an idle that shakes the entire car
makes it feel like something truly special. It feels like raw power and the torque
wipes the floor with "the worlds best engine" 3.0 in the 330.

However, one thing I missed was the increased performance. This, and looking at my bank account
after selling the 330Ci made me quickly decide that now or never was the moment to get that
E34 M5 I had been wanting since a little kid.

I present to you: 1993 BMW M5 3.8 Nürburgring edition in Avus Blau/Silbergrau :D

Unfortunately I only have a few lousy pics at the moment, I promise I'll take better ones very soon.

http://www.saunalahti.fi/pihled/Kuva(101).jpg
http://www.saunalahti.fi/pihled/Kuva(102).jpg

Rick L

02-25-2007, 12:14 AM

Nice new ride! I like the color too… Anyway, no offense to your write up but 5-series and 3-series are two totally different cars… I have test driven M5 (E39) and M3 (E46 and currently own) as well as 540i (E39) and 330i (E46). All I have to say is that 3-series and 5-series are day and night different… 5-series are much more refined and more civilized compare to 3-series. Even my old 1995 525i feels much more refined than my 2001 M3 which feels rough and very raw. Then if you jump into 7-series, it feels much more plush than 5-series but loose out in performance. However, I do agree with you that even I like the E39 very much and thought of upgrading but I feel more connected as a driver in my E34.

[QUOTE=Tcdoe]I have to confess something, I got sidetracked last autumn. I started wanting something newer,
faster and more economical than the 535i. So I bought a 2001 330Ci Individual thinking that if it
costs 6 times more than my 535i, it's gotta be at least that much better.

http://kiksu.irc-galleria.net/f/images11/00/00/10/93/47871858.jpg

Well, not exactly.. Sure, it was more sophisticated, a bit faster and a lot more economical. It was
even faster around the corners, but somehow it lacked character, it was actually quite boring.
We have always joked with a couple of friends that 300-series beemers are
inferior compared to 500 and 700, but I thought that wouldn't apply here, seeing as this e46 was
10 years newer and everything. Wrong again, it was actually quite squeaky
and had a few nasty plastic rattles that the e34 doesn't. Also it was nowhere near as quiet at
highway speeds as my 15-yo. e34.

Luckily I managed to sell the e46 for what it had cost me, so basically I got to experience a
newer BMW for three months for free, not bad.

After selling it I jumped back in my 535i and oh wow, was it fun as ever to drive. Even though it
has less power the stiff suspension, deep exhaust note and an idle that shakes the entire car
makes it feel like something truly special. It feels like raw power and the torque
wipes the floor with "the worlds best engine" 3.0 in the 330.

However, one thing I missed was the increased performance. This, and looking at my bank account
after selling the 330Ci made me quickly decide that now or never was the moment to get that
E34 M5 I had been wanting since a little kid.

I present to you: 1993 BMW M5 3.8 Nürburgring edition in Avus Blau/Silbergrau :D

Unfortunately I only have a few lousy pics at the moment, I promise I'll take better ones very soon.

Paul in NZ

02-25-2007, 01:31 AM

hmmm I have been kinda thinking about a new car too....I think i will start looking for an e34 M5 too,and buy a BMW motorbike for the Daily commute.We didnt get the 3.8 six speed here,so its get a nice 3.6 or wait a couple of years so i can bring one in after its 20 years old.
I like those Blue M5s....

Gayle

02-27-2007, 12:10 AM

It is hard to argue with hand made.

ILoveMPower

02-27-2007, 07:47 AM

It is hard to argue with hand made.

Well said, those winter wheels don't do her any justice though! ;)

Gayle

02-27-2007, 08:22 AM

Guys. Quit bagging on him about the wheels.

My favorite M5 belongs to this guy named Kris in Chicago (krzysiom5). It is daytona violet and has 221,000 miles. The paint is not perfect, etc, but it is his daily driver. I love it that he actually drives it instead of it being a gargage princess. (No disrescept to your gorgeous garage princess JR). If this car has winter wheels, that means it is getting driven. Good for the new owner!

Macv

02-27-2007, 08:24 AM

). If this car has winter wheels, that means it is getting driven

Werd. I think the wheels look great on it.

Tcdoe

02-27-2007, 10:15 AM

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Yup, it's winter driven. Didn't plan on it at first, but seeing as it's only a few months left (I wish) I'm not gonna get a separate winter car. The car has been properly sealed against corrosion, so it shouldn't be a big problem. Also the paint ain't that pristine upon closer inspection, so a few more stone chips ain't gonna kill me.

Took it out on a icetrack on the frozen sea yesterday, I can now confirm that there CAN be too much power. :) Or maybe I should get 1" studs on the tires... Still fun taking it sideways at high speeds, too bad the ice was pretty bumpy.

Tcdoe

04-05-2007, 09:01 AM

Finally, as promised, some decent pics.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6056/bmw001mxvm9.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bmw001mxvm9.jpg)

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2734/bmw005mxwl7.th.jpg (http://img441.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bmw005mxwl7.jpg)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4006/bmw003mfb8.th.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bmw003mfb8.jpg)

txp135

04-05-2007, 09:43 AM

Ahem, your new love and I.... We may cheat on you.

525SEI BRIT

04-05-2007, 06:08 PM

KenB

04-05-2007, 09:05 PM

I like yer winter wheels.:)

Tom Bombadil

04-05-2007, 09:52 PM

What a beautiful M5! I am very jealous...

I too have a 2002 330i, and a 1995 525it.
I like the 330i, and with the new 19" Hamanns it looks the part, but there is something I feel in the E34 that is missing in the E46.
I am seriously considering selling it for another E34. Right now I am looking at a 115k one family 92 525i with a 5 speed for about $3k.
OR something like this:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/car/304910895.html

I could sell the the 330i and have a lot of money left over!

...of course I would probably regret it too!

http://lh6.google.com/image/matt.twigg/RfSbfmxLAKI/AAAAAAAAAFo/uieypEOay4k/s800/00583.jpg

Nick.Hay

04-06-2007, 12:51 AM

Mate, that is pure SEX!!

Not totally sure about those wheels tho... It needs a set of Hamann HM2s!!

Great pick-up... I'm very envious!!

Tcdoe

04-06-2007, 03:51 AM

Hi, The wiper!:

Is that a single arm conversion? Where, when, how?

Also its got the newer full rubber blade. Something ive been playing with since they were first seen on the Golfs.

Any Good? What is it from? Modifications? Pictures? etc.?... Its seating quite high on the screen though!

Hey,

To be honest I don't like it at all. It's one of those mods I wish the german PO wouldn't have done, along with the emblem deletion from the hood and trunk. It wipes quite poorly and even worse than that, the spray nozzles were deleted from the hood and one generic nozzle was fitted on the plastic covering above the wiper linkage. The spray is absolutely useless. Upon close inspection you can clearly see where the holes used to be in the hood and the trunk. They're prolly just filled with body filler. At least the wiper doesn't stop in a vertical position in the middle of the windscreen, that would be embarassing. I've already purchased most of the OEM wiper parts (wiper tensioning motor still missing), gonna convert back to original soon.

So I really can't recommend this mod, especially since I hear it always rains in the UK. :)

Tcdoe

04-06-2007, 03:56 AM

Mate, that is pure SEX!!

Not totally sure about those wheels tho... It needs a set of Hamann HM2s!!

Great pick-up... I'm very envious!!

Thanks! :)

I'm pretty sure I want to keep the wheels, but I'm beginning to think it needs to be lowered, that would make the wheels look better too. Also, the EDC dampers no longer feel brand new after 14 years. Since they cost a ridiculous amount of money to replace, I'm considering a set of KW coilovers or maybe just Koni's and H&R's.

Tcdoe

04-06-2007, 04:12 AM

What a beautiful M5! I am very jealous...

I too have a 2002 330i, and a 1995 525it.
I like the 330i, and with the new 19" Hamanns it looks the part, but there is something I feel in the E34 that is missing in the E46.
I am seriously considering selling it for another E34. Right now I am looking at a 115k one family 92 525i with a 5 speed for about $3k.
OR something like this:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/car/304910895.html

I could sell the the 330i and have a lot of money left over!

...of course I would probably regret it too!

Thanks Tom.

That's a very nice M5, I think you should go for it. ;) Pretty much unmodified, the way it should be! You'd probably get over selling the E46 pretty soon with a car like that. :)

Nick.Hay

04-06-2007, 11:18 PM

I thought the Nurburgring editions were already lower than the standard M5?? I don't know if it would really be worth going too much lower with her...

You could always sell those wheels and then try to source a set of OEM T-Stars, or maybe a set of 18in Hamann HM2s (I love those wheels on E34s)!!

I think I'd give certain important parts of my anatomy to own a Nurburgring edition M5 Touring!! :D

Enjoy the new toy... She really is a nice looking machine!!

Tcdoe

04-07-2007, 03:10 AM

525SEI BRIT

04-08-2007, 05:30 PM

Hey,

To be honest I don't like it at all. It's one of those mods I wish the german PO wouldn't have done, along with the emblem deletion from the hood and trunk. It wipes quite poorly and even worse than that, the spray nozzles were deleted from the hood and one generic nozzle was fitted on the plastic covering above the wiper linkage. The spray is absolutely useless. Upon close inspection you can clearly see where the holes used to be in the hood and the trunk. They're prolly just filled with body filler. At least the wiper doesn't stop in a vertical position in the middle of the windscreen, that would be embarassing. I've already purchased most of the OEM wiper parts (wiper tensioning motor still missing), gonna convert back to original soon.

So I really can't recommend this mod, especially since I hear it always rains in the UK. :)

Yer, I wouldn't go with the single wiper on these cars the screen is far to big! its the new style blade im interested in. their a far more elegant solution to clunky wipers of old. is it attached to the original pasenger arm some how? did the po say what car its from?

Thayne

04-08-2007, 07:14 PM

Nice ride!

bmwrp8

04-11-2007, 07:32 AM

nice car! and a story to match!!!:D dang now i want an m5!

M5Greg

04-11-2007, 08:22 AM

Great looking car. I went from an e34 540i to a newer e39 540i/6. The e39 just didn't have the soul of the e34. I then got a US 3.6 M5. Here's a pic of my car with those beautiful Alpina wheels. My other car with Alpina wheels in my sig.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d196/M5Greg/lakeside2.jpg