BadAss95-530i
08-06-2007, 03:43 PM
Hello all! Over the last 5 months you guys have been nothing short of amazing. Thanks!
My story (attempting to be brief): I decided I needed a classy powerful ride (to upgrade the from my –cough- mitsubishi mirage) and seeing as to how I just got promoted at work and it was my birthday. It was time to go back to my heritage (born in Berlin) for a BMW. I scoured the local market checking out newer 3 series, some older 7s, but alas at first glance I knew I needed the e34. Went V8; saw no alternative - I wanted the big engine (and no one was parting with their beloved 540s).
Unfortunately this led to a used car dealership and I was about to become a living Cliché. It was nearly 2 grand below KBB value and I had a mechanic buddy of mine check her out. He was young, but I trusted him, he came back with a good report. I got it.. 3 weeks later my “strong clutch” (quoted from salesman) dropped to the floor with a ‘clunk’. Had a highly rated Euro Car repair shop check her out and $2,100 later!!!…I had a new clutch. The pressure plate had broken, the flywheel was toast and unfixable (or so I was told). Then I started reading up on the Nikisil issue, about which I was clueless (My car is 98k on the original Nik engine…worried to be sure, but it idles strong and runs stronger: so far so good). I also discovered a major coolant leak (apparently badly patched but soon to be pouring onto my driveway. Basically, I decided I would never again be this ignorant and financially boned. I immediately bought the Bentley and found this site. I have since diagnosed and fixed my leak, replaced COUNTLESS parts (inc my water pump; of which I was fairly proud of myself), belts, fluids, censors, stereo (UGLY silver one from PO), etc.
The only things I had professionally done (after the clutch) were wheel mounting and the window tint. In the DC area, (Alexandria VA) and it is NORMAL to pay a mechanic $100 an hour or more to work on your car. Thanks for saving me hundreds if not thousands of dollars! Something new seems to break every day but here is where I am at so far.
Im running 275/40 18 michelin Pilot Sports in the back and 245/40 18s in front. Im sure not everyone will like the wheels as I know a lot of traditionalists and “OE or bust” guys are on here, but I love em. I also played around with different grill setups (including blacked out, chromed out w/ grill kit, and inverted with chrome slats with the blacked out trim). In the end I thought the original Chrome rings around the black looked best. That’s why I decided against shadow-line trim. The whole theme of silver outlining black IMO (ie: the grill, the trim, and the wheels) is just way too smooth as a theme (again, im sure there are many that disagree and that’s groovy).
So again, keep up the great work and thanks a ton! Here are a couple pics!
My story (attempting to be brief): I decided I needed a classy powerful ride (to upgrade the from my –cough- mitsubishi mirage) and seeing as to how I just got promoted at work and it was my birthday. It was time to go back to my heritage (born in Berlin) for a BMW. I scoured the local market checking out newer 3 series, some older 7s, but alas at first glance I knew I needed the e34. Went V8; saw no alternative - I wanted the big engine (and no one was parting with their beloved 540s).
Unfortunately this led to a used car dealership and I was about to become a living Cliché. It was nearly 2 grand below KBB value and I had a mechanic buddy of mine check her out. He was young, but I trusted him, he came back with a good report. I got it.. 3 weeks later my “strong clutch” (quoted from salesman) dropped to the floor with a ‘clunk’. Had a highly rated Euro Car repair shop check her out and $2,100 later!!!…I had a new clutch. The pressure plate had broken, the flywheel was toast and unfixable (or so I was told). Then I started reading up on the Nikisil issue, about which I was clueless (My car is 98k on the original Nik engine…worried to be sure, but it idles strong and runs stronger: so far so good). I also discovered a major coolant leak (apparently badly patched but soon to be pouring onto my driveway. Basically, I decided I would never again be this ignorant and financially boned. I immediately bought the Bentley and found this site. I have since diagnosed and fixed my leak, replaced COUNTLESS parts (inc my water pump; of which I was fairly proud of myself), belts, fluids, censors, stereo (UGLY silver one from PO), etc.
The only things I had professionally done (after the clutch) were wheel mounting and the window tint. In the DC area, (Alexandria VA) and it is NORMAL to pay a mechanic $100 an hour or more to work on your car. Thanks for saving me hundreds if not thousands of dollars! Something new seems to break every day but here is where I am at so far.
Im running 275/40 18 michelin Pilot Sports in the back and 245/40 18s in front. Im sure not everyone will like the wheels as I know a lot of traditionalists and “OE or bust” guys are on here, but I love em. I also played around with different grill setups (including blacked out, chromed out w/ grill kit, and inverted with chrome slats with the blacked out trim). In the end I thought the original Chrome rings around the black looked best. That’s why I decided against shadow-line trim. The whole theme of silver outlining black IMO (ie: the grill, the trim, and the wheels) is just way too smooth as a theme (again, im sure there are many that disagree and that’s groovy).
So again, keep up the great work and thanks a ton! Here are a couple pics!