![]() 09/29/2013 at 09:48 • Filed to: Car Porn, Tips | ![]() | ![]() |
The first generation 5-series doesn't always get as much love from the trendy vintage-Bimmer crowd as the E28 that followed, but if you look at the two cars, the first-gen E12, at least in stock form, is even more packed with retro cool - as the owner of this immaculate 1977 car explains here.
Personal favorite touches from the shoot include the full manual windows, the manual sunroof, the raised brake lights in the rear deck, and the Blaupunkt analog equalizer - and, of course, the original factory paint in a perfect deep red. The car was a blast to shoot and the owner fantastic, and it was a pleasure to be able to experience a car in this condition, and I hope to find more cars in this shape for future videos.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:36 |
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Now Biff I want 2 coats of wax on the car this time.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:47 |
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Very nice. (Those wheels are just too perfect.)
The 530i doesn't have the greatest rep, mostly due to the primitive emissions controls. The 528i was the same body with a much better powerplant...which didn't sell as well back in the day because it carried a smaller number . Therein may be the root of BMW's current senseless name/number system.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:48 |
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I always keep thinking (dreaming) that if BMW (or Porsche, anyone really) just made a simpler, 'revival' car, that it would really sell and be coveted. This car would only have modernity where the law requires it (airbags and such), but it would have non-electric steering, manual locks/windows/sunroof etc, no nav or menu of any kind, no Auto feature on the HVAC, locks you pull up and they go 'glunk', and, for the Love of God and all that is holy, houndstooth or plaid seats. So think 2002 for 2014, un-bloviated 911, beer can version Mini, Datsun 240z, the imagination goes on. Auto CEOs read this, right?
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:49 |
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Well done video - captures the passion for preserving a well engineered and designed object. I hope there's a special place in the afterlife for those who devote garage space, time and maintenance to save cars that were made to please drivers. And old BMWs often deserve better treatment than they get as used cars. If you've got the means, pick up a good E39 now and make sure a few examples exist to remind us how great a driver's car the 5-series used to be.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:49 |
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Well done. Magnificent video and car. What did you shoot this with?
I have an E46 323i. I'm bringing it back to nice condition and it is my daily driver. I love new BMWs for their looks and technical prowess, but I wonder how it will be to keep one up over the years. Parts are often digitally assigned to the specific car and can only be worked on by authorized BMW dealers/repair facilities. That means we will have a tough time caring for them. Those dealers won't be able to "baby" them in the future, in my opinion. That is sad.
It looks terrific and was very pleasant to watch on a quiet Sunday morning. Thank you.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:50 |
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Another person who 'gets it'! Drive on, gentlemen! Drive on!
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:54 |
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Whats up with the M badges?
![]() 09/29/2013 at 10:55 |
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Small side note, E12 was designed to replace the Bavaria not the 1500/1600/1800/2000/2002 series cars. The E12 5 Series comes from the line of cars including the Bavaria and the 2800 before it.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:00 |
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He means the larger "New Class" cars in general, so the 2000CS coupe and 1500/1800/2000 sedan - the later E3s and E9s, the Bavarias and 3.0 coupes, were simply updated iterations of these cars. He does not mean the 1600/2002 series, although those were technically in the New Class series.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:00 |
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They were installed in the by the PO about 30 years prior. The rear one can't be removed because it would damage the bodywork in that area, and the front one stays on for continuity.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:03 |
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Thanks! This was mainly shot with a Canon 6D, with a T2i used for rig shots.
That's true more and more now, unfortunately, but at least the E46 isn't quite as bad in that respect as later cars. There's a pretty good DIY network, and a friend of mine who has an iX Touring hasn't needed a shop to do anything other than remove a few stuck suspension bolts. Best of luck with it!
Well thank you for watching! It's always nice to hear that people enjoy the videos.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:07 |
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Thank you for the video!
There is not enough love for the e12!!
I'm seriously considering buying my neighbor's absolutely mint, bone stock , low mileage, '81 525 as soon as I find a buyer for my M3.
(no offense but Euro bumpers FTW)
More pictures in reply.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:08 |
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90000 km on the clock!
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:14 |
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So beautiful .... so un-chris-bangle-like.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:29 |
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Removed.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:32 |
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The M-badges are subtle compared to those comically oversized side-indicators.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:40 |
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Not enough love is good. Keeps prices low for ppl like me to find. :P
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:44 |
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Thats a beauty. What kind of m3 do you have?
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:52 |
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And this isn't in a museum, why? i can't imagine finding a 5 series in that type of condition.
Oh, mind if i ask what version of M3 you have?
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:53 |
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'01 e46
![]() 09/29/2013 at 11:58 |
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If you had AC in 1977, you knew you were in a car that was special :)
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:03 |
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We drove it (started right up) out of his shed where it was sitting for the past 3 years, straight to the car wash a few miles away. I still can't believe how mint it is.
I have a '01 e46. Check the other comments on this thread, I posted a picture already.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:12 |
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Its taken far too long for these and the E21 to be appreciated as a good car.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:16 |
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M3? Contact me! I'm interested! (How? No idea)
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:17 |
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That's a very nice specimen. Much nicer looking than the one in the video too, especially due to the lack of US-market deformities. I hope that if you buy it you'll keep it this nice.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:20 |
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Just realized you weren't in the US....dammit. Beautiful M3, by the way.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:51 |
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Not even a set of BBS RS, an Alpina front spoiler and lowered springs?
![]() 09/29/2013 at 12:57 |
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That is delicious
![]() 09/29/2013 at 13:03 |
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Beautiful.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 13:32 |
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I personally wouldn't, but I wouldn't hold it against you if you did. But, and this is merely my personal preference, I'd only use period correct parts and when it comes to spoilers and lowering I'd do it as mild as possible. Imho the worst thing you could do is to use rims with a design that looks less than 2-2.5 decades old or slam it to the ground.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 13:40 |
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Oh hell yes. Always loved the E12. I'd love to find one in this shape.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 13:41 |
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I guess I won't put on the set of 18" BBS LM I have then... ;)
I can't fucking sell the M3 though... I dropped the price 4 times in the past year.
How did you rally go?!
![]() 09/29/2013 at 16:00 |
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Are you in France? I went there once, and when I saw the BMWs there with all yellow headlamps, I decided I'm getting dual citezenship. That was the deciding factor right there....
![]() 09/29/2013 at 16:15 |
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I am.
And you have came here a long time ago because I've seen yellow headlights in a long time!
![]() 09/29/2013 at 16:29 |
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Crank windows and sunroof. Yes. If you're going to enjoy older cars, you will not enjoy older electric motors. The simple mechanical stuff just keeps working long after the fancy complex electrics are full of glitches and wear.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 16:31 |
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This car is an example of why I hate modern clear coat paint jobs. The clear coat burns off and there's no way to restore the paint other than reclearing or repainting.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 17:02 |
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Oh I'm in France too, I wish I could buy it... I haven't seen a lot of these here.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 18:56 |
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I went back and watched a bunch of your videos, wow, they are great. I subscribed.
![]() 09/29/2013 at 19:08 |
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It's looking like I will need to sell my 2004 M3 Coupe with only 35,000 miles on it. Would you be interested?
I bought it earlier this year to do weekend track days with. But I got too busy at work to start a new project and bought a new house. I spent a ton on upgrading the house and furnishing it and have not been able to sell the former house yet so starting to need some cash...
![]() 09/30/2013 at 00:01 |
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I'd love to, but I just found out that my raven is going to arrive in June or July, so I guess all my money is going to pay for the bird for now. My problem around here (I live in NW Washington) is that EVERYONE OWNS CONVERTIBLES. Why? It rains often, and it's cold much of the year. Give me a nice, proper roof any day.
![]() 09/30/2013 at 00:17 |
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Lol I don't know why anyone in NW Washington would want a convertible. My sister lived there for 3 years. I only took one multi day trip to see her, in the middle of summer, and there were crazy storms the whole time.
I live in So Cal and they don't make a lot of sense here either. It's too hot most the time and putting the top down just gives you instant skin cancer.
![]() 09/30/2013 at 01:25 |
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When I bought my M3 at a used dealer in Seattle, they had a couple of convertibles on the lot, and they told me (no way of knowing whether or not this is true, mind you) that they shipped them here from Florida because they would make a profit on them. Shipping....a convertible from Florida...to one of the rainiest parts of the United States. Good plan!
![]() 09/30/2013 at 01:48 |
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I've noticed the prices of E46 Convertibles (or did they have a different code than the coupe?) have plummeted here in So Cal. You can get one way cheaper than a coupe, whereas used Carrera Cabrios usually go for more than the Coupe.
So the dealer may have told you the truth. Maybe there a glut of M3 convertibles in the sunny states so they can make money exporting them to markets where there are not many used M3s in general.
I think the glut is due to a lot of non-enthusiasts buying M3 convertibles and then selling them when they realize they're not as comfortable as a regular 3 Series convertible. I know the E46 M3 convertibles were really popular with young women who probably had their Dad, rich boyfriend, or husband buy them one. They probably hated the SMG and wanted to trade them in within days of getting the car, lol
![]() 09/30/2013 at 02:34 |
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Gotta love federalization...
![]() 09/30/2013 at 02:58 |
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lol. I'm posting some more pics of the roadster. If you see this car, let me know:
![]() 09/30/2013 at 13:45 |
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Nice!
That looks like a roadster that my Dad bought last year. Ironically enough, he bought it from your neck of the woods
![]() 09/30/2013 at 13:45 |
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Nice!
That looks like a roadster that my Dad bought last year. Ironically enough, he bought it from your neck of the woods
![]() 09/30/2013 at 13:56 |
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Hmmmm....could be the same one. I still have all of the old LA Roadster Show license plates, too! :-). My dad sold it shortly before he died...I believe it was...2003/2004. Not entirely sure about that.
![]() 09/30/2013 at 13:59 |
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His is green and has a much smaller engine. This red one looks like a beast!
Sorry to hear your Dad died. I'll definitely let you know if I see this car!