My BMW's

"EL_ULY" (uly)
07/13/2014 at 19:41 • Filed to: bmw

file photo

Started with my first car ever, 1986 535i

I got the e28 for free as my first car. It had been sitting at a junk yard for 2 years. I told my dad that I wanted a car. I was working at the time but not enough to buy any car. My dad knew a guy that owned a junk yard and asked if he had anything. He told my dad that if I could get the shitty e28 started, he’ll hand me the title. One steering column, power steering pump, and fuel pump later, I drove home my first car covered in dirt, leaves, tree sap, and spiders from all that time in the heat and under a tree

For those OPPOnauts who’s parents bought you your first car, do me a favor and hug them because you dudes are super lucky.

After that, I saved up for 2 years ($3000 lol) and bought a 1990 525i after I took my e28 to a body shop after a fender bender and the shop closed shop (big story car is gone forever). E34 was my baby and I treated it like one for a long time. It finally spun a main bearing with 416,000 miles on the ticker. Out of time and money, I sold it to a junk yard for $150.

Now with only $800 to my name and having just moved to a new city to work and not knowing anyone, I took a bus to the south side of San Antonio and found the calypso e36 sedan that was in HORRIBLE shape at a shady used car lot with only 6 cars for sale. I convinced the guy to drop the $1200 sticker price to $800 and I drove it to my shop with 3/4 cylinders out of 6. I opened up an account with NAPA and by the end of the day had the e36 running like new with new everything (brakes, rotors, shock, tires and full tune up) and a $3000 bill to pay off in payments.

I drove that car for a couple years when a sweet 1995 M3 5 spd was traded in for a new Lexus. The salesman ran to me and said, “duuude, we got a sweet low mileage M3 coupe and I can sell it to you for what we gave the customer”. $1500 plus TT&L later and I had the keys to a 1995 BMW ///M3 with 65K miles and a 5 spd. It was around $1900 cash at the end.

I put UUC bushing, upgraded sway bars, convertible e36 cross brace, Remus exhaust, AFE satge 2 intake with new 540i air flow meter, front and rear strut bars, and it was spotless! Much autoX was had.

I moved back to Houston and eventually sold both e36's. Good times with all those older BMW’s. I would never own a BMW made after 2003 but these older beauties are just special no matter how much shit you go through to keep them running.

DISCUSSION (26)

Brian Silvestro > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:43

MMMMMMM BMWs

AM3R > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:46

that's awesome! You practically stole the M3!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but did the shop close down while they had your E28?

EL_ULY > Brian Silvestro
07/13/2014 at 19:46

...are like bad Chinese food.

Brian Silvestro > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:48

I WILL own an E34 M5, I promise you.

offroadkarter > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:48

even when its bad, its good?

EL_ULY > AM3R
07/13/2014 at 19:49

yeah, the guy got thrown in prison and his wife sold everything and moved to Mexico. It was still running fine, just needed a fender, hood (which I provided), and paint. Then... she was gone :'(

EL_ULY > Brian Silvestro
07/13/2014 at 19:50

I know ever single corner of an e34 trust me. If you need help or advise, let me know.

Klaus Schmoll > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:50

Dat E28! You Sir seem to be a guy who didn't get it handed on a silver platter but worked hard for all that you have now. Tons of respect!

Brian Silvestro > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:51

SOON

EL_ULY > offroadkarter
07/13/2014 at 19:52

well...the M3 was pretty good for the most part. I'm not sure if the others were good for anything besides getting me to work and back home. The cool adventures were not caused by the cars directly.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:54

Man, good list, and good job on that e28! What do you drive now?

EL_ULY > Klaus Schmoll
07/13/2014 at 19:55

lol heck no. After 15 years of busting butt i'm still broke :] I thank you very much for reading my post and hopefully the Traveling Torchbug will end up in your hands soon. It will be in Germany soon, keep and eye out.

AM3R > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 19:58

that sucks man. I'm thinking about picking up a local E28/E34 to tool around in and you're giving me confidence in buying one with 180k on it.

At least you got a sweet deal on an M3! Did you make good money when you sold it?

EL_ULY > wbizarre - OEM fetishist
07/13/2014 at 19:59

I have a 1999 Audi A6 Avant Quattro (dealership special price)

2000 Mecedes-Benz E 320 that was totaled and my insurance covered for a 2002 Mercedes-Benz E 320

and a 2009 Chevrolet Sliverado single cab 5.3L V8 Z71 4x4 (rare combo for single cab) that I took over payments for.

*note, all 3 of those vehicles set me back waaaay less that a base Ford Fiasta :]

EL_ULY > AM3R
07/13/2014 at 20:01

lol I sold it for $6500 :]

E28 are more fidgety and the E34's were better after 91 They are tank status cars for sure. Ultra solid and getting cooler as the years go by. Any questions at all you let me know sir.

AM3R > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 20:12

nowadays an E36 M3 with anything less than 100k on it is easily a $10k+ car haha.

To start off, which do you think is the perfect mix of fun/reliable out of the 525i, 535i, and the 540i?

EL_ULY > AM3R
07/13/2014 at 20:18

E34 525i with the M50B25. Parts are cheap and a solid car all around. Slow as balls but if you reeeally try, 30mpg is possible with aftermarket intake.

535i is a little quicker but i honestly cannot tell you because I am not too familiar with newer e34 535i. First ones had the M30B35 which I had in my E28.

If you can find a good 540i, I say do it. Not as reliable as the much slower M50B25 though. A friend of mine dumped $2000 worth of 02 sensors and a ABS pump on one weekend. But of course, that was his car and might not happen to one you may stumble upon. But like I said, if you can find a good e34 540i, do it! Solid car with a fun motor!

AM3R > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 20:25

thanks for the advice! All the local E34's are crap except this one which is slightly overpriced for the mileage.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/455561…

All the manuals are in bad shape and I don't want an auto, although I found this sweet wagon with low miles and a nice price.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/456630…

EL_ULY > AM3R
07/13/2014 at 20:41

$7800?!?!?!?!?! lol $4200 maximum offer. That kid is dreaming for sure. That M30 is a good motor for sure. But i'm always weary of modded cars for obvious reasons.

Now that is a beauty for sure. That AISIN trans is a monster. Volvo used it in the 960/S90's and Lexus used it in the LS400's. A true beast. $4800 is still high. Absolute max I would pay is $4000. It will be a clumsy ride for sure.

Go check them pout if you get a chance for sure

AM3R > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 21:10

yeah I'm gonna wait on the 535i because eventually he'll realize he's gotta cut the price almost in half for any real buyers haha.

The wagon really looks good to me. I'm gonna try to look at it sometime this week. It's good to know the auto is reliable. Eventually I'd want to swap in a manual though.

Sn210 > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 21:38

Wow I don't know what I would have done of someone just sold off my car just like that. I'd probably end up in the same prison as the shop owner!

EL_ULY > Sn210
07/13/2014 at 22:21

oh I tried hunting people down. I was furious, too fast too furious, Tokyo drift mother fucker! But that lady cleaned house and was gone with no record of any of the assets including my beloved first car :'(

EL_ULY > AM3R
07/13/2014 at 22:22

yeah dude hopefully that kid will lower the price. Let us know dude!

AM3R > EL_ULY
07/13/2014 at 22:27

No problem man I'll definitely keep Oppo posted!

George Costanza > Brian Silvestro
07/14/2014 at 17:33

Not if I get it first, there are two reasonably priced near my parents (maniacal laugh)

Brian Silvestro > George Costanza
07/14/2014 at 18:28

*throws grenade*