On day one of owning this car I pitched it sideways in the rain, intentionally, something I hadn’t been able to do in the E36 without spinning it. On day six the driveshaft did its best claymore impression while I was trying to show off.
I burned a lot of money bringing this car back from the brink of death. It had over 250,000 miles when I bought it and every bushing and seal made sure I knew it. Over the year I had it I went through almost every system. Replacing bushings, hoses, seals, linkages, and fluids, and generally making it the best cruiser I’ve ever owned.
Cruiser however, was as good as it was going to get. While I met some fellow E28 (5 Series, US Market 82-88) owners who helped me out a ton and even drove their cars on track, the overall weight of the car was starting to bug me. Attacking back roads was fun but felt like I was wrestling with the long wheelbase and a curb weight well north of three thousand pounds. Ironically, nowadays three thousand pounds qualifies for “lightweight,” but I wasn’t having it. Before this point, I was more than happy to line up with a friend on some two lane and run up a couple gears in a straight line. That wasn’t going to cut it anymore, I needed to experience some cornering.
Almost as soon as the car was perfect, I sold it to a gentleman in the middle of a beautiful nowhere up north, which is a story in itself. I mused at length on my next car, my automotive bucket list being ever so long. But I was itching for something that allowed more precise movement, it was time to lay down the hatchet and pick up a scalpel.
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