Oh even crazier, I got a 4.8is . . . bought it pretty much blind . . . So I’m now the 3rd owner, and whomever the 2nd owner was did an awful job caring for it.

Picked it up in Colorado and drove it straight back home to Pennsylvania. . . blowing smoke 💨 out the exhaust (likely valve stem seals), and an awful tranny growl in 2nd gear.

My first week with it and I’ve spent 20+ hours on it already, pulling parts off junked E53’s . . . fixing latches, fixing climate control, trying to rehydrate the plastic trim and window seals (looks like it sat in the baking sun every minute of its dreadful life)

I should be regretting this purchase, but part of me is enthusiastic to finally own a E53 . . . it’s like I’m being torn in half