This isn't ab an E53, but it *could* be

[PropellerHead]

We've just done it. We bit the bullet. We faced the music. We're running the race. We're in it to win it.. yeah.. all of that...

We've eyed a replacement for our 2002 (the year) BMW for a few years now. I'm not telling you which BMW cause I've decided it doesn't matter for this thread. So there. We bought it new and took delivery at the Performance Center waaay back in 2002. While 107k may seem like a lot of miles, the little M54 does just fine. But after 15 years of 'wife-centered' maintenance, the damn thing handled like a ham sandwich.

Fast forward to this December in the search for a replacement while on vacation. We stopped into a dealer 'cause.. WTH.. we were there. We drove at least 6 cars and settled on the 'one' we knew was the next one. Everything was rt. So nice. It even made my E53 seem like I needed.. well.. speakers at least.

Price? $60k Holy bejeezus. This is a good place to allow a serious concession: We spent right about that amount on the E39 17 years ago. And we were within a few thousand of the E39 for the wife's car in 2002. General car purchasing philosophies aside, the biggest differences weighing in are income of course, and our current obligations. I admit that 'obligation' may seem like a weird way to characterize a daughter who wasn't here 17 and 15 years ago. But when you think ab spending that kind of cash, emotion has a way of flying out the window. At least it does for us. And so we arrived at a plan that can be executed yr to yr as we save for the next 'one'. We might get there this next December. But even if we do, a daughter who is a new teen this summer evolves into one only a couple years away from commanding her own Bimmer- if she's lucky.

Now, I don't pretend to think that your reasons for rebirthing an old car are the same as ours, but since this one was ab the same age as many of our E53's, I thought the process might apply to our chassis as well. Enjoy.

The list:

• Koni FSD Sport spring and shocks
• Eibach front and rear anti roll bars
• KW(?) Rear strut mounts
• New suspension bushings all around

• New Continental tires
• Akebono ceramic pads front and rear (had them before)
• Brembo Slotted rotors on all corners
• Goodrich SS lines

• CCV
• intake boot
• A few other gaskets
• Window regulator and vapor barrier.

(yet to be installed)

• New center console, cupholders, rear door, ash tray cover.
• Eonon 5.1.1 Android radio
• Rear bumper moulding. (love tap a few years ago. Time to make better)

Considering aluminum or some other trim to replace worn wood trim/dated look

We picked up the car today. I was going to do the brakes myself, but my buddy who owns the shop didn't charge me to install them since he was already there with the SS lines and other stuff. "Dude. It's four bolts."

Our bill for the labor, bushings and the engine work: $5k
Our bill for brake and Koni parts including tires and radio- $4k

Before anyone freaks, do take note- Over 17 years, I've dropped 3x that upgrading and SC'ing my E39 540i6. We keep cars. We over maintain them- or at least I *try* with 'hers'. Our next set of replacements will nearly certainly be our last. Our car 'note' is maintenance costs.

Now, I have yet to realize the full value from all of this work- the interior work hasn't begun. But my, oh my.. the DRIVE! I remember this feeling with this car. It was the drive from Spartanburg delivery to visit family in Atlanta. The new car was so solid. So taught. So responsive. I had driven the E39 for a couple years, but compared to the POS Mazda it replaced, this car was.. whats the phrase? Well, it was just the bees knees.

THIS was basically all new underpinnings. New brakes and new power from fixing the the slouchy throttle response. And when I do the interior including the radio, I think she is going to be as thrilled as she is with the work so far.

So, yeah. I might be $9k into a car that I couldn't move to some idiot teen for $4k. But I am $9k into a car that will keep my portfolio from a $60k punch. To me, that's a $51k win. In a few years, this car will be fine for my daughter to crash into something bigger than it is. I always say that a maintained car that was safe in 2002 is still safe today. Today, I have zero problem with her taking it on for herself. By that time, we'll have set aside what's needed for the new one. Oh, we also don't like loans. We paid off the house last year.

It was such a nice drive, I considered applying some of the experience from the community here about door speakers and mid ranges and all sorts of things. That's a lie. I'm going all in on the speakers. I won't talk ab all that here, but I will enjoy the drive. It's wonderful to remember that brand new feeling from a 15yr old car. I think I'll go change the oil. Mostly cause I know it was in warm weather in 2016 and she only puts on ab 9k/yr but I just can't remember when I last did it.

[itsbrokeagain]

Love it. I'm having the same discussion with the girlfriend. Trying to keep her off a leased Subaru and in the E46 xi since we bought it for $3800.

All in I guess we're at $5k. Just some fluids and shocks next. If we go at this rate, for 100,000 miles the car will average 5 to 8 cents per mile driven.

The Subaru, a 39 month lease at 309/month and 48k miles, is $12051 and costs 25 cents a mile, plus new tires soon/oil changes and a respray of the bumper from getting hit in a parking lot. And after 3 years the car gets returned and nothing to show for the money spent.

The E46 should easily last another 5 years or more. I don't plan on selling it ever, and if the motor gives up a 3.0 will get dropped in. She doesnt realize it fully yet (she's scared of it after the fuel pump died Friday the 13th and the axle popped out on the highway this morning causing a loss of all drivetrain power) but in the long run this will make a big difference when it comes to buying a house.

In case you haven't noticed, I loathe car payments. Any kind of payments.

[z168]

This is good to hear and thanks for posting. Glad some of us are in this for the long haul. Last year I spent for an engine-out service. 6months prior I replaced all the major gaskets (valley, front, oil pan, etc) including the timing chain. Apparently the indi I was at didnt do it right so everything needed to be redone. That was a pivotal decision as I knew my bill was over the value of the car. But I also knew for the same amount I wouldnt find another just as clean. So told the wife to enjoy her X5 for the foreseeable future.

And oh, I finally replaced the center cupholder. Oh my god what a pita it was. But Im glad I did. Next weekend, rear airbags...

[Ricky Bobby]

2002 with an M54 - I'm thinking she has an E46 ZHP?

Either way I would have done the same thing - My car note on the E53 is maintenance and occasional mods to keep my interest (hence the speakers now, damn you), but I'm in it for the long haul with this.

PDR and lower rear door inner seam rust to fix it up this year, and hopefully a new radio unit after I'm done with speakers. Is it just me, or do you feel like each oil change the E53 just runs better and better? I swear its a real feeling.

Maybe I'll get to replacing the cupholder (rubberized soft touch is peeling in some places) and finding a good set of sport seats (finally) to swap in this year. Its always the little things and finding time to complete. I have 2 boxes full of brake parts to refresh all 4 corners (caliper pins/bushings/bleeders/piston seals and dust boots, SS lines, rotors, pads, and BMW parking brake hardware/shoes set) and as soon as the weather warms up hopefully I can find the time on a weekend to do it, or just bite the bullet and pay the indy.

Wife got a 35D so I'm in for the long haul for that too, would like to pay it off sooner if possible. Someday when the emissions crap takes a dump it will all get deleted and a nice tune and drive the wheels off it. She loves having the awd back, as well as the roominess (coming from a Jetta TDI wagon), and now she is in love with diesel torques. Maintaining it to the level of my E53 will keep me busy no doubt, and keeping on top of the interior vaccuming as we take our dogs places, etc.

Its all a journey but I'm glad Prop that you are like me and keep things like the vehicles we love. Not many of us around anymore, people are dropping cars and using Uber, or just leasing every couple years because cars are a commodity.


Either way I think you guys did the right thing - I know you don't like loans but I always think of it as a car payment - so that $10k invested is basically 18-24 months of a typical new Bimmer note. We almost stretched ourselves with a gently used F15, but seeing the total amount financed, and the monthly note (since we don't do long term loans it was HIGH), we had to decline and stick to what would be comfortable for us. Unfortunately we still have the mortgage for another 25 years (or sooner, depending how good life is to us) but got in on the low locked in APR that is insane and looks like it might tick a bit higher but nothing like the 90's rates. I'd like to pay our house off sooner, probably should start working on that. But even if it was paid off, we still would be just as frugal with our cars and not extending ourselves.

[tmv]

At this age, cars are like women to me. I'm done with chasing the new/younger models. Already pick the best Just need maintenance Replace with new one is questionable

[OrangeFurious]

Originally Posted by tmv

At this age, cars are like women to me. I'm done with chasing the new/younger models. Already pick the best Just need maintenance Replace with new one is questionable

I've tried to explain to my wife that I channel my promiscuity into cars. It's for the best - I have three on hand, am often looking at others, and am not above going nuts with on a rental.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by tmv

At this age, cars are like women to me. I'm done with chasing the new/younger models. Already pick the best Just need maintenance Replace with new one is questionable

Oh and lets not forget that the caftsmanship of these older BMWs far outweighs the materials they are using in today's commodity vehicles. Every time I look over the E39 M5 or the X54.6is I am pleasantly reminded how much in authentic and real materials are used to make these vehicles. With proper care they can return a lifetime of fun and enjoyment.

[Scott ZHP]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

2002 with an M54 - I'm thinking she has an E46 ZHP?

ZHP was 03+

[dannyzabolotny]

I feel the same way about my cars. I'd rather spend money making actual improvements than sending hundreds of dollars a month to a bank. And to get something as nice as my X5 4.6 or my 540i Touring would cost me like $50k or more nowadays, which is well beyond what I want to spend on any car.

[OrangeFurious]

I get a lot of grief from friends and family (mostly good natured) on my car habit and the frequency and expense of repairs. Most of it falls into the "You spent how much on a ten year old car? My Corolla is only $300 a month!"

I get that comparison on the surface, but to my personal values and way of thinking it doesn't hold up. As I see it, the ~$35k I've put into my X5 has bought me a capable, fast, luxurious truck that I love to drive, in excellent condition (now), and with a warranty on the major failure points (via my indie who did the work). I could not buy a new or even CPO car with this feature set for anywhere near that price. The difference is I put all my expense up front in repairs and upgrades, where the Corolla owning friends put it into monthly payments and forget to include higher insurance, maintenance costs, etc when doing their comparison math.

Beyond that, I value a sense of ownership - I carefully chose the model, I carefully chose the specific car, and I put effort, money and time into making it exactly what I want. I always look back at it with a smile when I park, and I will never wonder which one is mine in a crowded lot.

So yeah, I'll pretty well always choose to own an older, curated vehicle over something new and disposable.