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.