Saying goodbye is going to be tough

[Moments]

After 19 years of owning my diesel it's time to say 'goodbye'. The house extension came through and as per agreement with the OH the car goes - with huge reluctance.

It's been the best car for me and for a good chunk of my life - from exploring places across Europe, taking three bikes to Scotland, driving the Ring of Kerry in beautiful south west Ireland and many more adventures... To the mundane of smashing out motorway miles and taking half a ton of brick wall to recycling, as well as bringing many carpets from Wilton back home. Or bashing into Shropshire to help family... And having Fire and Rescue pull over to let the only one car able to get up a Snowbound slope do the job without drama.

What a brilliant car. It went for a nice loop drive today just for the pure enjoyment of being in it - a sort of farewell to a fabulous piece of engineering that never faulted in 186,000+ miles.

E53 - fantastic work, old friend

[wpoll]

What a fitting farewell...

Shame it has to go - sounds like you would like to keep it. Maybe you just don't need such a vehicle anymore...

My 30d has been (and continues to be) pressed into similar service, with similar success. And it's market value is now so low as to make it selling it unthinkable... It's value to ME is what it would cost to me replace it, not what I can sell it for, so it's a keeper.

[Bottomfeeder]

I can relate to this heavily.

I own a Honda Pilot that we bought brand new when my son was born in 2005. After 398,000 miles it's still alive and kicking (though usually used more for hauling and lighter duty around town rather than longer trips). Never when I bought it back then would I have imagined my son would learn to drive in the same car! Couldn't imagine selling it, both because it's like a member of the family and it's worth is pretty negligible these days.

My two X5s (a 2002 and 2005) came in 2018 and 2019 and I feel the same way about them. After I got the first one, my wife pretty much said "There's no way I'm not getting one of these, too." How could I refuse? I'm not sure what cars would possibly give me as much enjoyment as them when it's time to part ways in the hopefully very distant future. They are so much fun to drive, and SO comfortable for longer trips. Hell, I even like the way they smell if we're being honest. That wonderful, distinguished aging Bimmer smell, you know? My plan is to keep them as long as I'm able to drive, can still physically maintain them (I'm getting old fast), and able to afford to do so. Whichever comes first. :-)

I know so many people who change cars every year or so, seemingly at the drop of a hat, and I just don't get it. I'd much rather bond with a vehicle, get to know it, and settle in for the long haul. It's like that old classic John Muir VW manual said ... "Come to kindly terms with you ass, for it bears you."

Congratulations on such a long and wonderful run with your E53! Cheers to you. :-)

Chris
Lockhart, Texas

[Canadian_E53]

I'm right there with you. We've only had my wifes 2003 e53 for about a year and a half, and it's put me through hell and back...but it's a fantastic car when it's working correctly!