May be joining the ranks again...
 

Hello everyone!
It's been awhile since I've posted here, mostly due to the summer I've had. Three days after I came home from school at Wake Forest in May, I found my dad unconscious in his recliner downstairs. No breathing, nothing. I panicked, but kept my calm amidst my mom's hysterics and called 911 and began CPR. But it wasn't enough. He had lived with congestive heart failure since 2002, but his function had shown improvement. This was so unexpected. Not only was he such an unbelievably compassionate father, but my hero. God knows I'm going to miss him...

After such a tragedy, my grandpa took his death very hard. He began a downhill slide and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with terminally advanced cancer. He passed away in June, one month after my father.

No doubt this summer has been life changing.

On a different note, I've been itching to get back in an X5 every since we sold my ol' 2001 4.4 last May. Sure, the Z4 is a blast to drive, but the X holds such a big spot in my heart. I've found an '06 4.8is with 23,xxx miles. And I want it oh-so-badly. The thing is, my dad was the one that bought me the Z...my mom had no part in the decision making process. It would have to go to make way for the X and there's just a sense of ominous dread in trading her in, since essentially, my father bought it for me.

On the flip side, he DID pick out the X in the first place. And was anxious about finding another. I'm going to check out the 4.8 on Friday in Charlotte, NC.

Comments? Opinions? (I apologize for the super long post!)

Best,
Zach

Man, I am sorry for your losses. That is one rough summer. I hope you manage to get through everything as well as can be expected.

It would be hard to trade the Z in after that, but I would imagine that your Dad would want you to be happy with whatever car you wanted. Even if that means trading the Z in for the X. That is a tough call though. I would do whatever made me the happiest.

First of all, let me say sorry for your loss. I hope you're doing ok with everything, and hopefully Wake should bring forth some opportunities for fun and ways to carry on a good tradition.

As far as the X goes, I'd say do whats best for you. If you look at the X, I'd do what "feels" right. I'm a believer in "if its meant to be, it'll happen". Just keep in mind, you'll probably end up driving a lot more friends around with the X than the Z ;)
good luck with whatever you choose.

My condolences Zach, I know what you are going through after having two unexpected deaths in the family myself this past 10 months.

I agree with fseth, your dad had great taste obviously in the Z4 & X5, and would have wanted you to have a car you would love and enjoy. You can get a great deal on a gas-hog X5 nowadays :D :D.

Thanks you guys. Sincerely, it really means a lot.

I just re-read my post and I really don't mean it to sound as if I'm some immature 20 year-old with a golden spoon firmly inserted into my mouth. I saved my entire adolescence for my dream car, which was indeed a Z4...at the time. However, I feel the X shares a closer connection with not only myself, but my father. He loved that car, even more than I at times.

Again, you guys rock. The camaraderie in this community is second to none.

It's good to read you again, but I'm so sorry for your losses. :(

I agree with everyone above. Get what makes you happy. It seems your dad had a big spot in his heart for the X, too.

Great deals are being made on the '06 4.8is...now is the time. :goodluck:

Thanks Michelle!
You all aren't lying about the deals! When I found this 4.8, it was priced at $43,990. That was no more than one week ago. Here is the eBay listing for the same X, just found 5 minutes ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-X5...QQcmdZViewItem

Is this the one you're going to check out?

(No nav, or it'd be mine!)

Welcome back, spaz.
Sorry to hear about your loss.

That is the one I'm going to look at tomorrow or Friday...whenever I get a free bit of time. I'm pretty excited, to say that least. I was put off by the "no nav," but I just picked up a nuvi this summer, so no big deal.

Thank you LeMans!

So sorry for your losses Spaz. This must have been and probably still be a very hard time for you and your family. I am glad to see you back. You are at Wake Forest university? That is just few miles from where I live.

Also sorry for your losses Spaz.

I also lost my dad unexpectedly when I was in my senior year of college. It's nice to try to hold onto things that remind you of your dad and things that he did for you but on a flip side, a car is a car is a car.

If it was his special, old, Ferrari, Porsche, Camaro, etc. sitting in the garage, than that is something you could keep for sentimental value if you had the garage space. But a daily driver BMW... Get what's comfortable for you, I'm sure your dad would agree.

Thanks again alpac and B-Line. I'm going to look at the X5 tomorrow and I'm guessing they won't come down anymore on price...but that's the best I've seen thus far anyway. If I do in fact feel it's "the one," the hardest part will be trying to convince my mom. Wish me luck.

Hey, how did you like the Z4 by the way? We were close to getting one before my wide decided on the X5.

Well, went to check out the X yesterday. First I was told it had already been sold, but then it was found getting ready to be sent to auction. I immediately fell in love, especially after driving it around the parking lot. The thing handles almost as well as the Z! I was blown away. But when I brought up the prospect to my mom, she wouldn't have it. At all. Oh well...maybe it wasn't meant to be. But it sure felt like it.

FSETH,
The Z is so much fun, that's the reason I bought it in the first place. But for a college student, it IS a bit impractical. Hauling only one other friend and the bone-chattering suspension make it an unwise choice for a primary car. Otherwise, it is nothing short of superb.