well everyone, it's done ...

my X5 and I were together for 2 years, 6 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days. By that count, our relationship together exceeded my two longest relationships by almost exactly half a year -- both of those topped out at a round two years.

while i'd be lying if i didn't admit that part of me will always miss the X -- and the if i could have a two garage at this stage in my life, i would have NEVER parted with the X -- the truth is, any feelings of nostalgia literally blew out the window as soon as i dropped the top in my new 2004 E46 M3 cabrio on this cold winter night up here in Marin County.

looking up at the sky, then all around me over my shoulders, i just gasped, then smiled thinking quietly to myself, "now THIS is living."

Two flicks on the left paddle behind the steering wheel and my ears were filled with the intoxicating rasp of perfectly synchronized downshifts before my my back was forced into the seat as my speedo needle rapidly found its place into the triple digits.

It's a strange adjustment to make, especially for a student who does a lot of travelling -- and thus requires a lot of storage area in a vehicle -- but amazingly, i've managed to make do, fitting all my belongs in the trunk without much trouble. perhaps it's all the training i had during my UCLA days, managing with with a hard-top V6 mustang from which i had ripped the rear seats and trim just to slim it down by 2- or 300 pounds!

in any case, i want to thank you all for your help in this recent and VERY sudden decision to say goodbye to my X. While i KNOW that the price i got on this M3 was certainly not great, that it happened to match my color and options preferences made it worth it. That I was so pressed for time with (a) needing to get rid of the X before further expenses hit and (b) midterms arrived in a month further necessitated expedition of this trade.

That said, what color combo and options?

Well as you probably know from my prior post, it's the all too rare carbon black metalic / black interior / Ti trim.

As far as i know, it's got virtually every option -- except a multi-CD changer, strangely, even thouhg it DOES have the upgraded audio, go figure? It's a convertble and it's got the SMG transmission. After years of driving manual -- until the X, that is -- and after extensive test drives with my buddy who recently picked up a 2006 Competition Package M3 with SMG, I felt it was time to evolve with the times.

Besides, if it's good enough for Schumi in his F1 car, it's good enough for me

Additionally, the prior owner added two REALLY nice features: a "Parrot Speak" Bluetooth adapter for cell phone use which is beautifully installed with the microphone in the headliner above the rearview mirror; and a small XM satellite receiver nestled in the ashtray, also professionally wired and perfectly set up. Parrot Speak -- weird that i've never heard of it before -- worked perfectly with my phone on a first attempt and I love it.

Anyway, they DID finally give us the car for a few thousand below KBB and threw in the extended 2 yr / 50,000 mile maintenance plan at a discount too.

All in all, I couldn't be happier ... my ONLY quibble is the lack of a multi-CD changer and no obvious way to connect my ipod.

But I'm sure I can find solutions to either or both of those problems.

FINALLY: does this mean i'll disappear from xoutpost.com? Not a chance. It's true what we say here: come for the knowledge, stay for the friends. As I've written before on here, I've NEVER expereinced such a sincere and loyal online comraderie before, and it's not something i'll be turning my back on any time soon.

That said........ PIX WILL BE UP AS SOON AS I GET BACK TO SD AND GET MY CAMERA!! (in the meantime, i'll post some cell phone pix tomorrow

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MARC/CROSVS | UCLA Bruin, B.A. Econ, Aug 2004 | J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law, May 2008 -- MEMBER: California State Bar, December 4, 2008

2005 BMW 645 Cabrio | Black Sapphire Metallic, Ti trim | 6AT | fully loaded sans HUD

2000 Ford Mustang V6 | laser red on tan | 5-spd | track-prepped