Problems us Car Guys have owning a Classic

22 Dec 2015

So recently I bought myself a 1989 E34 BMW 525i and to say the least, I’M IN LOVE! And within the first week of owning it, I’ve already faced so many problems, not with the car, but with the people i know. Bearing in mind that I am 18-year-old so you can imagine the reactions of my friends with their Vauxhall Corsa Limited Eds and their MK7 Fiestas. I did not buy it to get reactions anyway, I bought it because I am simply in love with the E34; I truly believe it’s one of the most beautiful looking motors to exist, but that’s just my opinion.

Problems us Car Guys have owning a Classic

The main sort of comments I get straight away are “Why’ve you bought this, the cars older than you!”, “Does it even work?”, “It must be crap, where’s the built in Sat-Nav?!” that one makes me laugh, i just have to stand there and know that there is no way of explaining to these ‘non car guys’. It really is a shame, how I can have so much love and passion for something that someone else sees as a lump of old worn out metal. But that’s just us car guys have to live with! I feel very sorry for the JDM guys that have to explain to their mothers why putting £5000 into a 20 year old civic is wise, but its just what we do!

Another problem I face is when I’m sat in traffic lights and next to you pulls up a 1.4 litre VW Polo with a straight pipe and 4 certainly not straight lads in it thinking they’re going to smoke you, its always good fun seeing their little faces drop. But people just underestimate these old birds to thinking that they are too fragile to wheel spin off the line, but that’s what makes them great, what puts the smile on my face. Hearing my straight 6 lump rev up to 6000 rpm, its like ecstasy to my ears.

To conclude, everyone thinks I’m silly for buying it, but honestly i could not care less! Its my baby, slightly broken baby, but never the less I’m going to be putting money into it, and this is the start of my Car journey, with many more projects to come. Thank you for reading!

Francis Connor

Comments

Brilliant.

-18 with a K10 Micra 1.2…the second one I’ve had.

Very very nearly bought a Volvo 240 Saloon (E reg in white) but insurance was too damn high. 2.0 5spd too…

like you car man! for my fist car i got an 93 520i wagon in the same red, loved it broke my heart when i sold it new brakes and new suspention all around… two years later and it was taken to the scrap yard… but my current car is a e34 wagon, 540i 6 speed :)

Wow, stunning mate

I’m a bit confused by it, but is it a 3,8 straight 6 or a V8?

(On of my absolute fav cars btw)

Being an 89, it’s probably a 12-valver… Do yourself the favor and swap in a 24-valve engine - not the same nostalgic valve tappet hell as the 12 valve engine, but a lot more refined and powerful.

Great car though. Rare color, I absolutely love it!

Mate, love your car! E34 is one of my favorites, but i got a couple of questions:

How much did she cost? (Divide it by actual car price, insurance and road tax if you can;)

Did that spoiler come standard? Sorry, but i don’t really dig that…

And the wheels, were the standard when you bought her? Love ‘em

I lost it at corsa LE hahaha good little write up

Love the E34, but the aftermarket chrome on the wheel arches and door handles frustrates me way more than it should. I have a thing for originality :P . Make sure you rust proof it as these guys get eaten before you realise, I have an E30 convertible (bought at 19) and I’m restoring my friends E34 540, so I know what Im talking about ;)

I completely understand you.
There is NO “reasonable (~200 hp)” new car that gets me excited.
Everything has four cylinders and humms like a monk - as clarkson would say.
I’ll have to keep buying used cars - it’s cheaper AND more fun anyways :)

Last year near the canyon in my city i found there E32 , and she looked realy terrible condition , some guys asked me why do you want this car “it’s older more then you “ so i told them that they sould wait 2 years (im 16) and then look what incredible car it is, keep the great work man i love your E34 !

haha I could imagine that so much bro . here in austria we havent those struggles ^^.
but you achieved an oldschool bmw and im proud of you .
so have fun with it . i like US guys that appreciate BMW