What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

[Racebred]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

my turn.

my family's always been a merc family all thru my dad's driving life and i know next to nothing about cars. BMW seemed like a very blur and distant brand to me and i had no idea how to differentiate one from the crowd. That was about 5-6 years ago, about 1999. I didnt even lump BMW from my brain's conscious recollection of brands of car manufacturers. That's how alien BMW is to me.

So i've been driving a 3rd hand corolla hatchback since my P-plate and we've decided to get me a new car coz this one's breaking down plus kena accident too often. So I set my eyes on this Lancer MR (yes, at that time the mivec 1.6L is also called the MR hahahah), but they didnt have it in white, which was what i wanted. So I left very disappointedly from the showroom and my dad suddenly mentioned we have a corporate discount with PML. Why dont i consider a 318i.

And I had no idea what the hell is a 3 series. and what does 318 mean. But I just wanted 4 wheels from point A to point B and it seemed a pretty decent car to drive. The salesgirl gave me 15" sport rims instead of the hubcaps (which came standard in the 1998 E46 318i) but it meant nothing to me.

It all changed one day when I decided to do something to freshen up my ride after 2 years of ownership, and bought a BMW car magazine, and modded my mirrors and rims. Then I went online to search for more deals and the worst thing happened to me in my entire life: I found BMWSG. (or BCOS which was what it was known then)

Then I started to mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and change car, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and mod. And we bought 3 more BMWs.

Then, I mod, and mod and mod and mod and mod and mod,

Then finally, I mod, and mod, and mod, and mod, and i realised i know more about the car than a service advisor in PML. Thats my story.

 

[eggz]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Woah, that's a lot of mods

 

[DC3]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

I remember in Army days I knew a few White Horses, kids with rich dads and a WH stamped on the personnel file, who drove BMWs (if you don't know what a WH is, then sorry, I must be quite a bit older than you..). These were good friends and they drove the E30 320 and the recently released E36 320. One night, my friend in the E30 was going down Eng Neo from the PIE and got into a race with 4 of us NS guys on board. S..T, that E30 could really hold the curves and eat up the other car. After that, I was hooked on BMW...the Ultimate Driving Machine.

Unfortunately, it took me many years before I saw a "affordable" BMW, the E36 316 compact, which had the "balloon" financing scheme. I went down with my cheque book, but it looked like a BMW from the front, but the inside didn't have the dashboard curving toward the driver and the engine wasn't an inline 6. Luckily, I didn't buy it but went for a Civic SiR. After too many times trying to touch 8000rpm, the wife told me to get a safer car. I still could not bring myself to pay the downpayment (30% at that time) for a BMW, so went for another Jap car. But everytime, I would pass a BMW, I would remark that that was my dream car. My better half got tired of my whining and repeated test driving of BMWs that one day she told me to just do it..... so here I am, happily driving my FL E46 320 for the past 3 years, about 15-20 years after I dreamed of owning one.

Every story should have a happy ending, even many years later, right?

 

[Radon39]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Forme, back in the 80s, alwes dreamed of owning one of those squarish E30s.....dreamt that one day I would own one

Then, got myself my wheels, a Swift, and traded it in 3 mths later for a 316 Compact.....never looked back since......

On to my 3rd Beemer now, the E39, had the E46 Manual before this....EXCELLENT car

Looks like nxt one would still be a beemer =)

 

[eggz]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Ok mine started in 1994 when I got back from Uni. My mom had a 7yr old white E34 520, it was well built but really slow, 4sp auto no vanos and only something like 130hp?

Then the E39 was launched in 1997, so changed to an Oxford green 520i, very nice car, this was a "present" from my parents so I didn't have a choice on model/specs etc.

Tech boom in the late 90s and my company stock went through the roof, I switched to a E46 328ci (with my own money this time). This is when I REALLY fell in love with BMWs, it's just such a fun car to drive especially going from a large sedan with 150hp to a 2 door coupe with close to 200hp!

The fun ended when I got a kid in 2003 and had to switch back to a sedan. But OK lah, the E60 with all it's gagets is kind of fun.

 

[mustaffalj]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Go after it Ryan, I'm sure you can drive the Z-4 or 5 before your turn 25,

May god bless you,
Best Regards
Mustaffa, E-46 PFL (030

 

[Mockngbrd]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

seems like a few here were hooked by the E30 (me included)
yea, that little car's fun on the twisty roads...

 

[zero]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

:singsing: After reading from many BMW enthusiasts here, I also want to share my story:

My dad taught me driving when I was 10 yrs old. At 17, I fell in love with BMW when I started working as a mechanic in a company that sell, distribute and service BMW in Malaysia - during the glorious days of the E23, E24, E28 and E30.

In 1988, I joined PML in Kampong Arang and I must say I really had the most exciting and satisfying 5 years working as a BMW technician & customer service officer.

I had plenty of opportunities to performed all kind of repair works – trouble-shooting, overhauling engines, stripping down the car parts to bare-bone (accident repair) and driving every BMW models that came into the workshop including the first E30 (M3), E31 (850i) and the beautiful BMW-Z1.

I left PML in 1993.

Now after driving 7 different make of cars (mostly Japanese & Korean), this month (Oct 05) my wife and I is a proud owner of a two yrs old E46 318i.

Eventhough I had 10 yrs experiences working on the BMW cars, my knowledge now is so far behind comparing to majority of the owners here in BMW-SG. It is true that some of the car owners nowadays know more than the people in the workshop.

I am new to this BMW forum and this is my 1st post. I still do not know who owned this site but one thing I like to comment – good work! It is really a fantastic place for owners to meet, learn, care and share many valuable information and experiences from each and every passionate BMW owners here.

If only I could turn back the clock, I wish we had this forum during my wonderful time working in PML.

 

[Ronkovic]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Ok mine started in 1994 when I got back from Uni. My mom had a 7yr old white E34 520, it was well built but really slow, 4sp auto no vanos and only something like 130hp?

Then the E39 was launched in 1997, so changed to an Oxford green 520i, very nice car, this was a "present" from my parents so I didn't have a choice on model/specs etc.

Tech boom in the late 90s and my company stock went through the roof, I switched to a E46 328ci (with my own money this time). This is when I REALLY fell in love with BMWs, it's just such a fun car to drive especially going from a large sedan with 150hp to a 2 door coupe with close to 200hp!

The fun ended when I got a kid in 2003 and had to switch back to a sedan. But OK lah, the E60 with all it's gagets is kind of fun.

Your mum wouldn't happen to be a teacher in an all-boys' school would she?

 

[eggz]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Your mum wouldn't happen to be a teacher in an all-boys' school would she?

Errr. no, why do you say that?

 

[apache]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Ok, my turn.
This is back in 2000. My friend has nothing to do on one of the weekend and ask me to join him to visit PML showroom. The purpose of the visit is just to see what does a bemmer like. So, we examined the E46 then, and were pretty impressed with it. After that we went to the test drive and both of us were sold. bemmer is our dream car.

I saved up for a few years before I get my first car. It was a 1.5 years old E46 in 2003. Early this year, E90 came out and tempted me again!!! So, I get rid of the E46 and get myself an E90 two weeks ago.

Till today, my friend is still saving up to get his first "dream" car. Really hope that he can get his wheel soon. Have been tempting him recently with my E90.

 

[reisa]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Ooh.. mine's quite silly.

On the 1st of Nov, my gf & I along with another friend, were headed for IKEA Alexandra, when we went past BMW showroom, and I was thinking, heck why not we take a look through it as there was this massive neverending jam into IKEA since we were already here.

Drove in, parked infront of the showroom, walked in and was caught by the first 3 series sedan in alphine white with the carbon lip! OMG! wad a beautiful sight! Due to parental nagging on getting a more classy car instead of my bengish beauty, I was thinking of getting a 325 or 330 cab. But was told by the helpful SE that the new 3 series havent launched the cabs.. earliest would be 2007 and that only the current model is available.. Was very disappointed but he then intro-ed me to the black Z4 on display and I've been having countless sleepless nights since.. to decide wad colour should i get for my Z4.

In the end, spent more then an hour at the showroom, with his helpful explanation of the 2.5 n 3.0 Z4, the specs etc without going to IKEA to get my straw mat, ended up, me n my gf had to lie on the sand @ palawan beach .. duh! how forgetful.. its a miracle she didn't complain haha..

Was considering between SLK or BoxsterS.. but have firmly decided on the Z4.. just not on the colour though..

 

[ryan]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

reisa,

that's a nice story man!! hahaha...a straw mat cost you 215K? LOL. Well it's a great decision to boot.

With regards to colours..... what's your choice?

 

[reisa]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

lol was quoted 196k for the Z4 2.5L

forgets if it comes with SMG or jus autobox

 

[TripleM]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Reisa
interesting story u shared..

Just fyg, a dark color car for a roadster will make the car look smaller, something to bear in mind.

Interior wise, get that IMOLA red....the best color ( i m biased tho)

Gd Luck and do keep us updated...

Cheers

 

[reisa]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

haha the smaller they come.. the cuter they get =P
i'm very much biased towards white with either full black or red leather..

 

[Mirage77]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Dad was driving a whole long line of S-Class cars and I didn't care much for the 7 Series.

However, one day I peered into the interior of a 7 Series, and I asked my dad how much the W220 S-Class was a rip-off when compared to the 7. My dad slowly lost his allegiance for the S-Class because of repetition of the same brand & same model. The W220 closed the books on MB for us because it just couldn't stand the competition. We switched into a VW Phaeton next and after much pursuasion, he got a E46 320i for my sis and perhaps in the future, myself.

I loved the E46 especially because of its flawless (almost) exterior design. I was really certain that the FL model was one of the most well-proportioned compact sedans on the market. We test-drove the A4 & it couldn't lay a finger on the 3 Series in terms of performance, dynamics and brand cache. The test drive confirmed that the E46 was one hell of a sedan. We purchased it and dad still loves to drive it more than he drives his VW.

I was expecting a better E90, but I guess when cars have reached its peak, it is quite hard to progress ever so further...

I also adore the X5. Its road presence is undeniably good and it caught my attention when I first saw it. For that money I wonder why people got the M-Class instead.

Further into the years I studied about the M Division, and what wonderful cars they and BMW produce together.

BMW's avant-garde design, superb sporting heritage and brand cache made me give my ultimate respect for BMWs. However, I also respect most German brands still holding by themselves today; namely: BMW, MB, Porsche, VW & AUDI. Opel has been sold to Ford.

 

[nullifi3d]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

I loved bimmers ever since i was in secondary school, which wasn't that long ago. Fell in love with the E39 M5 ever since i played it in a Need For Speed game. Used to visit the webby www.bmwm5.com (now its changed due to copyrights issues) to checkout their road trips from sweden to germany nurburgring to french alps etc.
Just got my license a few months ago and currently driving a foci (ford focus to those clueless). Love the handling but would definately try to get a RWD once i start working. Most likely i would only be able to get those pre-facelift E46 318i if finances work out for me in the near future.

 

[Gombat]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

I loved bimmers ever since i was in secondary school, which wasn't that long ago. Fell in love with the E39 M5 ever since i played it in a Need For Speed game. Used to visit the webby www.bmwm5.com (now its changed due to copyrights issues) to checkout their road trips from sweden to germany nurburgring to french alps etc.
Just got my license a few months ago and currently driving a foci (ford focus to those clueless). Love the handling but would definately try to get a RWD once i start working. Most likely i would only be able to get those pre-facelift E46 318i if finances work out for me in the near future.

How is it? I rented one when I was in Europe a few years ago but that was a 1.3 suspension sucks just like my old Escort, my friend has a 1.6 manual. How is the service at regent motors???

 

[ryan]

Re: What's The Start Of Your Love For BMW

Gombat,

Believe it's better to bring this to private Let's all do our best in keeping this thread to its topic.

Cheers!

How is it? I rented one when I was in Europe a few years ago but that was a 1.3 suspension sucks just like my old Escort, my friend has a 1.6 manual. How is the service at regent motors???