BMW clubs

[Porker]

As the new caretaker of a '01 525i (my daily hack) I would like to join a club specialising in the marque, mainly for the technical support and details of good-value parts suppliers and so on.

Conversely, I probably wouldn't be doing any "events" as such.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

P.

[James]

Pistonheads

[stephenperry]

some starters...

www.bavarian-board.co.uk

www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk (need to be a paid up member of bmw car club gb to access)

www.bmw5.co.uk

www.bmwland.co.uk

www.m5board.com

the official club:

www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

[stephenperry]

some handy sites:

www.realoem.com

www.gsfcarparts.com

www.eurocarparts.co.uk

www.fabdirect.com

www.linwar.co.uk

[Porker]

Thanks Steve - look like some interesting research is in order.

regards
P.

[stephenperry]

no probs, nice to see a fellow bm owner on here

[Porker]

Indeed. I truly can't understand the somewhat irrational dislike some folks have for these cars. They are, IMO, the best mass-produced vehicle on the market at this point, and have been for some time. In my time I've had:

320i
525i (E34)
323i Coupe
523i (E39)
525i (E39)

and Mrs P has an E46 318Ti Compact.

...and without exception they've all been good cars - reliable, reasonably economical. confortable, nice to drive and well built.

In fact so good have they been, that I was recently minded to ask Mrs P to give me a swift kick if I ever considered buying anything other than a 5 Series as a daily driver. I speak as the recent owner of a Nissan.....

regards
P.

[stephenperry]

i know what you mean, brand loyalty can be an expensive affliction!

i'm on my third bm - started off with an e36 318i se saloon, then up to an e46 323ci coupe and now an e39 alpina b10

i'd like to say that the next one will have another blue and white propeller on its nose but i've got a long-term porsche 911 itch that begs to be scratched eventually

[Porker]

Scratch it - scratch it. You will not be disappointed.

My only caveat would be to buy the best example of whatever variant you can afford. The scruffy ones are fit only for a tin of petrol and a match....

The 3.2 Carreras are great. 993s a little more modern and need less fettling, but whichever model you get, they're all great cars.

regards
P.

[stephenperry]

i think the 1980's model will always remain my favourite



but i'm a bit concerned that they're getting long in the tooth, the 964s look a bit blander at the front to my eye but they're probably a better car?

i've been reading some stories that when they moved to water cooling on the 911 and introduced the boxster early ones were suffering engine failure, making the last of the air cooled earlier model quite a bit more expensive on the second hand market!

[hardboiled]

I don't think it's engine failures that are causing the newer models to lose money but just the greater demand for the 993 models as they are much more interesting cars IMO.

I've recently completed a small goal I had of driving all the major types of 911 thanks to some generous friends. Anyway my favourite is probably the 911 Clubsport as a weekend toy. For everyday a standard 993 C2 would fit the bill very nicely. Saying that the 997 C4S I drove was a stunning car in every way just not quite as rewarding when you drive it as you think that most people could get in and drive it reasonably well straight away - which isn't the case with the 911 CS.