What's Your Story? Introduction to BMW!

[JMD]

Decided to make this post/thread just to see how others came to BMW. Here's my story alone with a list of past BMW steeds.

For me, my first exposure to BMW was like this. First, I was a car guy through and through, as I had multiple subscriptions to the car mags,...R/T, MT, C/D and and later the Roundel. I just loved reading about cars. Well, my exposure to BMW came to me one day (on a Friday evening) when I was heading to Florida on weekend liberty (..time off) while stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. The most direct route to Florida from Camp Lejeune was Hwy 17 South,...via Wilmington, and through Charleston. You see, Highway 17 was 1) mostly 2 lanes,...2)mostly congested,...especially from 5-8pm on a Friday, and even worst if it was a payday Friday. Well, there was this one time I was headed to Florida to hang out with family and friends,...and a special girl of course - . Anyway, on one particular trip after getting through Wilmington, NC, and being some 40-60 miles North of Charleston, there I was in my '79 Pontiac Grand Prix. Yeah, the one with the landau roof and 305cu inch V8. Like many Fridays, traffic was heavy and moving slow at the then 55mph speed limit. So, as traffic moved alone,...and everyone looking for an opportunity to pass,...this is where the excitement begins in this story for me, this guy,...in what I come to know now, in a 3-Series BMW just blew by all of the traffic like it was nothing! I had seen the car in my rearview mirror, but didn't pay much attention to it until the driver made his pass. It was a sight to see a little German car handle the road so freak'n well. I tried to keep up,...being the young kid driver that I was at the time, I backed down and the 3-Series BMW disappeared. After seeing this BMW on the road, I knew then I was going to be a BMW owner.

Since then, I've had the pleasure of owning the following Bimmers:

-1979 - 320i, Bronzit Beige (I think) (4 sp w/2.0L)
-1984 - 533i, Delphin Grey, again, a rare find.
-1988 - 535is, Ti-Silver, (a jewel of BMW,...this one owned the longest).
-1993 - 325i, Blk
-1997 - M3, Blk Sap
-1999 - 540i Sport, Ti-Silver
-2002 - 530i Sport, Gray
-2002 - X5 3.0, Pearl Beige
-2003 - X5 4.6is, Blk Sap
-2005 - X5 4.8is, Blk Sap
-2010 - X5 M, Space Grey
-2012 - 535i Sport, Blk Sap (still have,...gave to GF)
-2012 - 535iX M Sport, Gray
-2012 - 550iX M Sport, CB
-2012 - X5 M, BlkSap (...still have)
-2013 - M5, SG (...just bought recently)

[PREDATOR 007]

I was searching for a new car in 2012 and never really looked at BMW. I had driven Lincolns, Lexus and so on. After test driving a 12' 750 I was hooked. Six months later, some lady ran a red light and hit my son head on. He was fine, but the lady was hurt pretty bad. That car was totaled, so then I went to the 13'. Lowered it, JB4, and some minor mods. I have the Bimmerfest "unofficial" world record for the 1/4 mile in this car. 12.5 secs. Just picked up my first M5 a couple of weeks ago and so far love it. Little cramped to have anyone in the back seat, but I can live with that.



2012 750Lix




2013 750Lix


2016 M5

[TheHouseWon]

Watched a bunch of youtube...then test drove the M5 and fell in love. Easy as that.

[MpowerMike]

Had E39 M5 , E60 M5 , F10 M5, probably the next car will be another M5!

[Used2be]

Just out of the service in 1969 and the local Porsche/BMW dealer Vasek Polak in Hermosa Beach, CA was heavily involved with racing at the time. I was able to take a 2002 off the showroom floor for a couple of hours to drive in a lovely, twisty area not far away. Enjoyed the car so much I ordered one, my first new car. As I recall it had the whopping price tag of $3,600! I had enjoyed drag racing before my service time and thought I'd try road racing next. I had the 2002 gutted and ready for the track in 1971. The Trans Am series was going strong and just up the road in El Segundo the BRE shop was fielding a beautifully prepared 510 Datsun. I always envied their car preparation, but it was an inspiration for me.

After I sold the 2002 in 1974 I didn't own another BMW until I bought a 2005 K1200S motorcycle. Traded that for a 2009 K1300S which was a surprising improvement. The S1000RR joined that as a dedicated track bike in 2010. Test drove the F10 M5 in 2012 and had to have one. My order came in that December and I've enjoyed the car ever since. Certainly not a race car, but a wonderful compromise which does so many things well.

[platinum903]

Rented a M6 from the Welt in Germany last summer and drove it all day on the autobahn. It burned a desire into my brain that I couldn't get rid of until I ordered an M5 this April. Just took delivery 2 weeks ago and it feels like the smile on my face is permanent.

[mfranco]

This is my first post to the forum. I just purchased a black 2013 M5 with 20k miles on it. I was always of the belief that American Muscle was the way to go for performance cars. I have always been into cars and so where my parents and grandparents. Both of my grandfathers built stock cars and my late grandfather was a master mechanic for over 40 years.

My first sports car was a 2002 Firebird Transam WS6. It was my moms before she passed away and it was sweet....super slow compared to sports cars now, but still awesome to drive. It was a 5.7L NA with ram air and magnaflow exhaust. I still have it and it is in perfect condition with only ~16k miles. Im holding onto it for not only sentimental value but I also because I believe one day it will be a valuable collector car. It was a special addition because it was the last year they made they WS6 and now they are out of business. It has badging on the side that says "1967-2002 Last of The Breed" Still love that car even though I rarely drive it.

I then bought a 2013 Ford Raptor. Super fun but I have always been a car guy so I traded it for a 2014 CTS-V coupe with a Manual transmission. I got it used with only 2k miles on it! The V was a monster! It was my first true high end performance car. I loved that thing and will always be a CTS-V fan boy even though from what I have read on this forum, CTS-V is like the arch enemy of M5. For the price, $59K for a 2014 with 2k miles (in may of 2015) in my opinion there was not a better car available at the time in terms of raw performance and creature comfort. In a year I put 20k miles on it and ran it hard everyday with no issues in terms of reliability. In my opinion the CTS-V is GM's crown achievement.

Fast forward to June 13, 2016. I crossed the trenches into enemy territory and traded the V for my M5. I take delivery on it today so I have only gone a short, and relatively tame test drive. From my limited time in the M5 it takes the cake in every aspect compared to the Gen 2 V. Interior is WAY better and I like the Jeckle and Hyde aspect of the M5. The idea of being able to transform it from a tastefully reserved beauty, to a rubber burning monster gives me great pleasure just thinking about it. The Gen 2 V had this same quality but the M5 takes it to a whole new level. Im not sure how I feel about the small TT engine yet because I was always raised with big displacement and superchargers. Im sure it will be every bit as fast and fun as the V (and probably more so), but it will be an adjustment going from American muscle to Euro ingenuity. All and all, I think I will love this car and I can't wait to take delivery and see what it can really do!

[mfranco]

Okay after taking delivery.... Im all about the M5! OMG this thing is freakin' awesome!

[JMD]

Originally Posted by mfranco

Okay after taking delivery.... Im all about the M5! OMG this thing is freakin' awesome!

MFranco, that was a great follow-up to your story! I might imagine you are a bit giddy over the M5 right about now.

The "turbine" like pull is crazy in the F10 ///M5!

...keep 'on grinning!

...and congrats!!

[TheHouseWon]

Originally Posted by mfranco

Okay after taking delivery.... Im all about the M5! OMG this thing is freakin' awesome!

If and when you get used to it, slap on 150 whp with a few minor mods and it'll be like a whole new car experience. With JB4 alone I am having so much fun with it. The low end torque gains are unbelievable.

Congrats...I saw the light just as you did!

[mfranco]

I just got back from a two day road trip... While I don't know how to use everything yet I am absolutely in love. The power it has is amazing! I didn't even take all the nannies off and I still felt like I was in a race car. What really blows me away in how going from efficiency/comfort to sport plus changes the car so much. My CTS-V had a button to tighten up the suspension but you couldn't really tell the difference. In the M I put everything in sport plus and when driving down residential streets it was actually so stiff and sensitive that it was uncomfortable. I mean this in a good way though, it awesome to know that pushing all the buttons actually changes something and it isnt just for show. Another plus, when driving back I was cruising at 80-85 and I was getting 22/23mpg on 93 octane... I couldn't get close to that even with a tailwind in my V!

In terms of modding it, I absolutely want a tune, downpipe, intake, and exhaust but I think I need to give myself a few months to get used to all the power it is making stock...

One question, how is the drivability with the extra 150HP?? Is it still capable of being a daily driver???

[TrevorM3]

e46m3 at 18, met alot of really cool people with that car.

*pulls up flame suit.

[bruza]

The E39 M5 is what brought me to the ///M cars. I was in High School when that car came out and never owned one (still plan to at some point).

1st Bimmer: 2011 M3 Sedan (Lemans Blue/ Fox Red)
Current: 2015 M5 (Imperial Blue/ Amaro Brown)

I had the pleasure of going the Euro Delivery route on both ///M's (3 yr 36k Leases ordered from Steve Thomas too).

Great cars. I prefer the ///M5 overall due to sheer size (Im 6'4"), finishes and sleeper appearance.

Still not sure what I'll do when the current lease is up. I have another year and and a half to decide.

[Sabs1815]

My first car was a 2003 Land Rover Discovery I paid $1200 for from a family friend. Lost that car a year and a half after I got it, Hurricane Sandy claimed that victim.

2 Months later I got my first BMW. The E46 M3. Was a dream car of mine since I was 13. I pushed my self to save for it and got a 2006 6 Speed Vert Jet black on Dove Grey when I turned 18. LOVED that car for a solid 3 years till I was ready for a 4 door.

4 Months ago I traded my first love of a BMW for my current M5.... Thought I would be okay with the DCT but I'm really missing that 6 Speed now. They are two COMPLETELY different animals!

I don't think anything else can replace my BMW!

[Sergm3]

First car at 16 in 1997 to my current at 35 years old. All cars I got bored with and need it more power and some paid for my stupidity dearly.
1973 toyota tercel used
1981 Honda Civic used
1991 Nissan Maxima used
1995 Toyota supra used
In 2002 dream car e39 m5, but didn't have money
So I bought my first bmw 1988 e28 m5 with 160000 miles on it and loved it. Didn't come back until 2006 to bmw.
1999 Mercedes e55 amg used
1998 Mercedes cl 600 used
First brand new car
2004 Lexsus gs430 I finally made it 23years old brand new fully loaded,but lost control on mountain road and totaled it after 6 months
2003 Audi rs6 used
2002 m5 used finally I got my dream car loved it, loved it, but my new found love shot piston through a block and the repair was to much for me to handle. That's when I said bmw has to be under warranty for me to own one.
2006 e46 m3 brand new
Came back to my dream car "the force was to strong"
2003 lemans blue e39 m5 had this car the longest time 4 years.
2008 e92 m3 brand new
2009 Mercedes gl550 brand new
2011 Mercedes gl 550 brand new
2013 bmw 550i brand new
2014 bmw m5 brand new
On order 2016 zcp m3. Brand new
That my story my family thinks I'm sick about cars