My Car: Nothing Fancy, But Brings Me Joy

[StanAE86]

Here's my rig:

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/detail.php?id=1177

My daily driver is a 1999 Subaru Forester though...hahah

Since getting it, used, this past September, it's gotten four rock chips in the windshield, a busted corner marker, a small dent and a scratch on the front fender because of road debris and I've clocked about 15,000 miles. Much rather have that happen to my Subaru than the M. On the plus side, it has AWD for rainy weather and ski trips, is less thirsty than the M at the gas pump and my dog likes it. :D

[TT]

Nothing fancy?!? The E34 M5 is GORGEOUS!!! I love yours in white! And tell us something more about what you did to it since we can clearly see the "Dinan" writing on the boot ;)

[Fast_car006]

That's pretty.

[corvette97]

hey how much fot the wheels?

[StanAE86]

Wow...thanks for all the kind words. I figured with a bunch of people rolling in cars with the prancing horse and charging bull, an E34 M5 wouldn't get much love.

It's got a Dinan chip, Stage III suspension and cam gear set. Unfortuantely for me, Dinan's front tower brace is out of production and for the life of me, I can't find someone that will sell me their used one. So, up front, I have an Ireland Engineering strut tower bar. The wheels are E38 (740i) M Parallels in 18x8 in front and 18x9.5 in the back. They're finished in "black chrome". I got them used for $1200 after they were refinished, so they were basically new. I stuffed an amp behind the trunk paneling and am using it to push an 8" Soundstream subwoofer mounted in a tube behind the rear seat. Besides that, the car is all stock.

It's an incredible car with pure music coming from under the hood. Absolutely fantastic. :D

[ae86_16v]

Nice car. . .

great car you got there, Its from the days when BMW still looked great and not like total crap.


Yeah, thanks for Chris Bangle and his "Flaming Surfaces". . . :roll:

BMW nows look more like Japanese cars more than ever. . . take the new 5, looks like something from Lexus than BMW. I don't think the new cars look bad, but it just doesn't have those "BMW Intangibles" anymore.

:(

[SFDMALEX]

ITS gorgeous mate. Welcome to JW.

[callen]

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/userimages/c5ead2b9b22545424d168bb68f3c03d6/front%2Bpassenger%2Bquarter%2B4.JPG

Stan, this car is one of the best here in the rides section i think, so no need to downplay urs! How much horsepower from the mods would u think? I like the forester, but i would much rather have a wrx! :wink:

[PennStateFSAE]

no need to downplay urs!

Ahh...YEAH!..just because Jabba has two amazing cars doesn't mean most of us have anything close to what you have.

[StanAE86]

I'm not sure what the power is now. It was 310 stock and Dinan "claims" about 330 or 340 or something like that, with the mods I have. But I always take manufacturer claims with a grain of salt. I'm hoping 320-330. I got the car just after a local M5 dyno day, so I'm waiting for another dyno day where I can have a comparison with other similar cars on the same dyno during the same day. It's a darn fast ride considering it's moving 4000lbs of steel. :D 140mph never felt so undramatic and there was plenty more power to go.

[possessed_beaver]

OMG M5 NICCCEEE AS RIDE
you are very privlaged to own such a nice car!!

i would be very privlaged to own such a ride!!!!
with such a respectable badge as "M" on it!

[i_hate_the_enzo]

thats nothing fancy? what is fancy then, an F1 car

[marduke]

mate that is beautiful! seriously a very nice car.

[VerderameJ]

Gotta love the Bravarians of that Vintage. Particularly the M models. You have a very special car there and it sounds like you do very much enjoy it and take good care of it.
As for the Forester. Nice car. Safe, reliable, cheap...good combination for a daily driver. My best friend as 2002 WRX which he loves and the son of another friend has an STI. Both are fun cars, but I dont know if I would really want them as my daily driver. After owning a V12 sports car I am starting to feel that a mechanically simplier car is always better for a daily driver....

[crazyxzer0]

wow. an E34 model with M parallels. Very nice combination! are those wheels chrome dipped by yourself or were they like that from the factory? I was thinking of getting parallels for my family's E28.

[BADMIHAI]

OH MAN! Very nice and clean. It looks just like new!

[StanAE86]

Crazy: The wheels were chromed when I bought them used. The were never mounted, so they were basically brand new when I got them. OEM, they came with a matte finish. If you're thinking M Parallels, make sure you hold out for OEM and not the knock offs. They're cheaper, but way heavier. They're hard to find and expensive, but ultimately, I think you'll be happier with the OEM ones...

Thanks for the enthusiasm everyone!

[Tomerville]

Wow Stan, that ride is a sleeper! Beautiful, and so clean. No need to humble yourself. I didn't know they imported E34 M5s to the Americas. The certainly didn't to the US!

[crazyxzer0]

I'm definitely looking for the OEM ones since i like that finish. Anyways where is that park, i live in san francisco and i recognize the city behind it! :D Looks like treasure island but it seems too far for that...where it that?! I wanna take pics there too! :D


I love how the first 2 gen M5s look sleeperish. The E28 still the best looking 5series to me (I'm bias i have one at home) and the E34 comes next.

[StanAE86]

TOM: The E34 M5 was actually available in the US for 1991-1993. From 1994-1995, it was not in the US, but elsewhere in the world. The US models are 3.6L with 310hp stock. The 1994-1995 models are 3.8L with 340hp stock and also came in a Touring version (wagon).

CRAZY: The OEM finish looks like this:

http://www.fantasycars.com/sedans/bmw/bmw_m5344.jpg

The pictures were all at Treasure Island. The parking lot pictures were next to the small marina, while the SF skyline was from parking at the exit from the base. The close-up of my wheels were taken outside my house in Sacramento.

[Tomerville]

really!? I have yet to see one besides at Lime Rock. I've seen M6s on the road, but not M5s.

[crazyxzer0]

There seems to be alot of M5's around in the San Francisco/San Jose Area. I seem to see alot of e39 M5s and E28 m5s but rarely I get to see a E34 m5. I always those M-technic mirrors were M3 Exclusive. Even rarer, is Stan's Dinan Version. I think I've seen maybe one other one here in my area.


Stan: Thanks for the info about the place, I'll love those pictures with the backdrop of san francisco.

[PATo355]

The cars seems inmaculate , the Rims are awesome , and why laughing about having a forester as a dayly driver ? its an astonishing reliable , fun to drive car

[StanAE86]

Pat: The Subaru is cool. I like it. It's got an incredible suspension from the factory and soaks up EVERYTHING on the road.

Here are my other two rides:

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8656

[VerderameJ]

I remeber seeing several M5's of older vintage when I lived in the north bay. Also lots of L7 too.

[nurbrun]

any M5 is beautiful, why would you say its not fancy

[StanAE86]

Well afterall, it's a big 4 door family car... :wink: