Its hard to say goodbye...

if you want THE ultimate Highline with 11K KM, I will not buy it. It is still there for sale.
Mike (Hairywithit) and myself could help you to get the car exported from Japan to USA. You know my and Mikes email address.
Mike found another Highline in Okinawa. Needs some work, but only 98K KM.

Just to get your mouth a bit watered for the Highline, probably the one with the lowest miles on this planet, except the exhibits in BMW Munich.
http://www.wintel.co.jp/wintel/vcs_p...1_000291-2.jpg
http://www.wintel.co.jp/wintel/vcs_p...1_000291-3.jpg

George, and this one was sold in Japan for 4000,- only. Slide show 56 pics Highline

got a gold/tan 99 528ia at the shop for sale, i think the black/tan 98 740il is sold, you should of seen the 01 740il we just sold with 59k it had everything but pdc (active seats are weird)

The close of a chapter, nothing more, nothing less.
May I suggest a diversion into the unheralded world of turbo charged, common rail, direct injection diesels. Much to explore, even more to discover. :p
Especially when combined with a worthwhile driving platform.
Oh the joys ! :D

unfortunatly we don't get many diesel cars in the states, if you don't want a semi econo box vw or a royal pain in the ass overpriced benz you are SOL, id dearly love to get my mitts on a 3.9 twin turbo diesel v8 from a 740d bmw and a 6 speed to figure out how to install in my 535. americans got soured on diesel cars in the 80s by all of the absolute crap we got served and the market just hasn't recovered

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Originally Posted by Zeuk in Oz

The close of a chapter, nothing more, nothing less.
May I suggest a diversion into the unheralded world of turbo charged, common rail, direct injection diesels. Much to explore, even more to discover. :p
Especially when combined with a worthwhile driving platform.
Oh the joys ! :D

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Winfred,
that reminds me of my own experience. Last year I went to Germany/Europe on holiday. I had a rental car from Europcar (use the online booking for that, sometimes they have really nice holiday discounts). Had a Mercedes Benz C Class Diesel. You cannot believe that. Drove in total about 3.000 km = maybe 2000 miles roughly. Consumption was less than 6 Liters for 100 km, and the speed was ending up at 235 or 240 om the dashboard on the Autobahn. These Diesel engines in Europe are really high tech. If I ever go back to Europe, Diesel, nothing else.
In Japan there is nothing for Diesels, really funny, only trucks, but no passenger cars. Taxis run on gas.

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Originally Posted by winfred

unfortunatly we don't get many diesel cars in the states, if you don't want a semi econo box vw or a royal pain in the ass overpriced benz you are SOL, id dearly love to get my mitts on a 3.9 twin turbo diesel v8 from a 740d bmw and a 6 speed to figure out how to install in my 535. americans got soured on diesel cars in the 80s by all of the absolute crap we got served and the market just hasn't recovered

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I do realise that, but consider obtaining one as part of George's new challenge ! :D
Well worth the effort.
The new 5 series with the 3 litre diesel gives me goosebumps. If only I could afford one !

What the car hobby is all about guys...talking cars pro and con...because all cars are just that...some pro and con. So many great cars and so little time :-) I guess you can have a car for 10-20 years and still love it. I owned my 735iL for 6 years and it was time. I drove it for a complete summer the summer before last after I sold my '01 V8 Aurora to a friend who still has it and loves it before I bought my Saturn. Gas mileage with the big six around town isn't very good as most know. The car needed Leatherique and an exhaust...about it. Honestly for around town the iL was a little big. Then there is the statement a big luxo BMW cruiser makes...especially in the Detroit area...was always concerned about getting the car keyed. License plates were astronomic for a 15 year old car....anyway some of the cons....many pro's also...no better highway car...had the servotronic set up for just the right effort at 100mph :-) Time for something else...meanwhile will just window shop. Shogun...you have to buy that Highliner. I had no doubt my E-32 was one of the nicest in the US...but believe the car you show may be the finest E-32 in the world...in condition, with V12 and very rare options of course. I believe that car "is you" man. By the way Erich, I sent the new headliner fabric for sunroof panel and C-pillars off with the new buyer of my car. A grateful Thank you for sending me that material.
As to diesels, I am not a big diesel guy but I never say never with ever increasing gas prices. As to hybrids...Bill as we have discussed often times...not in my near future either. You know where I stand...complexity and initial cost and attendant maintenance over time doesn't nearly compensate for the improved gas efficiency. I love the styling of the new Prius BTW...would love one with a single 2 liter 4V gas IC engine...and no motor :-) As to your point Winfred about MB's...completely agree not only having worked in Product Engineeering with DaimlerChrysler but knowing what the marquee represents. I have a friend that owned an early MB SUV and it was a disaster. MB's are too disco for my taste :-). Sadly BMW is leaning it that direction to expand their market base which I find unfortunate. Last word on MB's. I have a young engineering friend who is doing a stint in Germany for the air-bag company Takata who is a pretty savy car guy and drives a 318i E-46.
He says MB's in Germany are equivalent to Buicks in the states...lol. Nuff said.
George

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Originally Posted by winfred

unfortunatly we don't get many diesel cars in the states, if you don't want a semi econo box vw or a royal pain in the ass overpriced benz you are SOL, id dearly love to get my mitts on a 3.9 twin turbo diesel v8 from a 740d bmw and a 6 speed to figure out how to install in my 535. americans got soured on diesel cars in the 80s by all of the absolute crap we got served and the market just hasn't recovered

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It's interesting how US (which has the world's largest crude oil reserves) is boicoting diesel cars, even though diesel fuel requires less derivation than the gasoline. Diesels are getting rapidly popular in Europe as days go by, and diesel engines are putting out tons of torque and horsepower, especially turbo-charged, intercooled common-rail ones. :) I wouldn't be surprised if the next M5 is a diesel :)

If you mean interesting in the context of surprising...not at all. In the case of both diesel as well as hybrid cars...economics will always drive consumer demand versus choice of technology. Currently, gas is still cheaper in the US than anywhere on the planet. People drive gas cars because they can...in fact the average guy in America can many times afford a gas gussling SUV.
George

George
I won't say goodbye as I'm sure you'll be around but I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice you offered when I was getting to know my new 535i, particularly my suspension questions. As for your next car project I'd vote for a nice 2 seater ragtop as it will be your summer car. Of course you could really surprise us & pick up the ultimate summer vehicle, a motorcycle. Something Italian would be nice.