how rare is the e34 in your hometown?

[Jay 535i]

um.... haha, Jay of course I was generalizing here. Please don’t get your pant…s in a jumble. It was simply a laugh the two of us shared after an e36 passed us that looked like it has every cheap ebay part you could buy of course including the 4 inch thick pipe sticking out of the bumper. Of course I respect all BMW’s and the people that have chosen to buy them.

I wouldn’t call it a fashion accessory but a fashion statement. Isn’t that why we customize our cars from the stock look into something, in our minds, is the most beautiful thing on the face of the earth?

Sorry man. I kinda jumped the gun.

Yeah, they're fashion statements. But to look good is enough. It's not important that people think you spent a lot of money. IMHO.

[angrypancake]

No offense intended towards you or your dad, but that sounds about as dumb as Scott's neighbors who think a BMW is an end in itself. Some people treat these cars strictly as fasion accessories, but not us, right? RIGHT?

A modern 3-series is still the best car in its class, and not everyone can afford a new 5 or 7. So why diss a guy with a 3, just because he's wisely spent his budget on the best car in his price range? Cuz he's not as rich as you? Come on.

It's like when people say a Boxster is for pussies or wannabies because it's not a 911. Well, can you buy a better mid-engined sports car than the Boxster for anywhere near the same money? No. So be quiet.

And even the nicest E34 on this board isn't worth 1/3 the price of a new 323, so I'd watch the stone throwing, Mr. Glass House.

I know I probably sound like I'm overreacting a bit, and I know you meant no harm. But it's talk like that that causes people to despise BMW owners just because they own BMWs. Let someone else play the status game, and let's continue to enjoy our cars for what they are -- not for what other people perceive them to be. There will always be somebody with more money or a cooler car than you, but there are more accurate measures of a man.

I hear and agree with that completely. However, it seems that (now here comes the gross generalization) 3 series owners are always trying to make their 318's into something they're not. Racing them around, trash talking, bashing other people's cars and ****. It seems like there's a bit of intra-model competition. 3 guys vs 5 guys. The 7 guys are just like, eh, whatever (side note i want that e38 shogun posted )

Granted there are cool 3 series owners (sharkman) but I'm sure you guys know where I was going with that.

[tim s]

there are some new & old 3's, 5's, 7's, & even an 8 but i have the only e34 that i know about. the women down the street sold her e34 2 years ago.
i did just talk to someone that lives about 5 miles outside of town with a 535 & i know of a house about 12 miles with 2 e34's in the back yard with no plates. they look to be decent from the road, but i did not see them up close.
population in my town is under 10,000.
tim s.

[rob101]

My dad always used to say...people drive 3 series because they either don't have the money or the balls for a 5 or 7.

Although, after I put the tint on my e34, my friends called it 'the mafia car.'

lol you know in australia in the 2nd hand car market 5er and 7ers are cheaper than equivalent year 3ers, you can get a e32 750iL for less than an e36 318i!

[Nick.Hay]

Neat E34s sell for 10k AUD (7k US)

E32s for 3k US...

********!!! I paid 15k US for my E34 less than 3 years ago... (neatest, lowest mile, non-enthusiast one I've seen for sale ever tho )

[bullyd]

20+ in my area, but mine always turns heads, might be something to do with the ~2500watt install tho

[tdgard]

Tons of 5s where I am. As for the 3s have your dad go look at a fully loaded 330 convertible and talk about lack of money.

[Nick.Hay]

I see five or more every day, but mine's the nicest

I can understand that... She look fly


In my home town (pop. 25,000), there was maybe 6?? All standard except mine, and most were just 'cars' to their owners; Nothing very neat or special (except for Dad's 525i which is great condition). There is one up there now (Luke01) which looks like its gonna be a bit of a weapon!!!

Now living in the state's capital (245,000 peeps), I've seen alot more... Perhaps a dozen in the 3 months Ive been here. Same rule deal as in my hometown (including a rough-as-guts M5 thats always dirty and full of rubbish... MF needs to be bitch-slapped), except I've seen a 3.6L M5 and a pair of 540iLEs. All in very sweet condition. There is another M5 with big brakes and exhaust, which I haven't seen. The 540iLEs and M5s are owned by BMW enthusiasts, which is great to see.

[Dave M]

Thunder Bay has 2-3 others in a population of @100K. The town in BC I was in prior to this had a total of one (mine).

Since purchasing mine, I've never even been in another e34 I live somewhat vicariously through the board.

Dave M

[SharkmanBMW]

I have a 5 and a 3, top examples of both models... They are both fun to drive, but I don't get the same "respect" from other drivers in the 3...
I also recently saw someone on a newsgroup say "3's aren't even real BMWs"
What a douchebag! he owned a 1990 7 series worth 1/3 of my xi.