how rare is the e34 in your hometown?

[SchnellE34]

I live just north of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. I have to admit there are not a lot of e34’s rollin around here. I have seen a few in a 20 mile radius of my house but nothing on a regular basis.

One of the many many reasons I love this car is because of its rarity around my hometown. Hell, I drove to Queens, New York to get my car but it was a great purchase and wouldn’t drive anything else. How about you?

[angrypancake]

funny after i got my first one i started noticing more. theres an old woman down the road that has one. then i met this dude with a 535 show car. someone just moved here recently with a spankin white 95 525, Ct plates, its freakin mint. my town is small too, but theres a solid amount around. 10 or so. oh and at the end of my street, then go right about a mile a guy just got a black/black '92 m5. i told him about the forum but he hasnt joined.

[SchnellE34]

to put a number on it, i would say there's only 5 around here, including mine

[Jay 535i]

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

[rob101]

lol funny you should mention this, i was washing my car a couple of weeks ago, i looked down the street 2 doors down there was a white e34. i see a few around, more common are the POS e36s series 1 sedans or people with 318i 's with fartcan exhausts and aftermarket tail lights. i have a serious contempt for those 4 banger e36's that people drive like they are some kind of gangster or millionaire... its like whatever, why don't you buy a hyundai idiot!

[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.

[scott540]

there are two others that I know about for sure. A white 525 and green 530 tha lives out in the country. I've seen him coming into town a few times. My neighbors down the street just got a 2001 323 because his wife "has always wanted a BMW" it's a total status thing with them. His llittle kids even rip on my car because it's older and "weird". They were always talking about how quick it is and nice riding. A took him for a ride in the 540 one night and just about scared the crap out of him. Pretty cool.

[SchnellE34]

lol funny you should mention this, i was washing my car a couple of weeks ago, i looked down the street 2 doors down there was a white e34. i see a few around, more common are the POS e36s series 1 sedans or people with 318i 's with fartcan exhausts and aftermarket tail lights. i have a serious contempt for those 4 banger e36's that people drive like they are some kind of gangster or millionaire... its like whatever, why don't you buy a hyundai idiot!

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.'

[scott540]

I get the "mafia" or "pimp" line everyonce in while too. Mainly because outside of a few accords and a VW golf, I'm about the only foreign car in the lot at work. I still love the *******s who think I must be rich cause I drive the 11 year old BMW when I'm parked near their 40K Tahoe or Yukon.

[Jay 535i]

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.

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.