After going through the holiday season trying to chauffeur too many people around in my great old 1975 BMW 2002, I came to the realization that it really was time for me to get something a little newer and more practical. So, what did I buy? A nice new Toyota or Nissan? No! A sporty new MINI or Mazda Miata? No way! A dirt cheap Hyundai or Suzuki? Absolutely not!
Being the totally sensible and level headed person that I am, I bought another old BMW! Hey, but this one is more than ten years newer than the 2002. This one is a nice shiny (OK it will be when I rub it down this weekend) 1987 BMW 325e. This is a six cylinder car in a four cylinder car’s body. Basically. It is a 5-speed and, like any good “bargain” will require me to install a radio in it. Luckily I have just such a Pioneer AM/FM CD unit sitting around that I never got to installing in the 2002.
So, other than ten years of youth thereby placing at younger than my office-mates instead of older, what does this car have that Roxy, the 2002, doesn’t? Well, for starters it has air-conditioning and heat that works. Also door locks that actually lock and unlock. Oh, and then there is the 5th gear. That actually isn’t something that I worried too much about, but when I am on the 10 or so mile run to and from work it should come in handy. That along with the “eta” engine, which was supposedly an economy version, should help me raise my gas mileage from about 21 mpg to hopefully about 27 mpg. Not a huge difference, but hopefully at least worth one or two stops at the bagel shop per week.
So anyway, that is what is going on with me and will be going on for a while. Of course the car needs some work, and I will start getting to that this weekend. First off is just a good cleaning and polishing. Then of course I will need to deal with Roxy. Unfortunately just due to space and time I will have to sell her. But before I do that I need to clean her up and take care of a few odds and ends. And hey, if you are in the market for an old BMW, just let me know!
