Odd feeling - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dtanesq · #1 01-30-2002, 04:28 PM

Folks:

It was just confirmed a few moments ago that in a few weeks, I'll be taking delivery of a BMW E34; this is a very pristine car I can't pass up. With the performance chip and a few other little mods... Also, it's been in the works for awhile and is close to being a reality that in the spring my garage will also sport a Porsche 911SC (choosing from a couple) for the purpose of autocross and racing with the local PCA gearheads.

What that means is that Liesl (see below) is going to be sold and for the first time in years, I'll be Benz-less.

My interest in the marque began in the summer of 1976, when I attended a music festival in Greensboro, North Carolina. My piano teacher drove into the parking lot in a 6.9 he'd purchased from a family member in Philadelphia. What a car. At the same music festival a year later, I was handed the keys to a Benz (oddly, I don't remember the model) and asked to drive to the airport to pick up an incoming soloist. While I can't remember the model, I do remember the feel of the mechanicals under my hands. At that time, I still hadn't driven the 6.9 (that came later), so it was my first time behind the wheel of a Benz. It wasn't to be my last.

My first father in law was a devoted 1978 300SD owner. He's now ruined it through neglect, but he still drives around Newport Beach in the car and as far as I know it still sports the then-awesome Nakamichi unit I installed New Year's Eve 1982 or so.

I have owned 3 Mercedes vehicles. The first was a green 240D. I only had the car a brief time; it was sold to me by a close friend, who begged to have it back because his daughter was distraught over the loss of her beloved Nellie. That car was replaced by a 78 300D which ran faithfully until I acquired the 300E I now must part with.

It feels odd that I won't be looking out over a silver star much longer. Instead, I'll be led down the road by a roundel (and the Porsche crest or whatever that is on the race car). I have plans to return to the silver star in the not-too-distant future. While at this time I can't afford to maintain 4 vehicles (I'd have the 300E, the BMW, the Porsche and my truck) along with all the humanity (and inhumanity) I support, I do have designs on a very idle 500E I know lounging around in a six-car garage in Napa. The time it will take to pry it loose from its owner will be plenty of time to accumulate the assets necessary for its acquisition, care and feeding. I know it will be worth it.

Clearly I am better at choosing vehicles than choosing marriage relationships.

This forum and the folks who populate it have become, increasingly for me, part of the attraction of owning a Mercedes. I'll still hang out here from time to time (I haven't seen anything this good devoted to Bimmers), but it will be a little sad not to have the pedigree of being an owner to back up my claim of belonging here. I hope you won't mind.

Cheers all.

Frank X. Morris · #2 01-30-2002, 07:59 PM

Howdy David,
Looks like you are into a lot of activities. Autocross,racing, cycling. All you need to do is some off-roading. You know you can relieve your grief by getting a Unimog

Ali Al-Chalabi · #3 02-01-2002, 02:08 PM

David, the E34 is a great car, I am sure you will enjoy it.

In the meantime, do you really need a Benz, just look at that awesome bicycle you have. A few hills with precision campy gear shifts is all you need to cheer you up

BenzOnline · #4 02-01-2002, 02:47 PM

BMW. Thanks but no thanks.

Michael · #5 02-01-2002, 03:27 PM

David-

Please delete all of your posts.

Just kidding

Good luck with the new ride; I understand they're great cars.

Just don't become a Bimwad, okay?

Kuan · #6 02-01-2002, 04:15 PM

He'll be back, I say give him 1.5 years

Anyway we'll save a spot here for you. Good luck!

Kuan

BenzOnline · #7 02-02-2002, 12:25 AM

You will be crying back!!! Looks are deceiving.

ymsin · #8 02-02-2002, 10:52 PM

I had a call this morning asking me if I was keen on a 328i over my current 300SE as a daily runner. I would have none of it. I know the ride comfort won't include the space I get with the Benz, and the long-haul maintanence would be a third of the Bimmer.

Though it might be a curious speed toy this 328. But thats what it will always be to me, a toy.

MarkL · #9 02-03-2002, 12:31 AM

David,

Here are some of the more popular/active E34 boards:

http://www.bimmernut.com/wwwboard/e34/

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e34/

http://www.bmwe34.net/

dtanesq · #10 02-04-2002, 11:56 AM

All:

Thanks. I had found bmwe34.net. I'll look into the others.

Nothing really compares to this forum, though.

As far as becoming a Bimwad.....sheesh. Gimme a break!

The 300E, as it turns out, is staying in the "family." It won't be far away and I'll still be responsible for giving maintenance advice, so I'll beat Kuan's 1.5 years at least in terms of acting like a Benz owner. One of my best friends is taking the car. While it's going to be his, his mechanical aptitude matches my aptitude for selecting compatible women for marriage partners, so I'll be giving him a lot of help with the car.

See you around.

onrails · #11 02-04-2002, 02:24 PM

David,

As a Bimmer head with a Benz I will tell you that the BMW CCA is a very active club with lots of great activities. I understand now after a 300 mile roadtrip this weekend,the love for tri-star cars. good luck with the BMW, if you need any help locating anything let me know and maybe I can help you.

As for a race car, how about a E30 M3 (you know the one with the 4 cylinder and the fender flares)? That is my first love

Drive one and you will see what all the fuss is about.

Welcome to the darkside,

Matt OO=00=OO

#12 02-04-2002, 07:00 PM

This is what I hope to join the "Dark Side" of German motoring with, in the future...sure, a 500E may be faster, but I'd rather hear a DOHC 3.5 liter six screaming past 6500 rpms in 2nd gear, with three more to go and three pedals in the driver's footwell.

-Sam

dtanesq · #13 02-05-2002, 07:37 PM

Where did you find the photo of my new car?

(Kidding...)

An M3 would be quite fine, thank you.

Michael · #14 02-05-2002, 08:42 PM

Sam,

Have you ever been in a 500E under full throttle? Absolutely what precluded my considering the six-pot beast you've endorsed.

A straight six does sound sweet (an M103 sings quite nicely IMHO) but hardly anything sounds better than a V-8 (easy does it RR Marlin fans-radial motors can't rightly be counted in this debate). And in the V-8 wars, Ferrari's rule the roost, but the MBZ motors are nice too. 12s are another beast altogether, and normally aren't employed in Sports Sedans.

The car you pictured is perhaps my 2nd favorite M car-an M1 beats it handily, and has essentially the same motor methinks. Would make a nice track car-especially with the Nurburgring suspension I'd imagine.

Would LOVE that stick, though!

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