Well guys, I have finally bought another car.

I still have the 300ce, but it will no longer be our primary driver. I would've sold it, but I believe it's worth more than I could get for it. It has a continual rough idle/hesitation problem that I have spent thousands upon thousands trying to have fixed. I'm tired of spending money on the car. I'll keep it around until the next major repair and either part it out or sell it for parts (after removing my stereo components of course!

Anyway, we bought a (GASP!) 2005 BMW 325i Wagon. I love it. It rides super nice (very sporty) and has many creature comforts that I really missed out on with an old car. It looks better in person, but here are some pics. I love the black/tan combo... her in Seattle, we get lots of gray days, so having a light colored interior is nice.

 

BigPete123 !!!

Nice to hear from you again.

Congrats on your new ride. It looks great and regardless of the MB vs BMW rivalry, I'm sure it's a wonderful car.

The key is, "I love it. It rides super nice (very sporty)". Isn't that the important thing.

I too, feel that I would like a few more contemporary features in my old '92.

You did great things with your coupe, and we all admired it, but the market doesn't seem to reflect what we put into (and got out of, by pride of ownership) our W124's.

Thanks for the update. Come see us at a PNW gtg sometime.

 

woohoo welcome to E46 ownership

 

Thanks guys.

Xenon headlights, bluetooth, a functional A/C (), super comfy/adjustable seats, etc. I love it. It still feels like a german-built car, but with more nimble handling than my old tank (which I'm still oddly attached to) and a good amount of useful technology. I'm finding all kinds of excuses to drive! I don't plan to change anything about this car except:

1. Add an AUX input
2. Maybe tint the windows

I'll still check this forum as a matter of routine, but my modding days are officially done. I'm getting old I guess... I bought a yuppie wagon afterall!

 

Definitely tint.

I like it though :Y

After having my wagon so long and getting a sedan...I honestly think twice now over any sort of "moving quest". I just think can the sedan fit this? In the wagon I don't even think twice. I think I will always own a wagon. Hopefully the TE forever I hope you also experience those joys in the 325i. Hows the power like compared to your M103?

 

my 1990 300ce has the M104.

This car is probably twice as fast. It would annihilate the 124 off the line (although I don't really car about accelleration from a stop). The 325i isn't exactly a rocket though. I'm not a fast driver. I like good handling much more than speed.

 

I love the new wagon. Now close your eyes...



And imagine a Monster truck coming at the driver door at 55mph.

Which car would you rather be in?

 

May I suggest getting rid of the amber? I don't think car enthusiasts ever reach the age of liking amber (very few exceptions,: W126, W140, W124 and W202, R129 are ok with euro amber corners if they are all black )

I still find myself liking my 124 at times as well. Since I'm at 4x4 height and the roads in Texas are awful I find the ride much smoother. The E46 (at least my coupe) sits very low and took some getting used to...but the top comes off and that is hard to beat.

 

Yeah you're right, the amber may need to go. I'll look into that.

 

The Bimmer looks great Pete. Congrats and good luck!

 

Just remember that the 124s were not really designed to be drag racing cars. Off the line perfomance is adequate. In gear passing is where thier forte is.
Freeway, kickdown, accelerate.
Exhiliration.

 

Good luck with your BMW wagon. Based on a million favorable professional reviews and a following of owners that rivals our W124 cars, I'm sure it is a great car.

You know a wagon really would be handy to have. I even like the way the BMW and Mercedes wagons look, especially some of the cool looking ones on this site. I just can't bring myself to really consider buying one for myself.

For me, right now, I am back to thinking I will keep my car for a while longer and not give in to buying a new or newer vehicle. I still love my gorgeous aging beauty, even though I go back and forth about it constantly. I just can't really see myself as happy in a different car. I would find it hard to justify getting a car that didn't get very high mileage, but the cars available just don't thrill me. I think the 3-Series is the most compelling car, but the mileage isn't good enough to justify giving up the W124. I was hopeful about the new Lexus HS 250h, but the recent review didn't sound that great. Unfortunately, the best car for mileage, by a significant margin, is the Toyota Prius. The next best is a Honda Civic Hybrid. It is hard to imagine giving up the W124 for a Prius or a Civic.

 

hey, my w124 has all those things too...!

nice car man, there is a white one parked outside my building and i really like the shape a lot. the pics don't do it justice, in person it really looks like a sport wagon.

 

No doubt. My 124 is hardly slow as long as you are already going about 25-30mph. Plus I prefer the sound of my 24 valve at high RPM's to the sound of the BMW.

Ha ha that's a good point. My car doesn't have a xenon retrofit, my driver's seat is misaligned somehow so that it tilts to the right and causes back fatigue after more than 15 minutes, and my A/C has never worked for me or the previous owner (not worth fixing- Seattle's climate is moderate).

The BMW does have really comfy seats though. the side bolsters keep you in place better and it has adjustable lumbar support so you can't slouch.

I'm not trying to bash on the 124 at all. It has its place in history. I doubt my new car will stand the test of time like the w124 has.