Problems us Car Guys have owning a Classic

Updated: 22 Dec 2015

So recently I bought myself a 1989 E34 BMW 525i and to say the least, I’M IN LOVE! And within the first week of owning it, I’ve already faced so many problems, not with the car, but with the people i know. Bearing in mind that I am 18-year-old so you can imagine the reactions of my friends with their Vauxhall Corsa Limited Eds and their MK7 Fiestas. I did not buy it to get reactions anyway, I bought it because I am simply in love with the E34; I truly believe it’s one of the most beautiful looking motors to exist, but that’s just my opinion.

Problems us Car Guys have owning a Classic

The main sort of comments I get straight away are “Why’ve you bought this, the cars older than you!”, “Does it even work?”, “It must be crap, where’s the built in Sat-Nav?!” that one makes me laugh, i just have to stand there and know that there is no way of explaining to these ‘non car guys’. It really is a shame, how I can have so much love and passion for something that someone else sees as a lump of old worn out metal. But that’s just us car guys have to live with! I feel very sorry for the JDM guys that have to explain to their mothers why putting £5000 into a 20 year old civic is wise, but its just what we do!

Another problem I face is when I’m sat in traffic lights and next to you pulls up a 1.4 litre VW Polo with a straight pipe and 4 certainly not straight lads in it thinking they’re going to smoke you, its always good fun seeing their little faces drop. But people just underestimate these old birds to thinking that they are too fragile to wheel spin off the line, but that’s what makes them great, what puts the smile on my face. Hearing my straight 6 lump rev up to 6000 rpm, its like ecstasy to my ears.

To conclude, everyone thinks I’m silly for buying it, but honestly i could not care less! Its my baby, slightly broken baby, but never the less I’m going to be putting money into it, and this is the start of my Car journey, with many more projects to come. Thank you for reading!

Francis Connor

Comments

That e34 looks really nice, its pretty hard finding one that looks that nice nowdays. Old cars are certainly a great experience. Thankfully somehow even my non petrolhead friends like my e30 even though I’ve had to explain to them a few times that the radio wasn’t working.

Thanks man, your E30’s are drop dead gorgeous. And the E30 is recognized and loved by everyone, very jealous:)

Awesome e34 man. Crazy how I’ve just brought a 1989 e34 525i about a week ago too and I’m 18 and all my mates think it’s crap. Reading your story I know exactly what you mean. Send me a message it would be great to chat and compare cars 😊 congrats BTW

Mad! thats awesome man, its rare to find a white one, i always love them. How are you finding it so far?

It’s been amazing!! It’s not the first one I’ve had, before I got my license my brother and I had matching ones white with full Rieger kit and a gun metal grey. It’s great finally getting to drive/slide one. A few big bits of rust though 😕 yourself?

Awesome, and shes actually in very good condition as you can see, how ever theres a slight weap from the water pump. the front left fender has had some awful body work done to it, so im going to be replacing both of them soon.

Looks really good! Would absolutely love an older beamer like this myself but just haven’t found the right one yet. Will be keeping an eye out for any updates once you start spending some dollar on it!

You’ll know when you’ve found the right one! Thanks dude!

The diff in mine it’s starting to give way so hopefully a service tonight will sort that and it probably need a new clutch but I’m putting that off until I buy a m50b25 to put in it ☺ I can’t belive our stories are almost the same though 😁

Was gonna say just put an m30 in it but just realised insurance would be crazy haha! m50 is awesome though still! and i know man crazy! Id love to see some more photos of yours

This deserves a follow! Haha love your car mate, I’m the same had a mk2 golf 1.3 at 17 and now I’m 19 with a mk2 16v gti ‘88 and I have the same connection, got it for me and everyone seems to like it, it smokes alot of modern cars that don’t expect it 😂

Thanks man! I LOVE the mk2 golfs and hopefully own one at somepoint, they look like so much fun.

Awesome car mate and dont event think about what non car people say. This car is great and I hope you will have a wonderfull time with it! :)

Thank you very much!:)

You get to share some awesome moments on the road too! Like some “rev-hello” with a Shelby Cobra or a smile with a dude in its Audi 80 ^^

I know! I was driving down the motorway the other week when an old mgbgt pipped me and waved, it felt great haha!

It’s hard to find m50 motors so I might look at importing, not much in options here in New Zealand.. there is a guy here running a turbo m50 making 400 hp and around 1300ft/lbs at the wheels though

Is it really that hard out there? very lucky here in the uk we have access to lots of bmw motors and parts

That E34 is such a beauty. Too bad you have m20 rather than m50tu. That engine does way more in e30 than it does in it’s big brother. Anyway the sound of m20 gives me goose bumps every time I rev it over 3500rpm. Cheers mate!