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[car] I have a car.
It's a 1998 BMW M3 in black and black. Manual. This pleases me.
I have wanted one of these forever. One of the times I gave up looking I ended up buying my first motorcycle. I gave up looking again, was thinking about buying something more expensive, decided not to do that and just get a cheap BMW. Then I found four of these on craigslist.
Three months ago I test drove one a co-worker was selling (in the wrong color). He recommended the mechanic shop Metric Systems.
It is widely recommended that a leak-down or compression test be done on E36 M3 engines before purchase because there is a an above average possibility of horribly mis-shifting at high RPMs (for example, while racing) and seriously damaging cylinder walls.
I gave a really skeevy small used car dealer owner a down payment on one. I called up Metric Systems and asked how much it would cost to get a pre-purchase inspection and leak-down or compression test. They said they don't do leak-down or compression tests.
So another coworker recommended German Performance, who also races BMWs and Porsches. They gave me a price on the inspection I wanted, and then said they also had one of those cars for sale. I thought it couldn't possibly be a black/black manual within the range of years I wanted. It was. And the mechanic had replaced lots of stuff. And was way way less skeevy. And willing to split the cost of the down payment I had previously made.
Yes, I drove the car the 4.1 miles home without any plates on it.
He had messed up the title, but said a notarized RMV form straightened that out. My insurance company disagreed, saying that form is only for use by dealers and it would take about two weeks for the RMV to issue the correction. After looking into it, he responded "You're right, I fucked you."
That was eight days ago. I got the title from him, visited my insurance company, and picked up plates today. All done.
I have the car I want.
Now to find a single family house with a two car garage and public transportation accessibility in Arlington. Hah.
And another set of staggered BMW Style 39 wheels.
I have wanted one of these forever. One of the times I gave up looking I ended up buying my first motorcycle. I gave up looking again, was thinking about buying something more expensive, decided not to do that and just get a cheap BMW. Then I found four of these on craigslist.
Three months ago I test drove one a co-worker was selling (in the wrong color). He recommended the mechanic shop Metric Systems.
It is widely recommended that a leak-down or compression test be done on E36 M3 engines before purchase because there is a an above average possibility of horribly mis-shifting at high RPMs (for example, while racing) and seriously damaging cylinder walls.
I gave a really skeevy small used car dealer owner a down payment on one. I called up Metric Systems and asked how much it would cost to get a pre-purchase inspection and leak-down or compression test. They said they don't do leak-down or compression tests.
So another coworker recommended German Performance, who also races BMWs and Porsches. They gave me a price on the inspection I wanted, and then said they also had one of those cars for sale. I thought it couldn't possibly be a black/black manual within the range of years I wanted. It was. And the mechanic had replaced lots of stuff. And was way way less skeevy. And willing to split the cost of the down payment I had previously made.
Yes, I drove the car the 4.1 miles home without any plates on it.
He had messed up the title, but said a notarized RMV form straightened that out. My insurance company disagreed, saying that form is only for use by dealers and it would take about two weeks for the RMV to issue the correction. After looking into it, he responded "You're right, I fucked you."
That was eight days ago. I got the title from him, visited my insurance company, and picked up plates today. All done.
I have the car I want.
Now to find a single family house with a two car garage and public transportation accessibility in Arlington. Hah.
And another set of staggered BMW Style 39 wheels.
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i take it the downpayment at the skeevy place was non-refundable?
maybe the mechanic/seller guy will cut you some breaks on future work? :)
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congrats!
If you didn't know and are interested her is the BMW car club that I belong to.
http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/
I do it more for the ice racing up NH ways, but they have autoX and other events.
So. Now you are a cager. :-) Enjoy it.
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Congrats
F.Y.I.-there is a very reputable BMW shop out here. They only fix/sell used BMW's/Audi's and Mercedes Benz's
Re: Congrats
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(Just saw this post; I had trouble keeping up with LJ on the road.)