Subject: 'You know you're an E38 guy when... Author: stever500 as Steve R : member since July, 2005 : 2686 posts Posted on: 2008-11-26 21:04:25

you see newer A8's, MB S500's, Lexus LS460's, Infinity M45's, newish BMW 750i's and you still prefer the looks of your E38 overall."

I've been looking, thinking, and looking some more at getting a newer car to replace my 01 740iS and though about all of the above cars a hundred times. I've decided to try and drive a few of the above cars and watch them on the road to see if they're "me". I've pretty much narrowed my selection down to a MB 2006 S55 or S600 in silver with black interior.

I noticed a silver S500 coming towards me today in traffic and I really, really looked at it coming and going. In the end, it looked fairly bland. Later in the day I noticed a perfectly clean 740iS in black and my heartbeat increased a bit. At the end of the day I saw a 750il parked, and I thought - "yeah, that's me".

There's so many great things about our cars, so many neat details like the way the lighting lamps slowly fade when you get in, the great map lamps, the comfortable seating, the cool map pockets that I know by heart where everything is and where everything goes, the awesome sound system (yep, mine's stock and I still love it), the incredible dashboard, the shifter that feels like home in my hand, the massive trunk (compared to the tiny trunk in the massive Lexus LS460 - what's up with that?), and the strong, powerful acceleration and handling for such a large, heavy car.

I'd be afraid that to sell this car that's only worth about $10k and spend $40k or more to get another supposed super sedan, and find out that I really missed my "7" and that the other car wasn't "all that" afterall. In fact, these other choices may not be as good in many ways that you'd only find out after you sold your E38.

Bottom line, as Joni Mitchell sings "You don't know what you've got till it's gone" sometimes. Driving all over town tonight in my lowpriced luxury car, they're truly the ultimate ride (for under $12k!).

I noticed a bunch of Honda Accord coupes and Honda Civic Hybrids tonight driving home in the dark and I thought they were 3 series BMW's till I got right up on them and realized they weren't. Our cars are really distinctive - you can't mistake our shape for an A8 or Mercedes, usually. The new Mercedes C300's are pretty cool looking cars. I think they've done a better job than BMW has done with the new 1 series.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. I'm very grateful to have a job, a roof over my head, friends and family, and some nice toys. :o)


2001 740i Sport
1996 911 C4S
2007 Acura RL (her's)
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/317361/1

• 'You know you're an E38 guy when... (pic) - Steve R 2008-11-26 21:04:25 (315 views)
  • ... a couple tries to buy your car for the new e65 price...no sh1t...! - RobinK 2008-11-27 15:01:02 (128 views)
    • Re: ... a couple tries to buy your car for the new e65 price...no sh1t...! - beemyup 2008-12-01 01:23:19 (9 views)
    • F*** yeah! Great story, maybe the best I've heard here in years! - Steve R 2008-11-27 19:20:58 (35 views)
  • Funny story........ - Lawguy 2008-11-27 10:33:52 (104 views)
    • I wonder if that was my E38 on the road :o). Nice thoughts all around, - Steve R 2008-11-27 14:09:59 (25 views)
      • My only hesitation on E38 is maintenance. - Lawguy 2008-11-28 09:39:15 (21 views)
        • I can relate so much to pretty much everything you posted, especially the wife p - Steve R 2008-11-28 10:31:44 (13 views)
  • I love hearing..... 'What kinda car is this? !' (nt) - Spoonie 2008-11-27 09:06:39 (24 views)
  • Just keep her! you still love the car and the lines so why change cars and - Edwin™ 2008-11-27 04:16:30 (21 views)
    • Exactly my thoughts. At these prices, keeping them makes sense. Loving mine he - Steve R 2008-11-27 08:50:35 (14 views)
  • Heck, I still like the lines on my '84 Euro E23 735i. (nt) - JerrytheK 2008-11-26 22:17:45 (19 views)
    • Still got that? I am eyeing for a nice E23 745i turbo. (nt) - bmw635 2008-11-27 00:54:29 (15 views)
      • No, that was the predecessor of the current one. Was rear ended going to - JerrytheK 2008-11-27 22:06:29 (19 views)
        • Yea, some of the 745 turbos tweaked to 450 WHP that's why I want one. (nt) - bmw635 2008-11-28 13:46:22 (10 views)
  • Yea I'm very happy with my 'Old ride'as my Son called it. (pic) - cleanride740il 2008-11-26 21:54:46 (128 views)
    • Cleanride!! Where u been? (nt) - Spoonie 2008-11-27 09:09:55 (18 views)
  • One of the more elegant and literary posts I've read here... kudos. (nt) - ajshiner 2008-11-26 21:50:02 (11 views)
  • Couldn't have said it better myself. (nt) - Bennett 2008-11-26 21:44:41 (11 views)
  • As I approach my car in a parking lot One thought comes to mind - BJames38 2008-11-26 21:13:30 (64 views)
    • The pic in your signature is marvelous, the white, the green grasses... - Steve R 2008-11-26 21:22:07 (25 views)
  • ......or E38 gal ;-) Driving to Hilton Head recently was so much fun. (nt) - pj740il 2008-11-26 21:07:04 (28 views)
    • Yep, didn't mean to exclude you gals! (nt) - Steve R 2008-11-26 21:22:47 (17 views)