THSCC Forums

I'd like to see one up close and personal before I make a lowball offer for one out of state. Anyone?

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Paging Dan Durusky.....

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Stephen Westerfield
2009 Infiniti M35 | 2007 Honda Fit Sport | 2005 Ford Mustang GT |2000 GMC Sierra |1992 Acura Integra LS | Super Westerfield Bros Acura Integra

if that helps any, good car most of the time

pete g

Well, nevermind the question, I bought one! What an amazing car to drive. 2000 540i 6-speed with Dinan stage 4. Cosmetically not perfect but mechanically fantastic and the perfect family hauler. Picking up later this weekend.

Next up: For sale, 1999 Mazda Miata 10th anniversary, 46k miles, in better shape than the BMW.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Mike, did you drive all the way down to Huntersville to check it out yesterday? I think the last I saw him asking was 15,500 obo -- how did you do with it?

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

Yep, left at 2pm yesterday, shortly after we talked. 101k miles, getting it for $13,000. For a MY2000 it's a good deal despite the flaws, and he's a great guy to buy from. I think we may be brothers separated at birth.

It's no M5 but with 310 hp and 340 ft-lb of torque it's every bit as fast as the M3. If it's possible the 540i feels even more "solid" (you know, that "German" car feeling) than the M3 too.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

ROFL!



Oh yeah, definitely. The E39 body structure made huge advances in torsional rigidity...the E36 feels like a flexi-flier in comparison. I'm guessing it's a bit faster than the M3, but it will be a WHOLE lot more fun to drive everyday since it has a vastly wider powerband...lots of torque down low.

That's awesome that you got it for what you thought you could, $13k -- sounds like a great deal. What were the flaws you mentioned?

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

One funny thing I need to always get a feeling for is the "story" of a car's life. So this car was born in NC, purchased and regularly cared for at Flow for the first 68k miles of it's life until sometime in 2002. Like most $60,000 new cars, first/second owners tend to have the money to care for them properly. I have the BMW build sheet/recall info, clean carfax, and Flow's service history so it's well documented for the first 68k miles.

Then it was traded in at Flow and auctioned (over the CPO limit according to Flow), and fell into the Pit of Despair (NYC) for about 10 months. These appear to have been the hardest 10 months and 10,000 miles of the car's life. But it does have at least a few BMW dealer receipts from its stay in New York. I have to believe that some rich kid got it, grazed a signpost or mailbox or something, and mommy and daddy took the high HP car away from Junior and sold it quick. It has some (very good) paint work on the RR quarter (no carfax records), a few scratches on the trunk, a couple of minor door dings, and some rock chips. About average for a 7 year old car but below average for a typical 7yo BMW.

So the current owner found it on ebay in 2003 and flew (one way, bad idea) to NYC to pick it up. He got there and it was "a mess", but he took it anyways and drove it back to NC. I think he said he paid $24k in late 2003 at 77k miles.

He spent 3 years improving it, doing everything right mechanically, etc. I figure with the Dinan stuff, new ctrl arms, new wheels (had 4 bent M5 wheels on it when he got it), etc, he probably has put $10k in it in the last 3 years.

It's still got a few minor things, which is fine with me since I would be bored with a perfect car. Two of the rear window sunshades are stuck open, the Nav software needs an update (and I need to research the hack about how to use it as a TV!), rotors are old, and the interior needs some more detailing.

Bad depreciation curves for the last 3 owners if you do the math. And the market is really soft for these cars right now. Good for buyers like me though!

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Sounds pretty good Mike. Hey, I just realized that I have a full set of OEM BMW pads from my 2002 540i that I took off the car when it had about 200 miles on it (went with pads that don't dust so much). Not sure if you want to run OEM dusters, but let me know if you're interested in them, and I'll try to bring them with me to Sanford.

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

Mike,

You are my Hero.
AS well as having the distinction of the only client in my book of business that has as many vehicles as me!

Sincerely,

Cline Hall

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

Cool, man. I've had my 540i/6 for a few months now and im liking it a lot. Its a lot of car for the buck for sure. It has new shocks and i might throw some M5 sways on it and call 'er done.

So Mike when does the M3 get converted to the track car? Let me know and I may be interested in some of the interior parts!

Ron

Going to be keeping full interior and streetable for now. Goal is to get safety equipment installed first.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

is that a DINAN STAGE FOUR! spoiler?

looks great in black. mine is boring silver