[M3R1]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1:

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2:

First off, great thread!

A1: Having had many V8 American cars as well as VW/Audi, I always really wanted to have the German quality and the driving dynamics found in BMW's, most notably ///M cars. After my modified B5 S4 and my B6 S4 I drove an E46 M3 and was pretty much hooked from then on. I purchased it on the spot.

A2: No... Having owned many BMW's I feel like they provide everything I love in a car. Sure there are faster cars out there, but the ///M cars just appeal to me more than other brands have over the last 20+ years. BTW, I have had non ///M cars as well and loved every one.

A3: Is there another brand that I have considered? Yes, the company's name starts with a "P"... However there is only one model from that company that I think I might love. That would be a 992 Carrera GTS. I considered a GT4, but just can't do two seaters. For the foreseeable future I am very happy with my current car and if I am lucky will likely add another down the road.

Sorry in advance to the OP for adding Q A3...

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by M3R1

First off, great thread!

A1: Having had many V8 American cars as well as VW/Audi, I always really wanted to have the German quality and the driving dynamics found in BMW's, most notably ///M cars. After my modified B5 S4 and my B6 S4 I drove an E46 M3 and was pretty much hooked from then on. I purchased it on the spot.

A2: No... Having owned many BMW's I feel like they provide everything I love in a car. Sure there are faster cars out there, but the ///M cars just appeal to me more than other brands have over the last 20+ years. BTW, I have had non ///M cars as well and loved every one.

A3: Is there another brand that I have considered? Yes, the company's name starts with a "P"... However there is only one model from that company that I think I might love. That would be a 992 Carrera GTS. I considered a GT4, but just can't do two seaters. For the foreseeable future I am very happy with my current car and if I am lucky will likely add another down the road.

Sorry in advance to the OP for adding Q A3...

In my case, also, I was a Japanese car guy given I traveled around Australia (on the road) a lot (like 100,000 km a year) - naturally, out in the middle of nowhere, almost always, you can find spare parts for a Toyota.

In 2016, I had a brand new top of the range Kluger which turned out to be a lemon. Exactly eight months later, my son told me I could have bought a BMW for the price I paid for the Toyota (AUD$74K).

In disbelief, I said: if that's the case, I'll buy one tomorrow - and on that note, on the tenth anniversary of my divorce, I got my first BMW which was a delight - the almighty M235i.

That car was magical but less than 2 years later got a new LCI 2019 420i M-Sport (to be able to take my elderly parents around).

March this year I picked up the M2 CS and hope to get allocation for a M4 CSL in 2023.

in short, I waited far too long for my first BMW, but won't be buying anything else especially given 6MT is becoming extinct everywhere else

There is nothing like a brand new BMW (unless I find a fabulous 3.0CSL in good condition)

[othatseric]

1: my e30 was cheap at the time and I could learn to drive in it, learn some car control technique, have something to wrench on the weekends. The BMW classic owners in my area are definitely some cool down to earth people too.

2: buying it, not a bit, selling it, all the time!

[AndyinHou]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: Desperation! I'd just moved to the US, and needed a car - a friend was selling his 10 year old 525i, with 120,000 miles on it, and I bit.

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: No - at least not since replacing the 525 with a 335i, then an M240 and now my '17 M2

[DrMitch]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: Luckily, the 2022 Golf R was seriously delayed coming to market, so on a whim I started looking for alternate vehicles. Always lover the 1M and M2 and started looking. Drove one and I was hooked!

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: Only that I didn't get one sooner before the market went all crazy (I just picked mine up yday!)

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by DrMitch

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: Luckily, the 2022 Golf R was seriously delayed coming to market, so on a whim I started looking for alternate vehicles. Always lover the 1M and M2 and started looking. Drove one and I was hooked!

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: Only that I didn't get one sooner before the market went all crazy (I just picked mine up yday!)

Congratulations and welcome to the club.

[ShortSides]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: I was poor as phuck as a kid and i happened to be zoned in a rich high school district where the students routinely had nicer cars than the teachers. I was indoctrinated into wanting one so I could be an elite white male (half sarcasm). Now I'm a bad ass operations manager for a broker-dealer and I make serious bank. BMW M2 PURCHASED BABY

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: Yeah I wish I wouldn't have traded in my f30 320i that had 20 grand in audio equipment installed. Thing was an absolute treasure chest of JL audio, Focal, Audison, etc...

[WongF87]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: It was time to sell my bagged 2014 Mazda3 (wish i could have kept my ZE40's for the M2) and have always wanted an M car. I really liked the size of the M2, especially for parking in San Francisco.

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: I really wish I could have gotten one with LCI headlights or a M2C (love the look of the front bumper), but I am still very happy with the purchase. I would have preferred alpine white, LBB, or sapphire black, but the MGM has grown on me.

[Aloha Joe]

1) Owned a new 2013 (got it in 2012) 370Z for 4 years. A very good car but wanted something with 4 seats. In 2016, I was looking into getting a M4 and doing Euro delivery, but started to read about this new M2, which was coming out. I felt it was more in line, with the driving characteristics I wanted from a car. So I put my name on the wait list, waited 15 months and did ED with my first BMW, the M2.

2) Just shy of owning my OG M2 for 5 years, and have no regrets. Not sure I'll get another BMW though. Not because there's anything wrong with BMW, it's just because, this car suits me to a tee. Just maybe, my last IC car.

[KevinC]

1) It's 2005. I'm making boatloads of money, own my first house (which cost less than my annual salary), no debt other than the house, stashing money away at a crazy pace, can afford basically anything I want to drive, guilt-free. I'm driving a Golf .:R32 at the time. Have wanted a BMW for a LONG time. I wake up one day and realize there's no reason I need to be driving a VW at this point. So I decide I'm gonna get an Audi S4. Test drove one and just didn't like it at all. Nice stonking V8, nice-looking car, great interior, but a heavy pig that the V8 didn't make up for. So - let's get back to the BMW idea. E46 M3 is the target. I build one online and when I realize it's gonna run me about $55k as built, that I don't want to spend that much. But - the all-new E90 3-series has just been released. I'm not gung-ho for the styling (yet) but it's got a lot going for it. Configured one as desired for a lot less $$ (Sport, Premium, no iDrive, Logic7 sound, 6MT) and placed my order. Bliss. Until the Z4M Coupe came out, at which point I needed to upgrade. But I digress...

2) None whatsoever.

[bk528752]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: My dislike towards the new BMW designs. It was my last chance to own a fairly new BMW that shared a lot similarities with the e46 which I've always wanted as a kid. Ideally, it would have been new, but I was too late to order the M2C.

There's just something about seeing people daily drive a car they've had for over a decade, and having taken care of it really well. There is a sense of pride in this, and I wanted to experience it years to come.

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: Engine noise is pretty embarrassing. I've heard clips of mods, but in the grand scheme of things, they still sound mediocre.

I bought the M2C without much research, but if I could go back in time, I would have definitely considered a 240i. M2C with a b58 engine would've been a dream tho.

[IcewaterPete]

Q1: Ever since I could drive I wanted a BMW. I grew up during the E30 years of production and there were a couple of moments that made a life long impression. First up in high school a friend had a red 325i convertible 5MT and since the statutes of limitations is up I can confirm that 8 can “comfortably” ride in style in that machine…just makes shifting bit of a challenge. Next up was during a study abroad semester in Germany and one of the host families had a silver E30 M3 which they irreverently parked outside adding to the collective pain and suffering of those who appreciated what it was. Of course, luck being what is it, the kid assigned to that family was more into dragging on a smoke than drag racing.

Q2: None

[ESB]

What a cool thread! I can't believe I missed it til now. I've only had 2 cars and both have been BMWs: a 2013 135i and a 2020 M2C.

I was fortunate to be in a position where I could afford a BMW/Audi/etc after graduating college and getting my first job.

Ever since I started driving I've always ENJOYED driving. I was already biased towards BMW for some reason -- ever since a relatively young age I always viewed them as the 'cooler' luxury brand for people who want performance and/or just "like driving".

I test drove several cars and remember liking the 135 the best. I was also considering a Golf R -- I said above that I always liked BMWs but I remember there was a green Golf on the street I grew up on that I always admired a lot. But in 2013 the golfs simply weren't speaking to me (visually) as much as I remembered the older models when I was younger.

So TLDR -- I felt I could afford entry-ish level luxury cars and 135i was my favorite as someone that "enjoys driving". Not throwing shade at 128i, but I remember driving both and very clearly preferring the 135i.

TLDR of the TLDR: I enjoy driving.

No regrets.

[MarlboroM2C]

The hydraulic steering feel foremost and then crisp braking on my E46.

[AndyinHou]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: I'd just moved to the US, with big dreams of buying a muscle car, and racing red light 1/4 miles for pink slips… yeah, I was an idiot!

However, a friend was selling his (at the time) 11 year old 525i, with over 120,000 on the clock, so I took that.

I think I beat a Prius from a red light, but I'm not completely sure. Either way, it was close.

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: Ina way, Gods yes. In a way, Gods no.

The car was a dog. A tired, slightly worn out dog, unfortunately. However, it lead me to a 2010 335, which lead to a used 2016 m240 to make sure I could cope with the size (it was 6months old and $8k off purchase price. And I'm tall, and buy stuff for work and transport it in my car!) which lead to a beautiful 2017 LBB.

The only thing I'd change about the new car is the automatic gearbox.

[MidnightM2]

This

[Tripl3C]

Q1: The moment I saw the E36 M3 in Motor Trend when I was in jr high I knew I had to have a BMW one day. My dad had his E21 320i and he offered to give it to me when I turned 16. I thought it was the ugliest thing and told him I'd rather walk to school. He sold it to my cousin and it was wrecked a year later.

I wanted the E46 M3 and E92 M3 when new but wasn't financially ready. Fast forward to 2018 and I was finally ready and I picked up an M2

Q2: No regrets! Well one, regret I don't have much time to drive it. 4.5 years later it only has 5300 miles.

[PHX102]

Originally Posted by Tripl3C

Q1: The moment I saw the E36 M3 in Motor Trend when I was in jr high I knew I had to have a BMW one day. My dad had his E21 320i and he offered to give it to me when I turned 16. I thought it was the ugliest thing and told him I'd rather walk to school. He sold it to my cousin and it was wrecked a year later.

I wanted the E46 M3 and E92 M3 when new but wasn't financially ready. Fast forward to 2018 and I was finally ready and I picked up an M2

Q2: No regrets! Well one, regret I don't have much time to drive it. 4.5 years later it only has 5300 miles.

What did you end up in instead of the 320i?

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by Tripl3C

Q1: The moment I saw the E36 M3 in Motor Trend when I was in jr high I knew I had to have a BMW one day. My dad had his E21 320i and he offered to give it to me when I turned 16. I thought it was the ugliest thing and told him I'd rather walk to school. He sold it to my cousin and it was wrecked a year later.

I wanted the E46 M3 and E92 M3 when new but wasn't financially ready. Fast forward to 2018 and I was finally ready and I picked up an M2

Q2: No regrets! Well one, regret I don't have much time to drive it. 4.5 years later it only has 5300 miles.

That's passion O'rite

Welcome to our zany corner of the BMW Fandom; welcome to BimmerPost

We'd love to welcome your little gem as well, so photos would be wonderful too

Be well my friend

[Tripl3C]

Originally Posted by PHX102

What did you end up in instead of the 320i?

In my mom's '85 Volvo 240DL

Originally Posted by MadBimmeRad

That's passion O'rite

Welcome to our zany corner of the BMW Fandom; welcome to BimmerPost

We'd love to welcome your little gem as well, so photos would be wonderful too

Be well my friend

Thanks! Appreciate it! I'll admit I've been lurking around here for a few years

Here's a couple pics...the day I picked it up and then after I had it ceramic coated and tinted

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by Tripl3C

In my mom's '85 Volvo 240DL

Thanks! Appreciate it! I'll admit I've been lurking around here for a few years

Here's a couple pics...the day I picked it up and then after I had it ceramic coated and tinted

Stunning from every angle

[mssVT98]

Originally Posted by Tripl3C

Q1: The moment I saw the E36 M3 in Motor Trend when I was in jr high I knew I had to have a BMW one day.

Nearly the same for me, just a different magazine - mine was the C&D "240 hp, 5.6 to 60, $36,000" cover. I'd driven a friend's E30 325iX briefly in high school, and a college friend's roommate was one of the early Bimmerworld guys, who drove an E30 M3 to class. That's the only way I knew what I was looking at when, on my way home from work one day about a year after I graduated, I saw a Hennarot E30 M3 sitting on a Euro used car lot. That car ended up being my first BMW, and it was my only car for most of the 9 years I owned it. It was a good 9 years.

After that I was BMW-less for almost another 10 years. I was primarily driving a Saabaru during that time, so I stayed with the no-torque theme for a while, getting the WRX experience but keeping it rarer and a little classier (IMO). When I was ready for a new car I was looking at the M235 and S3, leaning toward the M235. But once the M2 rumors started I knew that was my car and that I'd wait for it. With the #5 spot on my dealer's waitlist, I ended up with a pretty early 2017, which gave me a nice mix of the 2017 updates while still being one of the first in my area to have an M2. I'm not exactly an attention hog, but I have to admit that was pretty fun.

So two different M cars, two very different driving and ownership experiences, but no regrets with either one. Just very fun, special cars.