Redemption

Redemption

 Originally written September 2015

Sometimes to achieve success you need to know when to go to the experts for advice. As you read in the last newsletter, my e36 was the source of stress and frustration. The convertible top failed and with numerous attempts to rectify the situation, it was to no avail. I threw in the towel and forced the 320i out into the weather while the topless convertible got the garage until I could come up with a solution. The one silver lining to this was since the e21 was already outside I wound up driving that car more in one month than I probably did most of last year. There was nothing to move out of the way, just hop in, turn the key and drive.  The e36, a different story.

 

I received several emails from club members after my article was published who were kind enough to give me some advice to repair the top. This is why this club is so wonderful. Its members are willing to reach out to each other and offer advice and a helping hand. I appreciated each and every one of you who contacted me. Unfortunately, the issues were beyond a simple synchronization of the motors. There was something else lurking in the depths of the convertible hell I was in.  It was time I contacted an expert, Don at Mr. M Car in Farmingdale, NJ.

When I dropped the car off to Don and Dwayne I explained what was happening and what I had done. I also gave them a small list of other items that needed attention as well.  Within a day or so they had diagnosed the source of the anguish. The passenger convertible boot latch that contains the micro switch was faulty. It was not reading the position of the boot so it was not allowing the system to synchronize.  Finally, success!  A convertible that converts. The top still had some quirks like the tension straps were weak but it goes up and down.

I was told I had to watch the edge of the convertible top and the boot lid because if you didn’t make sure the rear of the top was fully up, they would meet, which would cause the boot lift bar to pop off the motor again. This happened twice to me. The main cause of this was the clip to hold everything in place was not the correct one. A trip to Circle BMW’s parts counter solved that issue with a brand new OEM piece. I got really good at accessing the top motor by now so it only took a matter of minutes to install the proper clip thus resulting in worry free topless driving.

Since the love was lost with all the problems, I was determined to sell the car.  It left a bad taste in my mouth. I had owned it for 6+ months at this time and only drove it 100 miles. I was almost mad I traded my e38 for this thing. I loved that 740IL.  I was ready to put the 323i on the chopping block but then something happened. I started to drive it.  True to any BMW, it was a great driving machine. With 95% of its issues taken care of I was happily cruising around town with the top down, and wind in my hair. The car was starting to grow on me. The strange thing is for whatever reason I just never had an appreciation for the e36’s. Maybe because most of the ones I had seen on the market were driven hard and put away wet. Well this one made me change my tune a bit. It is a lot of car for the little money you spend. A great bang for the buck if you will.

Any day that was sunny and I didn’t need my truck for business I was topless and loving every minute of it. It became my fair weather daily driver. This e36 was a pretty nice car. My wife even drove it to work and got lots of compliments on it. Maybe I am going to keep this thing?

But reality set in. I am now going into business for myself brokering European, classic and specialty vehicles. I am also providing local, national and worldwide vehicle transportation. Some of the extra toys have to go to raise the needed funds for startup capital.  I drove the e36 cabrio to Bimmerfest at Raceway Park and put a for sale sign on it.  I had a lot of interest but no real buyers. Next was internet marketing. This is where my talents and experience come into play. In a matter of 6 days I had this car sold to someone who was giving it to their girlfriend’s daughter as a first car. I have to say two months ago, I wouldn’t have cared too much but when I delivered it to their home, I was a little sad that I had sold it. With the rollercoaster of emotions this car gave me it was certainly a journey. I am happy that it wound up with a new home, in better condition than when I first got it. More importantly, it helped me get one step closer to starting my business.

 

 

The small sacrifices I make now will return long term gains. But once things get rolling I can put my eye out for the next acquirement. Maybe an e46 M3, or an e28 M5, or another e30 convertible or better yet that e30 Touring I’ve been searching European listings for.  But at least this e36 redeemed itself which in turn opened my eyes to one of the best bargains in the BMW market

 

~ JT Burkard ~

Comments and suggestions welcome

The Droptop Disgruntlement

The Droptop Disgruntlement

 

Originally Written June 2015

 

Frustration. It comes in many ways. It’s sifting through thousands of lines of code to find that one </> you forgot to place to close out the command. A musician with writer’s block on the verge of finishing that Grammy winning song but being distracted by the neighbors TV that only has one volume, FULL. Perhaps it’s waiting on Tech support for 1 and four quarter minutes then being transferred to someone who actually speaks English only to get disconnected. Maybe you are trying to teach an old cat new tricks but they just sleep instead. Yes, life is full of frustration.  What frustrates me? My e36 convertible top that is being as compliant as a 5 year old in the cereal aisle when mommy says no but they are tempted by tiny colored marshmallows and plastic toys wrapped in clear plastic. That my Bimmerfile friends is the ultimate irritation.

As you may remember from our last issue I magically turned my e38 into an e36 323i convertible. Don’t ask how I did it; it’s a well guarded trade secret. As you will soon find out, I may have regret and disappointment with my decision. I knew the car had some needs. The blower motor was not functioning and there are some front end parts that are not as tight as they used to be. Plus the ABS and Airbag light was on, covered up by electrical tape as if that will fool anyone. But the car was fairly clean and it did run well so I was willing to do some work in exchange for topless fun in the sun.

About a month ago the plastic trim piece that goes across the top by the windshield started to hang. I investigated and it appeared it was just a couple zip ties holding it in place, at least that’s what  used to be there. It was starting to get dark but I figured it shouldn’t take long and it will be a quick fix.  Famous last words right? My wife offered a hand in the backyard mechanicry. The trim piece was a little more difficult to hold in place than I thought but Sandy did what she could to help keep it aligned. After several increasingly annoying tries, I was able to get everything back to where it should be. Next was to operate the top to make sure everything is ok. Halfway back, the zip ties break free and trim piece pops off again. I didn’t know why or how but all those minutes fiddling were all in vain. For a temporary repair, I got regular wire ties just to hold the trim roughly in place so I can put the top back in place.

In another 30 seconds, I would be done for the night... but not the way I thought. Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.  As the rear of the top is lifting to allow the convertible boot to come down, they both catch and next thing I hear is a loud metallic POP! That can’t be good.  But the top was still moving so I figured maybe it was just caught and its fine now.  Wrong sir, WRONG! Now everything is operating out of sequence. The boot is trying to go up as the top is trying to go down.  This really can’t be good.

At this point the wind is out of my sails and the convertible top is stuck in limbo. Much like a pair of sneakers hanging from the power lines, destined to be perpetually suspended in air.  I was done for the evening. The sunlight is now replaced by the luminous glow from the spotlights over the garage door. Now the decision what to do with the car as rain was expected in the morning? With only a one car garage and the e21 resting comfortably inside, I had to make the unfortunate choice to pull that one out and bring the e36 in since the malfunctioning top would not be ideal for the impending inclement weather.

I had about as much motivation to find out what happened as a pirate walking the plank. We both said the same thing too - ARGH!!!!! Jump ahead to just two weeks ago, I pull the emergency release located under the rear seat on the driver’s side to free the two electric motors and operate the top manually. I then remove the trunk trim to reveal the motors. I quickly find that the convertible boot rod that connects to the motor had popped off so that explains the banging noise. As I try to reinstall it, I find the bracket coming off the top motor had bent. With a small pry bar and a mallet I was able to straighten the bent metal into the proper position. I managed to get the bar back into the post. The clip was missing so Sandy, my trusty mechanics assistant, suggested it might be under the trunk mat. Sure enough, there is was. Now there is a proper sequencing procedure that I’ve done once before several years ago with another 323i cabriolet at my dealership with a similar issue. I would have to wait to finish the job properly until I find the instructions again.

That day was today. I found the link on my work computer to the sequence and after getting home from work, I was ready to finally get this car together.

Step 1 - Pull the release and disengage the motors.

Step 2 – Manually retract the top and close the boot cover.

Step 3 – Reengage the motors.

Step 4 – Key off press the top up button, Turn the key to the accessory. Wait 12 seconds the convertible boot locks then within 10 seconds the top will close on its own. Everything will be in sync.

That’s what the instructions said.  I have done this several times. Each time I can hear motors working but the boot cover only locked and would not lift to allow the top to close. I double, no make that triple check the motors to make sure they are engaged and everything seems to be as the instructions state, except the darn thing isn’t doing what they say it’s supposed to be doing. All I have is a flashing red light on the top button and a permanent convertible. I am throwing in the towel and need to seek professional help. Probably in more ways than one, but that’s for another story.

Frustration, it’s the killer of motivation. It’s the source of stress. It stems from failure, causing hindrance in the completion of projects. Its birthplace is not within the depths of Hell, but resides in the boot well of the e36 convertible top.

~ JT Burkard ~

Comments and suggestions welcome

Out with the old, in with the slightly not that old

Out with the old, in with the slightly not that old

 

Originally written March 2015

 So today it happened. 4 years of luxurious use and comfort has gone away. It was a trip to a dealer auction that turned into a 4 year love affair that eventually had to end. It started with a used old gal that needed someone to turn her into a princess again.  I accepted that challenge with a nod of my head. Countless money and time and she became a lady again, not quite a princess as she’s still a little wrinkled but not as disheveled. I’m not talking about some uptown heiress turned homeless woman, I’m referring to my 1996 740il.

 

 

 The road to the sale was a long one.  A couple months ago I half assed listing the car for sale to raise a little extra capital for a business venture I am looking into. I didn’t push selling it because I loved my e38 but a few weeks ago I gave it another whirl, this time with the real intention of selling. I did the same with our boat. Even though I do this for a living, when it’s my own personal vehicles, I grow attached. It becomes harder to sell them but sometimes, that day is inevitable.

 Trying to get a qualified buyer was the first hurdle. If you’ve ever tried selling a car on Craigslist, you understand the pain. Once you get past teenagers trying to exchange old Playstations, X-Boxes, Atari 2600’s and a rusted BMX bicycle, then you have the section of “buyers” who are waiting for money from a lawsuit, tax return, borrow from family, loan sharks, or impending bank robberies. They want to come and see the car, test drive it and negotiate, even though they can’t afford a pack of gum. Then you have the scammer who sends a message “still for sale?” which I reply yes, and they get into a long drawn out story how they are on an oil barge or ship or some other BS story and they will send a driver after they send you a bogus check and just wire the extra money to their shipping company. Not a chance. Your money disappears into the abyss into some Nigerian internet thief’s hands or perhaps someone taking residence at the Principality of Sealand for the purpose of ripping people off - Google that for some fun.

 Next hurdle is the “buyer” who emails a low ball offer without ever talking to me, emailing questions, or knowing anything else about the car except for the small amount of info listed in my ad.  Those are just price shoppers and I just delete the emails without ever responding. In my experience 100% of those people will never actually buy the car, just web shopping. Probably for those who are in the previous category of tire kickers.

 Finally you get the small number of real buyers. Those with money or a qualified trade. People who will actually send an email with some cognitive skill, an actual name and a phone number, and a good handle of language. Even better, an actual phone call!  How 1990’s of them.  I had offers of an e46, an e30 ix, an e21 (which was a very tempting possibility), then something that piqued my interest enough because the buyer was local. The vehicle offered for trade? An e36 Convertible.  In Schwarz (Black) with Leder Soft (Beige) Interior, 111,000 miles, and decent condition, at least by what the pictures showed.

 

 

 The buyer/trader stopped by my dealership on Tuesday to show me his car. It was bitterly cold so I had to make the inspection quick. The paint was nice, the interior was good, convertible sound. All seemed well.  Since I didn’t have mine, we scheduled the next day for test drives.  Wednesday I drive the e38 into work. The battery was week and barely taking a charge so I called Advanced Auto Parts to see if I can exchange the one I had purchased 4 years prior for a new one since it was prorated after 36 months and up to 84 months.  They no longer prorate their batteries! Even though it clearly states that on the receipt, they won’t honor it. That was very unfortunate but that’s a complaint for another article. I bit the bullet and bought the new battery so I was ready to go.

 My buyer shows up, we take a couple test drives. First my e38 then his e36. We tour Bricktown to get the feel of each other’s cars. He seemed impressed with the way the M62 just had smooth power and the 7 had a fantastic ride quality. His car was less luxurious but the handling was much sportier yet still comfortable to use daily.  Upon arriving back at my shop, we do the exchange. I’ve never had an e36 and even though the weather has been less than ideal for top down driving, Spring is coming and what better way to welcome the warm weather than with topless cruising… The car, not me. Trust me no one wants to see that.

 I’m a full 24 hours into the transaction but I think I made a good decision. I am not sure if I will be keeping the e36 or placing it up for sale for the initial purpose of business capital. I have to do a couple repairs to it first like the blower motor and front end work. Once those are taken care and drive it a little bit I will make my final decision. Time will only tell. As for the Principality of Sealand I hear for only £29.99 you can become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness.

Lord JT, savior of BMW’s has a nice ring to it

 

JT Burkard

Comments and suggestions are welcome

The Z3, Blown Tire and an Elephant

I finally got the chance to drive a Z3 this month. A 2000 Z3 Topaz Blue with Blue Interior and less than 40,000 miles. We took it on consignment at my shop, so lucky me I had to do a photo shoot for our website and put it on the internet for sale.  It was an automatic so some of the thrill was missing but it was still was a fun car to cruise. I posted the car on Tuesday and by Wednesday it was sold. The clincher to the deal was I had a 2003 Land Rover Discovery going to Maryland 40 miles south of where this buyer was so it was a perfect set up for fast delivery.  Two cars going in the same direction and I wasn’t going to go out of my way to drop the second car off. Couldn’t be easier right?   

 

 I wanted to hit the road by 7 am since I knew this was going to be a long day, 550 miles round trip. I didn't pull out of my dealership until 8:30 am. Sandy, my wife, wanted to come with me for company, so you can figure where the delay came from. The weather was perfect, not too hot, and we had the windows down for fresh air. Our trusty steed was a 1999 Ford F-350 extra cab dually with a 7.3L Diesel and 282,000 miles pulling a 38’ two car trailer. We had some breakfast on the go we took from home and a sandwich packed up for lunch. We were properly prepared. Everything was going smooth out of NJ, thru Del, and into MD on I-95 but then I see signs for the 895 tunnel closed by Baltimore. Without a road atlas I was racking my brain to remember if I could take 695 or go straight to I-95 tunnel. I decided to do the I-95 Baltimore tunnel. I noticed the way back was a mess with construction so I'll keep that tidbit of info for the return trip. I make my way to I-97, then RT 3 thru Crofton MD, to RT 4 which goes into RT 2/4. Pretty eventless, a couple slowdowns here and there but overall a smooth run. 

As I am coming into Prince Fredrick MD, I feel this violent shaking (similar to hitting 5" tall rumble strips at 65 mph) so I immediately slow down and check my mirrors. The passenger front tire on the trailer violently exploded sending tire chunks all over the road. I immediately pull over and you know the saying, where's a cop when you need one? Well there was a State Trooper right behind me as I was pulling over. His timing was impeccable. He said he had seen the smoke and was racing up to see if it was a car fire or a tire going. He watched it blow apart as he was coming up to me. The trooper offered assistance and told me a half mile ahead was a car dealership with a side road I can pull off onto that will get me out of traffic. At 10 mph I rolled this mess around the corner safely out of the highway with him following. One of the few times you actually WANT the law behind you. Once I was safely off the highway he did his routine credential checks, which of course everything was in order.

The officer asked if I needed a tow truck or road side assistance and I declined figuring I can change the tire myself. He informed me of a tire shop only 4 miles down the road so that will be handy. You know what wasn’t handy?He  No spare tire, no lug wrench and no jack. That puts me in a pickle. The officer already left so I would figure something out.

I called both of my clients to let them know I will be delayed. Since I was 10 miles from the first stop, the Z3, the customer elected to meet me where I was to pick it up. He was very excited and this was going to be his first BMW. I couldn’t think of a better person to sell it to him but myself. Besides being very understanding, he was also informative letting me know there was another tire shop only 2 miles away and I can take back roads, if I needed, to get there. Lucky for us, the Goodyear dealer had the right size in stock and they would be ready for me when I arrived. To make things easier I off loaded the Discovery since that was still on the trailer and had Sandy follow  me down the back roads with the hazards on as I went about 15 mph to the tire shop. As soon as I arrived, the mechanic got right to work replacing the tire. I think within 20 minutes, I was in and out of there. I couldn’t have gotten better service!  

As I was reloading the Rover again Sandy ran into the super market for some road snacks we so desperately needed at this point. A stiff drink would have been better. From the point the tire blew, BMW transaction, tire replaced, and reloaded ready to go was about 2 hours. Not that bad but if I had a spare trailer tire, jack, and lug wrench I would have been back on the road in 15 minutes. Good thing was the BMW was already delivered so now we were just an hour away from the second drop off.  

We arrive to a beautiful home on the bay, long driveway which was easy to back my 60’ long combo into. The buyer for this thing was a world traveler who had lived in about 50 different countries and been to over 100. He had told me he had one of these Discovery's while living in South Africa and once he came out to find an Elephant standing next to the Land Rover. He took a picture and the click of the camera turned a calm moment into panic. The Elephant chased him around the truck several times before he was able to jump into it and take off before this large creature was able to attack. Apparently an Elephant will roll a vehicle if provoked. These are the issues we don't have here in Jersey. What a fascinating story. We met his wife and they invited us in to do the paperwork on their rear deck and for the next 1.5 hours we got entertained with their amazing experiences. Part of me wanted to just get back on the road again and head home, but the other part of me said take a  much needed break. You'll get there. Unfortunately it was getting later and we had to start heading back so we cut the conversation short.

We stopped for fuel and I figured we got 11.23 mpg with a total combination weight of 18,500 lbs. Not bad for highway and not so highway driving in a truck with almost 300,000 miles. Remembering I-95 was a mess at the tunnel I decided to take 301 thru Annapolis into Delaware. Let me tell you, this is the BEST road to take if you are going to Maryland by Annapolis and south. No traffic and no hassles plus the scenery is a lot better.  We finally got back at around midnight but overall a successful day.  

Tips to take away from this experience:

1. Do a proper pre-trip inspection to make sure you have everything you need.
2. RT 301 through Maryland is the best kept secret for traveling down to that region.
3. Make sure your camera doesn’t piss off Elephants.

JT Burkard

Comments and suggestions are welcome

NJ BMW CCA Newsletter 11-10

What have I done?

 If you love something, set it free. Then try to buy it back a week later. I made a colossal mistake over the past month or so. The tan e21 that has had been in the hands of many NJ CCA members then made its way to me last year is gone. I was its keeper, its savior, its chance to become a glorious car it once was. And I sold it.  I felt like its arrival into my driveway was by some of divine Bavarian intervention and it was up to me to take this once forgotten soul that sat idle for years and restore, or at least improve it. In a moment of weakness it was all gone.

 The Sierra Beige 1977 320i that came into my life was far from perfect. It has surface rust in areas, the battery was shot, the paint was faded, the clutch master cylinder gave way, the tires were dry rotted and belts separating, it was filthy, but it was an e21 with Recaro Seats and it whimpered “help”. I took this car in like a stray cat in a rain storm. I had seen its potential. I had plans – New paint, new tighter suspension, a set of 15x7 Panasports, engine improvements down the road, new carpet, plus numerous other enhancements and maintenance items. I started with tires, then the clutch master replacement. I buffed the existing paint which made a huge improvement in looks. It was getting there. I started to use this e21 everyday and it was becoming a confident driver. Almost a year later I decided to do a full tune up. That made a HUGE improvement in power and running quality. I wasn’t afraid to take it on the highway at distance. Oh yes, it lived again.

 Then for some bizarre reason I listed it online for sale. I think it was shortly after I attended the Jersey Shore BMW Riders Club meeting and was thinking of buying a Beemer for some two wheeled fun. If I sold off a couple cars, I can get a nice motorcycle. Perhaps a R1200GS or even an older R90A Airhead in Café style. Of course I already have four motorcycles and no room inside for a 5^th so maybe getting a Beemer would have to wait. Sandy has shown some interest in learning to ride a motorcycle but doesn’t want to ride any of the ones I have. She has requested me to find her a quality 2000-2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250 in Red to start off on. Where the heck is she expecting we put that? And you all thought it was just me with the need to buy internal combustion machines. I really need to expand that 24x24 garage I was planning on building to something more like an airplane hanger the size to fit the Spruce Goose. Does anyone know of an abandoned warehouse going into tax sale in the Ocean County area?

 Around this time I also had dropped my 1983 Mercedes off to a Benz specialist to get checked up, gone through, and made reliable. The bill was an unknown factor but I told him to keep it to the minimal with the work that I requested. Famous last words huh? Every time I called the shop owner Bob, he would say “I’ll figure out where I am at and call you back.” – I never got that call. He would also inform me “while I was there I did this or that” which sounds expensive.  Did I owe $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $First Born? I had no clue. I was hoping the cheaper the better but experience told me otherwise. My plans were to get the car sound, use it for a couple months then sell it for a profit, or so I hoped. You can all guess where this is going. After a month of him checking systems, ordering parts, and repairing issues I wasn’t aware of I had finally got the car back – and my bill - to the tune of $1,700+ for all repairs. WOOF – that’s not what I wanted to hear. It was a good thing I was sitting when he told me my bill because I might have needed a defibrillator. This car was worth it and I have to admit the money was well spent because the ol’ 300D ran and drove beautiful.

 Unfortunately, since toys pay for toys, the sale of the e21 was now imminent. I had one interested party (or clown) who asked me to drive the 320i all the way to Manhattan so he could look at it instead of coming down to see it himself. I declined his oh so generous offer. It’s not like I had a Ferrari 365 GTB for sale for $950,000 and he wanted an expert to look at it. This was a dirt cheap 77 BMW that was cosmetically challenged. I actually took the car offline for awhile as I was torn on selling it but my brain malfunctioned and I relisted it again. With all the fools and ridiculous blind offers I received I did however find the perfect buyer for the e21. His name is Derek and his brother is restoring a 2002, which helped pique his interest in BMW’s. This would be his first BMW and it seemed like I was passing the torch to the right guy.

 About a week after selling the e21, and using all the proceeds of the sale (and then some) to help pay for the enormous Mercedes bill, I offered to buy the 320i back. Derek was not having any part of it. I guess the e21 Movement got him too. He fell in love with the Sierra Beige 320i. Derek did promise that if the car would ever go back up for sale, he would give me first rights to it. So for now, it’s just a temporary separation. I do get updates and he also contacts me for advice. I also encouraged him and his brother to become members of our illustrious club. When I sell my cars I feel like I am giving up a child in marriage. I question the buyer, screen them, and make sure they are the right new owners. I could have sold it to anyone but I wanted to make sure my cars go to a car guy, an enthusiast, who will take what I have started and finish it the way it should be.

 Since the e21 was now gone, I registered and drove the Mercedes for about a month and before I fell in love with that one, I put the 83 300D up for sale as well. With only 87,000 miles and full services just done with records to show for it, I was able to sell it fast. This one went to a Mercedes Diesel enthusiast so it made me feel good to save another one from an impending scrap yard death. I still have that darn 89 Jaguar and if the planets align correctly, I will have that one finished and sold before years end. Let’s hope for a quick release of ownership.

 Now since I’ve opened up a couple spots in the driveway, I started the hunt for a new purchase. I’ve tried to buy several e30’s like a 1991 325i, a 1989 325ix, a 1991 318is, and a couple MG’s and TR6’s. Amazingly, only a few of these owners returned an email or a phone call and the ones that did, well lets just say I just had to pass. I have also been looking at BMW motorcycles plus old vintage 70’s Honda motorcycles (another one of my passions) and recently I started having a hankering to go touring with a 1986-1991 VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper – Yes you read correctly a VW Van - I have no clue how that happened but perhaps I want to get in touch with my inner Hippie. I think it would be cool to take Sandy, the two cats, a couple bicycles, and hit the highway to wacky unknown destinations. Of course we would have the prerequisite Grateful Dead dancing bears sticker, Peace sign decals and Life is Good T-shirts. Maybe a couple granola bars for good measure. I don’t think it would fair well for track days and autocross though. With the right therapy, I might be able to move on from the Van craze before any money is exchanged.

 Being the last article of the year I decided to reminisce on the year’s writings. I introduced the e21 and then its eventual sale. I made a random mention of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities. I bought a Jaguar and found out why they are inferior to BMW’s. A Mercedes found its way to me without even trying.  I called upon Vic Lucariello of Philes’ Forum for some technical help on an e46 I had at my dealership. This man is a vital asset to the club. I planned the ultimate road trip of odd roadside attractions. I invented a self evacuating kitty litter box for RV’s. I attended the “other” BMW club meeting and found there could be a 2-wheeled Roundel wearing cycle in my future. I also bought a 740il that pleased the wife – Sandy has claimed this one as HER BMW. We also went to Vegas and found out the Mini is small but super fun, to watch for black cows at night, and last but not least beware of intoxicated Biergarten dancers on your fresh paint. Yeah, it was a full year. I am hoping next year will yield the same, if not more excitement and insanity.  

 It has been several years since I started to write for our clubs newsletter. I believe it all started off as I wrote one article about our gimmick rallies that Sandy and I attended. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of strange vacations, frustrating car finds, backyard mechanic’ing, and general amusement. I figured it is about time I actually had a name to my column so I am dubbing this “Initial Ramblings”. Initial because my friends call me by my first two initials – J.T. – Ramblings because I usually don’t have any particular subject matter to write about. I guess you can say I am a general interest writer. To my amazement, I have been approached time and again by club members telling me how much they enjoy my articles.  By popular demand, I had started a blog with all of my writings over the past few years. It will be an archive of my past articles with additional pictures and commentary since I am not limited to print space. It will take some time before I get them all listed but hopefully by the end of year I will have them all posted. I might add in a few bonus blogs as well.

 I appreciate all of the encouragement and the kind words I have received over the years and I hope to continue this whirlwind tour of insanity, barn finds, and failed decisions into the future.

JT Burkard

Comments and suggestions are welcome

NJ BMW CCA Newsletter 8-10

…and along came an e38

 In last months article of the ultimate road trip I made the comment (or threat?)  “I’ll just buy an e38 740iL specifically for this trip”.  Sandy has always liked the e38 body style and I have a fondness to the 1995-2001 7-Series myself over the e65 (2002+ 7_series). Well, guess what wound up in the driveway a couple weeks ago? That’s right a 1996 740il in Jet Black with Black leather interior. Yes, my car buying is still out of control. I believe we are up to 10 cars again.

 It always happens the same way. When I am looking for a specific car, I can never find one I want. If I do, it’s usually sold before I pull the trigger. Remember I was in the market for an e30 convertible? I still haven’t bought one. When I least expect it, I wind up buying cars I don’t need. Example: 1989 Jaguar XJ6 and 1983 Mercedes Benz 300d of recent acquirement. This e38 came about the same way. I wasn’t looking for it but it found me. I have been to many dealer auto auctions in the last 10 years I’ve been with my dealership. For whatever reason my boss never allowed me to get an Auction Access card which will give me the ability to bid and buy cars for my shop. About two months ago I finally got my auction card and the boss asked if I can go to the dealer auction with him since there are 22 lanes and approximately 4500 cars that run through each week. He needed help as he felt he was missing deals on good cars for good prices.

 I was of course ready and willing to break in my new card and spend the dealerships money for inventory. I always see good deals slip though at the auction so now is my chance to actually take advantage and scoop up that good deal instead of letting it get away.  Usually the day before we go to the auction I make a list of cars we are interested in with what lane and run number those cars are so we can find the cars when they get into the lane. Sometimes they are good, other times they are best passed off to another bidder.  My boss was going to watch lanes 1-8 and I was watching lanes 9-22.

  I was checking my cheat sheet to see what cars are coming in and as lanes were opening I was watching for good deals. Usually the first 10 or so cars that go though a lane can be had for a good price as not many people are in those lanes yet. I noticed the very last lane was open and they were only up to car #6. I made my way down to see if anything interesting was coming up. As I got there, I see this black 1996 e38 coming up. Since I had my BMW hat on, I had to walk around it and check the car out. It needed a few cosmetic items but it ran well, the A/C was cold and most of the electrics seemed to work fine. I thought to myself “this is a car I’d like to own just to say I had one”.

 A couple moments later the 740il was pulled up to the auction block. I would say there were 8 dealer representatives in the entire lane with their hands in their pockets with no intentions of bidding. The auctioneer starts the bidding high and no one bites. Eventually, the price came down to the point where it was sounded like we were bidding on a worn out Ford Taurus instead of a Bavarian Flagship. One dealer starts it off, then another guy raises the bid $100 over. The original bidder pops $100 over him. At this point I am thinking this car is chump change and I need to get in on this. I throw in $100 over the last bid. Both of the bidders looked over at me as to say “listen kid, stay out of this”. No dice buddies, I have my newly acquired Auction Access card and I know how to use it. How fitting to christen it on a BMW purchase. 

 Back and forth the bids went until we crested the next $1,000 increment and then all bidding stops. The auctioneer is now trying to get another $100 bid from someone, anyone and at that point, dealer reps were walking away as not to be enticed to bid any higher then they wanted to pay. The current high bidder was standing next to me. After numerous calls for another bid, the auctioneer points his gavel (really it was just an 18 inch piece of hose they slap on the podium) at me and said “You have a BMW hat, come on and bid, you know what this car is” – He was right, I did – I knew what it was and I did place that $100 bid. As soon as I did, the high bidder looked at me and just walked away. Maybe my hat intimidated him, or maybe he knew he was beat. Either way, that was the last bid to be placed on the car. Going once… going twice… the hose gavel drops as final price. The auctioneer looked at the seller and said “Sell it?” – He nods his head in disgust as he was probably looking for more money but figured just dump it.

 Wow, I just bought an e38 for cheap. Wait, I was supposed to be buying cars for my dealership, not for my own use. I figured the price was right so there was room to do some minor fixes and the shop can still make a profit. If the boss doesn’t want the car, I’ll pay for it. I can’t lose.

 Excited with my purchase, I walked about 18 lanes back to where my boss was and showed him the papers I had signed signifying I bought something. He asked “how is the car?” I said it’s in good shape, needs a couple minor things but the price was right. He looked unamused. I told him if for whatever reason he doesn’t want the car, I would buy it. That’s a win win situation for him. If he wants it, he will make money. If he doesn’t I still pay for the car and he doesn’t lose.

 Later in the day we bought a 2002 Mercedes C240 so the boss said to me “If you want that BMW, just pay me tomorrow for it.” I of course said yes. I found the car out in the huge lot and moved it closer to the lanes so I can show it to him and another dealer guy we know. They both said it was a good deal but I guess my boss wanted nothing to do with it so it became mine. Maybe he didn’t realize how cool it was since there was a ski bag in the pass thru for the trunk. Maybe he had Stuttgart on the brain instead of Bavarian aspirations? Fine with me.

 So jump ahead a few weeks. I installed a new mirror cover, headlight lens, front fog light, and ordered a new radiator plus hoses for the car. I also found that it might need some front end work, which I hear is a typical issue for this car with over 100,000 miles. It’s worth putting the money into it as Sandy wants to keep it for a while. We might even do the WYT rally with it. It will also provide some good newsletter articles as I think this will really challenge my mechanical skills over the other e21 I have been trying to fix up.

 So the moral of this story? You might get what you wish for if you’re not looking for it.  Also 10 is a nice round number.

JT Burkard

Comments and suggestions are welcome

NJ BMW CCA Newsletter 9-10

Bimmer…Beemer… we all should have both

 So far the newly acquired e38 has been a fairly good buy. Sandy and I are enjoying it since we put it on the road. Of course it needed a few items but I have gotten a lot of the issues taken care of already. The headlight lens is replaced; the fog lights are also replaced as well as a new mirror cover on the driver’s side. A new radiator, expansion tank, and hoses were installed with the use of proper BMW coolant topping everything off. Several people have asked what the difference is and why wouldn’t I buy just any coolant, or the cheapest. There is a difference. The BMW coolant is nitrite, amine, and phosphate free. This helps prevent corrosion and electrolysis damage. Plus it’s a really cool blue color. Not to bore you any further with fluid talk, this concludes my cooling system public service announcement.

 My tan e21 has finally gotten its full tune up I’ve been putting off. Let me tell you, I should have done this sooner. I have done some things over the last year I have owned it but I didn’t realize the wires were the originals or at least they seemed they were from 1977. It also appeared the cap, rotor, and possibly the points were also original. Points you ask? Yes, this ol’ e21 has points, something that went away shortly after in the early 80’s. It’s amazing how those little things make a car so much better and an absolute pleasure to drive. I thought my tan 320i was a little sluggish but never paid much attention to it. The automatic e21 always seemed a bit quicker, which shouldn’t be the case. After the tune up was done it made a huge difference. I actually planned to install a tii distributor from a 2002 but now I am going to hold off. This little car is even more of a blast to drive. I have to stop putting things off this important for so long. Too many projects and interests pulling me in all directions.

Speaking of…

 How many times have you spoken with someone and they say “Hey, that’s a nice Beemer you got there?” – 9 times out of 10 you just ignore the common misuse of the term. We all know Bimmers are the cars from BMW and Beemers are their motorcycles… or at least I hope you would know this by now. We will revoke your membership if you don’t.

 So why am I bringing this up you ask? Some may guess that I have an itch for a BMW brand motorcycle. You might be correct. A friend of mine is a Beemer owner and his love for these finely crafted motorcycles has become infectious. His newest is a K1200S, a beautiful sport touring bike that looks like a flying bumble bee. Yes, it’s yellow and black. He asked if I was interested in attending a meeting of the New Jersey Shore BMW Riders in Avon by the Sea. I said why not. Those two wheeled wonders have Roundels on them so I’ll see what it’s all about.

 It’s interesting who you might run into. As I walk in, I see my friend Nowell, who invited me, and his son, who also owns a Beemer. I sat down at the table not knowing what to expect. I look over to my left and there is Hank Farber, one of our CCA members who is also a BMW motorcyclist. I also got my tan e21 from Hank. What a surprise that was. Hank wound up joining us at our table. I have to say the BMW riders are much like us in the CCA, a very nice group of people passionate about their brand. I was told that once I ride a BMW motorcycle, I will never want to ride my Hondas again. We’ll see about that. At the end of the meeting I was handed one of their newsletters by one of their members (I am sorry, I forgot your name). I mentioned I wrote for our NJ BMW CCA newsletter and he said “I know who you are; I read your articles every month.” – He is apparently a CCA member as well.

 When the meeting was adjourned, everyone spilled out of the restaurant into the parking lot to graze the 2 wheeled wonders everyone rode in on. I took the e38 even though I was thinking about riding my 1981 Honda CB900c. It was either drive a BMW car to a BMW motorcycle meeting or ride a Honda motorcycle to a BMW motorcycle meeting. Either way, I wasn’t riding Beemer style. It didn’t matter as one of the members offered to sell me his bike, a beautiful 1998 R1100R 75^th Anniversary edition, one of only 500 built. As beautiful as the bike was, I seemed to have left my stack of Ben Franklins at the bank. As many of you can guess, I was thinking about it hard. I also found out what BMW really stands for “Bikes Made Weird”.

 But I have priorities right now. 3 that all could use a little something. Plus I have that pesky (or as the English say Dodgy) XJ6 Jaguar mistake I purchased and the 83 Mercedes 300d I started to fix up. With just the repair bill from the 300D, I could have bought a used e30. Yeesh, what do I get myself into with these things? If I can sell off those two, I’ll put a little into the save a Bimmer fund and maybe with what’s left over, if anything, I will search for a BMW cycle.

 But wait, I have a BMW cycle – Bicycle that is. This is the BMW Cruise bicycle Sandy and I got from a first place finish at the Spring Rally we won. After watching the Tour de France on VS all July – something I do every year - I decided I needed to get into shape. Well, round is a shape but not the shape I would like to be in anymore. I just brought the bike to a shop to get tuned up. You want to cause a stir at the local bike shop or bike trails, bring out a BMW bicycle. No one ever heard of or saw one so it was quite an interesting conversation piece. Maybe the Beemer guys would allow me to ride that in their club? It has a BMW emblem and it has two wheels.

 So as usual, my interests are about as grounded as a dirigible pilot. Bimmers, Beemers, and what the heck would be the nick name for a BMW bicycle? Beekers? Bammers? Who knows? It’s late and Sandy and I are going to be flying to Sin City tomorrow for vacation. I need to get some sleep.

Stay tuned next month – VEGAS!

JT Burkard

Comments and suggestions are welcome