[REKIII]

My e39 M was the first BMW I've owned. I have always liked BMW. When I was a little kid my Uncle had a BMW (not even sure what it was, I'll have to ask him). I always thought it was much cooler than any of my Grandpas mercedes.

Finally when I could afford my own, I was looking for family sedans and looked at audis, mercs, lexus and decided I couldn't beat the performance value of an e39 M5 in 07. I still like and respect all sorts of cars, but I did try to get my wife to like the X5, which just didn't work. I've looked at countless 3,7, and 5 series to be my winter car, but nothing has fit the bill.

So, I have extreme like an loyalty to the e39 M5. Not sure if I'd ever replace it with a 'better' BMW, but I would like to ad more BMW's to the stable, but only if they seem to be up and above the similar offering from The M, P, or A club. I will admidt bias towards the BMW.

 

[firebird400]

Hey, I didn't know you used to have an E21! Back in the mid-80's when I didn't want my E3 Bavaria to see daily duty (track/autocross garage queen), I bought a CCA club members track built E21 77 320i as my daily driver. Fun car with ~160hp, so it used to surprise a lot of folks who expected didn't expect the dog to bite.

On thread subject, I don't specifically have pure BMW brand loyalty as I've owned and do own others (the S4 is a really sweet car btw, and the 850R wagon I have we've owned since it was new and still have 14 years later), but in 1971 when my father was looking to transition from Vettes he had in the 60's and a '68 Firebird 350HO, he took me along to this "BMW" dealer to see this thing called a "Bavaria". I wanted him to get a hemi 'cuda or similar, but after seeing the BMW, reading about its engineering, seeing what an incredible all-around car the E3 sedan was, I became enamored at a young age where I learned about precision (as opposed to brute force) engineering coupled with efficiency. I wrote a post about the early days here a number of years back (I see it says 32 years ago, guess it is now 38-39 years ago now).

Peter, just noticed in this picture of my E21's interior one can see my wife's 1985 E28 535i (5spd manual, LSD ) in the background. Yeah, we had three BMWs back then 25 years ago too.

Chuck

Chuck, I read that post about your bavaria, great story! I'm a youngin, but I have a thing for classics. It was cool to read about what BMW was like back in the 70's, how you really had to be an enthusiast to drive/own one. It's changed a whole lot over the years, but I think some of the original spirit is found in the M cars.

 

[atahk]

definitely have a loyalty only to E39 M5. I've wanted one since it was first announced. Drooled over it when I saw it on the road. Thought about how great it would be to own one laying down to sleep with my hand down my pants (jk). I've driven other BMW's and liked them, but nothing else quite satisfies the look, feel, and power the M5 has to offer... I might get myself an F10 in another 8 years :dunno:

I don't really have brand loyalty. If the car is good I'll drive it. but again the E39 M5 did something that I feel no other car really has in the history of automobile industry up until that time -- a car that pulls like muscle, handles like a sports car, but has comfortable luxury you can take your whole family. Cars now meets and exceeds those requirements but seem to me to lack the soul the M5 has.

 

[lothar]

I've tried a lot of brands and models and always found something about them I didn't like enough that made me want to sell after 12-18 months. I tried a Porsche Boxster in 2003 and finally started feeling connected with a car, but something was a little off. Went to a BMW E46 330i ZHP in 2005 and never looked back. The M5 is my third BMW and nothing drives quite like them, they just *feel* like a well engineered car when you're behind the wheel. I was torn between a 2010 Audi S4 and a 2003 M5, but I had an opportunity to drive them back to back and something about the Audi just felt (for lack of a better word) sterile compared to the Beast. My loyalty is still BMW rather than E39 M5, but the more I drive the M - only had it for about 3 months now, the more I think it will be harder to go back to a "standard" Bimmer. Even commuting in my 335i just doesn't thrill me like it used to.

 

[Terabass]

E39 loyal here. While all BMW's drive awesome, I agree with what was said above - BMW lifestyle boutique is just dumb. If BMW becomes my lifestyle then I have no life.
There will definitely be another brand next to M5.

 

[-BEASTMW-]

I like a lot of BMWs but have never been a "fanboy" per se. They just happen to make a lot of cars that I'm interested in. The E39 M5 however was a major favorite of mine since it came out when I was 15. Having only owned my Integra since I started driving, I was giddy when last year's economic downturn brought E39 M5s into my "not THAT stupid of a decision" range. Even though I only drive it 1-2x/wk usually, I think of it every day and get this giddy feeling inside.

 

[ssomed]

E39 M5 loyalty only

Really was not looking for BMW,

tried GTO, 300M, Magnum SRT, E55 AMG, Jag XJR

Then took a ride in the M5.......

No looking back

ssomed

 

[-BEASTMW-]

Really was not looking for BMW,

tried GTO, 300M, Magnum SRT, E55 AMG, Jag XJR

Then took a ride in the M5.......

No looking back

ssomed

That's the thing, I was just looking for a fun 2nd car and wasn't even looking for a sedan (I had driven a Boxster S earlier that day). I tend to be disappointed by test drives but it was the complete opposite after my first drive in an M5. Knew I had to get one immediately.

 

[crds]

A little of both for me

Some BMW runs in my blood... I had an '82 320i (5-speed manual) through the early 90's and also picked up an '84 533i (auto) which I had through the late 90's, both were fantastic cars to drive... loved the road feel, handling, and the "connectedness" with the total driving experience. Found it funny that friends would say the steering was "too sensitive."

Took about 10 years off of owning a BMW...

Now I have an '03 M5 and I have that "connectedness" with the road once again. I missed it more than I knew, and what an amazing car the E39 is to "get out and drive!" It isn't so much about the brand... it is the machine behind the brand. These are amazingly fun cars to drive

-crds

PS: I have to say my wife got me a ///M polo and my kids an ///M leather wallet as gifts within the past year. I wear the polo once every few weeks, and have the wallet with me all the time. I love the fact that almost nobody knows what the logo is. Those who appear to recognize the logo seem to just smile knowingly. I have only had a few (less than 5) people in nearly a year say actually anything about either, and one of them is another E39 M5 owner! Small world, sometimes.

 

[nolaM]

A bit of both

I fell in love with my friend's red/orange E21 320i back when I was in high school, and I fell in love. Back then, it was just that car in particular that I liked. But then, he sold that car and bought an E30 which was much faster and much more impressive in the twisties. This car would become my car in a years time, and my BMW love affair began. After the E30, I had an E36, and then after several years hiatus from car ownership while I lived in Manhattan, I bought the m5.

The E39 m5 is a car I'd wanted since the day I purchased the E36. Both were on the lot at the dealer and I drove both, but I couldn't afford the m5 at the time. My desire to own one remained undiminished and it was the only vehicle I considered when it came time to own a car once again, so I suppose you could say that I've got E39 m5 loyalty as well as BMW loyalty. That said, my aversion to the dealership, especially the local New Orleans one, cannot be readily overcome.

 

[TurboCarrera]

I have two BMW cars and three BMW bikes, and I used to endurance race an E30, but I don't own any BMW-branded t-shirts, hats, underwear, etc. I like the vehicles for what they are - generally well made, reliable, and fun to drive/ride. I am definitely not a brand guy, and if BMW went out of business tomorrow my only concern would be getting parts for the next decade or two. I belong to CCA strictly for the parts discount.

My local BMW car dealer is despicable, but the MB and Porsche/Audi/VW dealerships right next door are great. The local BMW motorcycle dealership, on the other hand, is excellent, and I have been a customer for 24 years. Picking up my new S1000RR next week.

Steve
00 M5

BTW, buying the new BMW superbike has been a very different experience from buying the M5. On the M5, I put a big deposit down in 1999, and then did not hear a peep for 16 months from BMW until the week before it was to be built, when they called me and asked for the color choice. On the other hand, I put a deposit on the S1000RR about 20 months ago, and have been receiving promotional packages via Fedex about once a month, plus some informative emails. NA actually has a guy whose job it is to promote the bike and to liaison with the pre-sales customers. Quite a change from the FU attitude of the NA car guys.

 

[cab]

As others have said it is sort of a cause and effect thing. I find I prefer BMWs BECAUSE of the cars - not because of the emblem. Yes, I've gotten the "Oh, you drive a BMW...must be nice" comments, but that's fine. I handed down my 97 328i (red/sport/5 speed) to my son 18 months ago when he got his driver's license. Friends at work and others were like "I can't believe you would give a teenager your BMW!". In reality, I gave him a great driving car with a known history with a book value of around $6K. When I asked folks what they got for their teens I heard things like "we got her a new Corolla - for $15k!". My car's book value was so low that when my son totaled it a short 15 months later, I got a whopping $4100 for it! My point being, the cache' of driving a BMW is either a perk or a curse depending on your point of view, but isn't my primary motivator for buying these cars. My wife had an 85 528e when I married her. It was an absolute slug in terms of performance, but when we traded it in on a 2000 minivan it was still solid as a rock. It impressed me so much in that regard I went for the E36 328i mentioned above and decided to see what all the fuss was about with Car and Driver's holy grail of sports sedans. Within 24 hours of owning it I had a new definition of driving enjoyment (it was sort of humbling). That led to the purchase of my wife's 2001 530i - which gave me an appreciation for the luxury side of BMW (note: the three series is really pretty bare bones in the luxury department IMO) - and even though that car is a non-sport version I find it very enjoyable to drive, and feel it is built like a tank. I just spent a year trying to turn the 2005 GTO I bought into a poor man's M6 of sorts, and well...I just sold it yesterday and am going back to BMW. I'm loyal to various BMW models - primarily the 3 and 5 series, but have no interest in the rest of their lineup - and would be happy to buy an equivalent car from another auto maker...just haven't found any equivalents.

 

[AMP]

I'm definitely loyal to the brand. I will always have at least one and will always look to BMW first when acquiring a new car. It has nothing to do with the emblem or any of the "lifestyle" stuff... it's all about the way that the cars drive and a soul that has been present in every one I've ever owned (on my 16th or 17th now).

I'm also very loyal to the M brand and the M5 in particular... owned a total of 9 M cars.

I've got it bad and don't see that changing any time soon, but I have noticed that my preference is shifting backward in time. I love the features and comfort of the E60 (and E90), but find my eyes always wandering to something older (I actually followed some poor guy in a beautiful E32 750 just to check out the car some more).

 

[jfman]

One thing that makes me a big fan of these cars is working on them. I used to be dismantler and I have taken hundreds of cars apart. Working on a BMW you can really see and feel the quality in the parts they used to put the car together. The balljoints are bigger, the control arms are stouter, the exhaust is thick and not held by bungee cord looking hangers, the metal is thicker, even the paint is better. Only the radiators are brittle and the bumpers are a little brittle for my taste as well. The rest of the components are just very stout and well thought out for the most part.


My M5 is running on 18inch wheels and lowprofile tires. I was driving very fast on this rough contry road and as we were approaching a damaged part of the road my cousin (who owns a brand new civic) said "watch out my car always bottoms out here and I only come thru here at 55mph) we hit that bump at over 100mph and the 250k "worn out" suspension of my car took the bump without any bottoming out and no teeths were rattled either. That's what quality is.

 

[jclyman]

I am a "brand" guy. What can I say. I worked for a BMW dealer. I have driven over 650,000 miles in BMWs. I have been to the factory in Regensburg, and So. Carolina (twice). I have owned, driven, and taken care of a lot of other brands ... some good, others not so good (like Peugeot). I have been inside engines, transmissions, and differentials (none on BMWs, as they never seem to break for me). I am also partial to Porsche. Mercedes are just OK, in my opinion.

 

[T-TRIM 540i]

I unfortunately got a liking for the 2003 E39 and then of course the 2002 Tii , the car that got my head turned towards BMW in the first place as a kid. I really like my old NA Porsche as well.I like the new Porsces more than the new BMWs.

 

[rtowell]

Tough call ... I love the E39. My M5 replaced a very nice 540i-6. I think I'm a brand guy ... had a 2002 Tii in 1973, raced a 2002 in SCCA ITB competition, had a 2000 Z3 M Coupe, the 540i-6 and now the M5.

Of course, I had a 1973 Alfa Romeo Spider for over 20 years and vintage race an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint. And then there was a litany of Mustangs from a 1970 Boss 302 to a 1995 Cobra.

 

[hawkster01]

Well I have to say it was my wife who turned me to the BMW family. Our first bimmer was an 02 525i and I feel in love with bimmers. I myself was an American car buyer with no intensions of buying anything else. We sold the 525i and every since that day every car we wanted was compared to a BMW. I've driven alot of cars, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, etc. and every American muscle car from the earley 70's, which brings me back to the point of BMW.The day we purchased the 525i I noticed the "M5", well out of our price range I new one day I would revisit the thought of owning the Beast. Well I was tired of waiting on the prices to fall and was just about buy A Lexus and found THE ONE AND ONLY M5. I guess you know how I felt, bought it on site after checking it out of course and the rest is history.
As far as BMW brand I do feel they produce a car that the slogan really is what they say. I'm not really fond of the new 5 series direction, but I will always go to BMW for a car, which in my opinion in second to none.:biggrin:

 

[ALPINWEISS]

Some years ago, I thought I was going to buy a used Honda Prelude. But busy traffic kept me browsing and I stumbled onto an E36 325. Having a prior bad experience with Audi, I was hesitant on another "exotic, difficult, finicky" Krautmobile. With time and study, I gravitated toward the E36 M coupe. After 9 years of ownership, and never contemplating anything else, it got wrecked.

Now I want another bimmer. I just don't like anything else, and other than supercars and some Porches, every other brand subjectively seems to be a step down and not worth the money. In fact, I think the Infiniti M45 is a damned nice attempted rip-off of the E39... but I'd feel like a soccer dad in it. Plus for the same $ or less, I can have a damned nice beastie.

The E36 I had 9 years; the E46 is too similar; the 335 is fast but just another "everyman" car. Then I discovered the E39 M... soon to part with the cash.

 

[CSBM5]

I've got it bad and don't see that changing any time soon, but I have noticed that my preference is shifting backward in time. I love the features and comfort of the E60 (and E90), but find my eyes always wandering to something older (I actually followed some poor guy in a beautiful E32 750 just to check out the car some more).

I can identify with that feeling. I would much rather buy a pristine E28 Alpina B7 Turbo than anything new from BMW (well, maybe that E90 M3 with a stroker motor, lol). It's like this feeling that the new ones are "disposable" daily driver material while the older cars really have some hold on me. Guess that is typical aging at work? Finding that E21 Dietel/Alpina 333i tested in Road and Track back in 1978 that I lusted after in college (I probably read that road test 50 times that month) would be incredible...white with the blue/green Alpina Deko kit, nice rake forward with those sweet first gen Alpina wheels filling the wheel wells, and of course the huge breathed-on M30 with all the Alpina goodies stuffed under the hood. :applause:

I still kick myself for not jumping on an incredible deal that dropped into my lap in December. An all original E28 M5 with only 42k documented miles that had just been totally sorted by a respected shop. The owner's business was going belly-up due to a customer's default, and he was liquidating everything as fast as possible. I could have bought the car for $23k. Now I'm sure it has fallen into strong hands like it would have here...sigh. I should have hired someone to inspect it and then just shipped it across country. When opportunities present themselves, JUMP when they pass your gut test. Don't hesitate. :grrrr:

You know, all that said, I have a totally stock E90 330i with sport package and a 6spd manual (wife's daily driver as she gave up on the growing size of BMWs having had 5's and 7's in the past while the kids were young), and this car is actually a really nice and fun car to drive for a totally stock car. Great steering response, feedback to the driver, and with PS2 ZP tires, it has enormous grip when you really stick it to it. If it only had an LSD though... However, this is the peak of normally aspirated 6-cylinder power here in NA for BMW (excepting the E34 M5), so when I drive the thing I think of all the 6-cylinder powered BMWs I've owned over the years. Power/weight wise it is similar to the E34 M5, and test results show its performance is almost identical (tick faster to 60, 1mph slower in 1/4 mile trap). So I guess I'm contradicting myself a bit up above. :dunno:

Chuck