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How to Buy an Antique BMW

BMW may not be one of the oldest companies in the world, but it has more than 100 years of experience in automotive engineering. That means that if you want to add an antique BMW to your collection, you’ve got decades of models to choose from. Here’s how to find one you can enjoy for years to come.

Set Your Budget

This is the first thing you should do before you buy a car — whether you’re bringing home a new BMW or looking for the perfect antique to add to your collection. Set a budget and stick to it. When you’re looking for a new-to-you car, it’s easy to spend an arm and a leg — and a couple of nonessential organs — trying to bring home the perfect one. Establishing a budget will keep you from breaking the bank. 

Choose Your Seller

When you’re looking for an antique car, you’ve got three potential seller types to choose from, each with its pros and cons. Auctions can be more affordable, but won’t give you the option to inspect or test-drive the vehicle before buying it. Dealerships might have a better selection, but they’ll be more expensive because of dealer fees. Private sellers can be hit-or-miss — you might find a treasure from a widow who just wants to get rid of her late husband’s collection, or you might find someone trying to scam you out of your antique car fund. Choose carefully. 

Have a Safe Place to Park 

Don’t bring home a piece of automotive history unless you have a safe place to store it. Parking an antique BMW in your driveway or on the street is like asking a car thief to take it off your hands. In addition to protecting your vehicle from unsavory elements, parking in an insulated garage can protect your new addition from anything Mother Nature might throw at it. Antique cars tend to not do as well in extreme temperatures, so the more you can do to make your garage climate-controlled, the better.

Learn Its History

Now that you have your new BMW safely stored in your garage, we can move on to the fun part. Take some time to learn about your car’s history. It might be something simple — maybe you purchased it from a private seller who bought it new and has maintained it carefully throughout its lifetime. It could be something exotic — maybe it belonged to a gangster in Chicago during Prohibition or showed up in the background of a classic black-and-white movie. Perhaps it’s just your favorite BMW model of all time. 

Any way you look at it, you’re bringing home a piece of BMW history, and it might have an incredible story to tell. 

Restore and Enjoy

You may find your favorite BMW, but unless its previous owner kept it in the garage, it will likely need some TLC to bring it back to its former glory. Take the time to restore it so you can enjoy it fully and show it off around town. If you care for it properly, it will serve you well for years to come. 

How to Take Your BMW on a Road Trip

The warm months are here, and that means it’s time to start planning your summer road trip with your BMW. What do you need to know before you get behind the wheel for this year’s trip?

Tune Up

Before you leave your hometown in the rearview, make sure your BMW is road-trip-worthy. The last thing you want is to ruin your journey by getting stranded on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere. It’ll derail your trip, but you’ll also find yourself on the receiving end of a pricy towing bill. Take your car to the shop and make sure it’s in good enough shape to carry you through your travels. 

Pack Smart

You’ll need to ensure everything you take for your trip fits comfortably in your BMW without crowding you out — and that it’s all easily accessible. There’s nothing worse on a road trip than needing something and realizing it’s packed in the bottom of your trunk. Stock up on snacks and drinks for the time you’ll spend between gas stations, so you’re not tempted to stop at every fast food joint you come across.

Rest Often

It might not seem like you’re doing much, but driving can be exhausting. It’s a good idea to take a 15-minute break every two hours while you’re on the road and to limit your driving to eight hours every day. Big truck stops will be some of the best places to stop during your trip, especially if you’re not planning on staying in a hotel. They’ve got food, showers, entertainment and a safe place for you to park for the night if you’re sleeping in your car. 

Rock Out

What is a road trip without a rocking playlist? Put that high-end BMW sound system to good use and create a playlist to keep you entertained and singing at the top of your lungs while driving. Just make sure you like the songs you choose — you definitely don’t want to spend too much time finding with your phone while you’re driving. 

That distraction can be downright dangerous, and the last thing you want to do is ruin your trip by getting into an accident because you just had to find the perfect song.

Plan Well

We love the idea of taking off without a care or a plan and just seeing where the road takes you, but that can come back to bite you. There are stretches of highway, especially in the Midwest, where you can easily go hundreds of miles without seeing another human soul — or a gas station. 

Calling AAA for rescue when you’re in the middle of nowhere could end up being expensive, even if all you need is a can of gas. Take the time to plan your road trip before you leave your driveway. 

Have Fun

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that the whole point of taking your BMW on a road trip is to have fun. Enjoy seeing your home country from the open road instead of the air. It’s a fantastic way to change your perspective and gives you something exciting to do during the warm summer months. 

5 Careers You Can Have With BMWs

Heritage in a brand goes a long way, and few automakers have the heritage of Bayerische Motoren Werke, or the BMW. The highly-esteemed brand from Germany has earned quite the following in their 100+ year history. BMWs have a reputation for being premium automobiles, but they’re not so exclusive that you can’t start appreciating them at a young age. 

It is this combination of accessibility and allure that motivates so many people to want to work around these classic automobiles. But what is the best career path for you as a BMW aficionado? Here are some options. 

1. Learn to Wrench

With millions of BMWs on the road, there’s no shortage of work in repairing them. Fine German automobiles have their perks, but cheap service is not one of them. That means learning how to resolve issues with BMWs can be a career that provides well. There’s even a company program that will teach you the ins and outs of BMW cars and help you find work at a dealership.

2. Run Your Own Dealership

Speaking of dealerships, you can enjoy spending time around lots of BMWs if you open your own! It’s a fast-paced role that demands keen business sense and could have you working long hours. If you enjoy working with people, though, this could be a great spot for you. Do well, and you can make a lot of money — perhaps you’ll even be in charge of multiple dealerships. You’ll also probably get an early chance to pick up that exciting new model everyone’s talking about, too.  

3. Start a Tuning Shop

These days, tuning cars is every bit as much about understanding computer programming as it is about turning wrenches. Modern BMWs can be tuned to produce some absolutely astounding power numbers, and that’s not all. Many customers are looking for a custom aesthetic or interesting interior upgrades. With the right location and skills, you can have a steady stream of customers. 

4. Become a BMW Driver

Just like becoming a professional athlete, these jobs are rare and difficult to get. However, if you start young and have the right combination of skill and luck, you could one day become a professional driver for BMW. BMW cars and bikes race in a multitude of international competitions, and there are opportunities for drivers in all different types of cars — from touring cars that look like what you drive to work, to Formula 1. It’s a good idea to have a backup plan if you’re going to pursue this one. 

5. Detail BMWs

Making cars look their best is a skill that applies no matter what marque you specialize in. It’s true, however, that luxury cars tend to spend more time at the auto salon than your garden-variety Deawoo. Detailing is a career you can begin with no experience. As your skills improve, you can learn to do bodywork and apply high-tech treatments like ceramic coating. 

As a car enthusiast, there are lots of ways to incorporate your hobby into your career. Some might be better-paying than others, but remember that if you’re good at what you do, you can always demand a premium. Ultimately, the satisfaction you get from working around cars you love is the thing that will propel you to success and a happy career with these iconic and exciting automobiles.