Everyone's First BMW Model

[PJLerum0803]

Hello, new forum member. I want to know what everyone's first BMW model was and how they got into the brand of BMW! I am very interested in the brand as my dad first got me into Bimmers with his purchase of a brand new 530i in 2004.

[gerry1000]

was very close to a 2002Tii in '72 but my loan got bounced because I'd only been working 4 months out of college.

07 328xi MT was actually my first

[shogun]

In 1975 I bought a 1 year old 2002 BMW from a friend. The BMW 02 Series was produced between 1966 and 1977, based on a shortened version of the New Class Sedans. The 02 Series caught enthusiasts' attention, the base single-carburetor 2002 producing 75 kW (101 hp).

[jay8s]

'95 E36 325is 4 door. Loved that car, and still miss it. I am about to move from my E60 back into my old E39. What is old is new again.

[323i E30]

Some 18 years ago a good friend of mine showed up in an E30 and I fell in love with it instantly.
Not much later I bought my first one (a 316i).

[ptarditi]

Bought a 1602 that was badged as a 2002, today that would prob mean a lawsuit, that was 1973. Wanted a BMW after riding in a friend's car that was able to drive a back road at speeds that my Ford Galaxy was totally unsafe.

[ross1]

It was a 1985 735i for me.
Bought it only because it was a bargain priced misfit at Ford dealer after the first owner traded it for a SHO Taurus when those were the darlings of all the car magazines.
I didn't expect to like it so much and have been a fan of everything before Bangle and I-drive since.

[shogun]

That thread started originally in the Forum General BMW Discussion, I moved a copy to the E32 forum, maybe we continue here our own thread

[CroughtonE32]

I was in the Air Force living in England from 1967-1971. I was stationed at an RAF base about 15 miles north of the Rover/MG factory. I was allowed to purchase a new car tax free, duty free and excise tax free because I was in the service. I had a few used cars during my first two years there, a Mini, Triumph Herald etc. First new car was a 1970 VW Karmann Ghia convertible. I had it three days and fell asleep driving home from a midnight shift and totaled it. An officer I worked with had a BMW 2002 I believe, and I decided to buy one after the insurance paid off. It was not allowed. They had this rule.....only one "Third County Car" tax free. That meant not an American car,or a car from the country you were stationed in but any other country. For me that other country was Germany and my VW meant I could not buy another German car. I bought the MG and shipped it home when I was discharged. Always wanted that BMW but back home they were just too expensive. Bought a Volvo in 74 and then in 83 I was able to afford the BMW. I got the E23 7 series with a five speed and had it until I bought the 1990 that I've got today. In between I bought a one year old 1996 Z3 as a fun car, but sold it about a year later. So two 7 series cars for the past 35 years.

[mjimport]

85 325 for me, about a decade ago. Have had 3 e30s and now the e32.
unfortunately i have 2 young kids, a money pit house and a 60 hour per week job so I’m not sure how long i can keep up the hobby.

[QUiKSR20]

First BMW for me was an E30 I acquired in 2010, I had many VWs and always loved German cars but never had a BMW.. After that I was hooked and since bought and sold an E90, as well as my E30 which im still kicking myself for doing.
It had alot of rust which I didn't have time to fix and I do not know body work. Since then I daily drive an F30 BMW and as a fun weekend car I have an E36 5 Speed Convertible project car that even the kids and wife can enjoy in the warm months.

[BacDoc]

E60 M5. Sold my CTS-V to buy a V2 but when I couldn't make a deal I found and M5. Since I've owned a '91 318is, '89 325ix, and currently '95 M3 track build.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[e30luv318i]

1985 318i with 90k about 15 years ago

[masbury]

My first E32 was a 740i in 2016. I rescued it from an abusive owner. It may have a bad trans, but I haven't had the time to work with it yet. My second one was my 1990 750i shortie V12, German spec car, though these were not my first BMW's, they were my first E32's.

My very first BMW was one of my other "rescue" cars, a 1991 850i I purchased in 2014. I now have 4 V12's. In addition to my 750 "shortie" and 850, I also own a '98 750iL as well as a spare M70 engine.

[yukon101]

My dad had a 02 330xi E46 from new, four years ago he traded it in and bought a used 06 Jeep that he recently got rid of because of problems. Riding around in his 3 series and at times my uncles 540i E39 made me really enjoy the handing and setup of BMWs. A year ago I bought my E32 originally with the intent of rebuilding the engine until I saw how good the compression numbers were and how much more refined the car felt versus my American luxury car.

[Wasabi Avocado]

Ahhh. My lovely little auto slushbox was my first BMW. 1985 318i auto, got it stock at 200k. All original or OEM parts aside from shocks and struts. She's actually sitting in Colorado with a mechanic that seems unable to repair the 4hp22 or find a replacement... Looks like I'll be having her shipped out to California so I can manual swap it. Will likely throw Webers on her when she's driving again as well.

Lots of people say to avoid the two years with the M10... But it's such a bulletproof engine, even if it does sound a bit like a sewing machine. I do think the M10 is much more suited to the lighter, more narrow 2002s but regardless... Reliable engine.

Love that car because it always surprised me what 100hp can do in such a small vehicle with such a light kerb weight. Can't wait to drive her again, especially once I get the Getrag thrown in there...

[E32FAN]

1995 540 iA. I had no idea that an automobile could perform so flawlessly!

Then I bought used 735iA and 750iA E32 cars, and I was hooked.

[Zieg]

1995 540 iA. I had no idea that an automobile could perform so flawlessly!

Then I bought used 735iA and 750iA E32 cars, and I was hooked.

First BMW was a 1980 320i automatic that I purchased new in 1980. As a family we put 480,000+ miles and never had the engine rebuilt. Rust did it in. Since then I have owned a total of 27 different BMW's. I presently own a 84 633CSi, 83 320i, 98 328i and a pristine 1987 Euro 735i 5 speed.

[youngbimmer]

My parents offered to purchase a first car for me when I was 16, with a budget of $10000 USD in exchange for getting full scholarship to my university. My mom when she lived in Lebanon, had a E21 323, so naturally I started looking for one of those. Couldn't find one near me, but I found an E24. Parents wouldn't let me get one of those as they were "too old". I ended up somehow with a E46 325i, which is the most POS car I've ever owned, and I ended up trading for an Acura RSX. Couldn't stay away from BMW for too long, as the first BMW I purchased for myself was the E32 735iL, then another E32 735iL, then finally the E32 735i I have now! I will certainly be adding an E21, E23, and E24 at some point in my life. Funny enough though, I don't really care from modern BMWs. That E46 really life a sour taste in my mouth.

[NE32]

My first bmw is my current '91 735iL. Was originally looking at E34s but test drove the 7 on a whim. Fell in love and I never plan to sell it! Plan is to get an E36 m3 next then maybe an E9 sometime down the road.

[m60power]

I have only ever owned e34s and e32s. Started with an e34 540 13 years ago, then I rode in a friend's e32 about 5 years ago and was hooked. I now have two e32s

[gregeast]

My first was a '96 E36 328i sedan that I bought in 2000, after driving an '86 Audi 4000CS Quattro for a long time.

My boss had an E36 325is that he let me drive and I was sold after that. My son still has the 328i (now with 240k miles on it), my daughter has a '97 328i cabrio (140k miles) and I have my '93 740i (130k miles).

[m735is]

1983 e21 320is. Bought it in 1987. Great car for the twisties! Have been working on them ever since (current cars: 85 735i (bought in 1990), 92 525iT, 97 528i- 5 speed- DD).

[Avec]

I bought my Dad's '85 528e when I got out of college a couple years later. I loved the body style. I got an E21 after that one. I fell for a girl that said I needed to have more of a family car. She was so un-knowledgeable about cars, she asked if BMW made 4-door cars. So, I sold my E21 and bought my E32 in 2000. 18 years later, I still have the 740 and the girl. To bring things to current, my lingering love for the E28 manifested in buying a 533 derelict and resurrecting it.

[youngbimmer]

I bought my Dad's '85 528e when I got out of college a couple years later. I loved the body style. I got an E21 after that one. I fell for a girl that said I needed to have more of a family car. She was so un-knowledgeable about cars, she asked if BMW made 4-door cars. So, I sold my E21 and bought my E32 in 2000. 18 years later, I still have the 740 and the girl. To bring things to current, my lingering love for the E28 manifested in buying a 533 derelict and resurrecting it.

Great story, I wish you kept the E21 though