I got the bug in the last few months to own a true performance car. I've never owned a performance vehicle of any kind. Along with performance I wanted a level of refinement, comfort and practicality - a somewhat understated and sophisticated ride that only hinted at the power that lurked within. I also was definitely not going to buy something new. I started my search looking for a E46 Laguna Seca Blue M3 SMG similar to the one that Simon (one of CarDomain's co-founders) owned. Then I was distracted for a while by an E36 Estoril Blue M3 with Dinan stage 3 but many local gearheads including several on the BMW forums talked me out of it....good thing. I then test drove a really nice 1999 E55 AMG (my wife drives a 2000 E320 wagon which has to be the best wagon ever made and I really like that vintage of the E Class) but then decided I didn't like the way the vehicle had been maintained. And then just when I was starting to get a little antsy....I saw this ad on craigslist for a single owner Lemans blue M5 2002 with just under 60,000 miles. It had been maintained in just awesome condition and I knew in my gut that this was the vehicle I'd been waiting for. The previous owner is a BMW fanatic, only ever buys BMWs, just bought a 335ci that he picked up in Germany and the only reason he parted with the M5 was because he has 4 BMW's at the moment and his wife pushed him to reduce his fleet...I'm ever so indebted to his wife!

Several test drives and negotiations later....it's now mine (as of Mar. 6, 2008) and I couldn't be happier (yeah yeah I know all about the expensive maintenance costs :)). I remember when I bought my first new car in 1979 - a white Nissan 200SX with burgundy seats and alloy wheels....I thought things could never get any better...well they just have. I can't seem to get this grin off my face.

I'm in love with these seats and the interior...

The very heart of the lurking beast...

 

The Angel Eyes are upon you...

 

Life is definitely exhilarating behind the wheel of a BMW...

This car has every possible option one could get at the time. I have a couple of mods in mind for the next few months:
- replace the outdated BMW CDMA phone with a Bluetooth module (Done)

- short shifter (the throws on the stock shifter are very long)

- uprade the navigation to a DVD based nav with perspective view