Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Restoring An E32 BMW 750i

How is it that one is able to now buy a 1990 BMW 750iL, once the pinnacle of automotive luxury, performance, and engineering, for $1,700?

Well, it's complicated. No, the answer is not complicated. The car is complicated. As in, it's got a complex V12 engine that is essentially two inline 6s melded together. It's stuffed tighter in its engine bay than my belt after four trips to a Vegas buffet. And it's got gadgets and gizmos that could cause all sorts of havoc. Heated door locks? Check. Extra motor on each wiper pivot that exerts more pressure on the blade when the car speeds up? Check. Motorized window weatherstripping?! You got it. And did I mention that every part will cost you at least twice the $1,700 you just spent on the car itself?

So who would buy such a car? And restore it? In the wintertime? At night? Just a few hundred miles south of the Arctic Circle?

Edvin, a Finnish visitor to this blog, no less. Check out his new blog, which follows, day by day, his progress (or lack thereof) in fixing up a 1988 750i. He meticulously documents his project, and even includes an itemization of all of his costs. Go Edvin, you masochist!

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