Plus, with wider pan and all that lead in the bodywork, it was heavier than the Beetle on which is was based. So, the sleeker, sportier version of the Beetle was slower than the Beetle.

Or, in a similar lighting-related question, why does GM stick with turning on the reverse lights when you unlock your car.  Shouldn’t reverse lights be for reversing?

James,

Somewhere, there’s a 24 Hours of Lemon’s team thinking EXACTLY this.

In my opinion, one of the biggest issues with modern BMWs’ reliability is their “Free Maintenance” program. 15,000 mile oil changes. “Lifetime fill” on the transmissions and differentials... Once BMW offered to pick up the tab, fluid changes became as frequent as the Olympics.

Just like the stationary wheel covers all the F1 teams ran in 2006-2007 (before they were banned), these covers are less about brake cooling and more about preventing the very turbulent air swirling through the wheels from interrupting the aero down the side of the car. If they can keep that airflow down the car…

Taller wheels do not necessarily mean a taller ride height when you also drop the sidewall...  

I get that, but they had to have some recourse to revoke his ability to use the party affiliation, right?  Like get him on a copyright violation or use of the term Republican without the express, written consent of Major League Baseball or something...  anything?

Awesome job guys!  Classic motoring at its finest.

Hell, in my congressional there is an ACTUAL NAZI on the ticket. Being suburban Chicago, the Democrat in my district is pretty well entrenched. So, the Republicans didn’t bother to support a candidate in this district.

It will join our other BMWs “of a certain age.”  My wife had a thing for distinguished Bavarians. Eventually we will restore it. But for now, it’ll just be a good summer driver.

The replacement for this car in 1977 was officially the e23, which was listed the first 7-series. During the time this car, the E3 (Bavaria), was in production, it was the smaller two-door cars (1602, 2002, etc) and the New Class four-doors also in production. So, this was the biggest car BMW made at the time.

Onward! As I mentioned before, we’ve got one coming to us on a truck right now. Up for a race? Let’s see which Bavaria makes it to Chicago first!

A couple of weeks ago, there was a debate on the looks of another McLaren, the Senna.

If you need help in/around Chicago, call us! Our Bavaria should have arrived by then with spares and we’ve got more than one M30-powered BMW in the garage. And tools. And a lift. Hell, even if you need a photo op!

Still $9K on the configurmatronimator at Parsh.com.

I hope your trip in an E3 goes better than ours did last weekend!

I just bought a relatively cheap car there last month, that sure isn’t an over-restored beauty pageant winner... 

The e30 is too fat and heavy.

Our E60, with the V8, seems to be the opposite. 4 hours to replace a gasket on the alternator bracket. Yes, the alternator bracket seals an oil passage. Why? Who knows. But you can’t get there from here.