So we went to Delaware and came back with this..

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

So after doing extensive research and a good number of Saturdays driving to go see different cars, yesterday something happened. Leading up to it, our favorite was the E320, a rock solid car, loads of safety features, good performance and the '96 - 2002 is one of the best ratted and most reliable used cars PERIOD. But the problem is that this car is to replace Amanda's 2 door civic, and I took her to test drive a few good examples of 99's or newer E320's. She felt intimidated by them, was nervous to drive them and struggled at first to park one. So we checked out the c230 Kompressor, it was too small for what we wanted and does not have as good a track record as the E320. Well, my second choice was the 528i, I am an MB guy, they have been in my family for a while, and mine has been very good. But I have taken care of a good number of BMW's in the past and knew the motor and rest of the drive line was top notch, and the safety features were right up there with the E320. To get to the point, I found one that has just gone up on cars.com a few thousand under Blue Book, and it was in Delaware. The thing about Delaware, for those not from the area is that there is no sales tax, which means we saved a crap ton, just by taking a longer drive out of state. Come to find out, this car was from right down the street from where I grew up (we found a little menorah in the back and I asked where). The problem is now we have 4 cars, the mocha monster is almost unsellable, not comfortable or reliable (215k) and has so many issues its not even funny, we still have the Civic, but it is worth more to keep it than we could get for it (33mpg is hard to let go), and the sled is well the sled so its not going anywhere. The whole point of this was to find a solid and safe 4 door for Amanda to drive and Arthur to ride in (our family car) and this one fit the requirements and price limitations perfectly. Ok enough with my blabber here is the newest member to our family, gem of a motor and in above average condition...

Love the car already.

[DevilDriver 28]

<jealous>

[///M5 2,833]

Nice work mang!

[topgun 262]

Sexy

[Chevy350TPI 12]

and the sled is well the sled so its not going anywhere.

Haha I love it!

Looks like a nice ride. Safe, reliable, and practical - sounds good to me. Hang onto the Civic .. the mileage and overall cheapness to run is worth it.

Try and get rid of the monster I guess. I think it is just going to wind up taking up space and costing you too much money.

[Adrian_D 520]

congrats on the purchase

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Nice grab! Get rid of the Exploder. With Arthur around, it's hardly the place to dump anymore money. Just put an ad in the paper. Whatever you get for it is better than what you're getting now. The longer it sits, the less money you'll make.

[mrray13 30]

shoot, james was offered 2500 for his exploder and it's way up there in mileage.

nice buy bro!

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Its going to be hard for me to let the monster go..

the performance parts alone are worth more than the truck . But I know it makes sense to let it go, but it wont pass MD inspection, no chance what so ever. This means my commuter will be the go cart. Our little civic has so much damn road noise I cannot talk on the phone (a few of you have called me while we were in it), but I have naughty thoughts about making it stupid loud. As for the explorer, I have thought about parting it out, I have thought about taking it off the road and just throwing plates back on it for competitions (but I know thats not cool), but it still moves forward and gets me to where I need to get to, albeit uncomfortable with no more power windows working or 4WD broken or AC (broken) etc...

Humm..............going to be a very sad day when it goes, it is what I took my drivers license test in. We have had it in the family since new ('92).

[Chevy350TPI 12]

Sell the performance/aftermarket pieces ... part the rest out, or sell the rest as a whole to a yard ?

[Patrick Simmons 0]

Congrats!

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Sell the performance/aftermarket pieces ... part the rest out, or sell the rest as a whole to a yard ?

That was my plan, once it died again, was to part it out, but the issue now is that I dont have the tools or equipment to pull things like headers and exhaust and so on.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

I do need to find the right product to de-fog the lens covers.

[Tirefryr 1,742]

I do need to find the right product to de-fog the lens covers.

If it's the outside, you can polish them. If it's the inside, I have no idea.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Actually I think it is a mixture of both. But I honestly have not had time to really look at it. It will take me weeks to get the paint up to what the sled is at right now, but that is my ultra pickiness.

[///M5 2,833]

Weeks? How about an afternoon with a Makita buffer and a chitpile of 3M products. Turned my M from an orange sunbleached beast into a reflective red.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Meaning, if I can grab a sunday for a few hours and do some heavy paint cleaners, then some sealer, then a glaze, then a good wax which I would probably repeat about 3-5 times, then a polish (which reminds me I need to run out and get some more). Going to have to treat the leather and so on.

[Tirefryr 1,742]

You've got that all wrong.

Wash with dishsoap first to strip all the old wax, then clay bar, then POLISH. The polish is the key here. It includes oils which will bring out the color in the pain and keep it fresh. Then and only then should you apply a wax, sealer or glaze. They are for nothing more than protecting the polish which gives the paint it's beautiful lustre.

[ngsm13 1]

Cools.

What so it's a 528i? What year...?

Mind telling what you got it for?

nG

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

You've got that all wrong.

Wash with dishsoap first to strip all the old wax, then clay bar, then POLISH. The polish is the key here. It includes oils which will bring out the color in the pain and keep it fresh. Then and only then should you apply a wax, sealer or glaze. They are for nothing more than protecting the polish which gives the paint it's beautiful lustre.

I have done dish soap before and it has caused scouring and streaks. I will stick with normal turtle wax soap that has done very well for me for a long time.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Cools.

What so it's a 528i? What year...?

Mind telling what you got it for?

nG

1999

We bought it because we needed a very safe and reliable 4door for Arthur to ride in and Amanda to be safe driving. The trusty 2 door civic made me nervous and was a massive pain in the tookus to get him in and out of the back seat. This car has loads of safety equipment and air bags out the wazoo. Part of it is piece of mind for me, and the other part of it is that Amanda loved it to death. She said she felt intimidated by the E320 and felt much more comfortable in this car. The 528i is some what more compact on external dimensions. Nothing against Amanda, but there are some sizable dents, dings, scratches, and even a large dragged indentation on the civic, so the last thing I was going to do was buy her a car that she was unsure about the size of it. The 528i just fits near perfect, its a little sporty, awesome ride, perfect size for Amanda and has plenty of room for Arthur and all his stuff. Plus I have a thing for I-6 motors, they have been great to me or have been smooth and solid to the people I know that own them.

[///M5 2,833]

You've got that all wrong.

Wash with dishsoap first to strip all the old wax, then clay bar, then POLISH. The polish is the key here. It includes oils which will bring out the color in the pain and keep it fresh. Then and only then should you apply a wax, sealer or glaze. They are for nothing more than protecting the polish which gives the paint it's beautiful lustre.

Yes, but instead of the dishsoap try some buffing compound and a nice buffer and get those swirls and streaks out while you are at it. Actually wash, clay bar, and then buff followed by polish, glaze & wax. for reflections of yourself in your car. Probably need a good 6-8hrs at it though.

[Godsmack 361]

Nice car!!!!!

If the truck was 2nd gen I'd have a mountaineer I'd sell ya cheap.

Needs some work.

J

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Nice car!!!!!

If the truck was 2nd gen I'd have a mountaineer I'd sell ya cheap.

Needs some work.

J

Not as much as the monster needs.

[Godsmack 361]

true........this needs transfer case, tires and windshield.......little interior cleanup too.

J