The BMW 2002 is a small car made by BMW in the late 1960s and 1970s. It's famous for being fun to drive and is considered a classic among car enthusiasts.
A turbo model is a version of a car that has a special device called a turbocharger. This device helps the engine produce more power, making the car faster without needing a bigger engine.
The kidney grill is a special design feature on BMW cars that looks like two kidneys next to each other. It's not just for looks; it helps cool the engine by letting air in.
The Pontiac GTO is a famous car from the 1960s and 70s that is known for being fast and powerful. It's considered one of the first muscle cars, which are cars designed for speed and performance.
'Ultimate driving machine' is a catchy phrase BMW uses to say their cars are really fun to drive and very well made. It shows how much they care about making great cars.
The Alpina Z8 is a fancy sports car that looks really nice and goes fast. It's made by a company that takes BMW cars and makes them even better, so it's special and not easy to find.
The BMW 7 Series is a big luxury car that's very comfortable and has a lot of high-tech features. People often buy it because it looks nice and shows off wealth.
The BMW New Class is a group of cars made a long time ago that helped make BMW popular. They were known for being stylish and fun to drive, and they set the stage for the company's future cars.
The BMW Z1 is a unique convertible car made by BMW. It has cool doors that can slide down into the car's body, making it look different from other cars.
The BMW Z4 is a newer version of the Z3, made by BMW. It has a sportier look and better performance, and it comes in both a convertible and a hardtop version.
The BMW 8 Series is a high-performance sports car that looks great and drives really well, appealing to those who love luxury and speed.
Car
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a fast and powerful version of the CT5 sedan. It's made for people who love driving and want a luxury car that can perform well on a racetrack.
The BMW M5 is a fast and sporty car that is part of the BMW 5 Series. It's designed for performance and has a powerful engine, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
Rear-wheel drive means that the back wheels of the car get the power from the engine. This can make the car handle better and feel sportier when driving.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a big family vehicle that can carry a lot of people and their stuff. It's popular because it's roomy and can handle tough jobs, like towing trailers.
The BMW M440i is a sporty car that offers a powerful engine and sleek design. It's part of BMW's 4 Series lineup and is designed for those who enjoy driving performance cars.
The BMW X5 is a fancy SUV made by BMW that started being sold in 1999. It's popular for being fast and comfortable, changing how people view luxury SUVs.
The Porsche Cayenne is a luxury SUV that Porsche started selling in 2002. It's known for being sporty and fast, and it helped make the idea of performance SUVs popular.
Torque is how strong an engine is when it turns. It helps cars speed up and pull heavy things. Diesel engines usually have more torque than regular gas engines, which is why people like them for tough jobs.
A plug-in hybrid is a car that can use electricity from a wall outlet to charge its battery, as well as gasoline. This means it can drive on electric power for a while before needing gas, making it more efficient.
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a large SUV that can fit a lot of people and is great for families. It has a lot of space inside and is good for driving on different types of roads.
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough vehicle made for driving off-road, like on dirt trails or rocky paths. It has a unique look and you can take off parts like the doors and roof for a fun experience.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast sports car that looks really cool and can go from zero to sixty miles per hour quickly. It's popular because it's fun to drive and has a stylish design.
The BMW M Coupe (E36) is a special sports car that's known for being fast and having a unique shape. It's a favorite among collectors because it's not very common and fun to drive.
The BMW M2 is a sporty version of a smaller BMW car that is really fun to drive fast. It has a strong engine and handles well, making it great for both daily driving and racing.
The Toyota GR 86 is a small sports car that's designed to be really fun to drive. It's light and has a special setup that makes it great for people who love speed and handling.
The Toyota Supra is a famous sports car that people love for its speed and cool looks. It's been updated recently, so it's a mix of new technology and the classic style that fans remember.
The Chevrolet Impala is a big car that's comfortable and can fit a lot of people. It's been around for a long time and is often chosen by families for everyday driving.
LIVE
Yeah, crazy car.
Yeah, BMW. Yeah.
Maybe we should do BMW deep dive.
I was going to say, we've already like
done. We've already jumped into BMW here.
Maybe we'll just keep going.
Yeah, maybe we want to.
We can. I think so.
I mean, if you're down, let's do it.
I love it. I love that pivot.
Yes. Oh, we are on it.
We are into it here.
Everybody talking BMW.
Yeah. So, yeah.
So, I mean, obviously, so like we've done before
is we've got to talk about our absolute favorite BMWs.
Right? Oh, yeah.
All right, you go first.
You're like old BMW.
Like we're talking like closer to the beginning.
Where are you at?
Because I've got one in mind for me.
And I honestly think we're going to be about the same.
I think for me, it's the 2002.
Oh, that's mine.
Damn you.
We did it again.
We had both at the car.
McGee, dude, I'm telling you, the BMW, the 2002.
Yes. That model.
Now, and for the listener, right?
Like they have to understand that the 2002 is not a model year.
That is correct.
Model number of the car.
So it was built in the 60s and 70s, right?
And it's basically what started the entire kickoff for what we now know
is the BMW three series.
Yeah, so like here it is from BMW.
They made it from 68 to 76.
We're a real drive driver focused design.
And they came with a huge range of performance options.
Yeah, they had fuel injection.
And then there was even a turbo model and like, oh, it's just in the look.
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
So iconic, so iconic.
Yeah, it is the iconic BMW.
I mean, that was where they really perfected the kidney grill
with the big BMW round dell right there on the hood.
And oh, it's just, yeah, I mean, it's just got that perfect
like three box design with the little bit of angles going on
that you knew like, OK, this is sporty.
I mean, and yeah, reading the name stands for two liter, two doors down.
So that's where the two thousand two comes from.
That's awesome.
I didn't want that.
Thank you for sharing that. Yes.
Yep, it's like we're four, four, two of the old mobile.
Right. The numbers actually mean something.
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
But I mean, yeah, it is like you look at that two thousand two and that just
oh, it just screams just this beautiful car.
It's kind of quirky, right?
But oh, yes.
No, like you said, there's that underlying performance.
And the first time I ever saw one was actually, you know,
we've talked about him before on the podcast, but Dr.
Olson there that I got my. Oh my gosh, yes.
He had one and I can't remember when he bought it,
but it was sitting in his carport next to the GTO for decades.
And I think the last time that he ever drove, it was like the late 90s.
But yeah, like I remember seeing that car under the carport going,
that is a really unique looking car.
Like, what is that?
So it is. Yeah.
Do you know what happened to that two thousand two?
Because it was it orange? Do I have them?
It was like it was like a frost silver or like.
OK, I don't know.
Like a very light blue color.
No, what happened to it?
I remember a right around the same time that I bought the GTO from him
or you sold it to me that he sold it to a
someone he knew that was interested in the car.
And I don't know if they restored it or what, but I'm sure that they fixed it up
enough at least where they could drive it.
I think it had a little bit of rust on it, if I remember right.
It was all there. All ridgy. Yeah.
So that's such a cool connection.
Well, there we go.
I mean, coming full circle here back to back to Ken Olson's cars and the two thousand two.
Yeah. You know, crazy, isn't it?
Yes. So that's that's awesome.
I love that you and I were each on the two thousand two because it is.
It's it's an icon and it's cool looking and it did.
It sparked like all the performance that we see now at a BMW, which is awesome.
Right. That I mean, it was the first car to really, I think, put BMW on the map.
Soon it would become the ultimate driving machine later on with that whole catch
phrase slogan.
And it was the first car to to be a curated performance choice.
It was still pretty under the radar, but you you got in and man,
what is it? The little car four speed, two liter designed with the sporting
enthusiasm in mind. Oh, yeah.
I love that it's like the style is like such it's like a big fishbowl in the middle.
Like that I I've never been in a two thousand two.
I imagine like the visibility is second to none.
Oh, yeah. Well, it's funny, it's almost it's almost like they let the designers
design the car and then they forgot to do the passenger compartment.
Because they're like, oh, crap, like, wait, it needs headroom and glass and stuff
because like the body itself is really sleek.
If you think about the late sixties.
Yes. So it's just in there like, oh, whoops.
Like, yeah, how are we going to do that?
Like, oh, yeah, it doesn't matter because, I mean, it's I mean, it's basically
the father of like the driver's car.
It is. Right.
It's yeah, the grandfather to all the BMWs to follow.
Oh, my gosh. Yeah.
I'm just looking at a few examples on bring a trailer right now.
What have they been selling for?
Well, there's one that just sold for 50 K. Wow.
Whoa. That one.
50 K. OK.
And that was back on that just ended on no Saturday.
November, November 1st.
Interesting.
And then there's another one, but that's definitely an outlier
because there are others.
There's a 76 BMW 2002, 26,750 and that awesome orange.
Oh, love that.
Oh, it's beautiful.
Inca orange.
That's so 70s with this with the turbine wheels.
Yeah, that's a nice spec.
Oh, yeah, got to love the Inca orange.
They were just having so much fun with the colors.
Yeah. So yeah.
So the 2002, yeah, totally agree.
That's where it all started.
I mean, there were earlier ones.
I mean, I almost said the 507, which was their roadster from,
I believe, the late fifties.
That is just another just car that's dripping with style and class.
But I think they made very few of them.
And it's the car that actually went on to inspire the design
of the Z8 in the early 2000s.
Yes, the BMW 507, definitely major inspiration to the Z8.
I am really torn for like more modern BMWs.
Like my favorites is I am so torn between a Z8 and a 2001 750i.
For me, that E38 7 Series is the pinnacle of BMW design.
Like it's gorgeous.
Even by today's standards, the 7 Series of that era is beautiful car.
I mean, you could park it in a parking lot today
and you'd be like, oh, that's a pretty new BMW.
Like you just it's just the styling of it's perfect.
It's just perfect.
Yes. And that V12.
Oh, my God, that beautiful 5.4 liter V12.
I that's for me, like I will own a V12 someday.
It's going to be that car.
It's just it has to be.
So is that and that's way more obtainable than the Z8.
So I love the Z Series.
I mean, the first time I ever saw a Z1 and saw the door like suck down
into basically the rocker, get it out of it.
I was like, what is this car?
Like, this is amazing.
Like what is happening?
And then like I've had my own experience with the Z3 that my mother owns.
And then I've driven a Z4.
And and then when they came out with the Z8, you know, obviously,
I was like in middle school, it was in that James Bond movie.
And oh, yes.
And then even of recent, like a couple of years back, you and I saw that black
one with a red interior down at cars and coffee.
Oh, God, it's gorgeous.
It's just like it was one.
It's one of those cars like to describe to the listener like how it works for
me and Ian is it's like it's one of those cars where you see it in the distance.
And you know, immediately, you're like, pretty sure that's a Z8.
And you just like walk up closer to it and you're like, yep, that's it.
Yep, it just has such presence.
And yeah, it's still to this day.
I saw one at the bring a trailer meet up and same.
It's just the interior, the design, the exterior.
It just, yeah, it looks like it could be a brand new car that came out this year.
It just is so timeless.
It is. And it's just a beauty.
Oh, my God, it's just I'm looking at the picture of it now.
It's stunning. It's such a stunning car.
Yeah, you it's you can see why they.
Have just skyrocketed in value.
Oh, yeah. I mean, they made so little of them.
And that is that is not obtainable by any way, shape or form.
Yeah, their biggest production year was 2001.
They made nine hundred and seventy of them.
Like that's nothing.
Yeah, they're selling for one hundred seventy five and two forty K.
Oof. Yeah.
I guess I won't be affordin' those unless I win the lottery.
But but for, you know, I'd like grass for modern,
like more modern BMW, like that is.
Oh, that is right up there.
That's just a gorgeous car with wicked performance.
And it's just, man, they just you can't help but love
the design and the effort that went into that.
Whoever helped design that at BMW, I tip my hand to you.
True way. Yes. Yeah.
I mean, so yeah, would you say that's so that's one of your favorites?
There's the eight and the seven fifty.
Yeah, for modern ones. Yeah.
Modern and like to touch on like the like the very modern BMWs.
Like we're talking like, you know, twenty fifteen to twenty twenty twenty twenty five.
Like there's really nothing that they have right now that screams to me like,
oh, I want to have one of those someday.
Like they still have performance cars that are very much oriented towards the driver, right?
Which is what we love about BMW.
That's why they call them the ultimate driving machine.
There really isn't anything like right now that I'm like, whoa, like, like, you know,
I always I always go back to this comparison, but like
I compared to like the CT five black wing, right? Right. Right.
Right. Like their new M five is it's not even a manual anymore.
Is it? No. You know, and it's all wheel drive.
Which is like, come on, like, come on, BMW,
give us a real manual with rear wheel drive.
Yeah, I mean, that's the driver.
What happened to the ultimate driving machine?
Who cares if we can't shift them as fast?
It's all about the driver and the engagement.
Yeah.
Rear wheel drive. Yeah.
That's just really disappointing to me.
So, but even then, like I like the new M fives, right?
But it's like, it's not one of them like, oh, like, oh, I just got to have one of those.
No, but yeah, there is in a sense that, yeah,
there's something that really stands out to me in the current BMW lineup.
I mean, I do appreciate that they brought back the manual for the Z four.
And the listener will recall we talked about that a little bit about the stick
shift rally that we joined Mike, our friend on with them and all that.
And yeah, there was that brand new one in green over tan.
I like that.
I again, I think it's a car that I appreciate.
I'm not rushing to go get one, but I appreciate that they at least put
the manual in it and brought it back.
So it was to BMW for doing that at least.
Yes. Well, well, here's the question, though, is the gentleman that had that
at the rally said that his car is the last year they were doing a manual.
Right. In the Z four.
So are they not doing manuals for the Z four anymore?
That's what that's what it sounds like.
I think they only brought it back for a couple of years.
And then probably the take rate was so low that BMW said, well, never mind.
I mean, again, it brings up the whole this comes up often.
I feel like in within enthusiast circles and such, they're like, oh, my gosh,
we want the manual.
And then the whole idea is like, we have to go out and buy the car
because if these cars don't sell brand new, then the manufacturers are just
going to say, well, never mind.
And you guys didn't buy it.
So but although it's 80 grand, it's 80.
Yeah, see, that that's the problem.
It's like, that's crazy.
Yeah. I'm like, I'm not going.
I mean, I'm in no place to go spend that kind of money on any.
You just brought up a really good question, which I want to know
how much did a Z three cost new?
Oh, when it was like, yeah, we're talking like the first Z three there.
Late 90s. Well, I mean, I mean, they're pretty pricey back in the day.
So right in what MSRP of a 97 Z three was thirty one thousand dollars
for the four cylinder and thirty seven thousand for the six cylinder.
So even by today's standards, it's still a pretty pricey car.
Wow. So you could have purchased the six cylinder Z three or
your cherry red metallic suburban for the same price.
Exactly. Same year.
Yeah, exactly.
Well, what you know, I want I want to look that up.
So nineteen ninety seven thirty seven thousand would be about seventy five grand today.
So OK, so we all are quick to complain about the price,
but really it hasn't changed that much,
considering your accounting for inflation and all that.
Yeah, but it's still, I mean, you know, you're paying for a premium German brand.
I get it. But at the end of the day, you're getting a two seat roadster.
So right, rather spend seventy five grand on a suburban. Yeah.
Yeah, it's yeah.
So I would say for my favorite most recent BMW,
I see these around sometimes the four forty I coop.
I think that looks great.
I think generally that like the M four of that era, too,
that was like before they brought out the giant kidney grills.
It was the generation just prior.
Don't know if you get a manual of that, but they came out with one in snapper
rocks blue and I love that color.
I love that color.
Oh, my gosh, like that would be tops for me.
A four forty I in snapper rocks blue love that.
So I would say that.
Yeah, I would say that's my favorite BMW of the last several years or so
within the last 10 years, which are not it's not that modern, I realize.
And we're getting older by our standards.
That's pretty. So yeah.
I mean, the grills on the BMWs have just gotten so so big,
especially the SUVs and everything, which leads me to ask
what are your what are your thoughts on the BMW SUVs?
Because the X five came out and really
changed the game as far as what BMW was known for, what it what it could be
and like defined that whole segment of like performance SUVs.
I mean, surely following the like Porsche Cayenne and all that.
Well, my thoughts on it are I've always like their SUVs only because I like SUVs.
The X five to your point,
I do think that they really changed the SUV market for what people actually thought.
Like SUV could be.
I mean, didn't even BMW even did like a marketing thing, right?
They were like, it's a S AV, not an SUV.
Oh, you're right. Yes, sports activity vehicle.
To just to kind of promote that it's a very road capable car that can handle well.
And I mean, they started it like, wasn't it 98 or 99?
Like, I think so.
I think maybe year 2000 would have been the first X five.
Yeah, 1999, 1999 E 53.
Yeah, which with that first generation, you could get that with the manual.
You get a five speed manual with that V eight.
Yeah, I've always wanted a diesel and a manual.
Oh, yes.
Talk about torque.
Oh, yeah, I've always really liked the looks of that first generation.
Yeah, it's because it does look, of course, very similar to like the M five that I like.
And yes, three series that you like.
It's just very similar to that as it gets later on in the generations.
And it looks kind of become more bleh.
It's like they're unique and I do like them, but it's just it's different, right?
So like, I actually I have some experience with X five F 15 designation as they call it.
And it was like a 2000 and 16 or 18 that I got to drive.
And it was one that had the hybrid motor in it.
And it was like the e-drive or whatever they call it.
OK, yeah, like the or like, yeah, like hybrid, right?
Forty E. It was a plug in hybrid.
Right. I mean, it was a really nice car, but it's just one of those things
are like I drive it.
And to me, it was just kind of like, eh, you know, like there was nothing about it
that was like, wow, like this is amazing.
It was just like, yeah, it's a hybrid SUV and it's got decent power
and fairly comfortable, blah, blah, blah.
But yeah, yeah, there's just nothing about it that really wows me.
I do like it on their SUVs.
I mean, I don't I don't like their small ones like the X three, but I love their X seven.
Oh, yeah, the X seven.
Yeah, they're full size SUV.
Yeah, they started making those like probably about six, seven years ago.
And yeah, so like 2018 or no, 2019 model year.
So it's their answer to like, you know, the Q sevens and the Tahoe's and things like that.
Right. The big seven seater.
Oh, yeah. And I actually when I see one of those driving around, I do like those.
I think those are very good looking and they have a very
commanding presence on the road.
Yes. Yeah.
One of the one of the things I like most about them is they get the twin turbo V eight, which I just love.
I see there's one down in the seacoast.
There's actually an XB seven, which is an Alpina.
Oh, that's awesome.
Thing is nuts.
Got huge.
I don't even know.
Twenty three, twenty four inch wheels like factory from Alpina.
And those big front sweater.
Those V eights are like 600 horsepower.
Yeah. It's crazy.
I've seen this one a few times like I cannot imagine the power that's under foot on that thing.
Oh, it's crazy.
And it's this big hulking seven seater with this.
Yeah, with 613 horsepower and 590 pound feet of torque
can go zero to sixty and four point two seconds.
That's awesome.
Yeah, I'm going to pick up the kids, honey.
I'll be back in 10 seconds.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm going to make a quick, quick grocery run.
Exactly. It's just awesome.
Nobody needs that much power.
No, and the fact that they did it is awesome.
Just awesome.
Just absurdity is off the charts with that car.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, that's good.
I mean, you you you definitely brought up a good one
because initially I was very much like like they made a seven seater.
You're like, what are we doing here?
But I can see the appeal twin turbo V eights.
Say no more.
Mm hmm.
Mm hmm. Absolutely.
You know me, I love my full size SUVs.
So if money was no object, I'd definitely consider buying one of those
with the Alpina package for sure.
So talking about a Bunkers SUV.
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
And not too bad looking, but you're right.
The grills are massive.
I think that's what puts me off just a little bit is like there's just like,
wow, that's just that's a lot.
It's a lot. Yeah, it's like when you're one's behind you
and you look in your rear of your mirror and you're like, oh, yeah, it is.
It is. It's it.
Yeah, it's all scary when one comes up behind you.
You're like, oh, to like giant teeth just like staring at you.
You have old buck tooth driving behind you.
Old buck tooth. That's right.
So we've talked about old, new BMW SUVs.
We've talked about, I mean, some of our favorite designs within that.
Do you have your favorite?
I would say, well, you've talked a little bit about the Z one,
but like your favorite, like quirky as BMW or BMW quirk.
I know you mentioned the Z one, which is.
I mean, for me, it absolutely is the Z one.
Yes. And the fact that the door does like disappear into the the rocker
of like the door frame to get in and out of it.
Like that is the coolest thing.
Like I just I will never forget when I saw it.
Like I've seen videos of it, but saw it like in person first hand was
it was a few years ago now, but I went up to Stella's and Lyme.
That's right. To pick up dinner.
And there was like a mint green one parked there.
And it was just like, oh, my gosh, that's a Z one.
It's amazing.
It's like it's like a Jeep Wrangler, but it's a BMW.
Oh, it is. It is amazing.
The Lister gets a chance to get YouTube that and just watch one of those.
It is so cool to just see it just disappear.
And you just hop over and get in.
Do you? OK.
Do you know the purpose of that?
Was it to just like eat, you know, for ease of access or egress into the car?
Like over the the wide sills of that car?
Like why the disappearing doors?
It's so weird.
I honestly, the only thing I can think of is it's just they
they designed it that way because they had to.
I don't I don't know much about how their
structurally were built.
I do know that it was a car that used heavily,
heavily plastic body panels for that car.
So it could be the reason that the doors retracted down inside
were for rigidity success or, you know, the point of
to keep it just a little bit more stiff.
But I'm just I'm I'm spitballing here.
I'm really not sure it's it's just it is it's such a unique looking car.
And honestly, it's a good looking car.
And oh, wow, I only only produced 1989 to 1991.
A futuristic experiment in sports car production.
Yeah. And there are a lot of things from that car that they used on BMW
cars, different models in the following years, like the rear suspensions,
the drivetrain, different plastic body panels, like that all came over to your
BMW three series, five series, it's pretty impressive.
So weird to see it with the doors over.
It looks like a Jeep with the doors off.
I know, isn't it crazy?
Except it's a little BMW roadster.
Crazy.
Yeah, but what about what about you, Ian?
You got one that's like a quirkiness one that you just like, oh, my gosh.
Oh, yes, it is the clown shoe.
Nice. Nice.
And for the listener out there, if you don't know what I'm talking about,
for the Z three model year, which was the successor to the Z one,
they made a little shooting break hatch version of the Z three roadster.
And if you look at the silhouette of it, it indeed does look quite a bit like a clown shoe.
Mm hmm.
It's so weird and but oh, my gosh, so usable.
Like you got a hatchback there and you can throw all the stuff
and it's basically you get all the goodness of like the inline six.
I mean, they made an M version.
They made an M clown shoe.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, just the and granted, it's it's not the most handsome.
Actually, it's not.
It's not a handsome car, but it's hilarious that they made it.
And I just you, the Western knows that I have a penchant for weird quirky cars.
And man, this thing is so.
Oh, it's just talk about it is talk about a fishbowl.
They pretty much took the Z three, which is gorgeous on its own.
And then threw a fishbowl on top of it and then called it called it the Z three coupe.
Yeah, that's pretty much it.
Yeah, it's yeah, but it is a really good looking car.
And even by today's standards, like my my mother has a 2000 model year.
Yes, and that car is even today's standard.
Like it's good looking car that goes down the road.
And for sure.
Yeah, the only thing on the Z threes that I really wish we could
saw come to fruition was they did do a V 12 prototype of the Z three
where they crammed in that same V 12 that was in the 750 into it.
And I could only imagine if they pushed that through and did that.
But I wonder what the weight would be.
Oh, actually, I'm I'll pull it up right now.
Let me see. So the standard Z three
curb weight is right around 3,000 pounds, 2,500, 3,000 pounds depending.
Yeah. So the V 12 was 3,086 pounds.
Regular Z three was 2,500 pounds.
So for quite a bit more weight. All right.
But still, I'd be like driving a Corvette roadster for 27.
You'd be fine zero to 60.
Fine.
Yeah, zero to sixty of five point five seconds.
That's pretty crazy.
I'll put the power down.
Yeah. Yeah.
Now, I've had the pleasure of driving a Z three M.
So as have I.
Yeah, that they are quite a bit of power for.
Oh, they're a small car.
It's crazy. Yeah.
Our friend of the show, Cody,
he used to own a BMW M roadster.
And that was the one that I got to drive.
And that thing was quick, great looking car.
The M the M roadsters.
Man, I mean, we're sort of off the off of the quirkiness
that those the M roadsters are just gorgeous cars
with the big, wide and deep dish wheels in the back.
Oh, yeah, you know, when you're near an M one,
definitely wider stance.
Oh, yeah, nice big tires.
Yeah. Big wide tires in the back.
Quad exhaust tips.
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Do you?
Well, that's my next question here is we're
we're making our way through the BMW catalog here tonight.
What's your favorite M card or M cars?
I should say, do you have one?
Oh, well, I mean, M five.
I figured you were probably going to go there.
Yeah. But in terms of like looks,
I mean, the Z three M roadster in that blue.
A store, a storel blue.
That's a storel blue roadster with like a blue or black interior.
Oh, man. Beautiful car.
Yeah, that's good enough for that.
That's a good one.
Yeah, I'm partial to the M roadster, too, having experienced one.
My other fave, which we talked a little bit before we started recording
there is the 36 M three, which that has
I've seen a few of those of late and they just they really stand out to me.
Iconic design and they're more under the radar.
I think I like to get shadowed, overshadowed by the E 30 M three
that comes before it and then the E 46 M three that follows it.
Those two cars, I feel like right now,
get all the attention in the E 36 is the middle child.
That doesn't get as much love, but I think it's it's my favorite.
Yeah, and I agree with you.
I think it's my favorite just based on looks alone.
Yeah, to find one a coupe and techno violet purple.
That's there you go. Yes, please.
That's that's what I would like.
Yeah, you can make it happen.
Gosh, love it. Love a purple car.
Purple done. Well, that's even better than 98 Volkswagen Jetta called Jitters.
Jitters. Right. We're talking about like talking about purple.
Like, oh, yeah. Not.
Yeah, nobody did it better than Jitters the Jetta. Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Now, we can't we can't talk about BMW without at least mentioning their motorcycles.
Now, I'm not a motorcycle guy.
I've ridden them before, but I'll probably never own one just because
I'm not worried about my riding skills.
I'm worried about the other people on the road.
Correct. I don't own any motorcycles.
I've worked on them. I've ridden them and I love them because they're a machine.
But for me, if someone said like, oh, what's your favorite motorcycle?
It's not like Kawasaki or Harley or
Ducati. It's like I've always loved BMW motorcycles.
I don't really know why. Yeah.
It's just something about the way they're designed and the look of them.
Like I'll never forget the first time I saw like they have ones called like an R
1200, I believe, or R 1300, something like that, like GS.
And it's this, you know, sport bike and it's just beautiful.
I mean, it's absolutely beautiful.
Yeah. And all of their bikes, even their sportssters,
I mean, they're cruising ones, their motorcycles with side cars.
Like, yes. Oh, they're just awesome.
They're just beautiful bikes.
It's like the passion that goes into their motorcycles that are amazing.
Yeah. I was thinking of the sidecar BMW motorcycles, too.
I've seen a few of those sometimes like military spec.
I agree. There is something about BMW motorcycles.
There's just style and presence.
And I mean, I also am not into motorcycles.
I'm very much all about the cars.
And yet, yeah, if you were to, if I had to pick one,
I would go for a BMW motorcycle. Oh, yeah.
And maybe it's because it's connected to a car brand.
So there's like that lineage that that's something that would mean for me anyway.
They just, yeah, they just look great.
They're great with their bikes.
Yeah. And I mean, you know, nothing against
Honda, because, you know, there are Hondas and we like Honda cars.
But sorry, the BMW ones are quite a bit nicer.
Yeah. Yeah. They've got that German quality.
It's like my dad's neighbor has an older BMW with a sidecar.
And every time he drives that up and down the road, I'm like,
oh, it's just it sounds good and it looks stunning.
It's like, yes, it's just so cool.
Yeah. It's a great little package of style
and performance rip those little those those Beamer motorcycles.
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
And, you know, we didn't even talk about this, but, you know, speaking about BMW,
like, what does BMW stand for?
Yes, what does it stand for?
Well, correct me if I'm wrong, listener, but as I and this is off the cuff,
I'm not looking at the Internet's Bavarian motor verks, right?
I like the accent.
Did I get the Bavarian motor works?
Did I get that right?
Yes, you did. Absolutely.
Oh, you. Yeah.
Yeah, Bavarian motor works. Yeah.
Yeah, that's Munich, Germany.
Yeah. When did they first when did they first begin now?
Looks like it was originally what, 1922, 1917, 1922, somewhere in there.
Yeah, that name specifically, I think, comes around that time.
But I think they're even older than that, which leads me to ask,
what do you think about BMW and where they're going and what you're what you
hope they might do because they're, as we talked about,
not a lot going on with the current lineup that we like.
I I feel like I'm hot and cold with the new BMW M2.
It's the one of the last cars you can get with like their six speed
inline six, all that.
But it looks like the front end looks like one of the pigs from Angry Birds.
That's my hot take on it.
And I don't think it's a good looking car.
So I've heard that it drives very well and amazing dynamics.
People rant and rave about it.
It's driving prowess, but I'm with you.
I I I think that BMW has lost something when it comes to what their cars used to be,
which they really were just driver centered driver focused cars.
I mean, they used to promote people working on their own cars.
Yeah, like that was the whole idea was that a person could buy a BMW
and they could learn to drive it to its fullest potential.
And then they could also work on that car and do everything themselves.
And now it's turned into this typical thing you see all the time
where you got to bring it to the dealer and it needs this.
It's got to have that and all these electronic systems and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Where I'd like to see him go is obviously there's always going to be corporate hurdles
and they're never going to be able to just make a car for the driver
because it seems like these days, most people that want to be in W
literally just want it for the name.
Yes, just think they're a driver, but they really aren't.
But what I'd like to see is for them to kind of go back to,
I mean, even go back to the 60s and 70s when they came out with the 2002
and just say, like, you know what, we need to have like two or three cars
that are really just back to basics drivers cars.
You could argue the M2 is that, but I don't know who's in the head of design right now.
But I have the last 20 years I haven't really liked, well, no, not 20 years.
Probably the last like 10 years, really.
I have just not like the look of like any BMW that's come down.
It's just not not looking good.
Well, yeah, I'd like to see a little more gone into design
to kind of reflect back on where they came from.
And then how hard is it to design a car that you can put a manual in?
You know, any of your new cars, just give it a six or seven speed manual option.
Give people that option. More engine choices.
You know, I know everyone's pushing for greater mileage and electric this and electric that.
But it really, it's the same story over and over here.
Life plus cars manual, a real manual.
And if you could give us roll up windows and some bare bones, things,
we would really like that.
So right.
So we really just want it to, you know, come out with a brand new 1996 model.
That's really what we're looking for here.
If you could do that.
Well, no, I mean, but yeah, no, I get what you're saying.
Yeah, but it's the reality of it, right?
It's like they are.
It's not the only manufacturer that's like if.
Yeah. I mean, even GM or Chrysler,
anyone, if any one of them came out with a car that was even if it's a four
door sedan, which sedan sales have plummeted in recent years,
came out with a four door sedan, give it a six cylinder, a V eight option,
all wheel drive, rear wheel drive, give it a manual, give it an automatic,
but don't make it like crazy.
Like it doesn't have to have a fancy computer.
It doesn't have to have sunroof.
Just give it bare bone stuff and charge like 35, 40 grand for it.
You'd sell it like hotcakes.
People be like, oh, you can get that with a four point four liter V eight
and a six speed manual and it's forty two thousand dollars.
It's like, yeah, but it doesn't have a giant screen in the middle of the dash.
It's like, who cares?
That sounds great.
Getting back to our original point of like, where would we like to see B and W?
I'd love to see them bring back something even,
even like the one series that they had.
I mean, because the M two even has gotten large and this questionable
styling and all that, bring back, bring something like the one series
that is just their smallest offering.
Still get it with the glorious six cylinder and all that.
I mean, manual, I feel like that's that could bring back
some of like the pure essence that BMW has lost because of the cars getting
so big and so heavy, just bring back a one series.
Yeah, it's it's all under the umbrella or like the the greater overall
arch of like just it doesn't have to be bigger.
It doesn't have to be all this crazy technology.
It's just bring it back to what it means to be a driver's car.
Yeah. The what is the ultimate driving machine?
I guarantee if you you pooled, you know, answers from
five hundred random adults, whether the car people or not.
And you just said, like, describe the ultimate driving machine.
They would probably say, like, it's got power and it's probably a manual
and, you know, big breaks, you know, blah, blah, blah.
And you might have some that are like, oh, it's got a big screen.
Blah, blah, blah.
But most people would be like two door.
Yeah, manual, either like big power.
It's like, yeah, it handles good.
It's like, yes, absolutely.
Like that's it. It's such a simple formula and recipe.
And it's just it seems like no auto manufacturer just wants to do it.
Right. And we know, like, yeah, we know they're not volume sellers.
And yet you look at somebody like Toyota that they're selling the GR 86.
They're selling the Supra in small numbers, yet they're still committed
to making those cars and keeping them.
I think I think a lot of it comes down to price
and also what the car fits in terms of its its utility.
Right. Right. I mean, I've said this about GM multiple times.
Like if they came out with the Impala again, but they made like different
trims and just made it basically.
But like BMW could do the same thing.
If they took the three series, right?
Four door, two door, whatever.
And they just said, all right, we're going to strip away a lot of the stuff
that makes it like super fancy, whatever.
And we're going to offer it with these options and this and that.
But we're going to strip it of this other stuff
and we're going to sell it for thirty five thousand dollars.
And we're going to have these cars. Right. Yeah.
And it's like, you know, quote unquote entry level.
They'd sell them in heartbeat.
They'd be gone because people want an affordable car
that is also slight utility to it, but they want fun with them.
I mean, do you think about it?
Just look at the cars on the road today.
And I hate to say, but even BMW is there, except for maybe
like their Alpina and some other, you know, a few cars in between.
Some of the C fours kind of look crazy.
But most all of them look about the same.
Like you're driving down the road and you see an X three.
It's like, is that an Audi? Is that a Volvo? Is that a?
Is that a T one?
Like, I don't know. Yeah, they all look about the same.
And it's like, it's like, I get that we're all trying to be more aerodynamic
and all that crap, but come on.
Like what happened?
Like the designers are just all the engineers and designers
are losing their love of cars or I have no idea.
I don't know. It's just all looking very.
Yeah. A lot of sameness in car design right now, particularly within the SUV is.
Yeah. Yeah. Terrible.
So there you go, BMW.
There's there's our call to action for you.
Yeah. Yeah.
It seems to be the same call to action for every auto manufacturer we talk about.
But I think we are three for three there with Volvo, folks.
So I can now be in W.
Please bring back a small.
Yeah. And do a Z four with a V 12 and charge 40 grand for it.
We'll buy it.
We'll buy it.
Yeah. But no, but BMW, overall, excellent brand.
They've been around for a long time.
They have absolutely over the years made ultimate driving machines as they claim they have.
Yes. They've always had a focus on the drive.
And that is something that we at Life Plus Cars very much appreciate.
Can't fault them too much, even if they've lost their way, maybe a tiny bit,
because they still do make amazing performance cars.
We're not being sponsored by BMW in any way, shape or form.
No, this episode, we're just talking about it because of the passion.
And I can tell you right now that if you want to buy a used BMW of any era,
be ready to shell out some cashola just in repairs and maintenance.
But that's true. They are so fun.
You did have your brief foray with which one remind you?
I had a 2001 325 XI.
Mm hmm.
That car was it was a fun car to drive.
I bought it because it was a five speed and it was a one owner.
But it just needed a lot of little things that had gone by the wayside.
And it was just everything was just costing way too much.
And I did it all myself.
Yeah, right. And yeah, and it was still because I bought it.
I can't remember what I bought it for.
But I know that just in maintenance within a year's time,
I had the same amount as what I bought it for in it.
It was a few thousand dollars.
So racks up quickly.
Yeah. Well, it was like even my mother's BMW.
I mean, I worked on that this spring and to be fair,
it had some mouse issues, like some mice get in and chewed some wires.
But it was like it needed a sensor and then it needed a seatbelt airbag thing.
And it's like, I mean, we're talking like one parts, four hundred dollars,
another six hundred nets at a discount.
And then I'm doing all the labor for free because it's mom.
And yeah, it's just like any other shop, if she brought it to BMW
and said fix the wiring, I mean, I had to take the driver's seat out
and fix wiring along the floorboard because it might.
I was like, this would be like four grand BMW dealer for them to fix this thing.
That's like, what's the car worth?
So, you know, like this is crazy.
Yeah, you get to a point where like, what's it actually worth?
Yeah, it's just little things, little things.
But I mean, even that car, like that car runs good.
It's really just fit and finished stuff on that that starts to go
like the plastic gets brittle and and then it needs stuff like, you know,
you get the water pump is like it's got like a plastic housing and stuff.
And that needs to be replaced.
I mean, just yeah, a lot of little maintenance stuff, but still a fun car to drive.
One of the most fun cars to drive. Yeah, I enjoy driving.
I just have to wear goggles.
That's right.
Yeah, since you, yeah, we'll have to look over the windshield.
Yes, six, six, driving a BMW Z3.
I do get quite a few laughs when I drive that.
It's a little bit of a tight fit.
Yes, fun to drive, though.
Underdrive fun to drive.
Great little car.
So what do you what do you think?
Listener, I'm sure we missed some of some of the greatest hits out there.
If you have a favorite BMW or a BMW story, life plus BMW,
you can let us know at life plus cars at gmail.com.
Also, check us out on social life plus cars.
We'll be looking forward to another life plus insert car brand here.
Right, Brendan? Not sure which one next, but.
Oh, absolutely. You never know. It could be Jeep.
It could be Fiat.
It could be Ferrari.
There you go. There we go.
It could be Lamborghini.
It could be Azuzu.
It could be. Oh, Azuzu.
Now, that's a that's a deep cut.
I do have some favorites.
Yeah, we could do Hyundai Kia.
Yeah, the whole alphabet, the AMC.
Oh, there are some good ones in AMC.
Oh, absolutely.
There's there. There's so many.
So many of a dive into so many.
Yeah, but truly.
Yeah. And I mean, and, you know,
we aren't even scratching the surface on these when we talk about them.
We're just going through and talking about what we like about the brands,
what they've done and our favorite cars, obviously.
Exactly. That's what it really comes down to us,
two crazy car people talking about our favorites.
Yep. Yep.
And it's fun. So again, listener, thank you for tuning in.
And we hope you get out there.
Enjoy the drive.
And we look forward to continuing the conversation on the next episode.
Yes, thank you for joining us.
About this episode
A deep dive into BMW's history and iconic models, this episode features passionate discussions about favorite BMWs, including the legendary 2002 and the quirky Z1. The hosts share personal stories and experiences with various models, from classic to modern, while debating the brand's current direction and design choices. They express a desire for BMW to return to its roots, emphasizing driver engagement and manual transmission options. The conversation also touches on BMW motorcycles and the brand's evolution over the years, making for an engaging listen for any automotive enthusiast.
Brendan and Ian are back with another Deep Dive episode, this week starring...BMW! Already well into a conversation about their favorites, the two hosts decided to hit record and make a full episode about Life Plus BMW.
Tune in this episode to find out more about:
-Brendan and Ian's favorite vintage and modern BMWs
-the quirkiest of BMWs from their history
-BMW's SAV (the X5) and how it changed the SUV scene
-which M car would be their respective go-to pick
-BMW's motorcycle history
-BMW of today and what the hosts are hoping to see in the future (hint: more manuals!)
PLUS: Ian and Brendan talk about fish bowls and clown shoes.
