I am a member of only one other internet based car forum which is Forum5. Unfortunately mainly due to a catalogue of unfortunate disasters including the death in a car crash of it's owner, BMW insisting on removing "BMW" from the forum name and a complete loss of data in a format hosting change the site is no longer viable. They, like here, are a good bunch and I have recommended that they migrate across to BMWLAND.
More than happy to have some new members - indeed, I think it's good given it's quite quiet on occasions. It's a shame that so many sites are closing down, in favour of WhatsApp or Facebook pages - neither of which I use, or want to use.
I have managed to sign up as E39mad says above its with a heavy heart we look likley to close - we are at E39s request proposing a migrate or at least try and keep the band together as it were!
Welcome on board @duncan-uk - I can well understand the feeling when a community gets pulled apart like that. When the original owner of BMWLand passed away, we were left somewhat scattered about but @The CO invested a lot of time and effort into keeping the community going. We’re a small but friendly bunch here. A lot of long time BMW owners - some who have moved away from the brand, others who have stayed - but a lovely bunch of folks and we’d all agree I’m sure that a bit more site traffic and new faces are always welcome. Do feel free to chip in and introduce yourself. We love pics by the way! I’ll kick it off. Here’s my current fleet after owning BMWs for nigh on 20yrs.
Thanks for the welcome. Forum5 went through various issues including the loss of Donut who really made it work. ill dig out some pictures later but my bmw history is mainly 5s: E28 m535i which is how i found the forum. Much loved but long gone. A couple of e28 525e, e34 525ix, e39 523i 530d tourings. Currently and F11 535i and an e46 330ci cab. An m3 saloon and z4m have been in the mix too. prior convictions peugeot 205 gti. Saab 900 turbo and various vauxhall GTEs and SRs. Current toy is this:
Lovely vehicles there. I have a particular soft spot for the E46 330Ci, I had a cab and a coupe and the F11. I ran a fully optioned 530d SE back around 10yrs ago. It was a proper sleeper but always fancied the 535i at the time.
A 33! Fantastic! Great and incredibly rare machine. I’ve had a few newer Alfas over the years, 2x 159s and a GT, always hankered after something a wee bit more historic. Yours looks brilliant. Welcome to the club.
There is a story to its acquisition i will share at some point - wasn't looking for one but circumstance fell into place and it was imported from Portugal by way of a road trip. UK registered with a view to sell but 3 years on its still here and has charmed me. Just been to classic Lemans in it ( where pictures mostly from)
If I’m honest I’m not sure the 530d and more so the 535d isn't a better car - wife was anti diesel so sold the e39 530d (which i regret) and went all in on the 535i - its been a little disappointing over 30k - its fine but i have little passion for it.
Lovely fleet there. Managed 1 Alfa in my history - a 156 2.4 JTD, In all measurable ways it wasnt a great car (although it was a great engine) but there was just something about it that hooked you.... Currently running a Mini JCW convertible (manual!) as my weekend toy, with long distance, dog hauling and daily grind covered by a 5 series - but not one that many have much love for as its an i5 M60 Touring. I do absolutely love it though...
All Forum5 members will get a Big Welcome if they join us here on BMWLand. My first BMW, 42 years ago was a 5 - an E28 528i, a great machine - not many of them around these days. The more members on here the better.
Welcome along @duncan-uk I would have loved an E28 back in the day, i started with a couple of E21's followed by two E30's, 323i and 325i sport. I started my BMW journey in 1980... the last time i got a speeding ticket, summoned to court ...young and foolish back then.
On the sad subject of the coming demise of Forum5 I too am 'migrating' over. I own a silver E39 523iSE auto saloon built in June 1998 with 180k miles on the clock, though having had it's cluster replaced (before my purchase) by another from a different car .. who knows? A couple of decades ago I had a 1996 E34 520i touring. For me an old school BM represents build quality & ride comfort, rather than outright performance on the road.
Welcome aboard. The E39 has to be the best BMW ever made in my humble opinion, a car I aspired to when new but as my boss had one I wasnt allowed and its always been 3 series before now for me. I have zero mechanical ability so running an older car isnt really an option (plus I'm bloody old now and my ability to physically do the work would be limited even if I knew what I was doing!) but an Alpina E39 would be my ultimate weekend tool. Couple of threads on here from the past about nice 5 series Harry had a fab Alpina 5 series (and a couple of 7s and an X6M!)
Hi BMWLand, and former forum5 friends - another migrator here with a 30 plus history of owning old BMW’s. ‘E24man’ as I’ve owned one or another for about 25 years now and still have two as well as a couple of old 5’s and a 7. I’ll pop an introductory post in the introductory thread and a couple of pictures- you do like pictures here don't you?
I was never really active on here after this site was formed, just trying not to be in too many groups at once kinda thing, yeah they killed that site years back when they didn't do the most basic backup check before moving hosts. Anyway, I'll start upsetting folk in here again and have suggested others join up. Changed my profile pic to match what the forum5 and FB lot are used to.
