My journey

OCCoupe

OCCoupe

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Monterey, California
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When I was in college I bought a 1972 bavaria. I didn’t know anything about cars or what it took to keep them running. Unfortunately this meant that my first BMW experience was about as bad as it could be. My impression was low and I swore I’d never own another one.

Fast forward to 2004. I was working at a dealership in Newport Beach, CA. We took a z8 on trade for a Ferrari. My co-worker kept pushing me to check out the Z8. I pushed back hard with my only thought being, “it’s a BMW, what do I want with that”. I’ve always fancied myself a car guy; but I couldn’t get my head around a BMW. Finally I gave in to the banter and boy was I impressed. I walked up to the Z8 with with a negative chip on my shoulder. Boy was I wrong. What a beautiful beast!!! The engine, the transmission, the soundtrack and on and on. I was beyond in love.

A few months later my boss’s son showed up in a 3.0cs or something. I was jaw dropped in the beautiful silouhette that stood in front of me. Stunning, elegant, and sporty. I had to have one and that I did!!! That was 2008 and 10 years later so much has happened...

New and great friends, fun events, and even a restoration. My e9 took me to every corner of the vintage car experience one could imagine. I have my e9 and my e28 to thank for the wonderful friends that I have made in the BMW world. These works of art help bring like minded people together. We share a passion and a drive that I feel is unique to the marque. BMW people are different. Forget the stereotypes, BMW people want to help their fellow enthusiasts and the e9 gang is no different. In fact they are the best at being helpful and friendly.

I’m a bit saddened to say that I moved a step away from that wonderful experience. That unconditional love that I get from being a member of this great group. I am sending my girl to a new home. It’s bittersweet but it comes at a time where some life changes make it necessary for me to make this decision. The affect it will have on my wife and myself is profound. It will aid in buying a new home but it will also take away from me something that I spent 5 years restoring and 5 years of anxiety completing. And the last two years enjoying the heck out of her!!! 3 Concours events, 1 road rally, 3 racetracks, countless cars and coffees in multiple counties, fun road trips, last minutes drives, dates with my lovely wife, multiple awards, and 13,500km of absolute fun!!! I also broke the 140mph barrier while hauling ass on some unnamed highway in a foreign country on another planet next to Ork.

I have made some incredible friends, special people to say the least. You guys are great! I hope that I can still contribute to this great forum and hopefully reach out to you on my next coupe project. Thank you for your wonderful support and for driving my enthusiasm!

Most humbly,
Mike

More to come!
 
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Wow Mike! I can't believe it, your car is so beautiful! I understand about the house thing, besides everything else, my passions are improving cars and improving houses. My wife and I just got back from a vacation in Bend, Oregon. We would love to retire over there and would love to spend more time there in the mean time. Selling my coupe, M5, and 02 would make a nice down payment on high desert house.

I'm just not ready to give any of them up yet.

Good luck with everything!
 
I know this wasn’t an easy decision. I am certain you found a great home for the car and I hope the new owner will appreciate all of the effort you put into all of the details on your coupe. Hard to imagine a better one out there but when you decide to get another one, you can make it just as good if not better!! Then maybe I’ll get to drive that one. :)
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Mike,

We all benefitted from the attention to detail and passion of your shared posts during the spetacular rebiuld of your coupe (thanks). I am hoping that this difficult decision was lessoned by knowing that it is moving on to an equally passionate new owner.

Doug
 
Tough decision but enjoyed your process when you did your coupe. Unfortunately we all reach a point in our lives when priorities seem to change. Good luck
 
Mike, best of luck, life has its changes for sure, thank you for all your contributions here and the inspiration for us to strive for the attention to detail you put into your car(s). I hope the new owner doesn't hide her away!
 
I am incredibly sorry to hear this... but not entirely surprised. As I wrote in another post, these labors of love can sometimes end up being difficult to justify financially in the grand scope of life. But we have to remember that it is the journey that counts and yours has been a truly fascinating and inspirational one.

I really hope you will stay active on the board as your experience is invaluable for all of us mere amateurs.

On the positive, you have chosen a slice to heaven as far as location to settle in. You're going from one pleasure in life to another. Congratulations and thank you, Mike!
 
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Mike:

Thank you for writing that nice story - I enjoyed reading it.

I'm sure it was a difficult decision to sell the coupe, but you had fun building it, fun driving and showing it, and now it's the next owner's turn.

Putting down roots in Monterey County makes sense. The rat race here in OC can be challenging.

Regards
 
Mike, your car was well done and the journey was worthwhile. May you continue to drive, rather than simply steer. And yeah, what Tod said. That house better have sufficient garage space...
 
Mike restored, owned and drove the nicest coupe in this country. And if he hadn’t bought it all those years ago we never might have met and become best friends. Mike has more BMWs in his future and there will be another coupe, I’m sure he has enough parts to build one or two!
 
all i can say is WOW, i just read another thread and found out about this one. i can totally understand the house aspect. there are many guys who would have traded in the wife ... not the best coupe in the country. perhaps a bit of praise to the quality of the person who would part with such an achievement and work of passion for the benefit of the family.

all the best to you
 
Today was the big day. I was happy to have a few days with the car cleaning and prepping it for the new owner. Thank you to everyone, I appreciate all the kindness. This was a tough decision. I feel it is going to a good home.


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hey Mike, a bit sadness for sure ... but you did the right thing by making it great for the new owner. i did see that you put a quick bid on the '74 granatrot. you need to find a good driver that you can build up over time
 
Tough day Mike...but there always comes a time for a change.

You will grin every time you think about that car.

Thanks for providing a great example of how wonderful these cars can be.
 
Having sold Okie, a car dear to my heart and childhood. I rest assured it went to a good home. That's all we can ask of our beloved cars when we send them to a new steward.
 
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