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Well, my E9 (Bluebelle) hit 200,000 miles yesterday on my 600 mile trip home and she ran near flawlessly the whole journey in some intense 92 degree humid heat yesterday between Aiken SC and my home in Ashburn VA. Thanks to Tom Baruch and Chris Ohmess (@Ohmess) and @sfdon my car got repaired after the failed alternator voltage regulator and towing incident about a month ago covered in another thread; as a result, I had to leave my car in Aiken while the insurance claim was done but I was in the perfect hands with Ohmess/Baruch Motor Werkes.
I bought this car as the 4th owner in 2007 and attended my first event with Murray Fowler (and his BlueMax) and Chris Macha in 2007 (SoCal Vintage and I still have/use the key chain fob I got there). My E9 had 170,000 miles on it then. 17 years later she became a movie star being featured in Apple TV's "The Big Cigar" last year. And right after that a series of mechanical mishaps and trouble shooting over several years that really tested my love for this car.
But, after hitting 200,000 miles yesterday, I feel like the car and I had a second honeymoon at the rest stop where I stopped to savor the moment. What an 18 year journey this has been what with countless events I've attended, mechanical mishaps I've gotten through thanks to the kind/knowledgeable folks on this board, especially SFDon, Chris Macha, Tom Baruch and Chris Ohmess...and the list goes on. But the best part was making some wonderful E9 friends along the way.
Early on I was tempted to sell my car within the first two years after I began to experience all the little (and big) mechanical issues these cars might experience at this age and mileage. Murray Fowler and Chris Macha helped me appreciate the car I had and what an excellent starting point to restoration it was. A year later I was installing a M30B34 high compression Euro engine and a 5 speed with L-Jet EFI with Don Lawrence BMW -- as his first customer. After that, Coupeking for the full repaint and interior restoration.
This E9 has not only taught me a lot about automotive engineering and repairs (when I started I could barely manage an oil and filter change) but evolved my character with more patience of things that a 50 year old car (and/or people, including myself!) might bring.
Much like a long term relationship or marriage, you learn to grow together and accept each other's flaws and oddities because there is utter happiness underneath. Having AC blowing yesterday for more than 60 minutes -- the first time in 18 years -- was a good example. My knees were cold but not much else given the sun load coming through the car heading home so I was actually sweating. But I moved up my seat a few inches and tilted my head towards the center ducts and the experience was practically comfortable (versus intolerable in the same drive the year before without AC).
Life can be really good with these E9s.
Happy 200,000 miles, Bluebelle, I've really enjoyed your company and all that you've brought me!
I bought this car as the 4th owner in 2007 and attended my first event with Murray Fowler (and his BlueMax) and Chris Macha in 2007 (SoCal Vintage and I still have/use the key chain fob I got there). My E9 had 170,000 miles on it then. 17 years later she became a movie star being featured in Apple TV's "The Big Cigar" last year. And right after that a series of mechanical mishaps and trouble shooting over several years that really tested my love for this car.
But, after hitting 200,000 miles yesterday, I feel like the car and I had a second honeymoon at the rest stop where I stopped to savor the moment. What an 18 year journey this has been what with countless events I've attended, mechanical mishaps I've gotten through thanks to the kind/knowledgeable folks on this board, especially SFDon, Chris Macha, Tom Baruch and Chris Ohmess...and the list goes on. But the best part was making some wonderful E9 friends along the way.
Early on I was tempted to sell my car within the first two years after I began to experience all the little (and big) mechanical issues these cars might experience at this age and mileage. Murray Fowler and Chris Macha helped me appreciate the car I had and what an excellent starting point to restoration it was. A year later I was installing a M30B34 high compression Euro engine and a 5 speed with L-Jet EFI with Don Lawrence BMW -- as his first customer. After that, Coupeking for the full repaint and interior restoration.
This E9 has not only taught me a lot about automotive engineering and repairs (when I started I could barely manage an oil and filter change) but evolved my character with more patience of things that a 50 year old car (and/or people, including myself!) might bring.
Much like a long term relationship or marriage, you learn to grow together and accept each other's flaws and oddities because there is utter happiness underneath. Having AC blowing yesterday for more than 60 minutes -- the first time in 18 years -- was a good example. My knees were cold but not much else given the sun load coming through the car heading home so I was actually sweating. But I moved up my seat a few inches and tilted my head towards the center ducts and the experience was practically comfortable (versus intolerable in the same drive the year before without AC).
Life can be really good with these E9s.
Happy 200,000 miles, Bluebelle, I've really enjoyed your company and all that you've brought me!
For even more fun, I just this year, completed a restoration on a 1960 Austin Healey Sprite. Fun, great on gas, open roadster. Good times! 
