E28 on 20's
-
- Beamter
- Posts: 23035
- Joined: Apr 08, 2009 10:30 PM
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 5616
- Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
- Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under
-
- Posts: 4615
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
-
- Posts: 5616
- Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
- Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under
-
- Posts: 4615
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
And I understand this, but its one of those stereotypes that is way off kilter. People seem to believe that if your car has big wheels then you must be gangsta gangsta and dealing drug. Factually most of my customers for my custom work save for months some even for years to be able to afford the desired modifications to their car. Some of them have taken years to build their cars because they do it one piece at a time. I would estimate that 15% of my customers are involved in illegal activities. They just seem to be louder than those that aren't.mooseheadm5 wrote:And that is why Ken H. made that comment. A not insignificant proportion of people that live the bling lifestyle pay for it through less than legal means.cawb352 wrote:because of the fact that a portion of my customers for the custom lift kits are involved in somewhat shady ways of making money.
-
- Posts: 14507
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Halfway up the left side of Lake Michigan
- Contact:
Well, here's where you may have tripped up. That you are using the same car as we have does not necessarily make you "a fellow enthusiast". Someone building an E28 into a dirt track Modified would probably suffer the same derision as you. BMW built these cars as 'sports sedans' (arguably defining the segment, originally) and that's what we tend to do with them. We appreciate them as fast, comfortable road cars with enough 'sport' to take them to the track. We like the way they look, usually changing only ride height and wheels to enhance the handling. From my observations over the years, I can tell you:cawb352 wrote:I apologize for being snappy. I realize, if only now, that most of the people on this forum are the type of people who do like minded modifications to their car. I started my E28 project with this intention but i don't feel that it is designed for what i wanted it to do. I have since decided to change my plans for it, and a place where I once thought to be welcomed in as a fellow enthusiast has looked at me and said "WTF is wrong with this guy?!?".
- Donk is not our thing.
Stance is not our thing.
Drifting is not our thing.
Drag racing is not our thing.
Customizing is not our thing.
Road trips are our thing.
Mechanical performance modifications are our thing.
Modest cosmetic modifications are our thing.
Autocross and track days are our thing.
BMWs in general are our thing.
Hey, I'm a bankruptcy lawyer. Imagine the shit I occasionally get. We are not unsympathetic to your family situation. We have been known to pull together as a group to financially help our members here. I hope you don't need it, but if you do, simply recognizing that your enthusiasm is very different from ours will help a lot.Now as for the people making the smart ass remarks about what I do for a living, they caused me to be a little snappy. Its my business and my livelihood. It is how I support three children and a wife with cancer, I forget some times though that others don't always find what I do appealing.
Accepted and reciprocated. I've BT, DT. It helps.I do apologize for being an ass.
And, as has been pointed out, ................. that doesn't.And for the record, the customer I picked up at the airport, is a professional sports player.
-
- Beamter
- Posts: 23035
- Joined: Apr 08, 2009 10:30 PM
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Contact:
As you may well know, professional sports players are not necessarily models of taste, sophistication, or even lawfulness.cawb352 wrote:Was used as an illustration that not all of my customers are into illegal forms of income.wkohler wrote:WOW! Professional sports player! They are so much better than us and have taste that far and away exceeds any thoughts we could ever entertain. My respect for you is unbounded.
Now, an honest ethical question. Does it ever bother you to know that 15% of your clientele are making their money through unlawful practices? Even if the majority of that 15% are committing what many consider victimless crimes (say, selling dime bags to consenting adults) what about the maybe half of a half of a percent that have made their money actively harming, or even killing people?
This would apply to everybody in the service industry, Paul. I have no idea how people make the money that they spend in my restaurant, but frankly, I don't give a shit. I have to eat.mooseheadm5 wrote:As you may well know, professional sports players are not necessarily models of taste, sophistication, or even lawfulness.cawb352 wrote:Was used as an illustration that not all of my customers are into illegal forms of income.wkohler wrote:WOW! Professional sports player! They are so much better than us and have taste that far and away exceeds any thoughts we could ever entertain. My respect for you is unbounded.
Now, an honest ethical question. Does it ever bother you to know that 15% of your clientele are making their money through unlawful practices? Even if the majority of that 15% are committing what many consider victimless crimes (say, selling dime bags to consenting adults) what about the maybe half of a half of a percent that have made their money actively harming, or even killing people?
-
- Beamter
- Posts: 23035
- Joined: Apr 08, 2009 10:30 PM
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Contact:
Not necessarily. It is a niche market. He probably even knows which customers are merely shady and which are downright dangerous people. Hell, we do research for defense here. It would bother me more if we actually produced any successful products, but since it is almost all research going nowhere it doesn't keep me up at night.skip535i wrote:This would apply to everybody in the service industry, Paul. I have no idea how people make the money that they spend in my restaurant, but frankly, I don't give a shit. I have to eat.
-
- Posts: 6135
- Joined: Aug 05, 2007 4:57 PM
- Location: 24477
I have nightmares about 914s and 66 Beetles and 1960's Lincoln Contis.mooseheadm5 wrote: but since it is almost all research going nowhere it doesn't keep me up at night.
Think of how many people these have killed....I blame my alcoholism on these cars and demand reparations from the companies who produced them.
While you're at it, why not go after BMW AG? After all, they produced engines which powered the FW-190 fighter aircraft during WW2.slammin_e28 wrote:I have nightmares about 914s and 66 Beetles and 1960's Lincoln Contis.mooseheadm5 wrote: but since it is almost all research going nowhere it doesn't keep me up at night.
Think of how many people these have killed....I blame my alcoholism on these cars and demand reparations from the companies who produced them.
Let's go a step further. By owning a BMW, you directly support this company via using its spare parts. Therefore you are guilty by association and should have all of your assets confiscated and made to serve the rest of your life at hard labor for no pay.
Nice bit of satire BTW, slammin.
As for the term enthusiast, I was referring to automotive enthusiasts. I believe we do all fit into this category. As far as my enthusiasm for automobiles is concerned, it is not make or model specific. I am involved in anything that peaks my curiosity. If it has potential, and I enjoy the aesthetics of it, then I wouldn't mind having one. Most of the vehicles I have owned have been for short periods of time. Mostly due to the fact that it was bought to see whether or not I could bond with the vehicle. I am a performance enthusiast. Currently I own a 1992 Talon TSI, a 1993 Mustang, a 1990 S10 Blazer. Each has its own list of modifications and personalized aspects. None of which are lifted or on big wheels. I personally enjoy the performance of each vehicle, with the exception of the blazer which has a specific purpose. I enjoy my previous BMWs. I received a deal on this one that I could not pass up. I love the way it looks. I have a few MINOR modifications to do to the exterior. Most of the modifications I am going to be doing involve the drivetrain and suspension. Its not that I don't like the way it performs, its that its level of peak performance doesn't reach where i want to see it perform.
As far as my customers, I stopped doing this kind of work a few years ago because it seemed that a majority of my customers were involved in illegal activity and I was beginning to see that it was affecting my own life. I was starting to worry about who was around me and worry about police. I have since restarted my business and been much more strict as to who I deal with. Yes a percentage of them are involved in certain illegal activities, but they are people who I know and although I don't personally know the particulars of their business, I feel safe conducting business with them. And it is only for the fact that I have a family to support and I don't wanna be leaning on a governmental crutch like welfare. I understand some people need it. I do not and so long as I can do something to provide for my family by myself, I will.
As far as my customers, I stopped doing this kind of work a few years ago because it seemed that a majority of my customers were involved in illegal activity and I was beginning to see that it was affecting my own life. I was starting to worry about who was around me and worry about police. I have since restarted my business and been much more strict as to who I deal with. Yes a percentage of them are involved in certain illegal activities, but they are people who I know and although I don't personally know the particulars of their business, I feel safe conducting business with them. And it is only for the fact that I have a family to support and I don't wanna be leaning on a governmental crutch like welfare. I understand some people need it. I do not and so long as I can do something to provide for my family by myself, I will.
-
- Beamter
- Posts: 23035
- Joined: Apr 08, 2009 10:30 PM
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Contact:
Thank you for the honest answer.cawb352 wrote:As far as my customers, I stopped doing this kind of work a few years ago because it seemed that a majority of my customers were involved in illegal activity and I was beginning to see that it was affecting my own life. I was starting to worry about who was around me and worry about police. I have since restarted my business and been much more strict as to who I deal with. Yes a percentage of them are involved in certain illegal activities, but they are people who I know and although I don't personally know the particulars of their business, I feel safe conducting business with them. And it is only for the fact that I have a family to support and I don't wanna be leaning on a governmental crutch like welfare. I understand some people need it. I do not and so long as I can do something to provide for my family by myself, I will.
Wow! Interesting thread... I really MUST visit Eye Candy more often. And good on you cawb352 for coming around a bit. Understand that the e28 is a desirable car not only for its looks but also for the way it's put together and the way it handles. Throw it on top of a frame with a live axle and a V8 and it's no longer an e28.
If what you say about your clientele is accurate, you undoubtably have some skill in what you do with cars, so it'll be interesting to see what you do with your car. Stick around; we're a likable bunch, if a bit opinionated.
If what you say about your clientele is accurate, you undoubtably have some skill in what you do with cars, so it'll be interesting to see what you do with your car. Stick around; we're a likable bunch, if a bit opinionated.
I don't mind opinionated. Believe me that when its all said and done, my car will be excellent. It will fit me, If there was a larger, more affordable aftermarket i would love to keep it all BMW but its not there, so I must resort to a second choice.
I will keep you guys in the loop and keep the build pictures coming as it progresses.
I will keep you guys in the loop and keep the build pictures coming as it progresses.
-
- Posts: 14507
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Halfway up the left side of Lake Michigan
- Contact: