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The Semi-Legendary M7 is up for sale (sob...)

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:23 AM
by Kenny Blankenship
My priorities are changing and I can't keep so many BMWs. Unfortunately, this has to go on the chopping block.

I bought this car as a 1984 733i in 1998 with 150k miles. A couple years later I got the hare-brained idea to take this car to driving school. I was hooked and was learning my apexes, but got tired of being passed on the straights. After considering several options, I figured my best one was to drop an S38 in the darned thing. The rest is history.

The conversion was completed in 2001 when the chassis had 201k miles. The car now has nearly 290k miles. The modifications include:

* S38b35 engine (80k miles at the time of conversion)
* Euro headers
* G280 transmission (40k miles at the time of conversion)
* 4:10 big case diff with 50% LSD (rebuilt by Blanton about 7-8 years ago with new 4.10 ring and pinion from Maxmillian)
* Dinan springs
* 28mm front sway bar (stock 27mm)
* 22mm rear adjustable sway bar
* Custom valved Bilstein struts front and rear
* Recaro SRD driver's seat
* Bav Auto front strut bar
* Short shifter (can't remember if it's M3 or Z3)
* Euro bumpers
* Slotted rotors with Porterfield Racing Pads
* Custom exhaust with E36M3 cats and 745i muffler (yes, it passes the CA sniff test...)

I can provide either BBS RX or Style 8 wheels, both with Kumho Victoracer tires.

The car has been very reliable on the track. The only issue I've ever had is power steering pumps, as E23 pumps don't seem to like regular trips to 6800 rpm. In the last few years, I've learned that upshifting at ~6200 (redline of the M30) not only doesn't upset the balance of the car, it saves PS pumps.

Of course, I have driven it on the street and cross country...with street tires the car is not too harsh.

The car was repainted stock Arctic Blue in 2004 and is a bit worn. There are a couple of scrapes but the car has not been in an accident in my possession. The interior is in decent shape, the HVAC doesn't work but the pieces are there.

I have had great fun with the car. If I had won the lottery, I would keep the car but alas such is life.

This is a difficult car to price as you can imagine. I put out about $20k to put together this car. The memories are priceless. I think a fair price is $7,500...

And now the pics:

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Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:31 AM
by wkohler
Easily one of the coolest E23s out there. I really like this car a lot. Good luck with the sale, Eric! I hope it finds a great home.

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:43 AM
by Kyle in NO
If only I had unlimited covered parking...

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 7:10 AM
by Coldswede
I remember this car at Road America in 2010. I think more than a few people were surprised by it. Someones is going to get a great car!

Find it a a good deserving home Eric.

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 7:25 AM
by ldsbeaker
Whoooooaaaaaa!

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 8:15 AM
by djazz
Oh man. What other legendary cars are going up on the block? I guess an era really is ending. :shock:

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 9:22 AM
by clongo
Such a cool E23. I wish you were on the east coast! GLWS

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:59 PM
by Mike W.
No, say it ain't so... :shock: And I still haven't seen this car after having heard about it for years. I don't know if I should give you a GLWS or hope for the contrary so you keep it. Your price sounds fair, much less than the divorce it would cost me if I brought home another car when I'm already over the parking limit. But I've liked the E23s I've had and a one off car like this would be great to have. :D

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 5:10 PM
by Adam W in MN
Wow this is a shocker...... never thought that car would go up for sale!

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 6:12 PM
by alijonny
DAMN IT ALL! NOT ENOUGH DOUGH!

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 7:02 PM
by Kenny Blankenship
Adam W in MN wrote:Wow this is a shocker...... never thought that car would go up for sale!
I never thought I would get married either... :lol:

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 7:51 PM
by OcCoupe
Kenny Blankenship wrote:I never thought I would get married either... :lol:
Yeah nor did we. Lost that bet...

Posted: Jun 20, 2012 11:48 PM
by TonkaTruck
I recently purchased a 745i from Eric, great guy. I am sad to see this.

Posted: Jun 21, 2012 9:42 AM
by leadphut
Too bad you provided terrible pics for such a nice car.

Hope it goes to a good home.

Posted: Jun 21, 2012 6:36 PM
by BDK
You should really list this on BAT,
signed
Vic Romano

not even tire kicking

Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:04 PM
by briansmith
cool car!
Although surely not the "right" thing to do...would e28 sport seats swap right into this car?

Posted: Jun 22, 2012 7:14 PM
by BDK
^^^
I would put e34 sport seats in it...

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 1:00 AM
by INTREPID 1
I remember seeing this car at Cal Speedway a couple of years back during a NASA Driving Event and was very surprised by it performance. It is the ultimate sleeper. Good luck with the sale!

Re: not even tire kicking

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 1:46 AM
by Kenny Blankenship
briansmith wrote:cool car!
Although surely not the "right" thing to do...would e28 sport seats swap right into this car?
The seat frame won't swap. Maybe if the seat was a manual sports seat you might be able to swap out the E28 frame for an E23, but I'm not sure it works.

There are E23 specific manual sport seats but they are hard to find.

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 10:37 AM
by 535is-pa
BDK wrote:You should really list this on BAT,
signed
Vic Romano
just got listed on jalpniks nice price or crack pipe.....

lets see what a bunch of non bmw folk think about it, im suprised to see that jalopnik found this forsale add on out small little forum.

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 10:39 AM
by wkohler
People send them stuff and then they translate it into another language, read it and write an article about it.

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 11:49 AM
by Mark in Toronto
535is-pa wrote:
BDK wrote:You should really list this on BAT,
signed
Vic Romano
just got listed on jalpniks nice price or crack pipe.....

lets see what a bunch of non bmw folk think about it, im suprised to see that jalopnik found this forsale add on out small little forum.
Here's the link.

http://m.jalopnik.com/5921107/for-7500-this-bmw-is-diy

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 11:49 AM
by Kenny Blankenship
535is-pa wrote:
BDK wrote:You should really list this on BAT,
signed
Vic Romano
just got listed on jalpniks nice price or crack pipe.....

lets see what a bunch of non bmw folk think about it, im suprised to see that jalopnik found this forsale add on out small little forum.
Guess I'm on crack... :laugh: More proof the E23s never get any respect...

Hey I never said the price wasn't negotiable...

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 11:54 AM
by wkohler
People that comment on Jalopnik are idiots.

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 12:40 PM
by mooseheadm5
What kind of fool pays over $1k for a valve adjustment on an S38?

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 5:54 PM
by 535is-pa
Kenny Blankenship wrote: Guess I'm on crack... :laugh: More proof the E23s never get any respect...
i dont think your price is out of line at all, its aparent your work is done right. its and s38/g280 in a e23 with euro bumpers, those 3 items alone are worth your asking price.

Posted: Jun 26, 2012 6:06 PM
by grahamular
wkohler wrote:People that comment on Jalopnik are idiots.
I usually feel like an idiot after just reading it...no need to comment!

Graham

Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:26 PM
by davintosh
grahamular wrote:
wkohler wrote:People that comment on Jalopnik are idiots.
I usually feel like an idiot after just reading it...no need to comment!

Graham
Half of them are just trying to be cute, gunning for COTD. Jalopnik articles these days are usually not worth reading, much less the comments ( :roll: ) although gems sometimes do sneak through. Much less often in the last several years though.

Posted: Jun 28, 2012 12:24 AM
by Eta power
GLWS Eirc! The price seems quite reasonable considering the S38, G280, Dinan springs, etc...
retardpnik wrote:...and the ad notes that redlining the engine may eventually cause the power steering pump to assplode.
:facepalm:

Posted: Jun 29, 2012 1:51 AM
by Dinan e28
Eric I don't think the price is the problem.
If you were seriously trying to sell it to that kind of crowd you would need to clean it inside and out. Then take fancy pictures in interesting locations and ask $8500 so you you can go down to $7000.