Found an old photo

I managed to dig up one of the few shots of my old 318i (E30) I had back in 1994. Wow! That's 15 years ago! I pulled this baby out of a barn near Ellicot, NY (south of Buffalo, NY) and towed it nearly 80 miles to a shop in Lockport to have the "idle control module" replaced. Anyone who owns the E30 knows about the IDM issues. When I had to replace it again 2-3 years later, I sold it. I figured it was just the restart of everything I replaced on it.

It was lapisblau and I see so many similarities between that E30 and my 323i. I don't miss the diving board bumpers and plastic bumper trim! I also don't miss the 4 cylinder engine, although the 3i8i did provide for some very spirited driving. I especially remember when moving from Lockport, NY to Long Island and having the front right caliper lock up! I stoped on the I-380 in PA with it glowing!!! I banged it free and drove 270 miles not using the break pedal ONCE!!! Just downshifting and the emergency brake (for just the back brakes) to stop the car, even in NYC driving! Try that with another car. Ah, youth and exhuberance... My mother-in-law hated that car and was glad to see it sold. I guess on some level I have the 323i as in-law repellant.

I used to enjoy driving on the north shore of LI back and forth to work in Locust Valley. Taking 25A and the back roads was such fun with all the winding two-lane roads and avoiding the parking lot that is the Long Island Expressway. I used to park right near the Locust Valley train station on a high spot and push start the car in second by just rolling out of the spot in back of the office and down into the train lot. There was a great shop (still there!) called Locust Valley Coach & Motor that did work on my E30.

Well, that was what seems like a lifetime ago. Having the 323i is like reliving a bit of the best parts of owning the 318i.