New member from Norway

[Eone]

Hi everyone..

New member, some 35 years old from Norway says hello.. I happened to stumble over this great forum while searching for coilovers for my new E82. I've used all the possible spare time I had during this weekend to read many interesting threads about the 1 series. It's freezing cold outside during winter in Norway, so I rather stay inside until the snow and ice starts melting.

I've had some BMW's allready, dilluted by some other German brands. Unfortunately, since cars are being rather expensive in Norway we have to use our hard earned money wise. My list of BMW's so far:

- 89' 325i E30 2door with some nice options. Stroked engine (2.8L), 25% LSD
- 92' 318i E30 Touring with 318is engine and E34 M5 look.
- 93' 320i E36 Coupe, used as track car. (Still got that one)
- 10' 118d E82 with almost all options. (Soon to get an 184hp upgrade)

I was actually looking for a mint E36 M3 or a good Porsche 911 (964 or 993) Carrera S when I decided that almost all of those used cars had some issues of some kind. I got really fed up traveling around looking at so called mint cars. Finaly I found a showroom car at my local BMW dealer at a good price. I got a $10k discount because the car had been displayed in their showroom. With the options this car has got, it was priced at abt. $78.000,- 135i was out of the question as I would have to spend $150-160.000,- to get one. (E92 M3 starts at $250k here if you'd like to know). So as you can see, motoring is a real luxury where I live.

I'll try to find some photos for you soon (when I sort out how). Until summer comes around, I'm looking forward to read even more interesting threads here.

Eone

[rori zahr]

I thought Lebanon was among the most expensive countries when it comes to cars but Norway is way more expensive.
I can get a well optioned 135 with M package for what you've paid for your 118d, I should consider myself as lucky after all even if the luckiest among us all are our US comrades.

congrats on your new purchase and don't be late in posting some pics of your new beauty :-)
it's Alpine White right?

[jkp1187]

Welcome to the forum, Eone!

Have you taken your 118d out in the snow and ice at all this winter? (And if so, how did it perform?)

And what kind of upgrades are you planning on doing to your car? 184hp sounds like a huge increase....

[Eone]

You are right, Rori. It's AW with M-Sport package out-/inside. It sits on OEM wheels (style 156) with winter tires now (205/55/16), so it's not a real head turner yet. Nevertheless, people tend to look anyway because the E82 is not very common in Norway yet. I know of 2 cars (my own included) in my area. I had some test drives in E92's, but after meeting several of them in one day I wanted something different and started looking for a nice E82 again. Actually I fell in love with the E82 the very day they unveiled it!

Driving the E82 during the winter aren't really a problem at all. It's like all the other BMW's I've driven during winter. It's of course very tail happy if I turn DSC off (and I often do that). The torque curve is rather steep for N47 engines, so you have to be familiar with rwd cars and slippery roads. After BMW started with abt. 50/50 weight distr. (since E36) and slightly longer wheelbase, they have been more predictable (when comparing to the E30, E34 and older BMW's). Better undercarriage did also sort out some nasty behaviour the older BMW's tend to suffer from. After all, I try not to use my new car more than I have to during the winter because I don't want it to be sprayed with stones and salt.

Upgrades will be done at a local shop claiming to get 184hp out of my stock 143hp engine. Reprogramming of the ECU will take care of that they say. I will follow up with the results after upgrading. Other upgrades will be to sort out the suspension. Most likely it will be the Bilstein B16 with height/stiffness adjustment, unless I find something better in the forum of course. I haven't decided what wheels I would use for the summer. I got the style 261 wheels that came with the car, but really like CSL, BBS CH and Breyton GTS wheels. I just have to see later.

[Eone]

Ok.. I'll move to Texas then I really hate snow and winter!

[FDM68]

Welcome Eone. Be sure to stop by the Europe thread and say hey to all of us there.

[amancuso]

Welcome to the forum.... 118d sure sounds like a fun, fuel efficient car.

[ksparks]

Originally Posted by maxnix

Eone, wish you were in Texas today where you could enjoy your car as it will be 80° F.

Two weeks ago we were freezing to death, but things change down here.

freezing to death.

granted you guys got snow, but you were not freezing to death.

[Eone]

Some pics from the showroom