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  Sept. 15, 2011 10:42 p.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  After Mrs. Zero passed on the E39 Irish44j posted, we picked up our new family member today . . .

  

  What do ya think?

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  Sept. 15, 2011 11:02 p.m. bluej Dork

  still got the secret diplomat (spy) hideaways?

  looks like something the blond chick from south africa would drive in one of the beverly hills cop movies. if your wife is blond, have some fun with that.

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  Sept. 15, 2011 11:09 p.m. Luke SuperDork

  

  Nice .

  Gotta love high-end luxury car depreciation.

  "Just as a proverb says, one should always ny escort prepare for a rainy day." - GRM canoe

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  Sept. 15, 2011 11:20 p.m. peter Reader

  Do those in-car cell phones even work any more?

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  Sept. 16, 2011 7:57 a.m. pete240z SuperDork

  I like those! NIce Car.

  Datsun Pete

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  Sept. 16, 2011 8:04 a.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

  ooh, a SWB. nice ride!

  if you're gonna be a bear.... be a grizzly bear!

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  Sept. 16, 2011 8:05 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

  I always liked the shorty version, or should I say the proper length, not the elongated version. I just think the dimentions look much better.
  

  Are those the factory headlamps? The turn signal part looks different.
  What year?

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  Sept. 16, 2011 8:16 a.m. ppddppdd Reader

  Still one of the more badass looking cars on the road. The non-iL ones are fantastic.

  I dunno if I could resist a 6 speed MT swap out of a 540/6, though. And a diff more conducive to comically inappropriate tire roasting.

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  Sept. 16, 2011 8:42 a.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

  change the headlights back, please!

  besides that, a fantastic car.

  spending money I don't have to buy parts I don't need to impress people I don't know

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  Sept. 16, 2011 8:45 a.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  The headlamps are aftermarket. I don't like them, but Mrs Zero does. They are the all in one jobbies from eGay. They light up the road pretty well, so no complaints from me.

  The phone is analog . . . so that's a no go on it working. Even though . . .

  As for a manual swap . . . "ya damn right!!" AND it is Mrs. Zero approved

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Sept. 16, 2011 10:53 a.m. Stealthtercel HalfDork

  For that subtle "Frank Martin Signature Edition" look, see if your local DMV would give you one of his licence plate sequences. (There are, um, several to choose from – I think it was three on the car, and a dozen more at home on the wall.)

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  Sept. 16, 2011 11:08 a.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

  In reply to peter:

  You can make them work IIRC. My uncle had one into the early 2000s before it died an he was forced into a modern cell phone. They get way better reception than the handhelds.

  '95 Jeep Cherokee / '80 Mazda Rx-7 / '68 Corvair Monza Coupe

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  Sept. 16, 2011 12:19 p.m. dculberson HalfDork

  I think the analog cell frequencies were shut down for good after 2008. The requirement that the cell operators offer it expired and since there was little to no demand and the costs were high they pretty much all dropped it.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Mobile_Phone_System

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  Sept. 16, 2011 1:19 p.m. plance1 Dork

  year? how much? miles?

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  Sept. 16, 2011 1:29 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

  The changing of the headlights leads me to wonder if there was ever some front end damage that was repaired with less expensive parts?

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  Sept. 16, 2011 1:49 p.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  1997, 162K and $3K

  In reply to jrw1621:

  That's what I thought as well once when I saw it. The front bumper is cracked in the middle as well + the black out kidneys don't fit quite as nice. But no DOT-R stickers to be found on the car and no signs of structural damage.

  But I do agree some less expensive parts were used on the front end.

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Sept. 16, 2011 7:32 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

  Why not a 540i if you want a manual?

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

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  Sept. 16, 2011 10:53 p.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  lizard wrote:

  Strike_Zero wrote: After Mrs. Zero passed on the E39 Irish44j posted, we picked up our new family member today . . . What do ya think?

  Is that at Hampton on Fernandina? Block wall looks familiar. Looks pretty good PJ.

  Thanks Steve!!

  That's actually at Century BMW in Greenville, SC.

  And no . . . I haven't even touched that phone in there . . . lol!!

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Sept. 16, 2011 11:14 p.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  HiTempguy wrote: Why not a 540i if you want a manual?

  I already have a 318is/5, a 350is/5, and 530i/5. Why not a 740i/6? I could do a 740i/5 as well if I wish.

  Besides, there aren't many manual 7 series in the US.

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Sept. 17, 2011 12:53 a.m. HiTempguy Dork

  Strike_Zero wrote: I already have a 318is/5, a 350is/5, and 530i/5. Why not a 740i/6? I could do a 740i/5 as well if I wish.

  You sir, have a problem... at least you came to the right place!

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

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  Sept. 17, 2011 6:28 a.m. njansenv HalfDork

  Beautiful car! It's not unusual for someone to replace pitted/fogged stock lights with the ebay lights, fwiw. I'm curious to hear how the trans swap goes...I've always loved these cars: maybe it's time to find one with a knackered auto trans.

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  Sept. 17, 2011 6:36 a.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  In reply to HiTempguy:

  What can I say . . . lol

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Sept. 17, 2011 7:30 a.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  In reply to njansenv:

  Since there were 730i/5 and 740i/6 available across the pond, the swap can be done using all factory parts.

  The E39 540i can be used for majority of the hard parts needed. The driveshaft (5spd or 6spd version) is a dealer item or a custom job from http://www.driveshafts.com/.

  You can wire it for park or neutral, but it will throw a CEL and the show N on the dash, but that can be coded out at the dealer or with readily available software.

  Here's a good link - Converting to a 6spd - Factoids/FAQ

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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