New Member: TiJim
 

I am 77 years old. This is my 2nd BMW. The first was a 1972 2002/Beige with tan seats. My Ti is a 1997 base in Arctic Silver/Metallic. It was in worse condition than I suspected when I bought it, so big expenditures are and have been made to remove the effects of previous indifference. Fortunately the paint and body are decent. Suffice it to say I like my car.
I am retired from 41 years with CalTrans - the State of California's Transportation Department. I live in Texas - deep in the country. Tyler, TX is the nearest large city - had enough of big city living.
I discovered this website out of a need for trustworthy advice and accurate knowledge. Subsequently I learned the BMWCCA lists it in an adjunct fashion.
My education consists of 2.5 years of Mechanical Engineering,a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Public Administration.
I am grateful for all the effort and care this site represents and am pleased to support it.

Welcome to the forum. Like you, my first BMW was (and still is) a 1968 1600. I got a '95 318ti after that, and now I have a '96. Also like you, I moved to Texas (Dallas) from California (Los Angeles), and I have an engineering degree. The similarities end there because unfortunately, I am not 77. I'm 23. But welcome to the forum! There is a great amount of knowledge here, it seems much more than any other e36 related forum. Hopefully you have a lot of back roads out in the country to test out your ti's handling capability. -Matt

Matt,

Thank You for your quick response. I don't want to create a false impression: I flunked out of engineering school, after the summer session, following my sophomore year. And regarding the age - it is what it is isn't it?
I'm glad there are so many young members - too many oldsters would drag it down. There seems to be such a wealth of knowledge here.
The E36/5s are getting a lot of age on them too. I wouldn't be surprised that parts aren't increasingly difficult to get as the years come on. That is why I am trying to get/keep mine up to date.
I am not a vigorous driver usually. I use the car as a daily driver - sharing that duty with my 2001 Mazda P/U. At one time I owned a 1988 Mazda 323GTX - a turbo charged all wheel drive ex-rally car. While I liked it, it became increasingly abandoned by the factory, which for a limited production machine is the kiss of death. I want to get my Ti up to date before that fate befalls it too.
As they say around here:"twenty miles from town and six miles in the woods". Smith County is where I, live, about 125 miles east of Dallas and about 20 miles south of Tyler. There is a dealership in Tyler and Al Hafner Tuning there too. Although in Whitehouse there is a good general repair shop staffed with farm boys who grew up with wrenches in their hands. I'm fortunate to be isolated yet near good mechanics.
Now what branch of engineering did you graduate in? Do you practice it now?

Thank You for the welcome,

Jim Clark

Matt,
After thoughts: You came from the south (LA), I lived in San Francisco for 35 years and in surrounding communities for 7 or 8 more years - until I retired and left for TX. I live on the southern edge of Lake Tyler East surrounded by trees and SPACE!
I grew up in southern New Jersey and come to California via the USAF.
Jim C.

Welcome to the site, Jim. I live in Wichita Falls, Texas, about 200 miles northwest of Tyler. I'm 66 and retired from the Air Force. These young guys on this site and my ti keep me feeling young! John

Welcome Jim!

Lotsa folks to help you get your ti back up to where you envision it. Good energy here on the forum with helpful knowledge. I also grew up in S.F. and after living in a few states, moved back up to Sacramento for the moment.

Good luck with getting your 97 back up. They are easy cars to work on.

Cheers! Rich :cool:

Welcome to the site Jim. This site is a low drama forum that most folks help others with out calling names and so forth.

I am a member at other sites where people quickly point out rookie/newbie's for asking silly questions but you don't see that here.

Hope you are enjoying your retirement. I retire from USAF next year maybe. Looking forward to going back to my previous line of employment.