Bimmerfest weekend fun

[BlackBMWs]

So, yesterday was a blast, driving down for Bimmerfest. From Sacramento, we logged 612 miles on mostly mountainous back roads with M3Dragon and more M3s than I've had the pleasure to drive with.



I was the mouse in the group by a liter, mostly more.



Nonetheless, all great folks on the drive down. I am sooooo glad I did all the work I did on the Cali as I needed everything to just keep up and then some. I really could have used the Downing and now have huge motivation to get off my a-s and get it fitted and tuned.



A really fast run to start off with. I was behind James and he is damm fast. Quick stop to let folks catch up.





Lunch in San Luis Obispo for BBQ eats. Nice, all our lunches were already prepared and waiting for us.





A little in the field repair work. I'll let James tell this story.







Cali, can you tell all the time I spent washing her?





Some of our travel mates...





















Dinner and then more repair fun.







That's it for now. It's 5:25 am and I gotta meet James for our track day. More pics to follow. Cheers!







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[1996 328ti]

Have fun. Maybe next year?

[BlackBMWs]

Day two. Drizzley today. Perhaps James can have a chance at the Porsches. Now if we could only get the friggin broken stud out.


The day started with a quick trip to Home Depot for a tool.



We managed side by side garages.


Anyway, I got on the track and did my first laps drifting...

No so intentionally tho.... Cold and overinflated tires. All needed to be set up on the coilovers and tires. Each session got better with each adjustment. The day started out damp and scary slick, but got comfortable with each passing lap. I will say by the end of the day, I was pretty damm good.








At pointing which way to pass me.


Somewhere along the way, I lost a "3" from my drivers side door.

Anyway, it ended out for me to be a very positive experience even if I was last in every session. I may have nightmares of M cars zooming by me which wouldn't have been so bad, but the Mini Cooper and Focus joined in lapping me regularly. No worries tho, as I was more focused on recognizing the proper line and remembering not to signal when I came to a turn.



James did make it on the track and is a hard guy to catch for sure.

The best part of the day tho, was meeting Bryan, Tim and Roger. Roger had the only other TI there besides James and I.

During a longer break, I did actually make it over to Bimmerfest proper. It had lotsa great looking cars, new and more classic.







I took a bunch of shots, let me know if you all interested and I'll post them.

Dinner ended up to be at O'seyo Shabu Shabu a few yards from where we were staying.. That place is a do over.



Here's a few of the photos I took. Very nice and fast cars for sure.




Another early day tomorrow for the drive back north. If like yesterday, it will rock. Catch you tomorrow




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[EviesToy]

my... oh my... those are some sexy cars all in one place

looks like a blast!

post more pics.. i must live vicariously!

[teetime4one]

Good to see you guys out and about. Sounds like it was a good time. Safe travels back home.

I hope you weren't to discouraged James...I know you love to drive vs working on the side of the road.

[wolferj-RIP]

Rich;

Thank for posting up about our trip, organized by Adam (aka m3dragon) for the drive portion, who did a great job with the drive.

Long story short, about halfway down the state, on a lonely strip of road, I had 3 wheel studs fail at once on the right rear. No warning, just failed... A group effort ensued and with nearly everyone in the caravan assisting in one way or another, we got 2 of the 3 studs out and with 2 donor wheel bolts we were on our way...

Super big shout out and thanks to Bryan (EuroHB) who got replacement bolts to me that night when we arrived after dinner! So good to see you!

After 2 track sessions on Saturday, another stud failed on the other side, which meant it was time to stop driving any more track sessions for the day.

As an aside note, thanks to Bimmerbum (Ed), I discovered the wheel stud supplier was actually at Bimmerfest, and I had a good discussion with him regarding why the studs failed, and even though it was most likely not bad bolts, he supplied me with a full set of new studs without me asking for replacements.

It was good to see Bryan & Roger and to meet new member Tim, who is in the middle of doing a 328 swap now.

[BlackBMWs]

Today's canyon/mountain drive got cancelled due to some moisture anomaly that we in California aren't accustomed to. I forget what it's called, but apparently it causes water to fall from the sky and make canyon roads slippery.

We left L.A. Bright and early for home.


James and I parted ways at the Grapevine.


Stopped at my cousin's house for a light snack, visited for a bit then back on the road... (burp...)


So, on the drive home, I saw there was a 98 Sport at pick and pull in Fresno. A Cali I wondered.... Naw, just a sport. Still, it still had a few parts I or NorCal could use. There was a 95 base model there as well.



I have dibs on the rear seats and trunk seal. Door panel standoffs, window switch bezels and intact speaker mounts.


$49. It was a 50% off weekend. If I had a bit more time, there are a few other parts I would have scored. At any rate, my 97 Sport will now have rear headrests, my Slicktop now has an intact trunkseal and Artem has his front speaker test panels. A few more misc spares and a parcel shelf for the parts locker.

Not bad for a quick 20min stop.

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[roadrash]

Originally Posted by BlackBMWs

So , on the drive home, I saw there was a 98 Sport at pick and pull in Fresno.

Geez, man... you've got the fever... and the only cure is MORE 318ti PARTS!

[MINIz guy]

You surely got the Ti bug.

Want to buy my '96 slicktop with some autox prep?

[BlackBMWs]

Haha! What would give you a clue that I have TI fever?



James and both were watching the Cali on the east coast. No more TIs for now. Just to fix and perfect the ones I have now.

I'm at a rest stop for a break from driving. Time to post a few more Bimmerfest shots...












That's it for now. Back on the road for me...

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[teetime4one]

I like the Cali here in Florida...but, it's a mess. The only thing good about it is the color...and the top works.

[E36 TI-M]

Originally Posted by BlackBMWs

So , on the drive home, I saw there was a 98 Sport at pick and pull in Fresno.



$49. My 97 Sport will now have headrests and Artem has his test panels. A few more spares for the parts locker.


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rich, what's left on the 98 sport?

btw, thanks for the parts that you gave to james. I'll be getting it tomorrow

[BlackBMWs]

Nothing significant otherwise I would have grabbed it. . Was there something specific you were looking for? I would have liked to grab the front timing chain cover and pieces for my rebuild.

Man, it was a great day for cruising home in the Cali. Not a cloud in the sky and not blazing hot either...


Oh, on the last 30 minutes of my drive home, I managed to blow one of my rear Rockford Fosgate Power series speakers. It wouldn't be a complete trip if there was nothing to fix afterwards.

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[E36 TI-M]

Originally Posted by BlackBMWs

Nothing significant otherwise I would have grabbed it. . Was there something specific you were looking for? I would have liked to grab the front timing chain cover and pieces for my rebuild.


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was looking for foglights/brackets/switch for the blue TI.

i still have to go make that trip to fresno to pick up that black bumper. lol

[BlackBMWs]

Bumpers and front seats were gone already. There is a 98 sport and a 95 base at Fresno. Full motors left on both. I didn't check the sport for a a LSD.


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