Any english speaking E31 owners in japan

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Well I caved...

I moved here a little over a month and a half ago swearing I wont need a car as I'm only less than 5km from work and its all downhill. Afterall, that why I shipped my bike here. Well, I'll be damned if it aint a bit colder at night here than in sunny southern California. Just kidding, I've visited Japan many times during the winter and knew what I was in for, just didn't expect it to hit so soon.

So, yeah, 1000ml of Kirin later I find myself rambling on some 8 series site when the doorbell rings (god I hate the chimes here)....who the hell is it, my pizzas already here and half gone. So I mozy over to the peep hole yelling "chyoto mate kudasai". "Takyubin-des". Its odd..moments like this...my brain kicks into Japanese and my inner monologue start to speak in broken Japanese. "Takubin-des...doshite wa ima deska" Two slightly frozen Takyubin workers are standing at my door eagerly awaiting my signiture with an envelope. Not really expecting an envelope...a new printer or palm maybe...but not this. So I sign and away they go. I plop down on the floor and drunkenly open the envelope. A key and some random papers fall out. Huh...whys this here. OH YEAH. I forgot to mention I just bought an 850ci from the next island over. I figured..shoot, good price, dealer car, clean, service recprds, V12....why not.

So once I finish these papers and show my parking space...about a week from now I should be sitting in my nice silver 93 850ci. Of course, I'll probably only be sitting as I haven't converted my license over to international status yet...but hey sitting is better than only looking.

So thats my drunken slurring of how I ran into my 8.

A little more about me though. I'm an adevertising designer here on in house work for a Japanese airgun designer. At the same time I'm freelancing for other such clients as well as exporting rare and vintage airguns ( the latter affords me such luxuries as a V12 monster). I came into the BMW world first about 5 years ago when I saw a friends 88 535is in San Francisco. After that I spent about 3 years searching for the perfect car. I finally found it in San Diego. Black 88 535is. I loved that car, while I didn't have that much free money (most tied up in business venture which landed me here) riding in that car mademe feel specially, a little secret agent like even. And other E28 drivers knew what they were looking at when I drove by. Sadly, I had to sell that car to help fund my asian translation over here. Sad day to watch that car drive from my shops parking lot. 186,000 miles and zero mechanical problems (minor switch faults and ancient, but well kept, interior). That car never let me down. I was hooked, I pretty much knew from then on I'd always have a BMW in my shack. I'm sure I'm getting into a bit of a hastle with this car, being so far from parts sources and not having my usual shop tools to work with...but hey...creativity thrives on hardship. SO thats me, ad designer, photographer, living in Matsuyama, Ehime, sitting in a nice shiny 850.[/i]

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Still not here yet...geez this process is miserable. Although I am plotting my mod path though. First up is wheels (stock basket weaves). Next is paddle shift (if possible still researching). Then start putting away a little extra for a zeemax set. Whats great is my building manager is also a customer at the shop I work at...and hes got a trick e30 m3. When he found out I was getting an 8, he insisted I get his covered spot. So yeah...I'm sitting here fondling my key waiting on pins and needles.

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Zeemax is the zeemax wide body kit. Adds some really nice dynamics to it.

I've had KN filters on past cars and didnt notice an increase in anything, in fact the larger cylinder type actually drop my mpg and made my 535is feel mushy. I believe in keeping many engine parts fairly stock...saves money and the BMW system is designed around its original trim. I saw a turbo somehwere for the v8...wasnt cheap though...something like 14000usd.

I like your wheels...may have to steal them. I'm thinking of going nitto or yokohama. I had nittos on my 535 and yokohamas on my fiero gt. Both treated me well and I could tell the difference between them and stock tires.