Woops.
I Did ’04 Again.

The real miracle is that I am not going to be in the 3xE53 owners club. We sold the ’01 3.0 the same day. Eighteen years since we drove it home from the lot. 117K miles later, she still could pull her own. This was her last bath at home.

But alas, yet another late night search had my idle hands allowing the devil a turn at the see-saw. And then, like always, I was overtaken by the story. I was sucked in. I sent an email. And so it was, just a few days after we’d arrived at a price, that I sent my deposit.

The fourth homecoming in the third E53. It’s becoming a tradition.

My daughter and I flew into Philadelphia to pick it up near Philly. The previous owner was a BMWCCA Delaware Valley chapter member — he bought it to tow, then sold it. It looks exactly as if it was well cared for. Clean cupholders. Alpine White on Black leather. Smoke Grey trim. Sports Package, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Rear Climate, Load Floor, two-axle air suspension, OEM tow hitch. And the best thing about this early December 2003 production build: no panoramic roof. A full-size spare, too.

We made a road trip of the drive home. College tours: University of Richmond, UVA up the road, then Duke. Rendezvoused with my wife in Charlotte. Then the obvious stop — back to Spartanburg. The fourth homecoming in the third E53. Once we were a family again, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

The forum’s response was immediate. “You’re a brave soul with two N62 powered X5s.” This is our fourth E53. The devil, as they say, is patient.