well you asked, so ehre goes (very long) (archive)

I don't know for sure but look at it this way: the "practical classics" for BMW (cars that you can actually go and buy and drive daily but are considered classics) are things like the E9 cars (3.0CS, 2800CS, event he CSL in my opinion), the and the 2002 and variants. The E9 is very pretty and sort of rare, easily recognizeable because of a very classy design. The CSL is well-known even to the average BMW CCA E36-owning crowd for obvious reasons, besides it's 'really rare' you know. The 2002 has a cult-like following: it's a 'cheap' car that (while still expensive back then) more people could afford, it's very unique, the first BMW sports sedan (wel, sort of anyway), and is easily recognizeable to the general crowd.

Now, the Bavaria. Here's what I think. Although the design was groundbreaking at the time, the front grilles, etc look just like any other BMW big-sedan. Never mind that it started that whole look, which lasted well into the late 80's and beyond, the average person won't know that. The E9 uses the same grilles, but the E3 is where those are from, but they don't know that.

So, to the average BMW person, the car looks just like any other of the not-so-interesting old cars, the E12, the E28, the E23, E24, etc. You have to look really closely to realize that, for one, it's not a series car, and it's the first one like that.

Furthermore, the body design is very elegant and understated. It's a four door, not a coupe with a crazy b-pillerless body and wrap-around rear glass. Not a little '02 that looks 'cute' to a lot of people. It's 'just' a sedan, you know.

I've had people look at my 1973 3.0S and guess that it's a 1988 or something. The look really carried on to every BMW big-sedan after the Bavaria, and it shows. But it doesn't seem to count for recognition for the above reasons.

The cars themselves aren't considered 'rare' so there isn't this artificial craze after them because some article talks about this old rare BMW that you could afford (unlike the E9 and 02). To be honest, I see more E9's here than Bavarias, but that's beside the point. The cars themselves aren't terribly collective, they aren't expensive, and their resale value is unfairly low.

Those people that actually own them because they like them for the cars they are (a very impressive sedan for the late-60's/70's with the mechanicals of the E9 of course, and it's definitely a fun, truly classic car to drive).

I think that, for those reasons, you really have to be "in to" BMWs a lot more than most people, even the enthusiast and CCA-member types, are in order to want, or even recognize, a Bavaria or variant. That's just the sad truth to it.

It takes a lot more to buy, own, and put money into a car that you know few people care about, recognize, and are looking for. With a CS you can figure it's justified because it's a rare classic with a high market value, with an 02 it's a lot like that as well I asume, with a Bavaria you just do it for yourself.

Anyway that's my (biased) opinion, and it's just an opinion of course. I do not own a 2002 so I am not speaking on experience as far as that goes, but I do own a 3.0S (Bavaria variant) and a 1974 3.0CS.

-Andrey

PS: pardon spelling errors please!

Follow Ups:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Sr. Six (E3) Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]

Questions, comments, or problems, please visit the Roadfly help desk.