You know what, I don't care who you are, BMW's are fucking expensive to upkeep, ESPECIALLY convertibles. Even a car like mine, 14 years old still requires a six figure income and a PHD to maintain. So, when you have us <$50k a year average Joes pimpin' around in our shiny second hand bimmers, we have a little trouble maintaining them, so we have to come up with ideas on how to deal with those expensive problems.

I need a new rear plastic window. Actually, I don't even have a window there so it's just a huge gaping hole. Getting rained in and everything. I usually have a towel draped over the rear deck and back seat, and over night, I throw a towel over the hole. So, sick of driving around with this huge hole, regardless of the weather, I decided it was time to come up with a temporary solution while I save up my pennies for the replacement window.

I came up with this:

http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/19573/2005238054314286376_rs.jpg


And a little Shapie'd message for the haters:

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/19244/2005298463482317822_rs.jpg



It's nothing more than two pieces of plexiglass, shoved behind the tension straps. Two pieces because I went to the Home Depot and bought one piece, attempted the project and cracked it straight up the middle and also around the sides. I returned to Home Depot and bought another peice and fuckled that up to, so now I have two peices that come together to form one pimpin'-ass temp window!! You'd be surprized how good it actually looks in person. Because of the tension straps, and the way plexisglass bends, it forms right up against the hole and if you don't study it for a minute, you'd never notice....aside from the numerous cracks. Of course, water can easily seep through around the window, so I have a towel on the rear deck to catch the drippings. Overnight, I will continue to put the towel over the whole window.



Commence hating. :embarrasm

1. The use of the F word was not necessary
2. I don't have a PhD or six figure income, and I maintain my car easily; in fact I have an average 5 figure income, and maintain an aging M3, an aging SUV, a house in the suburbs and two kids.
3. It's better than nothing.

"I don't have a PhD or six figure income, and I maintain my car easily; in fact I have an average 5 figure income, and maintain an aging M3, an aging SUV, a house in the suburbs and two kids."

It was just a figure of speach...to prove a point. You didn't really think I meant that literally, did you?

And as far as the F bomb, I apollogize, it's a NY thing...

Its a NY thing?
eh... you live in Seattle dude.......

Is $145 too much to shell out? (http://www.emiata.com/E36Window.asp)

I'm so used to the f word that I find it weird when people find it offensive. I work at a fine dining restaurant and sometimes even my guests just spit it out like nothing at the table.

I'm so used to the f word that I find it weird when people find it offensive. I work at a fine dining restaurant and sometimes even my guests just spit it out like nothing at the table.


Just because they're fu(&^ng idiots doesn't mean...

DOH!

:confused

Its a NY thing?
eh... you live in Seattle dude.......

I'm originally from NYC. You couldn't figure that out? :rolleyes


Is $145 too much to shell out? (http://www.emiata.com/E36Window.asp)

That's the thing. I did shell out $150 for a nice shiny new zip in window....only to have it arrive here and at the same time I examine my top and find out it's an AFTERMARKET top, with a SEW IN window. $150 wasted. To have a new window sewn in costs average $900 plus materials...

Trust me, I've evaluated ALL possible options. Sewing on a zipper so I can use this window would either A: cost just as much or B: be totally out of alignment.

Yay! :mad

That's the thing. I did shell out $150 for a nice shiny new zip in window....only to have it arrive here and at the same time I examine my top and find out it's an AFTERMARKET top, with a SEW IN window. $150 wasted.

My apologies sir!

not inspecting a car properly before buying, spending money on new wheels before repairs... yay!

you should call around to wrecking yards within a few hours of where you live and just buy a top from a wrecked 94-96.

That was my plan, but they wanted $1500+ for a new top that was in decent condition.

And yes, I inspected the car properly before buying. Trust me, I did my research, I knew I was going to have to replace this window. Actually, the window was the only major issue with this car, and for the price I got it for, it was a small sacrifice...

I just made a stupid mistake of trying to beat the system with the window and got bit in the ass for it. When I found out it wasn't a zip in, I figured I could just cut out the old window and glue in the new one. Boy was I wrong....

It's all good though, I have a deal with a guy over here, and we're swapping services. He needs web design, and I need a new top.

It's all good though, I have a deal with a guy over here, and we're swapping services. He needs web design, and I need a new top.

i like when things work out like that.

Ever look outside a GM dealer or Ford dealer. You find busted ass Fords and Chevs. This goes for any car. As stated above its the prepurchase inspection that will pay in the end. That said cars of any make are built to fail. I've been in the car repair business for 20 yrs. These cars are no more expensive than most others. I love BMWs and will own one for the rest of my days. Don't get me wrong I feel your pain. Accept it or buy a new ford focus.

I love them so much I just bought another. 2002 M3 Vert.:D

It's intuitively obvious that a guy like you should buy a used Toyota Corolla. It is not the fault of the BMW that you bought a car that doesn't match your needs and abilities.

sounds to me you aren't very resourceful. I have two bimmers, ahouse two kids a nagging wife credit card bills and a modest 50k income. the nag doesn't work. I manage

I love them so much I just bought another. 2002 M3 Vert.:D

Bastard! :D

It's intuitively obvious that a guy like you should buy a used Toyota Corolla

Actually, I just bought one for my girlfriend. I didn't blame anything on the bimmer now did I? Did I say that I don't appreciate it?

sounds to me you aren't very resourceful

Actually, this liittle work around I have here is the definition of recourceful. Using the resources I had at my disposal at the given time I made something to fit my needs for the time being while I save for the official replacement. Mind you, I haven't had a single leak or issue with this "window" since I put it in, and I live in SEATTLE where it rains daily....




Damn......some of you really need to get your panties out of a ruffle.... Just relax and enjoy life. Take a look at my retarded work around, laugh, agree that it's a cost-effective workaround for now, and move on. Don't sit here and question my personal intelligence, integrity, personality and lifestyle. That is NONE of your business.

Maybe I'm more money smart than you are. I make FAR less than 50K, I live in one of the most expensive parts of Seattle, I drive a convertible BMW, I have a huge nice apartment, I'm putting my jobless girlfriend through college and supporting her as well with food and clothing, I have all the electronics I want in my house, I just put rims, DEPO projectors, HIDs, and a full sound system in my car, and I live like a frickin king. I go out all the time and have expensive nights like it's going out of style and I'm currently between contracts so I'm UNEMPLOYED and I still live life to the fullest and have plently of money to spare. And yes, I can afford to replace the window right now, but I'm waiting for this deal to go through that I spoke of earlier, so I made this temporary replacement.

All on <$45k a year @ 21 years old. If I told how I ended up in Seattle, it'd probably blow your mind.

Don't question my ability to manage money.

I thought it was cool how you temporarily fixed it.

Maybe I'm more money smart than you are. I make FAR less than 50K, I live in one of the most expensive parts of Seattle, I drive a convertible BMW, I have a huge nice apartment, I'm putting my jobless girlfriend through college and supporting her as well with food and clothing, I have all the electronics I want in my house, I just put rims, DEPO projectors, HIDs, and a full sound system in my car, and I live like a frickin king. I go out all the time and have expensive nights like it's going out of style and I'm currently between contracts so I'm UNEMPLOYED and I still live life to the fullest and have plently of money to spare. And yes, I can afford to replace the window right now, but I'm waiting for this deal to go through that I spoke of earlier, so I made this temporary replacement.

All on <$45k a year @ 21 years old. If I told how I ended up in Seattle, it'd probably blow your mind.
I lawled at this.

if youre such a baller, quit ghetto-rigging your car and just fix it the right way already. stop making threads about it too, no one is impressed by a mcgyver-ed 10 year old car.

PS - absolutely everything you listed after your claim of being money smart points to being money stupid.

And your feet stink too...



Just thought I'd throw in a random attack as well so I could fit in the group.

Again, I repeat, don't tell me how to manage my money. You do it your way, and I'll do it mine.

Money stupid? Money is meant to be spent, not to be stashed away and stared at. I buy everything I want and need, spend money on myself, my girlfriend, my car, my friends and my family all the time and STILL have plenty left over to save. I've never not been able to pay bills, rent or been broke. When it comes to money, trust me, I know what I'm doing. Maybe you should take my little window trick as a free tip on how you should manage your wallet. Good things come to those who wait. :)

And about me making threads about it, for fuck's sake lighten up! Have a laugh for cryin' out loud!! I didn't expect to be congratulated and praised for this, I expected a few good laughs and maybe a "Yeah, that should work for now.".

Nope, all I got was uptight, stuck up, insecure nerds blasting me "OMgawd liek how daer u do dis 2 ur car omg ur suchh a l0sar u hav no muny n u shud die lol kbye"

Get lives.

Know what? Internet flame wars are retarded. I like you guys, just not fond of your replies to this thread...

*puts out hand for truce*

Get lives.
you should take the internet less seriously.