I have been a voyeur, not a stalker

[Johnny]

After near 5yrs on this forum and countless years on the preceding Evo Car Community, it’s time for me to stop hiding in the bushes and make myself known.

Bit about me. I’m a 50-something, living in Berkshire with my wife + son; who have both given me plenty of grey hair over the years.

Passions: cars, golf (or more accurately defined as searching for lost golf balls post wayward shots) and football.

Now on to more important stuff. Having owned 24 cars in my time, here’s what I currently drive:

BMW 640i M Sport Gran Coupe - loved these from the very first pictures I saw and promised myself I’d have one one day.

BMW e24 635CSI - nice little story behind this car. Back in the day (80’s) there used to be a BMW dealership at the top of the road where I now live. I used to venture past there as a young ‘un admiring the cars on display. Near 35 years ago, when new, this very car was sold by them - kinda feel I’ve bought the car back home.


BMW i3 - my daily runner. Saves me a small fortune in fuel.

BMW 320i M Sport Plus - my wife’s. But as they say, what’s hers is mine and what’s mine is mine.

Also in the market for a car for my son - 17 years old, so a new driver. Car needs to be safe, reliable, with low cost insurance, manual and not too fast or too slow. Budget, with man-maths applied, is absolute max £4k. Insurance is unfortunately crazy expensive. Looking at a 1.4 Golf or Polo - finding a good one is proving a challenge. There appears to a lot of base models around - this current generation won’t be able to cope with windy handle windows - albeit in the rear. Any advice would be welcome (on a suitable car, not educating my son on what life was like pre-powered everything)?

[DeskJockey]

Welcome to the world of posting on here. As I'm sure you're already aware you're doing whatever you're doing wrong. Or right. Who knows.

The E24 is a favourite of mine. Can you expand a bit on the car/story?

[dinny_g]

Welcome Johnny..

Fine stable of cars you have there - I fell in love with the e24 635CSi when Maddie Hayes drove them in Moonlighting. Great Classic choice.

[mik]

A “welcome” feels a bit inappropriate when you’ve been here as long as any of us, but yeah

Nice fleet, but yeah - it’s the 635 that grabbed my eye too. I wasn’t fully aware of them until the M635CSi was released. Looks to be in good condition:

[Rich B]

Evening, fellow BMW enthusiast from Berkshire here... (though you obviously know that already....!)

Your 635 is stunning - I like the old/new pairing though!

[DeskJockey]

Welcome Johnny..

Fine stable of cars you have there - I fell in love with the e24 635CSi when Maddie Hayes drove them in Moonlighting. Great Classic choice.

I used to love that show.

[Mito Man]

Welcome, ya pervert.
Nice car collection too.

[Johnny]

Welcome to the world of posting on here. As I'm sure you're already aware you're doing whatever you're doing wrong. Or right. Who knows.

The E24 is a favourite of mine. Can you expand a bit on the car/story?

Absolutely no idea what I’m doing - regardless whether it’s right or wrong.

So, the e24. I spent an awful long time trying to find the right one. There are some shockers out there - despite claims from many sellers that “it’s the best one in the country”. I actually stopped looking. Just happened to be trawling through Auto Trader - as we all do. Found my one just as it was handed to Collecting Cars to sell. Got in touch with the seller who allowed me to view prior to Collecting Cars doing anything with it. Massive document of regular service history, original sales invoice, all old MOTs, solid car which drove as it should and only 2 previous owners. Happened to notice the original invoice, early service invoices, (fading) dealer sticker on the rear window, and dealer name on the number plates. It was from the dealer originally at the top of my road. All the stars appeared to have aligned and it was meant to be.

[Johnny]

Welcome Johnny..

Fine stable of cars you have there - I fell in love with the e24 635CSi when Maddie Hayes drove them in Moonlighting. Great Classic choice.

Same here! Loved them from Moonlighting. I guess we’re of a similar vintage.

[Johnny]

Welcome, ya pervert.
Nice car collection too.

Damn! Hadn’t realised I’d shared my Google search history.

[DeskJockey]

Welcome to the world of posting on here. As I'm sure you're already aware you're doing whatever you're doing wrong. Or right. Who knows.

The E24 is a favourite of mine. Can you expand a bit on the car/story?

Absolutely no idea what I’m doing - regardless whether it’s right or wrong.

So, the e24. I spent an awful long time trying to find the right one. There are some shockers out there - despite claims from many sellers that “it’s the best one in the country”. I actually stopped looking. Just happened to be trawling through Auto Trader - as we all do. Found my one just as it was handed to Collecting Cars to sell. Got in touch with the seller who allowed me to view prior to Collecting Cars doing anything with it. Massive document of regular service history, original sales invoice, all old MOTs, solid car which drove as it should and only 2 previous owners. Happened to notice the original invoice, early service invoices, (fading) dealer sticker on the rear window, and dealer name on the number plates. It was from the dealer originally at the top of my road. All the stars appeared to have aligned and it was meant to be.

Certainly sounds like it was meant to be yours. I like the absence of chrome. Looks a bit menacing and restrained.

[dinny_g]

Welcome Johnny..

Fine stable of cars you have there - I fell in love with the e24 635CSi when Maddie Hayes drove them in Moonlighting. Great Classic choice.

Same here! Loved them from Moonlighting. I guess we’re of a similar vintage.

Yeah pretty much - I turn 50 in May

[Jobbo]

Are you sure you don’t live on this road in Northleach?


Welcome Johnny. Good to see another BMW fan on here. Love the 17” split rim style 5s on your 635CSI.

[speedingfine]

Welcome. Along with Jobbo, I too would like to applaud the wheel choice on your E24.

[IanF]

Thou doth protest too much!

Welcome to the forum. The e24 looks stunning.. any more pics? You’re obviously not a fan of small wheels!

Do you live at Stonor Park or were you just visiting/casing the joint? I went to a supercar meet there a few years ago.. saw some great cars and the location has stunning scenery and decent roads.

[John]

The 635 is stunning

I'm old enough to remember watching them race in what ever the British Touring Cars was called then.

[Rich B]

Do you live at Stonor Park or were you just visiting/casing the joint? I went to a supercar meet there a few years ago.. saw some great cars and the location has stunning scenery and decent roads.

aaaah, I thought it looked familiar - yeah they have an awesome playground I've taken my boy to there!

[Johnny]

Yes! It was at Stonor Park - great spot. I don’t live too far from there.

A few more pics - apologies for the pics spam.

[Johnny]

And a few more.

[Matty]

That E24 is CAF