1982 BMW 323i Baur

1982 BMW 323i Baur
Memorial Day 2010 First Drive 1982 323i BMW Baur Lapisblau M20 5 speed #4154 of 4595 made. The car was imported to California by Dietel Enterprises. I have since changed the wheels, installed the clear turn signal lenses, and I am in the process of installing a new cabriolet roof. I have to do something about those bumpers, too. :) I love this car! To see one of the reasons why, check my post "Score One For the Good Guys" on 6/26/2011.

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Baurs at the Mid-America '02 Fest 2017

The Mid-America '02 Fest traditionally kicks off the spring Car Show season, and it was held this weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There were a couple of Baurs present, and so we share some pics that were posted today by our friends Andrew Wilson and Mike Pugh.

Patrick Kelly's 1969 1600.




JP Lips of Texas brought his black Cabrio Targa. 

































Here is a video shot by Mike Pugh as the '02 group departed the host hotel for a drive:
https://www.facebook.com/mike.pew.7/videos/10209530076077016/

Nice job, Mike!


We were also able to grab a couple of screen shots from that video:














Thank you, Mike and Andrew!   Hope you both had a blast out there, and have a safe trip home! 

Coming In From The Cold: The Long-Sought Merrick Long Island Baur Is FOUND At Last!

It took us a while but..... we have done it!  Thanks to our friend Ingo Prangenberg we have finally located one of the Baurs that has eluded us for YEARS!  We received a lead on it about a year ago, but we were never able to pin it down!  Until NOW, thanks to Ingo!

And, btw, since it is not yet listed in either of the International Baur Registries, it qualifies as a NEW FIND!  Baur #3136.

Congratulations, Ingo, and welcome to Baurspotting!  And the long-sought Merrick Baur has finally "come in from the cold! "

This is how it appeared at purchase:




Ingo posted this in our Baurspotting Facebook page back on February 27, 2017:
"Just found and purchased the Long Island "lost" Baur. 77,000 miles, original paint, Euro bumpers. Very excited!"

To which I responded:

"Baurspotting Whoa! Is this near Merrick?"   Hi Ingo! Welcome to Baurspotting! That is a VERY exciting find! What is the Baur number?






















































Here is the further message I received from Ingo:

Hello Tom,

The nice blog page. It's funny to see a page dedicated to a car I found in the garage! This car was imported into the United States by the gentleman who's on the import tag in the door jam, Alex Mottola. Making at US legal was done by a New Jersey company that still exists, Bergen Imports. The only thing they did was wire the headlights differently and unlikely add those rectangular side markers in the front and back. The car was then sold to a gentleman who then became the owner for the last 26 years, but when you move to Costa Rica to become a doctor he gave the car to his parents.

Although it was never driven, this elderly couple always maintained it strangely enough.

I'm including the Baur tag here, the VIN number and an image of the wheels.




One of the first things Ingo did was replace the very 1980's-look square light front grill.  So here is how it looks today:

Much improved, wouldn't you agree!  

Here are the original pics from Mark Spizzirri's blog post back in 2009.  This is what started our search for the "Merrick Baur'!  




We knew this Baur was in NY, and probably on Long Island.  And we also knew that it had the rectangular headlights that were sometimes used in the 1980s.  This ad was sent to us about a year ago from a guy in r3vlimited.































































This same flyer was on the passenger seat when Ingo bought the car!

Here is a link to one of our previous posts seeking this Baur:

*http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2011/03/east-coast-represent.html


Congratulations  Ingo, and welcome to Baurspotting! 

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Baurspotting at the Boston Chapter's First Cars and Coffee of the Season!




Took a ride up to Wakefield RI today to attend the Boston Chapter's first Cars and Coffee of the season. Nice to see Andrew Plante, John Whetstone, Rob Siegel, Joe Chamberlain and all the folks up there. I took a few pics, but then got busy chatting and missed getting a pic of the Golf 2002 in attendance. Also came away with a prized item, thanks to Joe C.!


Rob Siegel's famous "Louie"! 


Chamonix Bavaria


Thank you, Joe C., for this little prized item!  


Saturday, April 15, 2017

UK EBay Classified Ad: BMW 318 BAUR CABRIOLET in Ipswich, UK

Here is yet another Baur that I found on UK ebay today!  This is a Classified ad, btw, not an auction.  

BMW 318 Ci BAUR CABRIOLET

Ipswich, UK 
Classified Ad price:
£5,999.00



















Contact the seller:
+44.(0)1473.311078

+44(0)7908.106316
This Baur 318Ci Manual has the original service book and a stack of invoices from the same BMW main dealer in Colchester.
I will describe the condition as honestly as possible...

MECHANICALLY

A1 with no issues due to the car being looked after and serviced properly all it's life.

Bodily

No serious rust anywhere that I can see. The owner had 2 new front wings fitted around 2 - 3 years ago. The paintwork all around the car is bright and shiny . There are a few marks here and there I.E a small dent ( thumbnail size ) in bonnet, some scratches on the boot lid.

INTERIOR
Very clean and all in perfect order except for the front seats which do have quite a few pulls in the cloth. All electrics work as they should, windows, mirrors etc.

HOOD
Both sections are in perfect condition with no water ingress. The rear screen is milky and requires treating or replacing it is not cracked.

The car really does drive well and feels tight with a more modern feel than you would expect.

So all in all a really good everyday useable classic that would not take very much work to make pristine.

Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information. You can call me up to 9pm seven days a week.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-318-Ci-BAUR-CABRIOLET-/132121943229?hash=item1ec314dcbd%3Ag%3AhmwAAOSwuxFYwtgU

Going Once.... BMW 320i Baur Convertible. ....1990: UK Ebay, 23 hrs to go!

Another Baur I found today on UK ebay.  One day to go on the sale, reserve not met.  It looks like a project , but maybe perfect for someone out there!   ;)
















 

Item location:
Bridport, Dorset, United Kingdom
 


Item specifics

Condition:
Used: An item that has been previously used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of ... Read more
Year: 1990
Mileage: 108,378MOT Expiry: 09/2017
Manufacturer: BMWTransmission: Manual
Model: 320Fuel: Petrol
Colour: BlueSeats: 4
Reg. Date: 03/12/1990Independent Vehicle Inspection: Yes
Type: Sports/Convertible
"Selling this on behalf of my son....as it is based in the Bridport area....reluctant sale due to change in cicumstances, and lack of space.....bit of an ongoing project. 
This car is not in show room condition but could be made to be.....it is in good condition, drives very well ,starts on the button every time, new wheels and  new hood....paint work good ,  been serviced and very good mechanicly leather seats need some attention around drivers side ( piping on edge of seat ) .MOT till September, 108300 miles, this may increase a little as being used now and then ( well it is starting to get sunny ! )
Reserve the right to end auction early as it is advertised elsewhere 
Any questions please ask......or my son probably has more info.....phone 07950377446

Cash on pick up......"


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-320i-Baur-convertible-1990-/172614133879?hash=item28309aa877%3Ag%3AJ74AAOSwU8hY5m7z