It was the evening of March 23rd, 2003. I was doing my normal mindless surfing of Ebay checking out the bimmers listed under “other models”. You know, the place where they sell the old BMWs. It was fate I guess. There was this little 2002, a roundie. The paint was “happy face” red. I know it sounds ridiculous but it seemed to be talking to me. Very dangerous indeed. After all, it wasn’t free. Something about it…..the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. There was less than 24 hours left on the auction. The car had already come up quite a bit since it was initially listed a week prior. There were already 24 bids. It was listed as “no reserve”. The next 24 hours were going to be busy.
The car was Verona Red with a white top (no, its not stock). Sunroof. 62k miles (or was that 162k?). Nevada car, rust free (or so it is stated). The car had lived its life in Las Vegas (dry air is a good thing for old cars). The pictures were all well placed. The interior looked good. Clean engine bay (shiny paint in there). Clean engine. Underside photo of the spare tire area also looked good. The car had recently undergone a mechanical reconditioning.
Ok, so this little beauty is growing on me. I shoot my wife an email around midnight which she doesn't see until she gets to her office the next morning. I tell her, I’d like to bid, and await her slimmest possible ok for go (or a go jump in the lake).
Ten in the morning, with 7 1/2 hours left on auction she does in fact, tell me to go jump in a lake. Meanwhile I send off an email to the seller with a list of specific questions. I also send an email to Dan Baker, one of the Houston ‘O2-heads. I ask him to take a careful look at the car.
Noon, 5 1/2 hours left on the auction and I begin my campaign with the wife.
Two o'clock and 3 1/2 hours left. After several phone calls with my lovely bride I see the slimmest of possible hope, but still she adamantly says "no way".
Four o'clock and I still haven't given up. A bid has since come in to move the car up a $100.
Four-thirty and I hear back from Dan. He says that if the auction doesn’t go bananas, this happy face car might be a real value.
Five o'clock and 20 minutes left on the auction and I have now heard back from seller regarding a list of specific questions. All answers pass.
Five-O-five pm and my campaign with wife is stalling. At least she’s still talking to me. I aim to strike a compromise. I tell her that I will only proxy bid it up to a certain level of pragmatic frugality. She still says “no way” but leaves the door open by telling me to come up with something better. I’m instructed to call her back when there's ten minutes left on the auction. Now I know, I've got hope.
Five-ten pm and I call her back. I tell her that it will probably rise high in the last minutes of the auction but I will only limit myself to $500 over the current price. She is beginning to grow weary but I also sense I'm risking her calling the divorce attorney. At this point I know I risk living alone in a crummy apartment for the rest of my life.
Five-twelve pm. The minutes are slipping by and I still have not placed a bid. Now there’s just seven minutes left. All of a sudden someone bids it up another $100. More minutes go by. Three minutes left. Something makes me press the enter button. Yikes!! I’ve just placed a bid! My heart is pumping fast and furious as I stare at the seconds on the auction clock clicking by. Am I going to win??
Another minute and a bidder takes it up a $100. Drat!! I've been outbid! My heart is pumping loud enough to create a seismic event down the hallway. I call wife to explain the seriousness of the situation. The seconds are slipping away. Just then another bid comes in, up a $100! Then, another up a $100! My nose is pressed to the computer screen. Only 40 seconds left on the auction!! I have to act. I reach for the "SEND" button and click. The screen refreshes for what seems like an eternity. Then, I see my name appear on the top of the page…..listed as “winner’. Holy cow! What have I done? The bid came in with nine seconds remaining. I call my wife to tell her that we have just bought a 1973 2002 in Verona Red. She says she's going to throw up and hangs up.
A few seconds later Dan Baker calls. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT!"
For better or worse, the ‘O2 adventure has begun.
The long ride home, I call home. She’s not talking.
I walk in the door, she smiles at me. She’s holding my copy of “A BMW Enthusiasts Companion”. She wants her picture on the cover.
(postscript 2006, never ever buy a car or even place a bid on a car until AFTER you have had the car inspected by a mechanic that YOU have paid for) |
