M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: Choking Hazard on March 23, 2006, 07:31:25 PM

Title: BMWCCA- what about it?
Post by: Choking Hazard on March 23, 2006, 07:31:25 PM
Well, I haven't had this car long.  Way on back when I had an E 21 ('85-'86), I was in BMWCCA.  I never really got much out of it besides the mag.  What kind of experience have you folks had?  I know the local enthusiasm may really vary, but what about bigger events?  That is what has really made my PCA membership worthwhile.  Regional or national concours, AX, DE, etc.  Anybody here in BMWCCA?  What are the experiences you have encountered?
Title: BMWCCA- what about it?
Post by: Febi Guibo on March 23, 2006, 07:49:18 PM
i joined to get the 10% off at dealer parts, and some independent parts places... this is my first year with my 318is so I figured the membership would pay for itself while I was getting the car sorted out. mike millers tech letters in roundel is, um, entertaining sometimes.

I'm going to do a club event at lime rock this spring/summer; i haven't figured out exactly when...

I guess as an organization, they are in a tough spot. BMW sells more and more cars every year, but obviously the percentage of 'enthusiasts' gets lower every year... so it seems like the membership is now more made  up of people who kinda drive $50k+ late-model cars and get their car serviced at the dealer...

That's not a knock, btw, just kinda the way BMW has changed.
Title: BMWCCA- what about it?
Post by: Zoso on March 23, 2006, 10:04:24 PM
I was in for several years but I didn't renew this year.

The discount is nice, but then again, the dealer prices are up to 50% more than a cheap mail order place so the 10% sucks.

I found that I wasn't reading the Roundels and I wasn't even doing as much auto-xing as I expected.  To be honest, standing around all day in the hot sun for 6 quick runs was a bit frustrating.  I'm also spending all my money on E30 parts and mods so I have no money for driving schools.
Title: BMWCCA- what about it?
Post by: m42 fan on March 23, 2006, 10:44:07 PM
Great discussion here.  I've been debating whether to join since I got my car.  Most other threads I've read on the subject seem to paint the decision as a no-brainer.

Weighing the pros and cons left me pretty much right where Mike is on the subject.  Add to that the fact that I'm 90% sure that my local chapter is not very active.  I'll probably wait and re evaluate my decision based on conditions once I move to Florida later this year.

Brian
Title: BMWCCA- what about it?
Post by: Choking Hazard on March 23, 2006, 11:38:06 PM
Right. i've mostly confirmed that the local group is composed of owners of newer models, and I don't think they don't think of cars in general the way I do.   There are exceptions I'm sure, and maybe I'll meet those folks at local SCCA events.  So I'm not looking for big action locally, but thinking about the bigger PCA events I've been to with cool cars and factory tie-ins and door prizes and displays and etc etc, I wondered if the same existed for Bimmerites....