34 BMWcar
ME AND MY CAR
and pop-up lights. The trouble was that it
was so dull to drive. Brilliant, but dull. And
so I sold that and bought the 2002.
“My current daily driver is an E46 330i
Touring which is a cracking car that does
everything so well, has enough character
from that wonderful engine and I think
is really ageing well, with its beautifully
judged and well-proportioned design. It’s
the perfect Sports Utility Vehicle. And one
day, I’m sure, I’ll have another E28, they’re
such fantastic cars.”
So why a 2002 this time? Well, it actually
started as a cost-efficient alternative to a
Lancia Fulvia or Alfa Giulia – you’ve got a
handle on Paul’s eclectic tastes by now,
of course – and the more he thought
about it, the more it made sense. “They’re
perhaps not quite as pretty,” he reasons,
“but in their own way, they’re just as
cool. And basically, the Touring was more
affordable – and about 20% cheaper than
the coupé.”SOMETHING DIFFERENT
“I actually now think I prefer the Touring,
as it’s a bit different. The proportions in
side-view do annoy me sometimes, but
from the front and back it’s ace... it just
needs an inch or two shaved off the roof!”
That’s the designer’s eye for you – but it’s
the nature of human desire, each of us isperfectly imperfect, and that’s also true of
our creations.
The Teutonic sensibleness of the 2002
certainly appealed, as Paul was keen to
have a reliable classic he could run every
day, including his 15-mile daily commute.
He figured that a German car would be
more ‘trustworthy’ than a French or Italian
one, and you won’t hear any arguments
from me on that point. So, with the 2002
Touring squarely in the crosshairs, Paul set
about hunting down just the right example.
In due course, what seemed to be the
perfect car presented itself for sale online,
on the Car and Classic classifieds listing. It
appealed due to having been restored, asMy current daily driver is an E46 330i Touring which
is a cracking car that does everything so well