DIY BMW Computer Chair

vortimax writes "Roger Arrick has put up a web page describing his quest to build the ultimate computer chair. It's based on the powered passenger seat from a late-model BMW. Add a power supply, a frame with a working surface, and you've got one unique computer workstation." Nothing like automated lumbar support while you're gam^H^H^H working. Just good luck getting the parts on your own ;)

Comments

BMW resale value

[SethJohnson]

I don't mean to flame you or get into a pissing match, but I thought I might lend some of my own performance automobile knowledge to this discussion.

BMWs are not a good purchase if you are looking for a performance automobile. They can be an exciting car to drive, but do not hold their value and are pretty high in maintenance costs. You can see this reflected in their rate of depreciation. I am making this statement relative to another famous german performance car, the 911 Porsche.

As an example, take a look at the 1990 BMW 3 Series
2 Dr 325iX AWD Coupe. You're gonna want 4-wheel-drive if you are going to mash on that gas pedal and don't just want to sit at the traffic light with the back wheels spinning. This car probably cost $40k new. Now it sells for less than $8k.

On the upper side of expense and performance, you've got the 1990 Porsche 911
2 Dr Carrera 4 Cabrio AWD Convertible which probably sold for around $80k (twice the BMW), but it now sells for just shy of $30k.

So the convertible 4wd BMW after 10 years sells for 1/5th the original sticker price, while the Porsche is more than a third of what the original owner paid. Of course, the BMW affords one the comfort of more realistic back seats and perhaps some cup holders up front.

As for the BMW motorcycles, they're an incredible machine. Relatively cheap, easy to work on and find parts for, extremely reliable, and fun to ride. I know of no other brand of motorcycles that match the BMW bikes on all these points. Remember near the end of Men In Black where Tommy Lee Jones dives into the mouth of that big alien to retrieve the gun which he describes as his 'favorite'? That's how I feel about my 1976 R90/6 BMW.