RIP

My mechanic can't find a replacement engine: this model is rare, and his specialist supplier said that we simply won't find one. This particular model (318iS) was only made for the final two years of this design's production run, and they're very sought after as they're very light and have the more modern engine from the next generation of cars, so are more powerful and more efficient than most of the others of this design. It is a v. zippy little car...

I bought this car 8 years ago: my first car of my own... We've been through a lot together: fun times, adventures, and even some v. hairy moments. I wish I'd had the money to look after it better; I wish I could save it now. This is a magical chameleon car: it turned pink and back again (but for the wing mirrors, which are still v. pink). It is an ecological car: spiders live in the wing mirrors (their webs improve its rigidity and so its handling!), and there are two different types of lichen growing in the rubber around the sunroof.

It is possible to replace the broken parts, but it would be something of a Pyrrhic victory: the engine is all in the same condition, so even if I could afford to spend lots of money to replace the timing chain components, it could easily die soon for  myriad other reasons...

:o( I'm sorry little car...