A Perpetual Picture Of Your Car Thread
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It's a 2024 (post facelift) Dual Motor with the pilot and plus pack (in English this means it is AWD, has lane centering, nicer seats and a glass roof). I had tried one of the earlier ones and the UI in this one does feel more responsive.
I picked it up in Beverley Hills which meant I had to drive my unfamiliar new toy back through Friday rush hour in LA
.I went for the Dual motor without the performance stuff because it felt more comfortable, and I'm never going to want to make the ride harder. The single motor ones have even longer range, but usually don't have the option packs.
Yeah, I went with Hagerty when I got the C3 back in 2009 because they had the most permissive usage, still use them for the Ford. They didn't restrict the car to parade or show functions, they only cared that it was an "extra" car.
I've used the towing a few times, and it's always been good. The magazine they send out is great too.
Well I don't know if BMW is missing something.Time to pick up a new Z4 instead?
Went to the beach today - no drama driving there. On way back, sure enough, on a straight boring stretch, on came the gear light. Got parked, turned off, turned on, no light. But, 3 times in a row, when I shift from P to N to R...no drama...but when I then go from R to D - there is a clunk (behind me) as 'something' I gather tried to go into D/forward.
So the question is, is that gearbox or something else. Did a bit of searching online and a there is talk of differentials and 'bushings' - for instance "We’ve fixed a few zeds with clonks here and it’s the Diff every time. The most common part in the diff is the crush sleeve loosing its preload allowing backlash in the gears, the second issue is a bearing beginning to fail allowing play in the gears. They’re very robust diffs so don’t tend to show any damage inside regardless of how bad the clonking is."
I don't know if that is my issue but it sounds a heck of a lot better than a gearbox. One of the posts even mentioned a diff repair guy doing a rebuild for 400 bucks.
It drove fine today like that on the way back - but you couldn't use the paddle shifters nor could you use the 'gear shift to the left up/down' mode but otherwise it was driving normally (granted, not me trying to merge onto a highway at vastly higher speed).
Something I will be following up with BMW.
I was out of town for two weeks and took the 930 for a much needed drive yesterday.
I also went through my CD collection and got only CDs from 1989 for the car...somehow I only have 12 albums released that year? Kinda...wild.
Gonna put them in my little CD wallet as soon as I can figure out what box I stashed it in.
I also went through my CD collection and got only CDs from 1989 for the car...somehow I only have 12 albums released that year? Kinda...wild.
Gonna put them in my little CD wallet as soon as I can figure out what box I stashed it in.
I can't believe Paul's Boutique and Pretty Hate Machine are both from '89. It seems late for the Beastie Boys, because I had mistakenly thought PB predated License to Ill (I remember my brothers listening to Fight for Your Right in the mid-80s); conversely, it seems early for NIN because I thought Head Like a Hole was big in '91 or '92. I guess I was just thrown off by the 5 years between PHM and Downward Spiral? Off to listen to some of those albums
My wife and I agree PHM and Technique seem like 90s records...ahead of their time I guess.I can't believe Paul's Boutique and Pretty Hate Machine are both from '89. It seems late for the Beastie Boys, because I had mistakenly thought PB predated License to Ill (I remember my brothers listening to Fight for Your Right in the mid-80s); conversely, it seems early for NIN because I thought Head Like a Hole was big in '91 or '92. I guess I was just thrown off by the 5 years between PHM and Downward Spiral? Off to listen to some of those albums
And Broken EP slotted in there between PHM and DS in '92...and Trent was fighting with his record company so yeah big gap between real LPs.
Broken is the EP with Wish, right? And there was a remix named Fixed? I feel like I maybe heard Fixed before Broken (again, thanks to having older brothers), but had forgotten about it when looking at the LP discography
Yep. Came in one of those cardboard digipack cases like DS did. It went hard.
Here's my rental car from last trip to keep the content machine fed:
It at least had wireless carplay, which is...something.
Back when I was travelling every week, I would purposely get a different model of rental car every week. Tried 38 cars that year, and determined...
.. There are at least 38 shitty car models out there
.. There are at least 38 shitty car models out there
Got a message from my BMW service manager....converting the canto/english to english is roughly;
The Z4 was checked and the AT (automatic transmission) computer indicates that the automatic transmission oil pressure is too high; as such the automatic transmission clutch can't function) - so we suggest replacing the whole automatic transmission including computer.
Thats the gist of what I can get from our Whatsapp convo but will swap the m2 for the z4 Friday (as we need to annual cert the m2 over the weekend) and then swap it back for repair. I suspect if that reads as I read it, they want a transmission swap which would likely be about half the value of the car as a total finger wave in the air guess but that would be fine by me assuming they can do it.
Only gotcha is these guys thought the gear shift sensor thing would fix it which it didn't (I wasn't particularly convinced but for 130 bucks on Ebay was willing to give that a try). Even if its like, 5k to do that job, its still a lot cheaper than the alternative (a 1M locally here that would be a nice replacement is about 50k).
The Z4 was checked and the AT (automatic transmission) computer indicates that the automatic transmission oil pressure is too high; as such the automatic transmission clutch can't function) - so we suggest replacing the whole automatic transmission including computer.
Thats the gist of what I can get from our Whatsapp convo but will swap the m2 for the z4 Friday (as we need to annual cert the m2 over the weekend) and then swap it back for repair. I suspect if that reads as I read it, they want a transmission swap which would likely be about half the value of the car as a total finger wave in the air guess but that would be fine by me assuming they can do it.
Only gotcha is these guys thought the gear shift sensor thing would fix it which it didn't (I wasn't particularly convinced but for 130 bucks on Ebay was willing to give that a try). Even if its like, 5k to do that job, its still a lot cheaper than the alternative (a 1M locally here that would be a nice replacement is about 50k).
Do you have somewhere around that can actually check the transmissions and parts, and rebuild it, rather than just "computer say code X, replace the whole transmission hur dur"? Their 'diagnostic' sounds like classic dealership junk of quote a huge repair because why not, more money, when the actual problem could be much cheaper to fix but they don't want to spend time on it, they just want sweet warranty claims at book rate.
No warranty claims here - this is a 2007.
There are a lot of comments about this 'issue' with clunking and the gear light - mentioning changing the shifter/transmission position switch. Did that, bought that t-shirt.
As per the dealer, I don't get that issue/vibe here for various reasons. My service manager I think would love nothing more than for it to be easy and sorted. The difficulty is, we have tried all kinds of easy things and obvious things and its not sorted. The extra 'gotcha' here is locally there just isn't the parts selection (used/wrecked) to go from on what is already a rare car so his hands are a bit tied tracking down stuff. We are going to have another guy at BMW who is more knowledgeable on the local 'junk' scene to see if parts can be tracked down out in the literal boons of HK (even more than where I am).
The biggest gotcha, even a used/salvaged/whatever'd replacement is basically the entire value of the vehicle; probably coming on 8,000-10,000 usd. That is a serious down payment on a 1M I have approval on by the missus if it push came to shove.
Can you get one shipped from somewhere else or is local or shipped stupid expensive?
I'm thinking of something like having someone in the US find one in a pull-a-part lot and shipping it over but I have no clue how many there even are or if shipping would cost 5grand or something nuts.
I suspect big heavy parts short of being put on a ship require big hefty air freight bills. Even on a boat from abroad would likely be marginally silly paired with this being a discussion we are still having in the summer.
Dangit, past edit window....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2263858614...CESJK7&hash=item34b5a61b5f:g:D~gAAOSwP49nAVQX
Pooooossibly what is needed - looks like they are parting out that car. Sadly, this kind of thing I don't think happens much in Hong Kong. Our annual cert system after 7 years gets rid of a lot of cars sent abroad/elsewhere and there is no space for junk yards.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2263858614...CESJK7&hash=item34b5a61b5f:g:D~gAAOSwP49nAVQX
Pooooossibly what is needed - looks like they are parting out that car. Sadly, this kind of thing I don't think happens much in Hong Kong. Our annual cert system after 7 years gets rid of a lot of cars sent abroad/elsewhere and there is no space for junk yards.
Just realized I never posted this, despite having owned it for more than ten years
I'm gonna miss those plaid seats.
I'm gonna miss those plaid seats.
Ya know... I'm not sure I'll ever have a daily driver that isn't a BMW.
Never thought I'd say that, because I don't see myself as a "BMW guy" -- it's an image that just doesn't fit my view of myself -- but like... this car is really good. I'd only change 2 things about it: 1) air suspension and 2) get the better stereo.
I don't know what it is, but I like it better than my E63, Blackwing, Stinger GT2, Golf GTI. Of course the Merc is second place, but I can just get in the X5 and go, whereas the E63 always felt like just a bit of effort to get going. (Fall into it, get ensconced, if there's a sharp turn you jerk your way through the fully-locked wheel, and if the engine is cold, ugh...) I just don't have to think about this, and the everyday driving experience is as special as the E63 without the downsides, and with better visibility and practicality.
I'm having it paint-corrected and ceramic coated this Thursday while we're on a family vacation.
I just like this thing so much more than I thought I would. It's so good.
(It's the M60i version of the X5 -- one step down from the M, and I have ZERO regrets about that.)
Never thought I'd say that, because I don't see myself as a "BMW guy" -- it's an image that just doesn't fit my view of myself -- but like... this car is really good. I'd only change 2 things about it: 1) air suspension and 2) get the better stereo.
I don't know what it is, but I like it better than my E63, Blackwing, Stinger GT2, Golf GTI. Of course the Merc is second place, but I can just get in the X5 and go, whereas the E63 always felt like just a bit of effort to get going. (Fall into it, get ensconced, if there's a sharp turn you jerk your way through the fully-locked wheel, and if the engine is cold, ugh...) I just don't have to think about this, and the everyday driving experience is as special as the E63 without the downsides, and with better visibility and practicality.
I'm having it paint-corrected and ceramic coated this Thursday while we're on a family vacation.
I just like this thing so much more than I thought I would. It's so good.
(It's the M60i version of the X5 -- one step down from the M, and I have ZERO regrets about that.)
I was on that train for 15 years.
And now I can’t imagine owning one again.
I’m really happy for you though. How do the wife and kiddo like it?
And now I can’t imagine owning one again.
I’m really happy for you though. How do the wife and kiddo like it?
Its funny what makes the market go around. We were in talking to the service manager the other day and while waiting there was a kitted out X3 in the lobby. I sat in it and it felt IMMENSE. Given the parking lots here in HK, no way would I want that let alone something even bigger!
I really want a 3rd gen Toyota 4Runner as another project vehicle.
When I'm ready to move on from the Mini, I'm more than half sure I'll go back to a GTI. I just have to break my two self imposed rules for cars, no four-doors and no automatics.
I'm just back from a trip in the MR2 - up the Dandenongs to visit a mate.
It was grey and drizzling and not a day for pressing on, so I was in cruising mode.
As I've been drining the Subaru recently (auto station wagon), I'd forgotten how tactile the MR2 is to drive.
I think it's mainly the unpowered steering and instant throttle response (in the right gear*). The only powered thing is the brakes, and mine's an early model with a small booster, so they're still pretty firm.
It was a fun drive despite the rain.
To ice the cake, the last time I took the MR2 up there was when I had the fuelling issues that led to me rebuilding the fuel system with a new pump & hoses. And this trip post rebuild - no issues at all.
Given this trip and a solid dyno session a few weeks ago, I'm calling it fixed.
Now I just need to replace the clock, fix the interior light, ...
And the paint needs work.
* Full throttle below 3k RPM has little to no effect; 4k is where it wakes up properly, and then there's another 4,000+ rpm to enjoy.
It was grey and drizzling and not a day for pressing on, so I was in cruising mode.
As I've been drining the Subaru recently (auto station wagon), I'd forgotten how tactile the MR2 is to drive.
I think it's mainly the unpowered steering and instant throttle response (in the right gear*). The only powered thing is the brakes, and mine's an early model with a small booster, so they're still pretty firm.
It was a fun drive despite the rain.
To ice the cake, the last time I took the MR2 up there was when I had the fuelling issues that led to me rebuilding the fuel system with a new pump & hoses. And this trip post rebuild - no issues at all.
Given this trip and a solid dyno session a few weeks ago, I'm calling it fixed.
Now I just need to replace the clock, fix the interior light, ...
And the paint needs work.
* Full throttle below 3k RPM has little to no effect; 4k is where it wakes up properly, and then there's another 4,000+ rpm to enjoy.
Funnily enough, one of the reasons I went from a Mini to the GTI because I got tired of trying not to scrape the doors on the parking stall wall.When I'm ready to move on from the Mini, I'm more than half sure I'll go back to a GTI. I just have to break my two self imposed rules for cars, no four-doors and no automatics.
But yeah, gonna miss the manual when I replace this.
The Exotics show in Redmond had their opening day last weekend. I thought I was getting desensitized to the Ferraris, Lambos, etc. because I see them so often here, but then I saw a LaFerrari and got giddy.
There were some other interesting Ferraris there, too.
My first time seeing a Revuelto (and, yes, that's a matching Urus behind it).
It's not just newer cars.
And someone brought a racecar...
Love the sticker on this wing.
The car show is always a good excuse to take my car out for a drive.
There were some other interesting Ferraris there, too.
My first time seeing a Revuelto (and, yes, that's a matching Urus behind it).
It's not just newer cars.
And someone brought a racecar...
Love the sticker on this wing.
The car show is always a good excuse to take my car out for a drive.
For a while there, I was thinking the same thing. My 2-series was a really good tourer and commuter. It fit my life really well.
I'd seriously consider another, but they quit selling 'em with manual transmissions (unless you want to step to the M2, but I didn't want an overpriced track rat) and I have not yet forgiven them. Maybe once the i3's available...
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Picture tax! I found some forest service track out in middle of nowhere South Dakota and camped out at Wind Cave. On the way home? Carhenge.
My only experience driving BMWs is old (80's).
323i was a fun thing to drive, but very no-frills interior compared to even a modern Corolla.
740i was the boss' electric-everything luxo-barge. Great long-distance tourer.
323i was a fun thing to drive, but very no-frills interior compared to even a modern Corolla.
740i was the boss' electric-everything luxo-barge. Great long-distance tourer.
My e28 525i still had a certain something that was missing from my F10 535i. I never figured out what it was, but there was something off about the later generation car. Maybe how it felt at speed by comparison to the e28…
The E24/E28/E30 had wonderful road feel. If you ran over a penny, you knew it, and I don't mean it in a bad way. You could sense what was going on through the wheel. It did tend to lend a confidence in the car that the cars couldn't actually deliver on though.
I just ordered a trailer hitch harness thing so we can move the bike rack back and forth between cars. I am irrationally excited about this. Now we can use my infinitely nicer, more exciting car for everything!
Lovely, just don't try so hard you give yourself an inadvertently 'sanded' off new sunroof! I think that is mostly Ford Explorer problem though if memory serves correct.
The BRZ has a lower center of gravity than a c8 Corvette or 718 Cayman. I can't imagine flipping it without some other catastrophic impact.
The SCCA rules are actually just "vehicle must be wider than it is tall" and some surprising vehicles meet that requirement. I have seen a Tiguan and a Cayenne. And then this monstrosity that they used wheel spacers to push the wheels out and meet the requirement. It was running Hoosiers. I can only imagine the story behind this was something like "hey we have these wheels and slicks that will fit on this minivan, what say we run it at the next event?"