Post a picture of your vehicle here Part 5 (don't quote pictures, 24h ban!)

tossy · 25-02-2018 10:28pm

Worst snow in years coming they said, winter prep they said.. .so i washed it

James Bond Junior · 25-02-2018 10:34pm

Smart Tossy. Snow won't stick to it.. at least you have 4wd.

beertons · 25-02-2018 10:37pm

Gave blue a bath too.

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Top Dog · 25-02-2018 10:42pm

tossy wrote: »

Worst snow in years coming they said, winter prep they said.. .so i washed it

But now it'll be camoflaged when the snow arrives so your 4wd will be useless when you can't find the car :pac:

carsfan2 · 26-02-2018 9:37am

JoeA3 wrote: »

It is actually functional, it has some aerodynamic function I read about, but can’t quite remember exactly what. It directs air down the side of the car... or something. However I’m sure it’s as much for aesthetics as anything.

Thanks for your contribution all the same.

For all Bmw going on about the air breathers when they started fitting them, when they did the lci face lift on the 4 series they now are blocked off and serve no function now.

Car looks great Joe.
See you fitted black grille. Really improves the appearance. I hate the chrome surrounding the regular one.

JoeA3 · 26-02-2018 10:55am

carsfan2 wrote: »

For all Bmw going on about the air breathers when they started fitting them, when they did the lci face lift on the 4 series they now are blocked off and serve no function now.

Car looks great Joe.
See you fitted black grille. Really improves the appearance. I hate the chrome surrounding the regular one.

Oh really?! I hadn't heard / read that anywhere else! So maybe they are purely cosmetic then

Either way, I like them...

Yeah, fitted the black grills on Saturday. A fairly inexpensive mod (genuine OEM BMW black grills) and not too difficult to swap out... just some grazed knuckles

They definitely look better. I also retro fitted the dash trim that's fitted to the LCI cars (it has a nice ambient light around / behind it) - again a nice touch that cost buttons...

CianRyan · 27-02-2018 12:38am

Been getting a work out the last week, lots of pops, lots of bangs. Despite being turbo season, it proves to still be faster than an MKV GTI. Lovely stuff.

Manic Moran · 27-02-2018 4:01am

The replacement for the SL550 has arrived. (Wife is pregnant, and it's not a great family car). The problem is finding a replacement for a 425hp, $130k (when new) roadster. Anything else seems to be a disappointment.

The first choice was an E-class, the wife likes Mercs. We very nearly walked away with a 2018 E-class on lease, but decided it was too pricey. Besides, the affordable ones come with 4-bangers. The previous generation, like a 2015 comes with a V6, which just feels better (No matter what the stats say). Although very affordable ones were found, they just didn't 'do anything' for her. They were surprisingly down-scale. They weren't bad, per se, but they didn't really make you feel special. May as well drive my Passat. Same with the Audis. The A6s were 'meh' in the vroom department, and OK inside. The 2015 S4 was much more fun, but still a little lacking inside though granted, it may just have been the configuration of the interior colors. So, to BMW, on the off-chance. (She flat refuses to consider Cadillac, though it's in the running for my next one. I am not a fan of Lexus/Accura etc).

Much better. First one we tried, turned out to be the keeper. The 4 was too small, and the new 5s too pricey.

One 2015 550i, M-sport, in "Carbon Black", which is actually a very dark form of blue, with 48,000 miles on the clock (And a year and a bit's warranty to go yet). The previous owner (It was a lease) seems to have a fairly similar philosophy to us. He obviously couldn't afford a fully tooled-up Beemer, so he forwent some of the gadgets and gizmos in favor of the V8, the M-sport suspension, and upgraded interior, leather everywhere. I'm going to miss the Merc's radar cruise control and blind spot monitor (Useful in the US), and there are some other things which are not present, but I can't argue with the way the thing pulls out in traffic. iDrive is driving me nuts, though. Still trying to figure out the details. HUD is a neat feature, surprisingly versatile.

Only bizarre problem for a car of this sort is that there are no seat heaters. Wife likes them for her back. I'm going to have to see if I can get it retrofitted somehow. While I'm at it, I might put on some new pipes. If you have a V8, may as well make it sound like a V8.

Now, hopefully I can get a fair amount for the SL.

Manic Moran · 27-02-2018 4:25am

Corkman's Citroen confused the hell out of me, I had no clue what it was. The logos in the wheels seemed to say 'Citroen', but I've evidently been out of Europe waaaaay too long. Finally nailed it down.

Apparently there is at least one in the USA. Entertaining review here, if you wonder how an American would react to it. https://jalopnik.com/we-drove-a-citroen-c6-and-it-was-better-than-our-wildes-1703876075

Wailin · 27-02-2018 10:20am

Very nice motor MM. Even rarer than an M5 over here. Can't believe it doesn't have seat heating though! Standard over here on all 5 series models...even 518d.

Rowley Birkin QC · 27-02-2018 10:43am

Super car MM! Feel free to tell me to bugger off but how do the associated costs compare to here?

Litre of fuel?
Tax? (Or equivalent)
Insurance?

At the risk of being banned for not posting a picture; I took my E46 off the road in November. Went to visit it at the weekend as it's likely to make an unscheduled return soon. It has acquired a very interesting neighbor!

ELM327 · 27-02-2018 11:21am

91 WD reg?
Buddy of mine just put one into storage the other day.

MetzgerMeister · 27-02-2018 11:39am

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

At the risk of being banned for not posting a picture

Wrong thread :P

Rowley Birkin QC · 27-02-2018 12:08pm

ELM327 wrote: »

91 WD reg?
Buddy of mine just put one into storage the other day.

UK reg. Absolutely spotless, no sign of rust anywhere. Have other pictures but it's not my car so not comfortable sharing much else tbh.

Sent it immediately to a mate who had one about 10 years ago and is now on the hunt for the owner with a bag of cash!

MetzgerMeister · 27-02-2018 12:40pm

CianRyan wrote: »

Been getting a work out the last week, lots of pops, lots of bangs. Despite being turbo season, it proves to still be faster than an MKV GTI. Lovely stuff.

http://i63.tinypic.com/dw50z9.jpg

Looking good Cian! :cool:

Chris_Heilong · 27-02-2018 6:43pm

Nice Rex Cian.

rizzee · 27-02-2018 7:17pm

Anyone here drive a black 750i? Uk plates. Passed it around Citywest heading for m50 northbound and was still beside me near Navan! Beautiful machine

Manic Moran · 27-02-2018 8:43pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Super car MM! Feel free to tell me to bugger off but how do the associated costs compare to here?

Litre of fuel?
Tax? (Or equivalent)
Insurance?

Short answer: I would wager, "Better."

Long answer.

The 91-octane stuff she drinks currently is going for about $3.70/gallon, which, translated into Euroean, is about Eu 0.85/litre. Bear in mind we are in the second-most expensive place for petrol in the US (We are seriously considering a move to Texas, where it's about $2.20/gal (Eu 0.48/litre)).
The sales tax was the standard 9.25%, that's paid once. The annual registration fee is, this year, about $425. (About Eu350). I suspect the fee will go up about $120 next year, if the increase doesn't get repealed. (One of the big political stories in California right now. Last time someone raised vehicle fees, we kicked the Governor out of office in a recall election. The very first thing the new Governator did was rescind the increase in the car fee.)
Insurance, well, bear in mind we're a married couple, I'm over 40, and we get the bundled discount for multiple cars, the house, and some property all on one policy, so I'm already on a headstart over many. Adding the BMW has added about $890US/year (Eu 730 or so). (Dropping the Mercedes when I sell it will drop about $1,100/year)

wonski · 28-02-2018 4:16am

Will be fun in the morning...

TrailerBob · 28-02-2018 7:24am

Pop across into Centra for a coffee from Mairead and go back to bed... I usually drive past you in the mornings..

tossy · 28-02-2018 9:38am

5.30 this morning..

GustavoFring · 28-02-2018 9:43am

Fire up the Quattro:D

punisher5112 · 28-02-2018 9:44am

Tossy that is some amount.

tossy · 28-02-2018 10:12am

I should have taken a pic from the other side it had drifted up to the lower trim on the door and the back wheel was completely covered. took about 25 mins to dig it out all around and i wasn't sure if i would clear the snow in front all the way out of the estate but it was ok. Main road was grand then - the big hill going through the curragh had caught out a few unfortunately.

q85dw7osi4lebg · 28-02-2018 11:12am

Somehow made it to work

q85dw7osi4lebg · 28-02-2018 1:14pm

LIGHTNING wrote: »

My brother just sent me a video of his 2000. I am going to take my BEAT out later which should be fun in a mid-engined RWD 2 seater with 13" wheels with no ABS :pac:

Should be great craic:pac:. I found the S2000 decent enough this morning due to the 50/50 weight distribution. Also reckon the lack of driver aids actually makes it easier in such conditions than say having to have ESP on etc.

Duke O Smiley · 28-02-2018 2:08pm

tossy wrote: »

I should have taken a pic from the other side it had drifted up to the lower trim on the door and the back wheel was completely covered. took about 25 mins to dig it out all around and i wasn't sure if i would clear the snow in front all the way out of the estate but it was ok. Main road was grand then - the big hill going through the curragh had caught out a few unfortunately.

How did you find the Quattro in the heavy stuff Tossy? What type of tyre have you on it if you don't mind my asking. My parents have a TT Quattro with Pirelli Cinturato all seasons, figured it'll probably be their safest best over the next few days

mloc123 · 28-02-2018 2:24pm

Was out in my fake Quattro earlier (haldex).. handled okay, got up hills that FWD cars were having issues on.

vintagevrs · 28-02-2018 2:37pm

I thought the 8P Quattro system was haldex? It's hard to keep know what's in cars these days, and 4wd in one car can be hugely different to 4wd in another. I remember driving an AWD Jag X type in the snow in 2010 thinking this thing would be great....it wasn't. It let all the power out the one wheel with least resistance.

tossy · 28-02-2018 3:01pm

8P is haldex alright, it's my 3rd haldex car have had 2 torsen cars, never had a torsen car on summer tyres in the snow and never had a haldex car on winter tyres in the snow

Torsen on winter tyres in snow was impressive - could go anywhere that ground clearance allowed in the bad snow of 2010.

Haldex on summer tyres in snow is marginally better than 2wd for sure. I managed a few steep hills this morning passing a few stranded cars but momentum was my friend i am sure. I remember in 2010 being able to stop on a steep hill to ask a stranded motorist if they had a rope so i could tow them and being able to start again from a stand still.

I've never adhered to the fake quattro line, having owned 3 i can tell you the apply the grip in the same way as a torsen on a wet day and all 3 i've owned have worn tyres on the rear quicker than fronts.

Anyway don't mind me i'm a fan boi lol

_Kaiser_ · 28-02-2018 3:10pm

3 hours ago...

It's thawing out a bit now, but more expected later apparently!

Ardennes1944 · 28-02-2018 3:11pm

Thats more snow than we've had here in Basel (driest part of the country) in the almost 4 years I'm here

mloc123 · 28-02-2018 3:14pm

tossy wrote: »

I've never adhered to the fake quattro line, having owned 3 i can tell you the apply the grip in the same way as a torsen on a wet day and all 3 i've owned have worn tyres on the rear quicker than fronts.

Anyway don't mind me i'm a fan boi lol

My fake Quattro remark was more due to the fact that mine isn't an Audi, so not a 'Quattro' but the same system

tossy · 28-02-2018 3:19pm

mloc123 wrote: »

My fake Quattro remark was more due to the fact that mine isn't an Audi, so not a 'Quattro' but the same system

I get you now, superb isn't it ? Fine car.

Alanstrainor · 28-02-2018 3:31pm

Protected...

CianRyan · 28-02-2018 3:31pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSDIqsVw5L0

vintagevrs · 28-02-2018 3:34pm

tossy wrote: »

I've never adhered to the fake quattro line, having owned 3 i can tell you the apply the grip in the same way as a torsen on a wet day and all 3 i've owned have worn tyres on the rear quicker than fronts.

Anyway don't mind me i'm a fan boi lol

Interesting hearing that from someone who has owned a few of both systems. I don't think I have driven a torsen, but from understanding the differences in how the two systems work, your experience is surprising.

Especially that you wear your rears quicker! Are you fond of handbrake turns or what!?:D

tossy · 28-02-2018 3:37pm

vintagevrs wrote: »

Interesting hearing that from someone who has owned a few of both systems. I don't think I have driven a torsen, but from understanding the differences in how the two systems work, your experience is surprising.

Especially that you wear your rears quicker! Are you fond of handbrake turns or what!?:D

Fond of the shoe

I can only relay my experience, all of the haldex cars have been performance cars and all the torsens haven't so maybe the more sprightly haldex car helps nullify the difference in terms of more power, more traction needed etc.

I honestly think given two similar cars with each system you'd want to be pushing hard on a track before spotting the differences or have the skills/toes of a racing driver to feel the difference.