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Thread: Cars. Motorsport. Things that go Vrrrmmm.

  1. #1

    Default Cars. Motorsport. Things that go Vrrrmmm.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust View Post
    You guys sound like a car thread is in order
    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    I'd like one but don't think it'd get much traffic.

    Off the top of my head, Lor, OG and myself are the only ones with enough interest in cars to waffle on about them.

    ~

    Quite a bit more interest in F1 when the season starts up again, where the likes of you and Spawnster and a few others chime in with posts.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lor View Post
    Make one, you can then answer my question about 3 series coupe and allow us to further expand on the subject. I'm all for one!
    Okay so here we go. Vrrrm Vrrrrm.

    ~


    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    The problems you refer to affect older E46 diesel units, pre 2003. Blown turbos on those are a regular feature on the forums.

    BMW's older petrol units however will run trouble-free for the life of the car, particularly the six-pots which have an award-winning reputation for reliability.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lor View Post
    If i were to shop for a 3 Series coupe which would have the better reliability, what years should i look at? Remember i want a diesel (want to keep MPG up and Road Tax down!)??
    Okay. This gets a little complicated so bear with me. My note above wasn't quite accurate after I've just done a bit more reading on the issue now.

    The problem primarily affected the 150bhp 2.0 litre (320d) diesel engine introduced with the E46 facelift (around 2001 for saloon, around 2003 for the coupé/convertible). Also affected the 3.0 litre (330d) models to a much lesser extent.

    Pre-facelift 320ds with the 136bhp engine were not affected by this problem at all.

    The problem that manifested was either a less-worrying split inlet manifold, or a more worrying problem of swirl flaps being ingested by the engine and fucking the whole lot up. Or indeed a combination of both the above.

    Not sure if you're familiar with the E46, but the easiest way to tell which is facelift and which is pre-facelift is probably by the headlights.



    The above is pre-facelift, has the 136bhp diesel engine, and is not affected the above problem. Note the two large headlights on either side.




    The above is facelift, the newer one, with the problematic 150bhp diesel engine. Note the smaller outside headlights which taper round the side.

    Facelifts also have rear LED lights and various other more minor cosmetic differences.

    There is a huge wealth of information on BMW Land, where there is a whopping 110-page thread on exactly this reliability issue. Linky

    If you are serious about going for an older 3 series coupé (or indeed saloon), check this link for potential issues before you buy ...

    ~

    If however, you are looking at the new E92 coupé, as below, there are no persistent problems with the diesels.



    Check the www.bmw.co.uk used car pages, there are usually around 100 diesel E92s of various flavours on there, right from your basic 320d models at around £12k-£13k up to your mind-numbingly quick 335ds which will start at around the £18k mark up to well over £40k.

    Remember that BMW are the forerunners of performance diesels in the industry and have pushed the envelope, leaving the rest of the field to play catch up. They are quicker and more powerful than rival diesels, and also much more efficient. The 118d fr'instance is more efficient with higher mpg and lower CO2 emissions than a Toyota Prius hybrid! Plus it's a damn sight cheaper, quicker, and more fun to drive than a poxy Prius. Do I sound like a Beemer advert yet?

    It is felt they pushed things a bit too far with the E46 facelift 320d leading to the reliability issues with the inlet manifold and the swirl flaps as described above.

    BMW (in the UK at least) acknowledged the issue and compensation and goodwill gestures were forthcoming.

    ~

    If you test drive the new Mercedes C Class coupé Lor, let me know. I've not driven one so would love to know how it goes.
    Last edited by Timbuk2; 02-04-2010 at 06:53 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  2. #2
    Not a fan of BMW or Mercedes coupes/coupés. Styling is hideously ugly IMO. I think I'd almost always drive a Beemer over a Mercedes, though. I'm not a huge motorhead by any means, but I get a couple auto mags monthly. Basically I've learned that every mag has a BMW bias, and that it's a well-deserved bias.

  3. #3
    I think the BMW brand went to shit after their E30 cars.
    At each price bracket now, I usually side with a different brand for better performance/value. Of course thats in America land, the land thats anti-diesel

    but I'm pretty sure that road test that claimed BMW out greening a Prius was shown to be utterly shit for your average driver. Something about the long, open, and almost traffic free roads the test used.
    Last edited by Ominous Gamer; 02-04-2010 at 08:37 PM.

  4. #4
    I'm a car nut as well, just for the record
    All those moments lost in time... like tears in the rain

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by NGS View Post
    Not a fan of BMW or Mercedes coupes/coupés. Styling is hideously ugly IMO. I think I'd almost always drive a Beemer over a Mercedes, though. I'm not a huge motorhead by any means, but I get a couple auto mags monthly. Basically I've learned that every mag has a BMW bias, and that it's a well-deserved bias.
    BMW styling is very marmite. You either love it or you hate it.

    Chris Bangle (an American), the BMW Chief of Design behind BMW's radical new looks (well new from about 5 yrs ago), always cut a controversial path. He was given fairly free reign with his ideas and I think that's a good thing.




    His styling took time to grow on me, but grow on me it did.

    Chris's cars:

    1 Series E87 coupé




    6 Series (which I think look incredible)




    The new 3 Series saloon and coupé (coupé here in M3 guise)




    The old and new Z4s. The new Z4 looks incredible in the flesh.














    Sorry, I could look at the thing all day long.

    ~

    Chris was also behind the 5 series E60 and the controversial-looking 7 series E65, which was voted one of the top 50 worst looking cars of all time by Time magazine.

    He was also behind the mega-selling new Mini, and some of the Rolls Royce designs at BMW.

    Much criticised, his designs did help BMW overtake Mercedes as the top-selling premium marque globally in 2006.
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    I think the BMW brand went to shit after their E30 cars.
    A lot of people agree with you.

    The E30s were fabulous cars. I had an old one (my 2nd car, and 1st Beemer, a red 316i) which blew up in a spectacular cloud of smoke on the highway and I had it towed to the graveyard. I loved it till that moment though.

    but I'm pretty sure that road test that claimed BMW out greening a Prius was shown to be utterly shit for your average driver. Something about the long, open, and almost traffic free roads the test used.
    Depends which magazines you read.

    The on-paper stats have the Beemer ahead on both emissions and mpg rating.

    But on-paper stats don't necessarily reflect real-world driving, as you indicate.
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  7. #7
    It's not that I don't love most BMW styling--the 6, 7, 5 series and M3 are to die for--it's just that the 1 series and Euro coupes rub me the wrong way. I've never been able to figure out if I like the Z4. I thought the old one was kind of crap--Z8, too--so it helps that they've redesigned it, but the jury's still out.

  8. #8
    Chris Bangle...he ain't responsible for the look of BMWs clown shoe car is he?


  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by xaero1 View Post
    I'm a car nut as well, just for the record
    More the merrier.

    Quote Originally Posted by NGS View Post
    It's not that I don't love most BMW styling--the 6, 7, 5 series and M3 are to die for--it's just that the 1 series and Euro coupes rub me the wrong way. I've never been able to figure out if I like the Z4. I thought the old one was kind of crap--Z8, too--so it helps that they've redesigned it, but the jury's still out.
    Know wot you mean.

    Didn't like the old Z4 but grew to like it.
    5 series didn't like at first and not sure if I do now, even though I own one. Like the back-end hate the front-end.
    New 3 series saloon hated it at first and still hate it. Looks cheap and Japanese. New facelift is an improvement tho.
    New 3 series coupé loved on first sight and still think it looks great.
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    More the merrier.
    Aye, I had a 400bhp Skyline a few years back, but currently rocking around in a Pug 306 Rallye which is about the best value hot hatch you can buy - super fun and super cheap
    All those moments lost in time... like tears in the rain

  11. #11
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    Threads like this make me feel sad about no longer owning a car. But it would be ridiculous to get one, I really don't need to and parking it would be hell.
    Congratulations America

  12. #12
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    If however, you are looking at the new E92 coupé, as below, there are no persistent problems with the diesels.

    Check the www.bmw.co.uk used car pages, there are usually around 100 diesel E92s of various flavours on there, right from your basic 320d models at around £12k-£13k up to your mind-numbingly quick 335ds which will start at around the £18k mark up to well over £40k.
    Not bad prices, considering it's from a dealer (figuratively speaking). I'm more than likely to pay Manheim a visit down in Colchester when I actually go and get a new motor. I've been told to keep my options open when it comes to auctions as you can seriously pick up a bargain (or get a right shit heap). My boss picked up his Volvo for something like £5900 when book value was say £7000. Only a couple of years old, bugger all mileage and a FSH.

    If you test drive the new Mercedes C Class coupé Lor, let me know. I've not driven one so would love to know how it goes.
    I drove my dads 2008 plate C Class C220 CDI saloon (probably not much between the Coupe and Saloon) about a month ago after he had picked it up. An impressive motor! The styling inside was beautiful, cream leather with a grey/black dash. Integrated Bluetooth mobile phone access via speaker system. Plenty of room in the front and back, parking sensors are nifty, just the usual mod cons for such a motor. Driving it was a blast, it handled really well, a lot of torque available when ever you required it and the automatic was on the button pretty much as soon as i put the pedal to the metal - something which did shock me a little i must confess.

    As you know, the handbrake is some what weird to say the least and took me a while to work out where the damn thing was, but like i said earlier it's something i'm quite prepared to over look.

    Quite torn on what to get when it comes to me actually getting a new motor. I'm quite picky with most things and spend a lot of time researching various things like servicing costs/reliability issues and what have you.

    Anyway, F1 to start soon and Lotus F1 are having their press release of their new F1 car today apparently. So glad they are back on the track after all this time away! I know they are not a direct involvement between Group Lotus @ Hethel but none the less seeing the word 'Lotus' in the line up is enough for me. Such a shame cigarette advertising isn't allowed anymore, to see the John Players black/gold design on a new car would make me tingle.

  13. #13
    Gentlemen, start your tingling (still works for me on the old car):





    All I could find for the 2010 Lotus Car:

    I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
    I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
    Which is what I am

    I aim at the stars
    But sometimes I hit London

  14. #14
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    What a car! I was privy to seeing those above and many others during a employee open day quite some years ago. We got to watch the F1 cars of old go around the test track. The John Players car done a standing start and i was about 6 meters away from it at the time and boy, it was loud.

    The new car will be presented at the Royal Horticultural Hal in London at some point today, i'm checking various sites to see what time we are looking at but it's looking more than likely to be an evening do.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    Chris Bangle...he ain't responsible for the look of BMWs clown shoe car is he?

    Looks like the guy who designed that BMW really liked the Reliant Scimitar

    Congratulations America

  16. #16
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    I've liked that BMW for quite some time, even looked at getting one dare i say it. However the Scimitar and also this:



    ... are nasty!

  17. #17
    Today eh? Will check it out tonight.

    By the way, I was ranting earlier on the BMW, and it wasn't really fair. There's one BMW which is just the loveliest car in the world. There's a guy down the street who owns one and I think he spends every weekend washing and polishing it. I feel sorry for his wife (If she hasn't already left)

    The 2002 (trying to find a picture of it without added shit is hard )



    It's not often I want to hug a car ...
    I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
    I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
    Which is what I am

    I aim at the stars
    But sometimes I hit London

  18. #18
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    T'is a nice car. I saw this up for sale the other day for around £29k:


  19. #19
    Too much bulky bodykit for my taste. For me it usually ruins the car. But hey, to each ...

    BIG picture old Mustang:
    I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
    I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
    Which is what I am

    I aim at the stars
    But sometimes I hit London

  20. #20
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    Don't get me wrong i'd love an old vintage Mustang (Any GT will do!), but i also like the new ones like the one above. Plus, it sounds gorgeous: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcPE9JwSExc

  21. #21


    Old sixties styleeeee mustang, a thing of beauty. One of the few tin-can yank cars I'd actually like ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  22. #22
    The current mustang's real nice. I thought the glass top mustang was cool too.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
    Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

  23. #23
    Saw one of these today. 2009 Mustang Bullitt. BEAUTIFUL, the picture really doesn't do it justice.


  24. #24
    The new Mustangs are fugly/ugly!! Saw one today and it's naaaastty!

    The Friend just sold (am still pissy about this) a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP! Talk about fun, fast, and fuel efficient ( if you didn't stick your foot in the carb)! Now he (we) are driving a Grand Prix GT with the competition pack on it! Hella good fun driving! And very safe, as far as I can tell, since it's got the wide trak, and holds the road awesomely well!
    I don't have a problem with authority....I just don't like being told what to do!Remember, the toes you step on today may be attached to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow!RIP Fluffy! 01-07-09 I'm so sorry Fluffster! People who don't like cats were probably mice in an earlier life! My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely!The nice part about living in a small town: When you don't know what you're doing, someone else always does!
    Atari bullshit refugee!!

  25. #25
    The new Mustangs are way to feminine for my taste. You don't start getting that muscle car fell and look till you're in the upper price range, at which case I'd rather go with a Taurus SHO.
    My current car has 3 years left on it. By then the Challenger gets a refresh and Nissan may reintroduce a 240SX. Those are the 2 I'm looking forward to.

  26. #26
    Why is Ford taking so long to bring the EU Focus to America?


  27. #27
    Senior Member Lor's Avatar
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    Gah, Focus =

  28. #28
    Focus is a good car dude.

    Good value, good handling, reliable enough, fun to drive. Prefer the looks of the new Astra though.

    Not that I go for hatches - far prefer saloons/coupés - but for a hatch you can do much worse.

    OG, no Focus Stateside?

    Its predecessor, the Escort, was there yes?
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It's actually the original French billion, which is bi-million, which is a million to the power of 2. We adopted the word, and then they changed it, presumably as revenge for Crecy and Agincourt, and then the treasonous Americans adopted the new French usage and spread it all over the world. And now we have to use it.

    And that's Why I'm Voting Leave.

  29. #29
    I used to have an escort. My first car, bought with money earned from my own hard labours. The Red Mist, it was called. I loved it.

    And then, in NZ, i bought this beauty, Marianne (bought it off a frenchie)

    "Son," he said without preamble, "never trust a man who doesn't drink, because he's probably a self-righteous sort, a man who thinks he knows right from wrong all the time. Some of them are good men, but in the name of goodness, they cause most of the suffering in the world. They're the judges, the meddlers. And, son, never trust a man who drinks but refuses to get drunk. They're usually afraid of something deep down inside, either that they're a coward or a fool or mean and violent. You can't trust a man who's afraid of himself. But sometimes, son, you can trust a man who occasionally kneels before a toilet. The chances are that he is learning something about humility and his natural human foolishness, about how to survive himself. It's damned hard for a man to take himself too seriously when he's heaving his guts into a dirty toilet bowl.

  30. #30
    We had the Escort, and we have the Focus Sedan and Coupe. The sedan is mainly only there for people to poor to afford a Taurus, and the coupe goes after the Civic crowd.
    We haven't got the EU Focus hatch yet, but we are expecting the Fiesta this summer.

    I'm really hoping that will change as Ford puts more effort behind its global platform idea.

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