April 2003
Saw pics of the new Beemer yesterday.
It's, er, interesting to look at in a kind of 'why the hell did they have to do that to it' way.
Heard reports from the US that the 7 series is already undergoing a major restyle. Not surprised; when the car was launched I had it on the authority of a very well-known BMW dealer that it was a good car...for a Lexus!
Wonder how soon they'll redo the 5. Any guesses, HJ? Read more
For the continued discussion of all things pertaining to Speed Cameras.
THREAD CLOSED, PLEASE CONTINUE DISCUSSION IN
"The Speed Camera Thread - Volume 11"
Mark (RLBS)
Moderator at Work
mailto:mark_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
Pulling the threads together
BBC News quote
A man was caught reading a newspaper while driving at 70mph during a police anti-speeding initiative in Scotland.
Fife Constabulary said that while the driver was not exceeding the speed limit, he was charged with not being in full control of his vehicle.
The driver, who was apprehended on the A92, was one of a number stopped during "National No Speeding Day" in Scotland, which ran between 0700-0700 BST on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Scottish forces said that a total of 1,894 motorists were detected breaking speed limits compared with 2,145 during the same 24-hour campaign last year.
Other incidents included
a school bus driver caught travelling at 42mph in a 30mph with 10 children on board a 19-year-old who had no driving licence, stopped for driving at more than 100mph in a stolen car
seventeen drivers caught travelling at more than 100mph on the southbound A74(M) motorway. Read more
I didn't say it was OK! But a boring road combined with the desire to get a few miles under your belt/get the job finished on a long distance trek is more likely to produce speeding
I was thinking about ABS the other day. I have never owned a car with ABS, but have had access to a works car.
Over the last 11 years I have driven about 150,000 miles. I can think of only less than 10 occasions where I locked the wheels up in situations where ABS MAY have helped (but which were controlled by cadence braking), which begs the question really is it really worth it? Does it make people drive as if they are invincible \"because I\'ve got ABS\" under the mis-apprehension that it shortens stopping distances markedly?
If you\'ve got ABS think back to when (if) if last helped you to stop, if you feel more secure with it, and perhaps more importantly if you have taken the time to practise with ABS to get the most from it (eg steering whilst ABS activated in big wet open space)?
Ducks head behind parapet whilst shouting \"Discuss!\"....
Richard Read more
>its all about balance and weight transfer.
Bang - shoots oneself in foot should read
Balance and inertia (ie momementum, direction of such and loads of newtons laws on motion)
I keep getting conflicting info on whether a 2 year old Audi 1.8T Quatrro has better performance than the 1.8T. or was it just a case of being 4 wheel drive. What Car says the 1.8T has 150bhp and the Quattro 180bhp. Local dealer says no difference. Any thoughts? Read more
I agree. I went to the GTC a few years back. The 'sales office' looked more like a betting shop, and the 'sales staff' looked like right growlers. Imaging taking your car back there due to some fault! Awful place. But you pays your money and takes your choice.
A car seen for sale (not mine) in the Autotrader....
1994 CITROEN XM DIESEL AUTOMATIC, 1994,
black, 5 door, 6 months tax, long MoT, 4x e/w, c/l, p/s, a few knocks & dents, hence excellent price. £395.
beautys & beasts
Price: £395
Black? Diesel? Automatic? Dents? Anyone else think this ad screams EX TAXI? If not it\'s got to be worth the money. Read more
The same happens when you leave the courtesy light on.
Little brothers = big bother.
Ben
In the boot of my Golf there is a white sticker, on this sticker at the bottom are a long list of three figure codes, where can I find out what they mean? Read more
Your dealer has all the details on ETKA - the electronic parts catalogue for your car - but it is time-consuming to look each individual one up. Each 3 figure code describes a particular option on your car, eg battery, seat type, wing mirrors, alternator, instrument cluster, airbags, wheels etc.
Anyone had problems with the paint lifting on their picasso?
I recently washed off some bird mess and it left behind a very soft area of paint
cheers
Read more
Graeme, could you please contact me off-list, my email address should come up when you click on my profile.
Ben
I've got a problem with the drivers window of my poverty spec 306 (98R manual windows). The window doesn't like to close properly at motorway speeds as the wind seems to pull the window outwards so it won't follow the track. It's only a problem for the last half an inch, but the wind whistles through at this speed and I have to slow down in order to close the window properly. I've taken the door panel off but can't seem to find anything broken or anything which can be adjusted.
Any ideas ? Read more
Has the horizontal channel at the bottom of the glass got a build-up of crud at one end, which may impede the nylon locating runners? or the winding gear arc?
Can anyone give me any information on the above please?
I am interested in buying one of these, a 1999 V Reg which has done 50K miles and is on sale for £11.5K.
Despite an exhaustive search on the web I cannot find many details on this model. Some people seem to be of the view that the old style C Class is not a very good car but I would be grateful for any views, in particular on the performance etc of this engine (the 125 bhp).
Thanks to the great community out there in anticipation.
Read more
Get a warranty. My P Reg C200 with 50,000 miles had complete auto gear box failure when we were setting off on holiday driving to Venice. We got about 10 miles and the car went into safety mode i.e. second gear.
My other main complaint was the prices charged and attitude of the franchised dealer. Cr*p service and £80 an hour - a joke.
Browse
IMHO if BMW continue to employ their current head of "styling" Chris Bangle ( Now more commonly called Bungle), they are going to lose a very large chunk of their market share. If they are stupid enough to allow the next 3 series to be "Bungled", I for one will be looking towards Lexus, when I come to replace my E46 320d.