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I guess I'm just being realistic about my abilities, in a 500hp car with a 7 speed gearbox, if I want to go fast I accept that the smg box does a better job of swapping cogs than I can, and if I don't want to go fast it might as well be in automatic mode. There is no situation I can see that would be improved by having a true manual box in that car. And trust me, you can have fun in a 318is if you want to!

Does it once, thinks he's an expert

I'm currently daily-ing my 1972 Beetle manual It's a little awkward when it's cold, because there is a slight flat spot, but my morning commute is no issue - I usually only see 5 to 8 cars at 530AM 10 kms, in 15 minutes. Home is more trouble: it takes about 7 minutes longer than the mornings... right across town, and then same distance into the countryside The only autobox we currently have, is sitting on a trolley with a four cylinder attached, making way for 2 more cylinders and a 6 speed manual, with 4WD... not a BMW though. It was a 6 speed auto with 2.0 4cylinder, and did really well, but not for me! I think Ron is right - a good setup makes all the difference. On average, it's the Euro cars that have nice trans movements, and clutches.

Hi. I am looking for the trim piece that is next to the steering wheel and has the handbrake release lever in it. Vehicle is a 2001 E38 740i. Not sure if my trim is black or very dark grey but it's the plastic that's important as i can swap the soft cover. The plastic on mine is too damaged to salvage. Hope someone has one of these and thanks for your time.

Hey Ben, Bilstein sports cost me almost $1300 with shipping and customs from turner motorsport. Apex springs were around the $250 mark. I also ordered new shock mounts and bump stops for $100.

Props for not calling it a '97. Lovin' that steering wheel cover, will you sell that separately Brent?

Please make price one of the details you add.

Andy, I havnt had an answer, I after both rear trailing arms for my 96 328 coupe, if I don't get an answer, will have to go elsewhere, more than happy to help remove them, much prefer to buy locally!! regards barry

Depends where you live really. EG I couldnt think of anything worse than dailying a manual on my drive to work. 50% is sitting in a que. The new car has a very trick auto box which works the same as a DSG but without the maintenance problems. 6 speed, blips down shifts, holds gears, shifts as quick as a double clutch gear box and 0 transistion between gears, light weight torqure converer with and 100% lock most of the time so there is no slip going on. Modern autos are amazing. I love driving my e30 manual on the weekends ... its a great sole pleaser when I need the thrill back

Hey, surely that's a trick question. Everyone around this parish knows that anything powered by the N42 4 cyl Valvetronic motor is to be avoided like syphilis. Whether it's auto or manual, considerations of the N42 in a 1 or 3 series are largely academic! Should we engage in considerations of which transmission is best in the context of a car featuring a motive unit likely to consign it to the workshop while quietly emptying one's wallet? /rant. nothing to see here, move along.

Yes go M sport springs from Brent. Eibach long gone my friend.

as a daily? Hell, if you're driving in traffic, I have to be honest. I'll take the auto these days, they've gotten much better. Going for a "real drive" - and if I ever get an M3 or 911, yes a manual for sure. But how often to I get to drive purely for the enjoyment? Mostly (and I mean pretty much all the time) I'm driving to get somewhere, like work, or back home, or driving the family around, or on holiday. I started to entertain the idea of auto a little over 20 years ago, living in one of the largest cities in the world. Traffic like you've never seen. I had a Golf GTi manual. My boss had just bought an e30 325e auto. It was clear that for the conditions we usually drove in, the auto was far superior. When we got into the mountains, the manual was the go - but that was about 5% of my time behind the wheel. Thankfully autos have improved these days. Being real for a moment, most of my driving is commuting in traffic, so I confess I actually prefer the auto. And yes, I got my license around cars with non-synchro 1st gear, mastered double de-clutching and heel-and-toe downshifts before I was 16... consider myself a dyed-in-the-wool manual driver. Next car I buy will be the first time I select auto by preference. Perhaps I'm getting old!

Absolutely. I'd rather a manual over an auto any day. I plan to have a 6 speed E38 sometime in the near future.

Hi people, Due to having 2x work cars in the family, the trusty X5 is going up for sale.... its just sitting in the garage, so it needs a new home. 04, Nz New diesel sportpac, 210000km well spec'd version, in very good condition with the odd stone chip and blemish to be expected with a car this age/mileage etc. Drives great, HEAPS of Tq and cheap to run.. some of the keys points: conventional springs - not airbags Mk4 Nav Factory ULF Bluetooth Reverse Camera Aux-in BM54 dual tuner radio module Aux heater 10x airbags auto lights and wipers LED angel eyes removable tow bar ((with 2x tongues) with factory trailer module Etc) cargo barrier and boot blind Recently maintenance: Just changed the cracked exhaust manifold with a cast version(common fault with the facelift engines), new air filter, new front caster arm bushes transmission serviced at 150km drives faultlessly.. fuel filter changed about 10k kms ago. had a look around trademe etc, I was thinking $17,000. - let me know if you think its way off and I will consider reasonable offers.. Thanks Dean 021 223 7954

Hankook do S1 EVO 2's in that size but as above. Id swap out all the tyres for a more common size if you are keeping the car.

Have also been playing round with a couple of ideas for pedal boxes as the wilwood floor mount won't fit by my measurements and the others are too expensive. So have thrown this together on my architectural software, and some ideas around a short shifter, and even a hydro handbrake.

It's good you have taken it to First Class European, Sheldon sorted out fault codes on my E60 as well as rebuilding the vanos on my E46, I have been happy with the quality of his work.