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It’s being restored at the moment by a worthy owner.....saw it recently and it’s being done right.

The backwards tacho isn't what gets me, it's the f**k ugly "futuristic" look of those full LCD clusters. The 430i one looks great in comparison.

Man it hurts my eyes looking at those latest interiors. That instrument cluster looks like BMW's attempt to one up their rivals, go back to the 1980's and it would fit right in.

car designers try to keep there jobs by just changing things around for no point

Tail light bulb holders for late model e28, early ones probably the same

? ? ? It was stupid on Aston Martins Dumb on Peugeots, especially so with the tiny toy steering wheel. Now it's being embraced wholesale by a "sensible" German car maker. ?

forever analogue for me ! ?

Digital gauges AND wood. Dave must be so conflicted ?

Jesus that looks bloody horrible. The same story with the modern Range Rovers and Mercedes S Class. These taky digital clusters would put me off buying one, considering that is the part of the vehicle you look at most often. We will look back at these in 20 years and think wtf (like most people probably do to the VK Commodore interior/dash/instrument cluster). No one will do the same at the aesthetically pleasing E39, E46 or E34. Timeless designs.

Yep, still spinning freely. I'll take the belt off anyway, it's just wasting ponies at this stage.

Wasn’t it Porsche that also had a gauge layout in the 80s that meant the only way you could see some of the information was to open the drivers door and lean out until you were almost horizontal?

It's to do with stop/start function. Engine turns it off to save fuel/meet emissions and sits at ready so you know that once you release the brake the engine starts automatically

Does it really matter? I barely use it unless the engine is running funny

Premium Sound @Olaf! Higher spec by the day!

Today’s adventure with the e46. Went to put fuel into it, as you do... do you think I could release the gas cap? No f#*king way! It was ‘in’, ratcheting to clockwise. But could not get it to budge a anticlockwise. Even using two hands and a wide grip (as you do). Gave up and drove home. Later this afternoon, I gathered up a rag, my trick Knipex Cobra sliding jaw multigrips, penetrating oil, screwdrivers, and parts. I sprayed some penetrating oil around the gas cap, and left it to soak. It was still stuck. 1. Replaced the hood struts. They were getting a bit dubious on cold days. Re-seated some of the seals under the hood. 2. Went to check the state of the fuel cap. It came open easily! Inspecting the seal, it’s compressed, hardened, and cracked. Time for a new gas cap, or at least a sealif it’s available separately. I cleaned around the flange of the fuel filler, and cleaned the cap sealing surfaces thoroughly. here’s a pic for reference A world-weary e46 fuel cap, this afternoon.

Good save, Jon!

Havent Kia and Hyundai snapped up all the BMW and VAG designers and engineers...

Interestingly the latest episode of The Grand Tour features the new M850i. While the three slag off each others' cars no mention was made of the reverse tacho in the M850i. Thanks for the reminder Jacko, the 944 is not really backwards as the needle moves in a clockwise direction, just has a different start point. ?

Car evolution has stopped and gone down the stupid path of pointless features, this is all they can do in some cases, just mess around with parts that never needed changing.

And just like that it's changed up again. Gumboot Rally in a few weeks, so I've made a few changes. I added clear paint protection film to the headlights as well. Still gotta wire up my CB properly and add the monster aerial - I was talking to someone in Mangere while driving around in Albany a while ago when I tested it haha. Once the rally is over I'll be swapping it back to standard and running the e92 18's for a bit

+1 timber is for furniture, give me brushed aluminum any day.

The other advantages of the Maser is that they are self-recycling in the way that they are predisposed to returning to earth. Coupling that with Italian reliability and electronics, and you get to realise the third efficiency: emptying your wallet like (insert your favorite similie here). ultimately a kitschy 80’s Box with little merit in today’s world. I’ll get me coat, then.