jimbo01

I've got new rubber for the car - $830 each from Beaurepaires but I bought them from the closing South Pacific Tyre plant here in Upper Hutt via trademe - $755 for the 4. I'm happy - they are Dunlop 01A tyres 245/40ZR20 and have got to be better than the Nexen tyres.

The Mitsubishi Outlander when reading 100kph shows about 98kph on the 9500i - and this is about what the autocar magazine said the accuracy was so I'm pretty confident in the 9500i. Given the usual Germanic precision engineering a 10% speedo error is pretty expected. Anyway I've got new rubber for the carwhich should improve the speedo accuracy - 245/40ZR20 Dunlop 01A tyres - $830 each from Beaurepaires but I bought them from the closing South Pacific Tyre plant here in Upper Hutt via trademe - $755 for the 4. I'm happy - they have got to be better than the Nexen tyres. He's now has 4x 265/35ZR18 97Y XL Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 New Tyres for sale for a buy now of $1300. Trader is Richdarr

The 4 Dunlop SP 01A's sold for $755 - I rang Baurepaires for a quote for same ; fitted and balanced $830 EACH! I have already priced Yokohamas and Toyo's from Tonys Tyre centre. I will look at some other prices this weekend.

Make sure you do hide it - even leaving the mount on the windscreen can invite a break in. Please note that in particular areas the police are also using laser guns - SHW1 and SH2 just out of Wellington often have them. The only way to beat laser is not to speed! Also ourside schools if you exceed the speedlimit by 5kph you can get a ticket - the usual tollerance is 10kph - so the effective speed limit on the open road is 110kph - or just under. Even more important is that 40kph over is an instant loss of licence. The police also operate their radar guns in what i'd call stealth mode - they ping you as you come around a corner - or coming in the opostie direction in a mufti car. Unless there is other traffic on the roadway that are being pinged then you have no idea if the car coming towards you is a cop. Pay particular attention to temporary speed limits on the side of roads for road works, loose gravel etc - they can be as low as 30kph - so cruising through at 100kph after 5pm when there is no sign of a roadworker may just get you pinged for 70kph over the limit - which is instant 28 day loss of licence and a fine that will make you gasp. I saw 2 police cars doing this a couple of years back just west of Ohakune - a several km section of new seal had 50kph signs out since Friday - it was now Sunday - and there was no reason to creep along at 50kph - so people were going at the original speed limit, and getting tickets for 50kph over the limit. Yes our police like to find ways to endear themselves to the NZ public. Another recent reported trick is to pull over motorists for speeding and issue tickets based upon old radar readings. Some of the victems had radar detectors which did not give an alert, therefore they didn't get the displayed speed reading from them. This issue only seems to be ocurring south of Auckland and north of Hamilton. Unfortunately if it's police word against yours, the police win. The other trick is cops hiding at the end of passing lanes. You may also find that an interesting quality of Kiwi drivers who prior to a passing lane were doing only 80kph will increase their speed to 110kph or more on the passing lane. They deserve to be fined for gross stuplidity, but unfortunately this is as yet not illegal. And when you hit 120-130 to pass the idiot there waiting to give you a ticket are the police. Apart from the flase readings - how can you denfend against that - there is a sure way to avoid tickets. It radical - it's called obeying the speed limit. of couse you may just nod off to sleep and still have an accident but at least speed won't be the major factor. Have a great holiday.

My GPS radar detector is showing 109kph when the 740's speedo is showing 120kph indicated!. I thought that it was the tyres as currently it has a 245/35/20 (679mm diameter), however these are 1.29% smaller than original which doesn't account for a 10% speedo error. Is there some adjustment? Is the speed just optimisitc? I thought when i was cruising it felt slower than the indicated speed - and it wasn't the smoothness of the ride - it is slower! Any tips?

Interesting your comment on the SP SPort 01's - I am looking at a set of them - My bet is they would be better than the Nexens! I'm looking at 245/40ZR20 (704mm diameter). These are 2.27% bigger than the orginal 235/60R16. Currently it has a 245/35/20 (679mm diameter), these are 1.29% smaller than original which doesn't account for my GPS radar detector showing 109kph when the 740's speedo is showing 120kph indicated!. The ideal 20" size for my BMW is 255/35ZR20 but this size is not readily available in mnay ranges - and the price in 20" will make your eyes water, it could be cheaper to buy new 18" wheels and tyres than just put a good brand on the 20" wheels!

2nd Update on the Escort Passport 9500i. My bad - to get the GPS filter and mark feature to qwork you need to turn on the GPS filter. I've now got it sorted. I've also got mounts for all 3 vehicles now. I really like the GPS speed display - it's sort of like a speed heads up display - easy to see, and helps keep the driving on the right side of the law, or at least in won't get a ticket territory. Definately missing the V1 direction indicators though. Jim

Thankyou - will look at this this coming weekend (if I'm not skiing).

Thnaks - I'll price up some sport maxx tyres, and the falken.

The AA report for my 740 identified a power steering oil leak, which was supposed to have been fixed by replacing some clips, which the owner has receipts for. It was a private sale. When i painted my calipers red I cleaned all the old oil that i could see assuming it had leaked prior to being fixed. Today i have to change my fromt tyre as the sidewall was split (aarrggghhh) and noticed fresh oil in the same place on some subframe under the engine (2nd arrrggghhh) So is this expensive to have fixed properly? What should i check?

The 318 is a well balanced car - they handle well. Welcome.

STI's are mutually exlusive with keeping a licence. Test drove a 2 door coupe STI some years back, I still grin when I remember that ride. However I still cringe when I remember what the speedo was reading when i slowed down to pass a cyclist - it felt like I was doing about 90kph. For a japanese car the STI is a fine example. I still hate the ones where some dork has modified the hell out of them; basically added thousands in useless crap and as a result lowered the value, lowered the performance, and lowered the reliability of the car.

Great fathers day, apart from a freakin crack appearing in the sidewall of my front tyre. We had just got back from a cruise in the 740 to Masterton & back. I hit no curbs or big potholes. Is this what you get from having cheap Korean Nexen 3000 tyres on the car? I was thinking they were OK - They handle alriight, including wet on the Rimutaka Hill. By the way - these are the legacy of the previous owner. I will take the oportunity to get the curb damage removed from the rim and will buy another 2 tyres as I need to go up to 255/35ZR20 to get the right rolling diameter anyway - I had hoped these would last a little longer. I'll put the new tyres on the rea and move the rears to the front. So can anyone recommend some good value tyres - i.e. not Pilot Sports at $900 each. Something that isn't crap, and won't breakthe bank of jimbo!

And I think this was the CBR400F back in 1983 which featured REVS, also known as VTEC later.

The biggest dick I've seen drivng in the last couple of weeks was a guy who spun his car turning right onto SHW2 from Harbour View. Looked very embarrassed. There was lots of smoke -from his tyres. It was a black E30 BMW - anyone here?

I like Honda - don't blame Honda for the dickwads that buy and abuse them. My list of Hondas in the reverse order of when I sold them. They have all (with the exception of the Accord 2.0Si) been reliable and most have been above average in temrs of dynamic ability, power, and economy for their time. 1996 Honda Odyssey 4WD - K&N filter, Big Bore, 17" Koya Inox 4 wheels (for sale - bought to replace Subaru GT wagon which was a find handling powerful unreliable POS) 2001 Honda CBR1100XX - Sold to buy BMW 740i 1991 Honda Legend 3.2 litre V6 (sold to buy 1996 BMW 323 Coupe) 1991 Honda Prelude VTiR (sold to buy Subaru GT Wagon) 1993 Honda Accord 2.2 EXi (Sold to buy Prelude) 1986 Honda Accord 2.0Si (DOHC Jap Import - traded on NZ new Accord as Honda unable to fix gearbox problems -in & out of car 4 times!) 1989 Honda Accord 2.0 EXI (New - Sold to buy Honda CBR1000F and a Subaru 4WD) 1989 Honda Civic LX (New - sold after 6 months as it was carp compared to an Accord) 1987 Honda Accord 2.0 LX (New) 1996 Honda Accord 2.0 LX (New - wrtten off day of 8000km service) 1994 Honda Accord 1.8 LX (New - went 1/2 with brother after he sold his Rover V8 and crashed my trusty Datsun 120Y)

Honda originally called it REVS and it was originally launched in the CBR400 - I even had a plastic model of one. Honda are to my mind a fairly innovative company - while Honda was still alive anyway. The bean counters seem to have taken over. It was led by a guy with a passion for negineering and racing - they built Suzaka, and Twin Ring Motegi race tracks - thats some committment to racing. The new Honda Legend is a fantasitic car - and one that i would spend $80,000 on if I was in the market for a new car. The SHAWD really works. It has a BMW level feel of quality, it goes, and it handled like a sports car. It could do with a V8 though. I had a Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird - 121Kw of super smooth motorcycle. They are $17995 new. BMW's take on it; the K1200S is a damn fine bike - but the Honda engine is still way better despite being 8 years older. I was actually gobsmacked at just how rough the BMW was - it's a case of wait for the 2nd generation I guess. By the way BMW used the CBR1100 as their benchmark, and their bike is better in brakes, in nice things like heated grips, innovative suspension, a shaft drive - BUT the Honda wins on finish, and engine smoothness.

I used the term "raped" to describe the prices paid in NZ for new BMW. This is not a term I use lightly. To pay effectively double what the car is worth in another market - thats insane! Somehow BMW NZ gets away with it. Lets use the 750i - with basically the same spec in the US and NZ. A 750i in NZ will cost NZ$219,000 or the equivalent of US$151,638 A 750i in the USA will cost NZ$110,537 or the in US$76,575. Yes we are far away so transport cost rise, yes BMW NZ won't enjoy the same discounts as BMW USA - but DOUBLE the cost!!! With used example coming in from other markets there is serious pressure on the used value of BMW in NZ - so the depreciation is eye watering like a kick to the scrotum. I guess the fact that people will pay way to much for a new BMW in this country means that there is huge value atttached to the badge, and that the perception of BMW owners being rich snobs is not without cause. However BMW are not alone in this - Kiwis pay way too much for any of the premium Euro badge's. :thumbsdown:

Nice - How long did they take to arrive? Are they good quality?

The trouble with many of the boy racer types is they go for appearance 1st - so they put the big chromies on the car - forgetting they are increasing unsprung weight. They then put the cheapest rubber they can on, as they spent all their money on the wheels. A big exhaust of course - who caresif the back pressure is buggered up and the car actually perfroms worse - it's now LOUD - must be fast aye. Lowering is the other must do - and cutting the srpings is a cheap way to go. Putting some backout crap on the lights is another winner, as is a bigger intercooler and turbo blow off valve. For the VTEC Honda guys it's a VTEC controller, fake type R badges etc. The POS sounds with a single note sub woofer, and wind the windows down - everyone needs to hear their poor taste in music. Damn, I almost forgot - the need for lots of guages - and blue neon lights - cool! The big must do when driving as described POS is to lay the seat back so only the top of the hoody shows, and they have to peer out though the rims of their sterring wheel. Now give the fingers to anyone as they; -make unsignalled lane changes, -tailgate -text while driving -fail to indicate when turning right at intersections -pass on blind corners -speed past schools -leave their car running at 3am on a Sunday morning outside someone elses house (yes I do know where you live - 4 houses up with mum and dad - can't leave the car running outside thier house as you pash our girlfriend can we!) -block people from passing -weave across lanes -drink while driving -dump empty Maccas from the window as driving -drive without the propper licence (and rear end people putting them in hospital when they can't stop coz "I never tired to stop in rain like that before man, - sorry aye") -do burnouts (on residential streets) -pour diesel on streets, ruining the surface (to do burnouts) Watch them on the news as they throw bottles and hurl abuse those who are trying to save the lives of their 'pissed as' mates who have just crashed their POS. BTW; A genuine Accord Euro Type R or Integra Type R - standard - are damn fine handling and perfroming cars. Don't blame the cars for the dickwads who buy and screw them up!

Firstly, what is your personal perception of BMW? Excellent engineering. Innovative technology. Quality. Precise. Over priced as new cars - NZ buyers are 'raped' by BMW. What makes the cars so good? Designed for a premium market so quality is built in. What do you love about them? The represent excellent value in the 2nd hand market - we bough a 8 year old NZ new BMW for a 10th of it's original cost. A 7 year old Mercedes was 25% of it's original cost. Secondly, how do you think BMW is regarded New Zealand wide and partcularly by non-BMW owners/drivers? Expensive to buy, expensive to maintain. How do you think people in NZ see BMW drivers? Before I bought my BMW I noticed that a BMW driver is more likely to let another driver into a lane, as oposed to say a Subaru owner (who more often then not drive like arse wipes). Someone with money. Someone who likes driving. Thirdly, what do you think of BMW advertising/marketing? It's nothing special. No amount of marketing will make the new 5 series look OK, those headlights are just awful - was Chris Bangle having an off day? However the 7 series looks OK, as does the 3. BMW marketing manages to gloss over the fact NZ new buyers are paying way way more for the same model than other markets. Did it have an effect on your car choice? No. I would only buy a new BMW if I lost all notion of value for money, or had a masive lotto win, where I no longer cared about value for money! How do you think they could advertise/market themselves better? (1) Get real on the pricing (2) The best advertisement is word of mouth; At Grays, the Wellington BMW dealer they seem very alloof, cold, but still helpful (in that "ive got something better to do", like anything else other than serve you attitide). They seem completely uninterested in the fact you just purchased a NZ new 740 - are only the 3rd owner of what was an $185,000 car ($60,000 US for a higher spec in the US). We previously owned a BMW purchased from Shellys, where we were delighted with the service. Our Merc gets serviced by Wellington Star where you feel welcome - they seem to appreicate the fact you bough a Merc. We will probably get our 740 serviced there too. When we purchased an older NZ new Honda Legend a few years back, Honda gave us special treatment - they didn't care we hadn't bought it from them. That's about all I have to ask for now although if you have any other comments feel free to post them! Also, any advice on other forums/blogs that might be useful would be much appreciated!

Well spotted; Ironic isn't it! My excuse is I'm a skiier - you are obligated as a skiier to own at least 1 Subaru turbo. After a while you get sick of looking like; (1) an a**hole with no respect for other motorists (you turn into one driving a Subaru turbo) (2) you need to compensate for something (3) a target to the police (with good reason) (4) your repairs shops most frequent customer

While removing the calipers would allow every bit of the calipers, including the bits you can't see to be painted, I didn't see any benefit. If you want perfection remove the calipers, and the brake pads then do it.

(1) Stop hangin with boy racer types who think an 89 Subaru is the sh*t. (2) The only way they can feel good about their POS is to bag someone elses car. (3) Owning an 89 legacy (if turbo'ed) is a sign they have a very small dick and need to compensate. (4) Owning an 89 legacy (non turbo) is a sign they have no dick! BTW I had a 1991 Subaru legacy Turbo, it was a great car, went like a rocket, handled like it was stuck to the road, and cost a fortune in maintence and repairs (which is why i sold it).

I hate the moronic f***'s that cruise along at 80kph then speed up to 110kph in the passing lane. Of course in my 740 by the time they have nursed their car to 90kph I'm past the sad a***holes. Do they slow down when the passing lane end so they can play with their small dicks? Does it excite them to know that if they were to stop the guy behind them would have to resist the pefectly rational urge the beat the crap out of them?