Allanw

You haven't seen his driving... plus: his driveway is probably 20 metres long too

Check the timing chains (decent shop can check the figures in VCDS or similar). They're known to destroy the guides, and sometimes even break chains... a nasty rattle on cold startup is a good sign it's imminent. Bit like M62TU's really. Not a gauranteed thing, but if you can avoid it, you'll save some cash. The timing chains are a pain to do, as they're on the trans end, but the bits are cheap enough. If it's not noisy now, Plan on doing the chains at the next clutch, to save masses on labour and avoid massive engine failure if it DOES happen. The haldex controllers can get water in them, but it appears to be more a nasty environment thing, like the UK where corrosion helps break the seal. Not so much on mk5's though. The trans can break selector forks, but it's not SUPER common, though the guide pin screw behind the starter can wear and contribute to the problem. They're only about $10, and can be fitted in 20 minutes - worth doing every 60 to 100K IMO. I've got a MK5 type (184KW) R32 engine in my garage, waiting for chains before being bolted into our next family car. Family cars needs more VR6 noise. It's got 150K on it, and no noise symptoms, but I don't want to pull it out later, again. Apparently the MK5's are less prone to chain issues, but enough have had it for me to not call them "solved"! They're not really very fast, not by newer 2.0 GTI standards, or Golf R, but they have awesome torque - similar to recent 3.0 TD hiluxes at 3500rpm (though less lower down, as no turbo, but twice the useful RPM range too!), so great cruising power.

HAHA! I had to Ulike that, so I could like it again :-)

Did you buy some seat base protectors yet? You don't want to get stains on the passenger seats.

Ron is looking for a beach hack.

Funny, I've had a few too, and also had the engines in VW's. The company one 92 Legacy VZ from 40K to 380K needed: a radiator - it blew the side tank, and I din't notice - I drove it a considerable distance, and when I got home, the coolant had evapourated down to JUST the coolant additve, right down the side of the car, and when it cooled, I put 5.5L water in. Figuring it was rooted, I drove it to work the next day, and had it looked at - needed just the radiator! the alternator died one day (dry joints), but go SO hot from the fault the solder melted and fixed itself :-) Never had it looked at. Auto trans stuck in 3rd. Had a manual conversion done. Engine ran out of oil... because of a crack in the oil pump housing... was on the way home from the panel beaters after a frontal collision when my boss was driving. It was impact damage, and replaced under insurance... still no issues. This this used to get caned all the time, even from cold. It's what it was for - a workhorse. Mrs W's 95 Impreza: Brought at 288kms with one owner and a full history printout from import at 77K. Worst repair was diff seals, and it was really maintainance, as they were weeping. The guy we got it off never had a breakdown and just had it serviced 6 monthly. I swapped the engine and trans, because I had better ones (with a manual box!) and had no problems except a missfire (dodgy plug) until 320+ K, when the fuel pump died - it didn't technically leave my Mrs stranded... it was running, but low on power - I told her to turn it off, then it wouldn't start :-( Also, failed 2 WOFs in its life in NZ - one I left an exhaust clamp loose, the other - Mrs toore off the front swy bar mount camping :-) Also had a 95 Legacy manual, first NZ owner had it from 22K to 220K when I brought it with a poked clutch and rocker cover gaskets. Fixed it up and was a good car, until I sold it and it demolished a caldina wagon. Rocker cover gaskets done previously by original owners, so required twice in 220+ kms. Averages out less than the E39! The others, Either I brought as basket cases, for were purely for stripping. Hell the EJ25 in my VW Van used to haul close to 3 tonnes happily. And anybody who thinks any "Dealer" is the be all and end all of servicing is SADLY mistaken! Regardless of make. They're variable, at best. Just like Independents!

So, how do I work out the imperial MPG on my electric bike?

That's disappointing! Hopefully it was cheaper than a euro one! On Rexbo.eu, a Westfalia one for an E30 with a 13 pin euro socket, works out to 638 euros... shipped, plus GST on arrival,,, not cheap.

The most reliable cars I had have been Subarus. Highest milage was only about 380K from memory...

that is NOT common E30 rust - that roof ois probably poked. The sunroof panel gets rust bubbles pretty common, but that level of BODY rust around the roof is reserved for the nasty ones - Google E30 roof rust repairs, and see how bad it's REALLY likely to be!

Ouch... hope you're good... pay more attention next time

Pics taken with potato... Still - helps hide the filth on it It obviously has enough power to get up your driveway too; More justification to the Mrs - Probably even better than halving your annual WOF costs by upgrading

Dude - you just came out in public! I have a spare anaesthetic machine you can use for those organ donations you still have to do

Co-Piloting an E61 M5 Touring. 8 month old son fell asleep during the test experience... ... he NEVER goes to sleep in the car... I suggested to Mrs W that we get a fast, practical wagon

Did the rocker cover gasket on the E39... ... see quick rant thread... the LAST effing bolt... dropped, found, dropped again, lost forever and replaced.

NICE! If only I had any money left

3 things I hate today: ^That bolt. The magnet that dropped it, when I NEARLY had it out. Where ever the f**k its stuck now

What were they going to DO, if you didn't put them back? I'd have gone back by now They put roadcones in the CENTRE of a cycle lane I ride home on, that's only just barely as wide as my handle bars... so you have to ride into the 80km/h traffic... to avoid a patch of gravel, that's smaller than the pootholes in the cycle lane... I just throw them into the mangroves as I pass them, and continue on the cycle lane

And most of the good ones, just aren't for sale, or the owners end up selling them directly, without trademe etc, as they are desirable to the right people.

That was nearly as high as the rear suspension

Actually - Dad replaced V rated TZ700's on the E30 - they were going on 7 years old, with 45K on them (!) and the rears had about 2mm left, and 3 on the front... so he won't be hard on the RE003's

Dads done about 14 kms on his, in the E30 He said they're fairly quiet, and seem sticky enough - even without being run in yet. I think they'll be pretty good, for the money (~$800 a set, 205/55R15s). They look to be an evolution of the RE002's, rather than a massively different design. He was glad to get them though - on the way in, he watched a guy slide on a roundabout in front of him, then watched from the tyre shop while a guy slid under the arse of an SUV

Actually, that sounds familiar - think you are right - when the TU engines tended to take over (M52TU for the 6's etc, M62TU for the 8's) I suspect you are EXACTLY right, in fact

Converting to AUTO???

Hmmm... I'm not sure on the exact changeover date, but I suspect it may have co-incided with the change from single to dual stage airbags ( starting March '99 from memory?), so maybe yours got the dual system, and the replacement is an earlier one? They changed again, for the facelift in september 2000 too, when the 20pin plug disappeared from the engine bay, though I think that cluster is compatible with the version you probably have originally. The replacement cluster won't be the REALLY early one, but the more common early type, which possibly uses a 935s56, instead of the later ones M35080 I suspect if Tom has trouble, there must be a hardware incompatibilty though - he's a clever guy! You probably need to find a cluster with the same EEPROM on board, or at least from closer dates. I've not heard of other software to do it, only physical connections to the board to change the EEPROM data, or replacement of the EEPROM.