TDP

Yeah, I let my thoughts wander off down the manualising path as well. It is very tempting. That comment about old Jags and rust has the ring of bitter experience to it. You're preaching to the choir though, I've owned a couple of different Alfas from the '60s and '70s. Rust is my most feared and loathed decision making factor when buying old cars.

I'm thinking about trying to help a mate replace the water-pump in his 95 E36 323i. I believe the engine is the M52. Has anyone ever done this job before? Is it simple? Can it be done with the engine in the car? I had a quick look over the car the other day and couldn't immediately identify the pump. It looks like it might be buried away beneath the alternator, but there were so many bits that I couldn't identify that I'm starting to question the wisdom of going down this path.

Viewing that 6 series was odd. I'm not opposed to engine transplants and that sort of carry on, and I don't think you'd call me a purist but there was something just... wrong about that car (maybe it's the auto 'box. I have... issues with autos). And if the six felt funny, that 3.0 CS that Ken posted hurts me. Hurts me. I want it so bad. Curse my perpetual brokeness! edit: Just noticed it's an auto. Not quite as appealling. My pain lessens.

Right. Time for way too much info and opinion spewing. Firstly, what is your personal perception of BMW? What makes the cars so good? Spending my early car loving years devouring car magazines led me to believe that BMW was special. They seemed an engineering-led firm that put dynamic prowess and driver involvement at the top of their list of priorities (witness adherence to RWD) and that they were constantly a step ahead of their competitors. Admirable too was their long and succesfull involvement in various forms of motorsport (watching the Schnitzer M3 beat the Gibson Nissan GTRs around Wellington was quite opinion forming). But... I also got the sense that they were a little clinical and soul-less, that their cars, though supreme, were characterless. This perception has changed a bit in recent years. First they've fumbled the ball stylewise. I thought subdued but well proportioned and sportingly lean fitted the brand image quite well. Apparently I was wrong. Then the hyperbole and universal acclaim that accompanied any new BMW launch seemed to dry up. They no longer seem to make instant class leaders. I also get the sense that they've lost the magic touch vis-a-vis driver involvement. All that said, in the unlikely event that I'm ever in the market for a new or nearly new car, I'd still be drawn towards the BMW offering because I believe I'd be buying a car that was thoroughly engineered, well built and possessed of a high level of dynamic ability. What do you love about them? I love that most of the ones I've driven live up to their press. Secondly, how do you think BMW is regarded New Zealand wide and partcularly by non-BMW owners/drivers? How do you think people in NZ see BMW drivers? Unfortunately, these days almost everybody has had a chance to drive their cousin's/counter-manager's/hairdresser's automatic 318i and is only too keen to tell you how slow and crap it was. Which just reinforces the perception that BMWs are bought by badge obsessed wankers who are stupid enough to pay more for a car that's not that good and will be really expensive to fix when it inevitably breaks down. I find that even amongst supposedly car-savvy people there's a sense that BMWs are all mouth and no trousers, hype with little basis in reality (the real cognesceti understand why you've bought what you did and don't spend the rest of the discussion extolling the virtues of some other brand). Thirdly, what do you think of BMW advertising/marketing? Did it have an effect on your car choice? How do you think they could advertise/market themselves better? Can't say it's really registered with me. Are they still using 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'? The only factor in my car-buying decision was price (It was either the BMW or a salmon-pink Mitsi Mirage with 'chrome' plastic hubcaps, a great radio (which you couldn't hear over the ridiculous exhaust) and a sloppy gearchange. In terms of improving marketing etc... Dunno. Remind people of the history and tradition that goes with BMW? Let people have a play with the more impressive parts of the range? Dazzle them with science?

Yeah. +1 for this comment. A ahh... friend of mine (nice guy, smart) chose to ignore the dead oil pressure gauge in his Alfasud (having some time ago disconnected the allegedly faulty warning light). A run down the southern motorway with a bone-dry sump got it so hot it extruded a big end bearing out past the cap, heavily scoring the crank journal as it did so. That made a very loud knocking sound and necessitated an engine change. If you shut down straight away though you should hopefully have avoided any serious damage.

Will do. Thank you.

Cheers! Yeah I thought the heater issue was connected to the overheating issue. I'll tell him to have the pump looked at. The car has a mechanical warranty so it sould definitely cover that.

Hey all, Sorry about this, bit of a lengthy story. A mate of mine recently drove us from Auckland to Whakatane in his automatic '95 E36 323. We were just south of Paeroa when the temperature gauge moved into the red and the warning light lit up. We duly stopped, opened the bonnet and looked, fairly pointlessly, at the engine. It appeared fine, there was a little bit of coolant that appeared to have vented, but the engine itself was not particularly hot and there were no drips or signs of leakage. We drove back to Paeroa and had bad pies at an unusually spacious cafe, thus giving the car time to cool down. I took the cap off and inspected the radiator fluid. It was plentiful and beautifully clean and green. A pooling of our mechanical knowledge revealed that collectively, we suspected wheels might be round, but weren't totally sure and we certainly had no idea about engine cooling. We decided that ignorance was bliss and pushed on to Whakatane. The gauge made the occasional foray into the red again but would very quickly drop back down to about halfway and the light did not come back on. After a very enjoyable 21st, we returned to Auckland via Rotorua. This time the light would come on quite regularly, especially under load (ie: climbing a hill, overtaking pillocks who do 50 if the road curves even slightly). We discovered that if the light came on and we then put the car into neutral and coasted along for a few seconds the light would quickly go out and the gauge would return to about halfway. We also discovered that when the car was overheating, the cabin heater was not working. It was pumping, at best, lukewarm air. As soon as the light went out the heater would start working again. The nearer we got to Auckland the shorter the intervals between overheating periods became. Another fact that seemed odd and that may or may not be be pertinent is that the CDs coming out of the dash mounted player were unusually hot, to the point where you could smell them. Interestingly, the car itself never smelt hot, or steamed or even looked hot, although by the time we go to Auckland it was venting a steady drip of coolant a second onto the petrol station forecourt. Initially I thought it may be an electrical gremlin giving a false indication, then I thought it may be a sticky thermostat, then I thought that maybe the water-pump drive belt was slipping under load (although it never sounded like a slipping belt) finally I'm beginning to wonder if the water-pump isn't slowly dying (flogged out bearing causing it to jam under load?). Thoughts, experiences, ideas gratefully received.

I suppose Volvo would be a good fit for BMW. They're not quite competitors, in fact, Volvo's traditional image (safe, conservative, a little dull, FWD, for the sensible family man) is diametrically opposed to BMW's (sporty, aggresive, for the young up and comer (yuppie wankers) and also the informed and discerning buyer) and in recent years Volvo has been positioned, as far as I can tell, against the likes of Volkswagen and, ironically, Ford. It'd give BMW a mass-market FWD prescence and allow them to continue moving their own brand more upmarket. Volvo is also, in my opinion, better suited to sell to the 4WD SUV market than BMW. But then, all of what I've said for Volvo could also have been said for Rover...

Interesting. It's been a long time since I saw a SAAB anything, let alone a wagon. I'll have to keep an eye out. When I was younger and still had hormones I used to check out the drivers of Suzuki Escudo/Vitara two doors. They always seemed to be attractive women.

Tricky. My initial reaction was for the BMW but the more I look at that Merc the more I like it, crap vents aside. It's just a little more defined. That said, I'm now finding it a tad too ostentatious and liking the quiet understatement of the M3. Beemer it is then. However... I was not previously aware of this. I now need to refresh my underwear. And start saving.

What constitutes a good enough setup? The Logitech G25 has been making eyes at me for a while now, and I have a still unplayed copy of GT legends purchased back when the game was new. They seem like a good match.

If I were in a relationship with anyone who expressed interest in a Cadillac Escalade or a Continental GT I would have to seriously reconsider the future of said relationship. True. However, I believe that a certain level of moisture is acceptable (even desirable) in a woman.

Yeah. Snap. Also, Ponga Rd then home through the Hunua Gorge. I got a vivid glimpse of my mortality on that road once (not to mention a humbling reminder of the limited extent of my own abilities) and havn't been back since. Rode past it once or twice on the bike but never had the balls...

I've never seen it before, but it almost reduced me to tears of frustration and longing. There's at least one of nearly every old car I've ever lusted after. Porsche 356s, all those old Italians, Loti (Plural of Lotus?), there's even a bloody Alfasud.

Thanks for the warm welcome everybody. There. See. I'm learning stuff already. This is gonna be great. And if this has worked right you should see... The car. Authentically dirty. I had to wait for an overcast day to help hide the mess.

Hello. The something old is the car. 1980 E21 323i The something new is my membership here. The broken and kinda purple thing is the car again. It's rapidly deteriorating condition is the reason I joined up here. I intend to, if not restore it, at least slightly debombify it and to help me do so I am going to mercilessly scour your minds for information and advice. I'll even try to offer some back as my own meagre knowledge grows (current knowledge - No. of wheels on a car = approx. 4), but mostly I'm about the taking. Thank you in advance for your patience. Tim.