mrad01

Sweet, cant wait for the review ..

Keen on hearing about quiteness, wet lateral grip, dry lateral grip and shoulder strength.

...and Auckland has turned on the waterworks today. Out for a drive it is!!!

hmmm dam it, they dont support 255/40ZR17 in the PSS might have to go for the PS2's not that thats a too bad thing.

Ha, yes, the ps2 has got my vote! Bloody impressive grip, ESP after the bridgestone run flats I had on the 335...

Had the pss put on today, will give them a few kms to get rid of the slippery stuff, then give them a test!

Review here: http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-report...per-sport-tires

Email walt@tirerack.com and ask for a quote. He'll need the order details, your shipping address, and phone number.

Cheers!

Hmmm im looking into these myself for the 540 .. probably import them as the dollar is stupidly good and tirerack.com is pretty cheap. Shipping isnt as nasty as I 1st thought either

Did you use their shipping quoting system? If so, what zip code did you use????

My car runs Pilot Sport 2s - which are bloody amazing road tyres - I think the best I've driven on (I'm sure there will be other opinions).

The rears are now poked and I saw that Mitchelin have the Pilot Super Sports out now - but they weren't here in NZ yet. Spoke with the importer and they are importing some PSS 275/35 19s for me, which is great!

So, if you are running the PS2 - the PSS is faster/better/cheaper/lasts longer. So ask for those instead - they will get them in for you.

Sales vid [warning: sales vid]:

Has anyone had any work done by Bays Car Painters in Browns Bay? Noticed some flyers while waiting in Bellars. I need a cut done and a little paint on my e30 and they are just down the road from me.

Any word appreciated.

Grant's done work on my e30 and my e92 335 - does great work, very fussy. They also do a lot of work for Jerry Clayton too.

Do it.

Hi Guys,

I've been doing a bit of photography as a part-time hobbie, and I'm wanting to brush up on some skills with photoshop CS5. Would anyone know of any good books for learning?

A free Ebook would be preferable, but wouldn't mind paying for a good one

Thanks in advance!

Andrew

Pay for a single months sub with http://www.lynda.com

All video based learning - second to none. All design companies use it to train.

black Ford GT with decals in Greenlane Tuesday, and a members e90 m3, (MRAD01)?, in Mt Eden

Yep, I was in Mt Eden picking up my new mountain bike! Tricky to fit into the boot....

I've just had my time in the seat of the nz demo 1M and I'm impressed! I've owned a e92 335i with turbo chip upgrade and am currently driving a e90 M3 HP.

Let's start with the first visual impression, in short, presence! The car looks like a small staunch pig dog ready to pounce. Walk around it and you see the details like the air curtains at the front and the quad exhausts rearward. Looks great!

Get in and he first thing I noticed was the room, Im 6ft 5 and had enough leg room, I was able to get the same driving position as I have worked out in the M3, so that was good.

Start up. Nice startup noise! Good grizzly sound which settled down into a quiet burble of the inline 6. Tap the gas and it blips up the rev counter nicely. Clutch in, into gear and away. Quite a short throw on the clutch pedal compared to the M3. So, I drove away slowly and just waited until the engine came up to temp. I went down the motorway from takapuna toward the coatsville roads.

Once up to temp, I gave it a few runs on the motorway, impressive power when it spools up! It sits you back in the seat nicely. 70-100 acceleration rocks!

Get into the curves and the chassis really shines. The front end goes exactly where pointed with good steering feel and the nose feels like it turns in and slightly under on hard cornering. Perfection.

Brakes? Flawless. Dial up as much stopping as you need, feels limitless.

The ride is really firm, like the M3 in track mode, firm! Lucky the seats are quite soft...

The engine. Right, this is where it wasn't what I expected. There appears to be a bit of lag. No issue with the power amount, but the delivery has a slight delay. I guess coming from the M3 my expectations were not quite right. But on a tight road where you want to point, go, brake, point go etc etc, i felt the go was not as instant or precise as the point and brake bits. I'm sure it is something you learn to drive, but instinct tells you that go means now!

Hey, it's not bad at all, the thing flys, don't get me wrong!!

Considering the price, it is quite a bit less, but having lived with the N/A V8 and the TT I6 in my 335, and then seeing what the M division did with the 1M engine, I'd go the M3 again if I had to make a choice right now.

So overall, the 1M running gear is sublime, which is easy to predict having driven my wife's 1 series quite a bit, even the standard 1 has awesome handling and turn in.

Looking forward to the F30 M3!!

It is pretty amazing - good to get up close and have a real good look at it. The interior is much more finished than I expected for a concept car. Not sure about the front passenger area - no glove box??? Kidding.

Very impressed.

Just got an invite from BMW NZ to have a look at it tonight. Heading off very soon. Will take the camera....

Thinking about an upgrade, but not sure which way to go, or whether to upgrade at all.

Current car is NZ new e34 540i, 6 spd manual, Style 5 staggered wheels, which I have had for about 8 years and am pretty fond of. I still love driving it and every time I drive a rental car I come home thinking I would not swap it for a new Falcon or Commodore, even though they are worth more $$.

Possible most likely upgrade is e39 M5, but possibly e60, 545i, 550i (probably not M5). I would rather have a v8 than a v10 for initial cost, maintenance and complexity reasons, and because I just love the sound of v8.

Pros and Cons I see are...

e34 540i:

Pros: I already own it so cheapest option by far, engine is v8 and just fast enough with proper manual trans, old school interior is pretty nice in my eyes, feels luxury and well made to me, doors close like bank vault, low maintenance cost, becoming classic and interesting

Cons: less safety than newer car, electrics give minor problems from time to time due to age, mileage approaching 300k (not big deal to me - car feels great)

e39 M5: seems most like my car but more modern and powerfull - less sure about looks

Pros: engine is awesome v8 and plenty fast enough for me, proper manual trans, slightly old school interior design which surrounds driver, sound, lower maintenance cost than e60??

Cons: body style looks a bit dated to me now, electrics getting old and quite complex

e60 545i, 550i:

Pros: engine is v8, I really like the styling, modern car with good safety

Cons: not available in manual, car is not limited production and of little interest to enthusiast in a few years (resale??), less distinctive and interesting (just a good car)

e60 M5:

Pros: its an M5, crazy performance, styling, modern car with good safety

Cons: not truly manual (but maybe I just need to think more modern), way more expensive, maintenance, v10 does not strongly appeal

What do you think?

I think the e60 would be the best idea. The reason being is that they are just coming into their own design wise and if you keep your cars for quite a while, you should buy the latest model you can afford. While the e39 is an awesome bit if kit, it is just starting to look a bit dated, just as the e60 is starting to look hot!

You should only get the M5 if you want monster performance and a heavy drinker...they are bloody awesome to drive, but if your driving style isn't mad, then the 54x would be a good choice. The newer tiptronic autos are great to drive, but I agree that a manual is more engaging.

Looks like a beast! Sign me up!

I think the 1M has proven beyond doubt that the M division still has the ability to hack together a brilliant bit of kit like the e30 M3 was. People forget that the e30 was a real hack job, the seam welded coupe body, with e34 suspension bits, m10 block with a hacksawed 6cyl head smacked on top. Yes, I do know there was more to it, but seriously, it wasn't far off!!

For some reason, there are this group of people who think they know whats right for M cars and usually can be spotted saying "the e39 M5 was the last real M5" and "no M3 since the e30 has been a proper M3" and other such statements. These people have never sat their arse in a e60 M5 or e46 M3 CSL, and it shows! Those older M models are absolute masterpieces too. Even driving the much maligned X6M made me realize that even though I laughed when I first saw the press release, they certainly delivered a monster machine that's insanely fast and defies physics like you wouldn't believe. But is it a M car? That is a good question. What badge do you put on such a beast, X6+?

Does driving the e60 M5 in m mode give you the feeling it is the greatest of all M5s? I know what I think, but get out and try it...

So, if the M division decide even a V6 engine with 6 turbos and AWD is the answer to a better M3, and the reviewers gush over it like they are about the 1M, then I fully support it!! (and will buy it)

hmmmm pushing it there mrad

Fair call.

It's a wonderful looking car....

Yea stop bangin on about ford owners

Its the holden lovers you gotta watch out for

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5244...Hamilton-Holden

Yeah, i'll say!! Even when a super butt ugly rare version of their prized commondore is stolen.. They are likely to riot!

Fan presale purchased!!!!

Can get them from a link through http://tour.rogerwaters.com/

This is true

though if I wanted a fast bmw and wanted to spend less than a new m3 then

Id just by an old m3 but thats just me.

TBH I dont get the new car market, I cant imagine spending so much money on a car

when you can spend less on an older model modify it and have something faster

for less than half the price.

in fact the only reason id buy a new car would be if i could go back in time about 50yrs

and buy a few american cars and sell them at todays prices.

And yes i realise with out new car buyers there wouldnt be a second hand market

Its just the treadmill of performance. The next M3 will be faster than the 1M and so on...

The 1M doesn't come in a 4 door - so i'm happy in my current M3...

As for the money side of things, well, I guess those who look to buy new luxury cars see the amount as the same as every man buying a new laptop. Its all relative to income. When I was in my 20s I would have NEVER dreamed of buying a new BMW....how things can change...

How much of a brain you reckon all those guys put together have? That's the most stupid thing i've read in a long time, might be time for new friends.

Not friends!! No sir. They were some guys at my sisters house, I met them there for the first time.

Takes all sorts for the world to spin...

F6 = HALF the price of your M3 with very comparable performance.

And yet falcodore fans are the clowns? Ok bud.

Excuse me going off topic, but self righteous bullshit isn't my cup of tea.

No, this is a real conversation I had up north at a BBQ while a few guys stood around looking at my car.

Oh, and let's add the other bit, they said that the engine must be from a Lexus because BMW can't make engines as good as ford so they must have bought in the alloy Lexus v8....

I'm serious. How are you feeling about those clown words now eh?

Sorry if you took offense, but those aren't actually my words. Apology accepted admiral.

Good times!

You'd be wanting an F6-E then. And i fully agree with your sentiments.

Maaaaaaaate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fastest car in the world mate! Lion red mate. Better car than your euro sh*t mate. I heard from a mate whose cousin works in the ford factory in tazzie that the chassis of the falcon was COPIED by BMW for the new M5 mate. True story mate. Burrrp. Maaaaate!!!!!

One huge problem though. Anyone who drives one is going to be a complete plonker. Can any of the performance, handling bladda bladda bladda be used on NZ roads? No, so why buy it over a standard 1 series. Aesthetically it looks cr@p so there's no poser benefit to it. At the end of the day it's a 1 series with an M badge that's going to pedal round 99.99% of the time under the speed limit. So the only people who will drive one will be the boring car geeks who sit in rush hour traffic, with their gloved hands resting on the gearstick telling themselves how great it feels to be sitting in the ultimate (factory) driving machine . Buy yourself a Suzuki Swift and a Fraser 7 and save yourself $60k.

Ever taken one of your rides out to a drive through a gorge? Been on a Hampton downs track day? Maybe spun a few laps around pukekohe, or driven out through the back of coatsville to end up in warkworth?

Pack the family into the espace and try it out, then you will finally appreciate why some people have M cars in NZ...

I love everything about this car, it's manual six speed gearbox, it's turbo straight six, it looks like it handels like nothing else... Although you might think the looks are not that great... Live it will be immaculate. I love straight six engines and twin turboing it just makes it perfect. Yes V8 looks like a future for all M cars at least for a few years, but developing good old straight six just makes me to respect BMW engineers. Also I am not sure it might be a roumor, but isn't the new M3 is going to come out with straight six as well? But for me nothing will beat E46 CSL. I know its not manual, but everything about that car says drive me! and drive me hard! If BMW would put the 1M engine in CSL and put the manual gearbox in it!!! Thats all I would want to drive all my life!!!

The next M3 is either a straight 6 TwinTurbo or the other rumor is that they are putting turbos on the existing V8....either way - I'm there.

Good plan!

Being honest, I'm still in two minds as to whether I should have got a flappy paddle shiftered car (there were good reasons, in particular lack of alternative). Perhaps I'm just rationalising my decision, but so far I think it hasn't ruined the driving experience (like I had always assumed it would).

And while it does depend on what I like, rather than YOU ... I'm wound up a little by the d-bag (the one inexpertly drifting the 1M around a giant skidpan in the 2nd video) implying a DCT driver doesn't "get it". I get it, I'm just currently a little more open-minded.

I think the dude in the second video does have a point for those M3 buyers in America, who buy the M3 in DCT so they don't spill their lattes on the way to work in the morning. Wrong. Buy a LS-F if that is the case...

Since neither are supercars or race cars, I guess what's the harm in a decent DSG/DCT/PDK/S-Tronic/whatever Nissan's one is called/etc....

Besides "ultimate driving machine" is a BMW marketing term. They offer it in DCT. DCT must be ultimate.

Back on topic... it's good to see the 1M isn't compromised in the handling department (quite the opposite - looks a handful).

It does depend on what YOU like as opposed to ME. That's why they have options I guess. (When BMW build the ultimate fun car (1 M) - it only comes in manual....)

Yes, that 1 M is a class act - I'm ringing my dealer now to see when I can get a test drive....