elmarco

My VR6 manual wasn't too bad on juice - although having said that the 330 with auto is a bit better (even though its a heavier car, auto, larger capacity, climate control etc). Just shows what 8 years in automotive techology means in real terms.

The problem is the celis ring (the angel eye ring / light guide) is notoroiusly inefficient at spreading the light out (similar reason as to why fibre optics work). Typically, they run double the wattage of a standard 5w park bulbs and even then sometimes struggle to meet the legal requirements. I think the OEM BMW parts on the E39 may even use a 10w quartz halogen bulb.

Too many steroids in the wife's tea??

I managed to find one (Silverlink DICE) on Trademe for $75 about a month back - they do turn up occasionally. Really easy install, and it really is the ducks nuts! If not, the NZ distributor for the Gateway products is: Automotive Components (Asia Pacific) Ltd Bus: +64 9 479 6505 www.acap.co.nz I think they wanted around $400 for a Gateway 100 with iPod cables. Edit: Or you could get one of the net or ebay.

2.68 with one eye tied behind my back.

Wasn't "Un-pimp mein auto" an internet ad for the VW Golf GTi?... Well worth doing in this case.

No doubt survived long enough to be savaged by his insurance company and the 5-0....

LMAO!!

I think it also depends on the refiner margin as well (someone has to pay for the corporate learjets etc) - not just the price of oil. I believe there is a shortage of refiner capacity at the moment and this is why diesel has increased significantly more than petrol.

Yep - pricespy.co.nz is a great place to start if you know what you need. I have also had good deals through www.acquire.co.nz and PB Technologies always have a few deals on. If it is really price sensitive, try www.graysonline.co.nz - they always have machines coming up for auction (new, ex-lease, old models, opened boxes, repaired warranty claims etc, etc, etc) and are normally pretty cheap. As for brands, depends what she wants to use it for... If it is desktop publishing, then using anything except a mac is a bit foolish. For CAD (2D or 3D), some of the higher spec Dells are pretty good dependent on the graphics card and screen resolution - but then again, there are not many people wanting to do CAD on a laptop. I have had Mac's, Dells, Sony's, HP's and Toshibas for both work and home and can honestly say that Toshiba are by far the best I have come across. If it is a business spec machine and you have a problem in the first 12 months, they give you a new machine no questions asked. And I know they spend a hell of a lot of time making the product more robust with things like shockproof mounting for hard disks etc. The mac's are super easy to use, and if you don't need specialist windows only software (like AutoCAD etc), they are great to use (although you can also run windows on them as well if you really want to). Just remember that business spec machines are more expensive for basically the same specs, but are built from better components to higher specs and last longer (hence the 3 year next day on site warranty most manufacturers have for them). 12 month warranties are normally domestic spec machines - which is fine if it is only moving from the coffee table to the study....

It's great to see others applying this mantra as well. Nothing worse than doing a half arsed job, and then doing it again shortly afterwards... Good on you!

Love the line "in no way detracts from the appearance of the car"... Couldn't really IMO - they were pretty ugly old canoes in the first place. Seriously though, it is a good example of a great idea that hasn't been commercially accepted as yet. I am picking that it is so different that it has problems with meeting crash and vehicle certification regulations in its immediate form on the video. That and no manufacturer is willing to stake their name on a $ billion vehicle development without solid public acceptance and sales projections. Good on them for thinking outside the box.

What's the difference between a rental car and a 4WD? There are just some places you can't take a 4WD.... Sorry to hijack - back on topic....

And I bet it went faster in every gear, didn't need the clutch used to change gears, would pull a 2 tonne boat without a problem, was impervious to salt water / sand and never needed washing either. Just proves that they build company cars stronger!

How can you tell a politician is lying? Their lips are moving.... I take nothing I hear from politicians at election time at face value. The problem is choosing the least offensive version IMO.

Advertising on about 1km of prime Moscow real estate - yeah I can see how the $$$ would add up pretty fast. And that's not to mention the bribes needed.... Probably cheaper to advertise on the side of the space shuttle!

Leave the bonnet up, fix the garage door, or break out the supersoaker... Or you could give it somewhere more comfortable to sleep

Have you tried the $tealership, or another brand of aerial? I had a similar on on my old VR6. As it is just the antenna radiator, it may not matter if it is factory or not (Jochen or Hotwire may be able to clarify this). Hotwire may even have one lying around.

I've always had good deals from Avis. Failing that, rent-a-dent?

Selling my old 17" factory alloys and some winter tyres I have ended up with. The 4x alloys are kerbed but repairable and straight and undamaged apart from the kerbing. $200 reserve. Wheels The 4x tyres (225/45 R17 Bridgestone Blizzak MZ-03's) look to be near new. Probably good for burnouts etc unless you live in deepest Antarctica... $100 reserve. Tyres

And it could be a real hassle in France even if you speak the language....

Must have been a professional smoker! Even I wouldn't take a piss in that bathroom...

It sounds like the 20yr old radio is toast.... You did well to get it that far really! Spend the money on a nice modern aftermarket unit with the features you want rather than trying to fix the old one (unless you can pick another factory one up el cheapo).

I have always avoided State like the plague - quick to take your money, but always try to weasel out of any claims (or deal with them cheaply like second hand parts etc). AMI have always been the best for me, although AA & NZI seem to be reasonably competitive.

Burn that seat....