bravo

FYI Google chrome spell checks as you type.

Nice vid. Sweet meet. Pity about the 330. You probably love your mods, but c'mon man. This was the coolest non-m3 streeted e46 I've ever seen in NZ. You have no idea how much $ went into the panel work and getting the suspension perfect. And then you f**k it up. Your car, do what u want. I would have given a testicle to own this once, not now.

Yeah new head unit not an option. It's a lease. And besides I like the factory look. Aftermarket head units always look like sh*t.

Looking into a hardwired parrot that I can remove when I upgrade.

Hi,

need handsfree for the iPhone in the car. I spend a lot of time on the road, and the other day I swapped cars while mine was in for a service with one that had bluetooth handsfree through the factory stereo and I got so much work done making calls on the road that I need to get handsfree for my car.

I have a 2010 Nissan X-Trail, but it has no aux in or bluetooth built in.

Needs:

Excellent call quality over car speakers with no or minimal audio issues for the person I'm calling.

The ability to play music from the iPod app.

A dock/cradle and charging is optional, but a nice extra especially if it means that the handsfree system doesn't require charging as well.

Anyone tried anything out there? There is a Belkin product I tried that had a noticeable echo for the person on the other end, but was fine at my end.

I've looked at the Jabra Cruiser II and the Blueant S3 in the shop, and I understand there are Parrot products out there too. Would prefer not to go hard-wired so I can switch vehicles if I need to.

Cheers.

Why is it always a 318 or 320?

Don't answer that.

Seriously tho, I think these people get so invested emotionally in their project that they end up quite blinkered and don't actually see what they have created for what it is. Hence the average attempt at artistic photography.

In other words, very slowly. About 26 seconds.

Loving the misinformation being touted as fact by the armchair experts.

BLWNE30? Blown as in "up" or as in forced induction?

You're doing the right thing - getting a firm diagnosis. Could be your TPS or could be vacuum leak or fuel issue. If it is the TPS then cheapest easiest option is to swap in a good second hand TPS.

Just buy another Beamer Shelley! Was thinking I hadn't seen/heard from you in awhile just the other day. Will keep an eye out for you. I'll be sure to act like a wanker in the Beamer cutting you off and flipping you the finger...

Wow, e36 m3 prices bottomed at between $15k and $20k a couple of years back, I didn't they'd rallied that much if any. There was the odd one going for not much more than $10k (although you wouldn't have wanted it...)

Love your work Lucan.

The new owner got an excellent buy IMO at $3k which is exactly where I thought it'd end up (hence the $3,5k start price).

THey are ALOT of car for the money and this one was particularly good (so probably could have held out for $3,500) but money talks, bullshit walks, and when a guy hands you 30 red bills and wants to take the car on the spot, you say yes.

No-one gives a sh*t, but SOLD.

<thread dig></thread dig>

A change of job = a change in vehicle, so I thought I'd quickly review the Mazda after 14months of ownership and introduce the new wagon...

14 months and 33,0000 kms on, and my 2010 Mazda BT-50 is still an excellent workhorse with more than ample grunt from the 3.0L tdi diesel.

Throughout ownership I can't really remember ever wanting more torque, the diesel in the Mazda really is fantastic in this respect. Occasionally I wished for a bit more top end when pushing hard, but not bad for a fully loaded vehicle that was probably well in excess of 2 tonne.

Handling was pretty good too, with minimal body roll for a vehicle this size, and surprisingly nimble considering how much weight I was lugging around, and the lack of ESP. All the weight, and a rather sensitive ABS system did mean that ABS was often activated a tad early, especially over uneven road surfaces.

Load carrying capacity is excellent, as is level and quality of interior trim. Performance from the factory CD-player is above expectation and I didn't go for the 6-speaker 6-stacker one either, so points here. Aux-in pretty impressive for a nearly standard-spec workhorse.

Other good points include compliant ride, good fuel economy, plenty of interior storage and cupholders (7 in total), and two cigarette/power jacks.

On to the bad...

Factory wheel alignment is totally rubbish. Too much positive toe and positive camber on the front. Chewed the outside shoulders on the factory front tyres by 19000km. A quick flip and rotate front to back promised an extra 2000 kms (according to the tyre/alignment expert). They then dialled back the camber to only marginally positive (almost neutral) and toe back to the limit of the factory range and we got an extra 13000km out of the tyres (with one more additional rotation later on). Handling wasn't compromised and I'd like to see another tweak on the alignment to see if further improvements can be made. The change was so dramatic (and the number of complaints from customers so frequent) that Mazda asked for my alignment sheet so they could report back to the factory and see if they might change the factory spec.

After the alignment change I did notice a front-end shimmy at around 85km/h and a rear end one at around 45km/h but this could have been due to the serious uneven tyre wear, so it will be interesting to see whether the new owner notices an improvement with new tyres.

Finally, I should note that the poverty-spec model is noticeably lacking in terms of electric windows and mirrors, and the exterior trim level is very basic. The SDX model is 10 times more attractive, and the Ford Ranger (same vehicle, but higher trim level, exterior cosmetic differences, and an extra $8k at all spec levels) is 10x more attractive again. a lot of money for a few good looks... If I had the money and was buying again I'd get the Navara which appears to be an all-round better looking, specced, and performing vehicle, but as someone posted earlier, the BT-50 punches above its weight for bang for buck and I've really enjoyed my tenure with this vehicle.

Anyone know if this stuff is actually any good? Some great craft beer in NZ, and a friend and I try new brews every Thursday. We visit each other's house with our own pick of the week and compare notes. If this is any good might give it a crack tomorrow avo as I haven't bought mine for tomorrow and need something new. Otherwise I have to pull out a secret weapon I've been hiding for a awhile...

If it's not an off-the-shelf aftermarket product it'll be a custom job. Easy enough to weld some extra sheet metal onto a factory bonnet, grind it back, bog and paint and viola! Custom bonnet.

You need to get out more, Ian! XD

HB bro. It seems impossible that the first quake was the week after we had beers at the junction. Seems like a very long time ago.

Hope the only shaking is the kind required for cocktails or a Bond martini.

Chur.

Works well on parcel tray but I know what Nathan means for the rest of the car.

Earth to the cig lighter is probably shithouse. Replace it with a new one as a precaution. Easy job. Run a new earth wire to one of the earth points behind the dash.

Does it come with sellotape so I can tape a picture of someone hotter to the back?

That clip got me quite annoyed.

Exotic car vandalism is utterly disgusting.

Saw one parked in front of a cafe where I was having breakfast today. A dark metallic gold. I tried really hard to, but I actually thought it looked pretty good. Surprised the hell out of myself.

I used to want one of these badly. I was 15 if that helps explain it.