gjm

Highway 2 up the side of the harbour was closed yesterday afternoon - friends living in Upper Hutt (who would normally take the train - not running) stood on a bus for 4 hours during a scenic tour of Porirua, Paramata and the beauty of H58.

I think there was some lithium/air battery tech involved, too?

The Turkish-built Verso 1.6 D4-D has had a BMW engine for a couple of years, the same engine as used in the Mini Cooper. The rumours of a 4-cylinder diesel in the HIlux started in late 2013, but there have been plenty of others including a tie-up with Cummins.

If we're serious about this, it'd be nice if it can be done locally, especially if there are savings to be had too.

Don't think it is, but that may have changed. Last I saw it wasn't M5x compatible, or even 16v. It was originally designed for M20s but plans were to expand on that.

I know of a 318 manual coupe for sale - I've sent you a PM.

Ours very rarely cut out, but fuel starvation (pump) turned out to be the main issue. After a few 0000kms, throttle body cleaning, fuel filter replacement and so on all improved things, but didn't address the underlying issue. Great car now! (Although having fixed it, we sold it...)

Cascade Autofinish in Pakuranga. http://www.showpaint.co.nz/

Keen to hear how you get on. I'll be swapping back to the Style 73s with a zillion spokes, so anything that makes cleaning them easier is welcomed.

Already is. A 2012 Phantom Drophead (Rolls don't do convertibles, y'know) is well under $500k. Can't really live in it, and the fuel will be even more than Auckland rates, but it is tempting... Now, can I get a mortgage on a 'mobile palace'?

Something else Mercedes are good at... Go back to the 80s and Mercs were revered as luxury German engineering. These days everyone has one. I'm saving for a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe. Let's see the neighbours turn up in one of those!

Let me know how you get on? Considering a Yeti for Mrs M. Considering the 4x4 with the DSG 'box - can't have a manual, sadly.

Bright yellow E30 road/track car on SH1 heading south, left the highway at Hampton Downs. Roll bars visible through the rear window. Couldn't read all the signwriting, just number 31. Miss M very much approves!

This is partly why the Porsche Cayman was hamstrung from the beginning. Put a proper 911 engine in it, and the 911 would be dead in the water. Put a bigger power engine in a 3-series, and less people would pay the premium for a ///M badge.

I'm trying to work out why I so much prefer the top pic to the middle one... Maybe it's the ride height? Dunno...

I saw a red one in the car park at Sylvia Park not so long ago, too. About two weeks after I'd seen a red 2002 parked there. Policemen, buses, and 2002s?

DIY test card available on TradeMe - item 883300834. The same company does coolant analysis. This won't be a full chemical breakdown, but they're a reasonable guide.

Mercedes did the same thing. It used to be so simple, but when the 220CDi and 270CDi had exactly the same engine, just a different ECU, I couldn't see the justification for anyone paying significantly more money for a different program and a different number on the back. Many people did do that, so there must be something to it. And of course, it makes enormous sense to the manufacturer.

I think it is one of the students at Strathallan... Certainly seen something very similar in the car park there.

Check the fuel filter - this is an easy swap and could help. If not, it could be the in-tank fuel pump. These have 'history'.

Remember the good old days, when a 320 was a 3-series with a 2.0 engine? A 540 was a 5-series with a 4.0 engine? And so on...? The six-cylinder 335i is now the 340i. The four-cylinder 328i is now the 330i. The 320i designation makes sense and stays. Power increases by 1 HP to 181 HP, but torque is up to 214 lb-ft. The 328i with it's 2.0 4-cylinder engine also gains power, up to 249 HP, but torque remains the same at 258 lb-ft. This means the 328i will be now called the 330i (except in the US where it remains the 328. The 335i is renamed the 340i, and also gets more power, up to 326 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque. It’s still a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six (albeit a new engine, the B58). Diesels don't escape either. For example, the 2.0 180 HP, four-cylinder 3-series is the 328d. There's more, but my head hurts. Oh well... It's just numbers.

Hmm... Miss M wanted something unusual. This is only 10x what I was thinking of spending, and has none of the modern safety features that might be desirable. Other than that - perfect! Really nice cars though. I had use of one about... hmm... 28(?) years ago. Great fun to drive.

Damn you and your fiendish cunning! Just for that, I found another $1.20 down the back of the sofa! Hah!

http://www.bayleys.co.nz/Listings/Waikato/Taupo/Lake-Taupo/4500518 Formally, properly up for sale. By tender (of course) since a realtor these days doesn't actually value anything. (PBN, POA, Negotiation, Tender, auction "let the market decide"... Winds me up reet proper, that does.) I thought a starting offer of $11.35 and free chips for long-standing TCC members every other Saturday might just take it.