gjm

Merry Christmas one and all. Thanks for the welcome here, and for putting up with me rambling on about some boring oil-burning grandad-style car. I narrowly missed meeting folk at Maraetai (after I didn't look in the right place) and again at Piha. Must try harder. Have a good'un, and take care.

As a side note...

Not just any chick, though, and the van had been... errmm... 'lightened' for the run. Regardless, it was imho an amazing achievement. The 'chick' is a legend.

Aye... It does look good. And I am very pleased with it. I'm kinda seeking my version of perfection, which is something I said I'd not do with this car! Oh well... Lots to do before I start 'playing' with the suspension. I'll check the sills on my car, but from the pic it looks as though they may also sit parallel to the ground. I used the 'clean my car' filter in Photoshop.

Especially for Phil, cos I know he won't sleep right 'til he sees a pic. The front looks as though it could do with coming down about 25mm. No more... Just enough to have it ride at the same height as the rear.

LOL I'l sort some pics. Should I wash the car first? It has that 'seen some life on SH1' appearance to it at the moment! And I collected the last of the Chrimbletide gifts this morning. No last minute worrafugamIgonnabuy trips for me this year. Which makes a change...!

It does seem a little slower, but mostly when posting. Having hit 'Post' there was normally a near-instantaneous reaction. Since the change I have had several occasions when it has taken as long as 30 seconds. Not complainin' - I promise! I mod another forum and know how difficult it can be.

I like the Hartge rims, but the suspension will need sorting in order to make use of them. Budget doesn't stretch to that at the moment. While on the subject of dreaming, I was offered an E46 330xD Touring. Unfortunately it was from someone in the UK. In other news, today I fitted the Style 73 rims, replaced the plain drivers side mirror with an aspherical one, and replaced the trim on the passenger side door. The front corner has had a 'push' at some point meaning the bonnet rubbed on the upper leading edge of the wing - sorted that, too. Tomorrow... Cut the lawns, change the oil in both cars, and if time allows replace the rear brake discs and pads on the Touring.

Yay you indeed. I remember well the issues with applying for jobs for the first time in years, and attending interviews. Great to hear you came through it with a result.

I grew up on Land Rovers. My dad's LWB 2.6 6-cylinder 'Safari' was so much fun... And in the wet, broadside around roundabouts was a must. We fitted all sorts of engines to them. Aside from the Rover (ex-Buick) V8, we used a GM 6.5 turbo-diesel V8s, 318ci Chrysler engines, V6 Ford Cologne... I stuck with my 2.25 '4', but with some work got 175bhp out of even that. It's all academic though. There's only so much power you can actually use in a leaf-sprung ladder-chassis truck. The rest is fun, but ultimately pointless.

Dahling! I didn't know you cared! <Ahem!> I'm quite sure she will be very happy and that automotive-related gifts will be acceptable in this case. :-)

Hopefully that is a mission in the sense you are searching for that right gift, and not hoping to find something that should fit that description?

Speights? You after something special? Lion or DB... :-D

You're unlikely to make it to Boxing Day, let alone the New Year! If you do, let us know your secret before you tell everyone else!

Errmm... No. I bought alloys for Mrs M once. Learn from my mistakes. Nice try, but this falls into the same category as kitchen kit. She needs that window, and you must buy something she doesn't know is necessary, but it needs to be that one thing she can't live without. Drink alcohol. Get hammered. Write a list. DO NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. (I appreciate that with credit cards and the internet this may be too late..) Review list in the morning. If it still seems a good idea, or any lightbulbs flash over your head (figuratively speaking) then the listed item may be a good idea. Edit: I have been following my own advice, can't see straight (although it seems to be helping my hayfever) and now need to edit everything I type! (Having read it twice!!!)

Just make sure that when you are buying *that* present, you have polished your "it's not for me, it is for my partner - wife - mistress - other half - significant other - brains of the operation - lover - girl friend" (© Blue-540i) line to be delivered to the attractive sales assistant. Surprisingly, I did once get away with the line "the only thing in that shop which would look good on you was the sales assistant"... Still not sure why. Hope to find out, one day. Do not buy anything which may involve the kitchen or any sort of housework. I don't care if the maiden in question has cited that she adores something, wishes she had something, or can't believe she has managed to live without *it* for so long. Whatever *it* is. This way, disaster lies. It's like the Titanic, ffs. You can see the iceberg coming, know there is more under the surface than is being revealed, but still choose to ignore it. You deserve whatever response you get. Eventually. Buy something she has not mentioned. That she hasn't hinted at. That - preferably - she has absolutely no idea that she is even the tiniest bit vaguely interested in. This seems to be the impossible dream, but go on - if you've been with her more than 5 minutes, you can do it. It *does* require work, but - and trust me - on this, it is worth it. Ohmigod, yessss... Get it right and it's worth it. Yup - it's nigh on impossible. But make the effort. She'll (probably) appreciate your efforts (if you're lucky). You'll know how effective your choice was very soon - either it will be immediately evident (frying pan / head interaction), or you'll never see the item in question ever again (despite assertions that she loves it, even if she can't name *it*), or maybe, just maybe, it will be displayed. Either for all to see, or just in the privacy of your close, personal company. (I wish you good luck with that.) Regardless, get something. And be sure to have a damn good reason why. Nothing is not better than something you thought she might not like. At least, not if you want to have another chance to buy anything for her...

I have E46 rims and tyres - 16x7" with good tyres... They'll fit. If interested I'll check the tyres (I think it is a true set rather than 1 from each of an unknown manufacturer) and the tread. You'll nee to define 'cheap', though. :-)

Joined the 'over 370000km' club at some time today.

Give them a call. The original thread is a few years old - they may have decided five days a week wasn't enough. :-) Nothing to lose, eh?

Lowering the average speed of vehicles in inner city and urban or suburban areas may have an effect. They are looking for (effectively) a 10% reduction in speed. However, lowering highway speeds from ~110 to 104km/h will have zero - ZERO - effect on casualties in the event of an accident. As for speed cameras... Coming back from Hamilton this evening we had a pale blue Toyota Estima-type people carrier almost hidden in the verge taking pictures of southbound traffic - it was in a favourite place, just past the old Meremere power station, tucked well back fro mthe road in such a position that you can't see it until you are there. Has anyone ever seen a speed-related accident on this piece of road? OK, so that's bad enough, but that would be the second camera you would encounter while heading south. An identical-looking vehicle was parked in clear view in Mercer, maybe 10km up the road towards Auckland, also capturing southbound traffic. Is this a new tactic? You've seen the camera van, slowed down, then accelerated to a speed which may be in excess of the limit only to be caught by a second, identical vehicle, which is hidden from view as you approach it? Surely this is tantamount to entrapment? There were also two police cars on the northbound carriageway between the SH1/SH2 junction and the top of the Bombay Hills. Similar tactics?

It does look as though it may be delayed, although that's for technical reasons. Autocar UK seems to have an inside source at BMW who has confirmed there are challenges in chopping the roof off the i8 and retaining rigidity.

I love Christmas. Not sure about Ms Carey sqwarking on the radio, but I can think of a way to shut her up... I definitely need me a man cave though, that's for sure.

Cool - yes. Not really my 'thing', but I do appreciate the work, effort and skill that has gone into it.