gjm

You are special @Sammo... So very, very special. 🤪 😉

It's being a bit of a monkey, is the E46 318i. Arms and rear mounts replaced, but now there's a proper 'knock' on bumpy roads at slow speed (our driveway), and it's possible to turn the steering wheel too far - it feels as though the turning is fine and then there is a 'give' in the steering and it turns a bit further. Turning back, it feels as though the steering has to go over a hump (terrible description but if you've experienced this you'll know what I mean) before returning to a normal position. It also feels a little odd when turning right, especially at any speed. Alignment definitely needs sorting. To be expected. If it stops raining I'll get back under and see if I can identify what's wrong. In the meantime, the brake warning light didn't go away when the sensors were replaced. Good pads, discs, fluid and sensors. Took a 'read and reset' to sort it - I've since been advised that turning the ignition to position 3 (just before engaging the starter) and leaving it there for 2 minutes can clear faults like this, too. Having cleared it, it hasn't returned.

Pic by Don Feeley, 1974..

Interesting that the 190E, driven by a capable journalist, was decently faster over a lap than the M3 driven by a race driver. The benefit of multilink rear suspension? In my experience, the 190E is a more relaxed and comfortable drive. The E30 is more involved, perhaps more direct. But the 190E is faster over a given piece of road. Stock cars or near-as...

Struggling to find them. Ridiculous.

The E46 M3 is peak M3? Well, I do like the idea of one. And they are, comparatively, affordable.

This sh*t really pisses me off. Manufacturer issues press release. Someone recites it. That someone *must* be lying, right? Not the manufacturer, not the original source. Yes - I know it was the head of Toyota NZ who denied it - perhaps he was wrong? IT WAS ON THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA WEBSITE. IT HAS BEEN RECITED BY OTHER NEWS OUTLETS BASED ON SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION WITH THE MANUFACTURER. Come on. Get a f'ing grip. You're better than this. I'm not saying it'll happen, only that anyone claiming it is a piece made up by the PM is short on so readily available facts.

Alpina 3.4 meeting

From Toyota's own newsfeed? (above)

Based on news from shows and Toyota themselves, I suggest name-calling over a comment re Toyota EV utes is - at best - unfair. https://www.driven.co.nz/news/it-s-happening-toyota-is-serious-about-building-an-electric-ute/ and https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/35083987.html Worth clarifying what Jacinda Ardern said: "The second point I'd make is that within the next - we're hoping the next 12 to 24 months - the likes of Toyota are talking about bringing in EV utes." Given previous announcements - by Toyota - was it Toyota who said they weren't doing this, or was it reported that Toyota said they weren't doing this?

Ford F150? Available in 2022.

Went to replace the front LCAs on the venerable E46 318i. Nut on top of the outer balljoint? No problem. Two bolts holding hte lollipop in place? Easy as. Nut on top of the inner balljoint...? Where the actual %Y$@ is it? Can't see it, can't feel it. Finally locate and find I can fit a recessed ring spanner on to it. 1/24th of a turn and... Can't get the spanner out as it is hard up against the underside of the something. Find an open-ended spanner - fiddle around until it gets on to the nut, get perhaps 1/24th of a turn on it before the spanner fouls on something - the aircon pump, the sway bar, sway bar bushing... Take the spanner off, turn it over, and... Nope won't go back on. Get another spanner with a slightly different head angle and yes! that'll do it. Move the nut another 1/24th of a turn, that is. Back to the first spanner, wrong way round, take it out again, turn it over, it fits, get another 1/24th of a turn, back to the second spanner, it's started raining... Stuff that. Lying on my back in a puddle isn't my idea of fun. It'll wait. For now.

Interesting. Saw the sunroof and initially thought it'd be a NZ new. Looks like it was a South African car imported to Japan, and then imported to NZ. That could explain the higher options normal spec - a lot of SA cars had extras as standard that were unticked boxes on European and Australasian cars.

For comparison: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/mercedes-benz/listing/3133037811 And it's not even a 6-cylinder model!