gjm

I do like a Z3 coupe, but given this Z4 manual (with folding hardtop) is less...

The more I drive it with the new tyres, the better it feels. Acceptance of familiarity bias, or some sort of running in benefit? Certainly I've reflected on some of the characteristics of the old tyres and wouldn't want to go back.

Constructive, balanced and detailed criticism is always welcome. ☮️ I'd written to Falken asking for their recommendation for my car before posting here. The reply didn't come through until this morning. First - load rating. The 91 rating should by definition be adequate, but it turns out that was a typo - the tyres are rated 96. 710kg per tyre at correct inflation; 2840kg for the set. The 7" rim. Skinny? Apparently not. Optimal fit for this tyre is said, by Falken, to be on a 6.5" rim - bear in mind it is a 60 profile. 7" is absolutely fine, of course, and while I did scratch my head over that (I too thought it was a little narrow but was happy to follow industry guidelines), LVVTA recommended rim width for a 225 on a 15" rim is always 6.0-8.0" (or less) from a 50 through an 80 profile. Now, I didn't say they don't feel good, only that they felt different, and that was after one brief drive in pouring rain. And they are different. A cruise out yesterday showed that. They are much quieter than the previous tyres, and seem to roll better; an extremely unscientific lift off coasting deceleration test suggests more speed is retained than before. There may need to be a little pressure adjustment but they feel pretty good. I have wondered if there is sometimes the slightest delay in turning in, possibly a slight sensation of understeer (compared to before). It does take quite a bit to provoke that, though, and it's far from an issue. Just... Different. And altering driving style means it doesn't happen at all.

Check No Cams. https://nocams.co.nz/

A canvassing of other W126 owners displayed the expected vast array of preferences. What did come out was other than an obvious preference for the very best Michelins (etc) that money can buy, Falkens were very highly regarded. So... Our 500SE now has a set of 225/60-15 Falken Ziex Ze914 91W tyres. The load index is correct for the model of car, and the 'W' speed rating is a bonus. While obviously wider, the 225/60-15 is designed for a 6.0-8.0" rim (ours are 7"), the sidewall is 0.1" taller and the rolling circumference is a bare 0.4% more. The difference is astonishing. Whether that is due to the slight change in width and profile, or different manufacturer/style/design, is another matter. Is it better? Probably... But having noticed a difference, a streaming wet road probably isn't the best place for a first drive to perform any sort of test. Not a premium tyre, but certainly not a budget one, and from what I have read, Falken are often regarded as the best of the non-premium manufacturers. Reviews often place them ahead of much more expensive alternatives.

Missed a couple of days so thought I'd post a couple of pics.

Could be one needed... NZ roads are slowly claiming another victim. Not urgent - yet... But a cross-shaped crack has appeared just out of the area swept by the wiper blades. And there are numerous other pock marks, tiny chips, and so on. So... Where to get a replacement screen? Let's start by not going to Smith & Smith or Novus for one of their soft-glass Chinese screens, as recommended by insurance. We want a *proper* screen. Side windows are original BMW Armorplate. The windscreen is BMW Shatterprufe. Both are indicative of the cars heritage, coming from South Africa - I think German-made BMWs would have had Sekurit glass. What are the options? Talk to BMW NZ? Talk to BMW ZA? Or is there a NZ-based supplier who supplies good windscreens (but who is probably ignored by most insurance companies)?

No such thing as a cheap E24, or a neglected E24 with "some minor rust". The price is currently attractive and it might be worth it... (At that price.)

Amazon Lightsail (as mentioned above by James) is - I think! - a cloud platform. There are others, with good/better/worse characteristics and price points.

Thanks James. ? I've sent you a PM.

I think an intake filter would be a 'must'. If things go as we hope (different to 'as planned!') then we'll also have access to dam water.

For a whole heap of reasons nothing came of this. One of those reasons was I borrowed a pressure washer to complete the task I had at hand. Now revisiting this... So - higher flow is normally better. I found this - https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=2776588436 - which despite my earlier suggestion that a petrol-engined model wasn't essential, may be more valid given we are considering building an off-power-grid house. (Nice piece of land, long way to a power source.) Pressure and flow look decent, and there's the option to vary the pressure being used. Common engine - should be easy to get parts for in the event something goes wrong. Bit surprised the warranty is only 12 months, but perhaps the unit is expected to be used commercially?

If they have more than 4mm of tread, they'll pass a WoF. Probably want to change them regardless.

I was bidding on an E30. I had briefly led the bidding, but wasn't the high bidder. Still, the auction has ended early. I found out while looking to see how high things had got. No email, no reason given, just 'Withdrawn by Seller'.

Just checked with a semi-domesticated LVVTA inspector around the legality/suitability of H-rated tyres on a a car which would have originally been fitted with V-rated tyres. He in not a WoF inspector (trying to find a tame one of those) but he agrees with my interpretation of the inspection manual - - in that the [prevailing] speed limit is safely under the H rating of the tyre, and as such is permissible on NZ roads. That does open things up a bit.

I'm very aware of the problem those 9" rims add! A 255/50 is the only size tyre which could fit both 8 & 9" rims, and aside from not being a great idea to do that, the tyres just don't seem to exist. I've run 17" rims on a W126 before. Wouldn't do it again. Which brings me back to the stock rims and investigating options there.

I might have to paint the calipers, too... ?

I was happy to go to $200 a corner and would hardly consider that a budgetary constraint given the car and type of tyre. The P1s (knowledge gained since first seeing them for sale notwithstanding) appeared to represent a good deal, and normal price is comparable to many other good tyres. (Not silly-cheap rubbish.) The V-rating is proving tricky (if it is legally necessary.) Potentially looking at $300 per corner, plus rim refurb, is at least a doubling in cost, and something to take a moment or two to think about. Skimping on tyres isn't a consideration. I've refurbed rims before. Not ones like these, though... (These aren't mine - I have two black, and two silver rims.) 16x8 and 16x9. Fortunately I'm not running on bald tyres, so there's time to consider options and save some more $ if necessary.

I wasn't aware the P1 was now made in China. Not necessarily a bad thing, but rarely a recommendation. The P7 is a nice tyre, and you've reminded me that I do have a set of 16" rims which I was considering refurbishing for use. However, that takes me from (say) sub-$200 per tyre to $300++, not including rim refurb cost. But there are other options in that size. Need to check rim widths, then look again with a potential 16" tyre in mind.