Olaf

Hi Eli; yes - though based on recommendations of my tyre man (whom I trust) and the accounts I've read on here, rather than my personal experience. I've only driven the PS3's on a mk5 GTi.

oh, you asked about TZ700's. I had a couple of them on my Maxima. Avoid. Brings up uncomfortable memories of Charles and Camilla. "ohhhh, Squidgy". Falken FK542. Consistently well-reviewed and talked up. So were Falken Azenis 115's - everyone told me they were excellent performance tyres at a good price (read mid-range)... I found myself driving on poor wet weather performance, no communication, and ABS activations in the dry that were eliminated by binning them and installing T1-R's. I'd like to try FK452's to see if they live up to the hype.

Hey Mitchell, I've just done the same as you a month ago. Driving John Herbmiester's well-sorted 330Ci ruined me! It drove like I expected a BMW to, and was fun and rewarding, and well beyond the level of enjoyment my stock-box was providing! My biases (well published here previously): I don't beleive in cheap-ass tyres. The improved braking performance that a good tyre brings can translate to the absence of scraped paint and dented panels, or worse, blood and broken bones, in an emergency stop. False economy! Wet weather performance for me is paramount; I like to drive in the wet. Grip is more important than fuel economy to me. I choose not to drive a Prius. Yes I've driven a few, and riden in many. Right then, having declared my biases, on to my current (recent) experience, and it's relevance to yours. e46 Touring, 325i previously updated from a couple of different Bridgestrone JDM tyres that were on the car when I bought it. Stock size, 205/55/16 on 7J's. was running Toyo Proxes4 (Toyo's equivalent to Bridgestone's Sporty MY-02) have run Toyo T1-R established my thinking on directional tyres was hopelessly outdated! Refreshed the suspension on my e46 - totally stock - Sachs Shocks, strut bearings, ARB bushings, tie rods, boots, bump stops, fasteners, shock reinforcement plates front and rear, rear meyle HD mounts. Result: much improved, no more dive, much better ride. But when later compared with John's 330 or pushed through tight twisty corners, like a well behaved German saloon - but not a sportscar. It was like it was on Pogo Sticks. Next step was good advice (thanks again, John Herbmeister!) and research, which brings my ride closer to yours: the staggered setup, and MSport ARBs (24mm/20mm). Springs may still be on the cards. Tyre Choices - 225/45/17 & 245/40/17. I'm running Style 194's, wich provide the same track as the 7J's, but wider track than the Style 68's (staggered) due to the different offsets. Pricing and choices - broadly the same as you've mentioned above Also included Proxes4's Was wondering about GT's as well Hyper direct turned out more expensive than getting pricing from local real businesses in my local community The choices, summarised: the lower-mid to mid-ground which includes Proxes4, MY-02, Hankooks, most Dunlops will run you around $800-1100 fitted. the bottom end are not considered. Anyone who tells you "HiFly or Nexen or Nangkangs are "fine if you're just pootling around town" probably haven't put a price on crippling someone in an accident. It came down to a choice of two for me, I think of them as 'Entry Level Serious'. Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003, or Michelin Pilot Sport 3 My choice: I chose with my wallet in conjunction with my head. The PS3 would be a bit better riding, and a bit better gripping, and a bit better wearing, but for about $350 more. I was also factoring in the rim updates - at least the 17" choices were cheaper than the last set of 16" tyres (Toyo Proxes4) I put on! RE003's were under $900 on my car. So, how are they, Olaf? quiiiiiiet. shhhhhh! they're oh so quiet. compared with the Toyos (that get noisier as they wear), the 003's were much quieter than new Toyo Proxes4 or T1-R. No, I didn't get out my dB meter! Yes, I do have a dB meter - not just a phone app! sticky. grippy. Oh man, it's grippy. And not just because of the wider rims; I tried the car for half a day on HiFly 805's (in the dry). The RE003's offer way more grip in the dry than the HiFlys, or T1-R's. They seem great in the wet; though it's been so dry in Wellington lately, I've hardly had a chance to assess them. My first impression is they're well beyond Toyo T1-R's in the wet. Sidewall stiffness works much, much better with my e46's suspension; I can run lower pressures than before. I'm still experimenting, round town seems ok at 35 front, 40 rear. But now I start again as I've just added the ARB's and had the trailing arm bushes done. Subjective warning: I had them off on Saturday; even when they're cold, (ambient 16c) the face of the tread feels slightly tacky. Surprising for a road tyre. I drove 320kms yesterday (on a fresh alignment), and marvelled at how the 003's are on the open road. Grip, communication, progressiveness. They're without doubt the best tyre I've ever owned. Yes there are better tyres, no doubt. But for under a grand, in the staggered 17" setup on an e46? They're excellent. Summary: RE003's FTW. Great performance, work well on the e46. And great value to boot! What's not to love? PS: did I mention they're oh so quiet?

I think this is where these new-fangled electric welders aren't much help. this is where you need a gas set, and if I recall correctly, the flame trimmed orange... slowly heating up the area till it's glowing orangey-red, cooling (naturally), then another cycle or two.

could that be Rotary Motor Trimmers, Paul?

and I'd buy it when you were done! I was sorely tempted last time, but had no cash. hmmm, I still have no cash, but more available OD #; )

I think they look great with your e46 M3, Christian. The colour combination really works too. Kudos.

as planned, today my e46 received its 20mm rear Msport bar, ARB bushes, rear trailing arm bushes and delrin reinforcement shims. Also new rear washer pump; w00t! After 4 years without it, I now learn what a clever wiper pump it is on the rear hatch. Every other car I've ever had/rented/driven just sprays the rear screen when you activate the pump. Regardless of what the wiper's doing. the e46 times it's pump to spray in bursts, synchronised with the movement of the wiper. pull the stalk, you get three wipes, with the spray timed so that it doesn't hit the wiper blade. cool! yes it's small beans, but cool beans. The trailing arm bushes were torn, but not totally shagged. good time to replace them. A plug for Page European from me, very good to deal with. Tomorrow, 4 wheel alignment. And then a road test. #8 ) oh, and fit new wiper blades front and rear, rain-x the screen.

yeah, looks really, really sharp. loving that interior wrap.

cheap on trademe too. $30.00 delivered for 3T pairs. awesome! buy two pair, you'll easily need 'em.

yes. the Bentley manual should have the detail. so what's in the boxes in the backseat, Kyu? you got a new exhaust in there waiting to go on? nice looking e39, looks great.

damn. I was going to suggest Elijah buys them. and builds an e34 around them happy days with such a quick sale! good ad, nice snaps. well done.

too busy track-daying? or prepping for track-daying? good honest toil, the gods of speed will surely reward your sacrifice.

like a TVR?

Leather Seat repair? The first place I'd talk to would be European Leather Care in Petone. HTH.

come on man, write some words, augment with pictures!

looks good. you'll prolly find ramps won't play so well with your new splitter...

looking at the images, the style 15's they're the beluga caviar to my perrier jouet le belle epoque. style 32's are simply Moet NV with some average fois gras, in comparison. Fois Gras and Moet is certainly nice, but beluga and vintage limited release champagne, is something else indeed. Graham, I expect you to have acquired these style 15's before next week begins, in case they vanish! Do it for humanity.... do it, for the whales and the geese!

What'd I do to my BMW today? "you remember last time, when I was talking about next steps (last week I did oil, oil filter, air filter, cabin filter)".... Today I went to my mate's place to visit/catchup/work on his driveway. We: Changed out the fuel filter (more below) Flushed and bled the Brake Fluid. I had a few containers of fresh BNT RBF 500 (which is 599F rated - close to Motul RBF600 and under $20 per 500mls)... the brakes a much more firm now, and we got some bubbles out of the system as well. Braking is much firmer. Installed the 24mm Motorsport front ARB with new Febi ARB bushes. Upgrade from the 23mm. Now I *really* need to get the 20mm on the rear - Monday. Monday she's going into my trusty local BMW Independent to: Install the 20mm Motorsport rear ARB and new BMW ARB bushes. Upgrade from the 18mm. It'll match the rear to the front, I think. Replace the rear trailing arm bushes with Meyle HD, and add delrin reinforcement shims Repair the rear and front screenwash (rear dead, front flagging) 4 wheel alignment Then I can fit new wipers front and rear. And locate the source of my damp carpets. Oh, about the fuel filter. What a Pr*ck of a job, laying on your back on the driveway. I had new 7.9mm ID high pressure fuel hose, new vacuum hose, new hose clamps, silicon grease, and the filter (of course). I found cutting the old hoses off a right bugger. Fortunately we had a drain pan to catch the spillage. Now here's the fun bit. Despite thinking through it, I managed to confuse the inlet with the return. I had fuel coming out the outlet, figured it was ok. zipped it all up. reinstalled the fuse. dzzzzzzzzzt. no starting. And a funny 'ftttttt' under the hood. Thought our way through it, looked for fuel pressure at the schrader valve on the fuel rail.... and zip, no fuel pressure. Oh. must have the inlet and return reversed. Consulted the Bentley manual. Yep, theory confirmed. Jacked her up again, supported her, removed the cover, found I'd not secured the bracket correctly... reversed the connections, secured the filter correctly, tested for fuel pressure - YEP. Zipped her up, started fine. Result. So what we'd figured through and interpreted as correct function was fuel from the return line flowing back along the line, passing into 'inlet', passing through the filter to 'outlet'. When it's correctly setup, no fuel comes in from the pump, as the pump's off. #8 ) So the moral of the story, don't mix up your inlet and return! D'oh! #8 ) PS: I'm sore, tired, but very happy with the outcomes. My thanks to Herbmeister for excellent advice, Brent BM World for easy supply of the ARBs I sought, and the search bicycle for previous discussions here. I found some excellent posts from Ron, Dave and others about e36 setup, ARBs, Springs etc that helped me consider the right solutions. PPS: BNT RBF500 has a street in-service life of 12 months. That'll do me.

^^ I saw my mate's megasquirt project today, was hugely impressed. He's added an extra ignitor for wasted spark setup, and extra module for barmetric pressure... and he's bought and built the testing platform. Wow.

I saw one of the new government ministerial 7's today on Taranaki Street after I visited BNT. It looked *very* swish.

great candidate to become a 325Ti, though. If it weren't so pricey. So hey, it's a 318Ti Msport. And it only gets short running. Hey ho. Shouldn't this thread be in 'TradeMe Discussions"?

"Oh, we can get you one in..."

damn, is that for sale?