Jazzbass

I'm just dirty.... so dirty....

Unless you get too close to something then they beep to let you know - at least my car does.

LOL! Suprisingly, in UK. Of course the address is at yahoo.com, like all BMW company addresses....

I'm ever so excited..... Dear Winner, We the Board of Directors, members of staff and the International Awareness promotion Department of the BMW Automobile Company, congratulates you on your success as the STAR PRIZE WINNER of our International Awareness Promotion (IAP) held on 1st March 2007, in London, UK You are a winner of a brand new BMW 5 Series, M Sport Saloon car and a Cash prize of GBP 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds) and hereby selected amongst ten other winners. In order to redeem your prize, Contact the claims agent. Henry Price

Mate, you're quite right, its all about sets of values. I guess I just get upset when someone goes on about it in almost every thread, (and no, I'm not getting a dig in at you) it seems. Because I am who I am, I tend to tackle people who state that anything is the best or better than something else since I firmly believe that firstly there is no best - I believe that everything in life is a compromise and that secondly, such a statement places the writer's opinion above those of anyone whose opinion is different. Its all about the wording in the curious written media in which we indulge. For instance if I was to say that for getting the power on the road and good control through corners etc I preferred a stick shift over an automatic, I couldn't challenge that, since it was expressed as a qualified opinion. (opinion and reason) If I was to say that a stick shift is the best - well, that's just bollox, as its completely unqualified and doesn't take into account the people who may have a different opinion, or who may have a physical reason why they can't use a clutch, or even a gear lever. If any of my students gave opinions in that manner, they would get very poor marks. FWIW, I do understand what you're saying and before I blew my left ankle I would have agreed with you, but now - automatic gearboxes are my friend. I'm just a picky old bastard!!

Reach up under the dash, by the steering colum and remove the dinger...

But if all you want is a nice driving, comfortable, well-engineered BMW and you couldn't care less about the "extra precision and control", like me... I don't see it as settling for less - just the opposite. I think we've had this discussion before, mate! I'll just shut up about it and agree that we disagree.

JP - based on my E36 experiences, I'd certainly get the steering rack well checked out - both of mine needed replacement - $1200 a time. Both also needed rear shock mounts replaced - about $350 a time. I'd also be looking for noisy VANOS - when they start to rattle they drive me smegging crazy(er) I prefer my BMW to be a very quiet runner. You may have different ideas. Other than that - they're just a car - make sure you check the normal things you would in any car.

This is, of course, total bollox and is simply an opinion, however it is often expressed here, and is even more tiring than the bashing of E36s.

Glad all's well for you mate. Can you get a new number plate at the same time?

I'll ditto that. It gets very tiresome. FWIW, I've never had an E30 (drove several, but they didn't do anything for me, so I left them) I've had 2 E36s (Both my E36s were Jap imports) I currently have an E39 (NZ new - full BMW service history) I was disappointed in the niggling little repairs that I always seemed to have to do with my E36s. I suspect that many of the comments you refer to are reflecting those niggles. Part of the problem appears to be that the Japanese do not maintain their cars as well as us. I've owned cars since 1965 and it seems to me that once they get around 8-10 years old, it is completely normal for any car to have such problems, so the bitches about E36s could probably be leveled at any car of similar age. After 20 years old, most Euro cars are owned by enthusiasts, who normally do all repairs and maintenance themselves, so the running costs are miniised. Such people tend to have strong ties to their cars and thus defend them more rigorously than those who prefer to pay others to keep them going.

In '95 I had a new Ford Telstar Radisich Motorsport. Mu son broke a window switch. New part $875 from Ford!! Its a smegging Ford!!! I bought one from the wreckers for $125

...or was that 'on top' ?

Its your chooice, mate, but for me, I'd pick an E46 over an E36 any day. I don't like the wheels on that one, mind, but a couple of thou would replace them, so that's nothing.

I thought we were only allowed 6 max here?? Or is he allowing for spaces?

You young fellas are way too fussy.

No argument about the cup holder design - total rubbish. The ones in the back of my car were broken, so I just replaced it with the small package tray they sell as a direct replacement. I later fixed the cup holder with some epoxy and a paperclip, but couldn't be arsed replacing it. Then. last week as I was clearing the garage out for packing, I tossed it in the skip bin. Not one of BMW's triumphs!

nath, I have a friend whose onto his third Ferrari. He's had a similar list of problems to your Gran. He loves the cars, but says they are in constant need of small repairs (not cheap - just small). It doesn't have to be French or American to have problems. If its got tits or wheels...

My decsion was the same as Kiwi535's. However, as from the middle of this month, I will be 'homeless' - no telephone (other than mobile) and no ISP.

I think they're both good cars, but my personal preference would be in favour of the VW. If its even when you're ready to buy - go by colour!!

LOL thanks mate! I've stashed all my amps, PA etc and have bought a little Fender Stereo Pak - which is a headphone amp that looks like a typical Fender amp - built in chorus and distortion. I'm taking that, my Strat & LP, plus my Precision and Jazz Bass just to keep in touch. However, I won't have time to gig.

I'm with Denny. We're flamingoes.

M5 - oh yeah!

Whoo hoo!! My name is now my name. Jazzbass is the name of one of my guitars (Fender Jazz Bass) and tends to confuse people who think I play jazz . I don't. I'm old school r'n'r, rock and blues, although, due to my lifestyle change next week, I've stashed all my gear for at least a couple of years and therefore won't be playing at all. Many thanks to whoever included that name change feature, Rog

I've mentioned before how I'd rather walk than be seen in a Toyota - my list just got bigger...