westy

still 'orrible though.

Seems fairly self explanatory to me.....

It's 'orrible too.

I dont think the point was whether or not you can switch traction control off or you have comfort access or any of the other pointless waffle. I think the issue is with the underlying complexity of the systems used to control basic operation of the car. Of course new cars are more efficient, more powerfull and, for the first 5 years of their life, possibly more reliable but just imagine how much more of all those things a new car could be if it didn't weigh 2 ton. Once these cars are more than 5years old they become nothing but liabilities for their owners. And I dont think 5years is a long enough life span for a car. There's the sinking feeling that this is what new manufacturers are chasing. Not only is it silly expensive, but also horribly wasteful of resources that wont last forever. Also, New M3 GTS get round the ring 2 seconds faster than E46 CSL. Considering the new generation and .8l larger engine, I'd call that a win for the E46.

I cant put my finger on any particular time when the tech outwayed the price we have to pay to own but, the most fun I ever had in a car, was when I owned the 1971 XA Falcon station wagon. And that thing was completely without tech. If you cant replace something as simple as an alternator without an IT dept there is something seriously wrong.

Ha!

You should care because that's your resale value right there. Do you really think that everyone jumps straight into brand new BMWs? Most people start of with a second hander. If a guy buys an E90 when he's 20 and has endless problems, do you think he's going to be much interested in a new car once he turns 40 and can afford it? Reputations are built on history, not the future. And as for E30s, they are still running. But not without constant maintainence and they are a simple car. If you double the complexity you double the potential for problems. I also think they are laying excess layers of tech for the sake of it. The fastest car in your list was built in 2003!

Thats about the best way of summing this situation up. My guess is thats exactly what they want. Plenty of pre 2005 vehicles to repair tho ha. Have been wondering the same thing. Only cars I can come up with are Legacy/Outback, at least they still have hydraulic steer and some character(?) or the old Falcon/Commodore, but with the price of gas....(they are better than the brand snobs claim).

I should say; I'm talking about those who create the policies, not those working on the floor.Dont wanna give Greg too hard a time.

Think I'll get me one of these. If it breaks down I can shoot it.

Now ya getting into the spirit of things. Further more, if you are a BMW service agent connected to a BMW dealership, then it is your problem to sort. Noones holding a gun to their heads. Cant handle the heat, get out the bloody kitchen. And as for parts prices, there are plenty of examples of identical parts made for other manufactures that are much cheaper. BMW parts dept are to blame for this. I dont think I will buy a post E46/39 BMW. I feel better.

E46 are cast ally fools.

STOP BEING SO GODDAM REASONABLE! What the hell am I gonna bitch about now.....

It'll take some time, but I'll give it a try.

Oh dont come in here being all reasonable and sh*t, I was enjoying my little rant and you just went and killed it.

I dunno, maybe I'm just disillusioned, but these are supposed to be quality cars. Having an alternator seize solid at 130000k isn't what I call well engineered. And what kind of mastermind came up with a system that can render parts of a car useless with a software upgrade? Bunch of tecnogeek retards imo (if correct anyway). OP, I've found Andrew at TM good to deal with too, try talking to him.

Yeah, E39s are great. Especially when the alternator seizes, takes the belt and belt tensionor with it and breaks the powersteer pump and its mounts.

Ima buy something from the '70s.

Dont think it was ever put down to any one thing. Just one of those things that sometimes happens. There was no damage to anything, so all was good with the world. PS. He was only pulling 6500 rpm. PPS. Allways locktite your flywheel bolts. (Although it appeared that these were locktited.)

Turns out it was the flywheel walking about on the back of the crank. So in the end it wasn't as bad as thought.

I saw that. Admittedly I did skim through so you're closer to the truth than realized ha. Also, I do know someone who put together a 3.1l M20. Rumour has it, it cost upwards of 10k.

Fixed that for ya.

Yeah, screw him, I gonna do it anyway ha. I actually just meant the bit in the middle about building a race car. Anyway, as you were.

Dammit. You might have just completely killed my inspiration.

A few non PC jokes. I've just come out of the shop with a meat and potato pie, large chips, mushy peas & a jumbo sausage. A poor homeless man sat there and said 'I've not eaten for two days' I told him 'I wish I had your flamin' will power' I took my Biology exam last Friday. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently "Blacks" and "Paki's" were not the correct answers. A fat girl served me food in McDonald's at lunch time. She said 'sorry about the wait.' I said 'don't worry fatty, you're bound to lose it eventually ' I walked past an abo kid sitting at a Bus Stop as I came out of the Bank. He looked at me and said 'Any Change' I said 'Nope! You're still Black' Snow in the forecast! The TV weather gal said she was expecting 8 inches tonight. I thought to myself "fat chance with a face like that!" An Irish boy stands crying at the side of the road. A man asks 'What is wrong'?? The boy says 'Me ma is dead' 'Oh bejaysus' the man says 'Do you want me to call Father O'Riley for you'?? The boy replies 'No tanks mister, Sex is the last ting on my moind at the moment'. I have a new pick up line that works every time. It doesn't matter how gorgeous or out of my league a woman might be, this line is a winner & I always end up in bed with them. Here's how it goes 'Excuse me love, could I ask your opinion? Does this damp cloth smell like chloroform to you?' Years ago it was suggested that an apple a day kept the doctor away. But since all the doctors are now Muslim, I've found that a bacon sandwich works best! Japanese scientists have now created a camera with such an immense shutter speed that it is now possible to take a photograph of a woman with her mouth closed. I hate all this terrorist business. I used to love the days when you could look at an unattended bag on a train or bus and think to yourself 'I'm having that' Wife has been missing for two weeks now. Police have said be prepared for the worst. So I went down to the Salvos and got her clothes back! Man in a hot air balloon is lost over Ireland. He looks down and sees a farmer in the fields and shouts to him 'Where am I'?? The Irish farmer looks back up and shouts back 'Ya canna kid me ya flash bastard. You're in that friggin basket'. I had a Trivia competition shot to pieces until the last question which I got wrong. The question was "Where do women have the curliest hair"?? The answer I should have given was "Fiji" Marriage is like a deck of cards, in the beginning all you need is two hearts and a diamond.......... but by the end you just wish you had a club and a spade...... Every man's dream: Daughter on the cover of Vogue, son on the cover of a sports magazine, mistress on the cover of Playboy and wife on the cover of Missing Persons!!!