Neal

I'm looking to get into club racing and hillclimb events in a "Mini" and the odd track day in the M3 and maybe the wifes 328i Often the events stating cotton overalls and crash helmet but I'm not sure if to buy standard cotton overalls , or a one or two piece racing suit. I know it's all to do with saftey , but the prices seem to go up drastically been basics and two piece. I'm probably never going to do a race series but would keen on a Targa event at some stage. Given the level of entry motorsport what would you recommend ? At this stage I just have a highend motorcycle helmet.

LHD brand new 1M's were avaiable for $45k USD when I was in the States last month. Certainly a premuim to be paid for RHD BMW builds. Lower K CSL's tend to be in the $27k - $32 k pounds range. The V8 M3's are going for less now.

Get yourself one of these http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecificati...x?ItemID=377073 and back your drives up to a larger one. Asked for the drives to be destroyed if the laptop is written off. Quite a high end laptop so go for todays equav. if you have total replacement. Dell took over the brand.

Nasty Crash ! Hate to think what would have gone through the co-drivers mind. Lucky to survive.

chech out this link. looks to be $449 usd ! Would probably be better to pick up a complete s/h retro fit from www.ebay.de unless someone on bimmersport can help out.

Yes the screen would fit. But without the harness it would need to come out again. You'd also loose the function of you stereo.

Unfortunately it's more than swapping the head unit for a BMW screen. You will also need a Tuner module (preamp / source switching, TV tuner and harness at a minimum. From there you can add reverse cam , CD stacker or Dice Ipod adapter , Europe / USA Nav module, Bluetooth ULF for hands free and voice commands. Have a check through the bottom link to gain a better understanding of what is required. Your other option is to go for a Dynavin which would work out cheaper than a BMW system and has all of the options that a fully configured BMW system has. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-...n-453329747.htm http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/all-bmw/n...-system-x5.html

Probably more of a performance than music video. I like the entertainment factor of the blue man group. They make up there own percusion instruments and at some point add paint to the drum skins. They often re-do remakes of pop 1980's songs. Work safe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyL09hTLOls

Not a fan of serial to usb adaptors. Have seen a number of uarts blown up through static build E.G. laptop bag. Nothing like smoking a $140k comms card management port ! Less of a problem for built in serial ports. The outer serial metal casing is eartedh to the mother board so less chance of the plastics passing on the static build up when connecting up. If your using one of these adaptors I'd recommend using a hand wrist strap earthed to the device first before connecting. Not worth blowing expensive engine management computers serial connection. We've tended to use Dell Laptops as the last lot we replaced had built in serial ports. We also have HQ usb to serial adaptors ,but are very cautious where they are used and how they are used.

For real , did they put the sound of an V8 though the stereo ? Most of the drive was with the stereo off. Still made a nice noise, but these X6's have very good sound proofing. The owner was saying it has an exhaust flap that opens in M mode , but turbos are known for there quality as being rotoary mufflers. The tone was nice rather than being loud.

Nice editing of the footage. like the PnP with driver. Thats such an awesome car ! Great tribute to Jason Richards on the bonnet as well.

Check out the Aplina's on pistonheads with should give you an idea the differences between a standard BMW and an Alpina. Normally they have spoke wheels , have been lowered a bit and have a higher standard of inteior trim. The will also have logos on the seats and steering wheel if they are the real factory version. I don't remember seeing any Alpina's 528i's when I was living in the Uk where they are more comon. Most seemed to be 3.3's or larger. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?...t=&nodays=0

My understanding is that they are the same engine. Alpina developed it and BMW used them in the X5's later on. The 4.6 engine ended up in a number of Alpina Chasis from the 3 series up as well.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7726318_refinish-c...loy-wheels.html Looks like the clear coat has lifted and the alloy is corroded , the link above is the basic steps.

Come for dinner , bring the Targa car so I can test drive it !

Nut salad , Lamb and pasta , Martinborough pinot & cab Savs , Choc Moose.

A friend and colleague of mine for many years comes around for dinner and turns up in a X6M. He's been around performance cars, raced Mini's , owned the quickest Jap turbo car that I've driven , had HSV's and recently traded a 550i. I'm looking forward to going for a ride. He suggests we go for a ride and I leave the front door to find he's in the passenger seat. I tentatively hop into the drivers seat and start the engine. First impression is that this is somewhere between a SUV and a Saloon car. The twin turbo starts and settles into a nice super smooth rythm, not what I'd expect from something that makes 550 hp. I have a rather steep driveway which requires caution. Reversing up in my M3 normally gets a chirp from the tyres as one side will momentary spin. Yet with the x6m nothing. Just like reversing the wifes auto 328i. Am I in a diesel X6 ? We drive through the local suburb which couldn't have been easier , it has the manners of a 1.6 Civic with just a slight hint of the 300 kw twin turbo V8 in auto mode. I could believe how easy it was to drive considering the torque available to right foot. We get to the open road with from near where I live. A zealous 80 kmh speed limit imposed lately because of a few idoits couldn't drive and crashed on corners. The owner says try the "M" button on the steering wheel. He also adds that this adds "M" button another 110kw to the 300 already on tap. Thats another 160kw on top of my M3's 250kw odd. I push the pedal down and the transmission pops down a couple of cogs. The twin turbos + V8 spools up and I'm left grinning ear to ear. The acceleration is more like a linear push back like a 747 on take off. It's A lot quicker than the e46 M3 yet a lot smoother. There aren't the no power pauses that you get with the M3 SMG, the acceleration is steady thoughout. The turbos are that good that have no perceivable lag. The gear changes are super smooth but it justs F's off thru the sequnece of corners and I'm not believing the flat cornering or traveling 30% faster than you think your doing. I get to a local roundabout with an 100 kmh exit. I see a S14 drift rep in the rear vision mirror on the exit and floor the pedal. The S14 squats at the rear for a couple of gear changes but gives up the ghoast as it quickly gets smaller in the X6M mirrors. The X6m is very quick ! yet very stable and gets it's power down quickly and in a striaght line. The M3 would be fighting with traction at the rear if trying similar. In cornering you know that your in a heavy vehicle , yet compared to the M3 it's bloody good. The brakes are also subpurb which make sense as the dics fill the gaps in the 20 inch rims. The suspension in M mode is taught with only a slight hint of body roll. Fav bits is the heads up display of rev counter / road speed. Shows green/yellow/red zones and road speed. Your eyes don't need to leave the road. Engine wise with a twinn turbo V8 it doesn't mater too much if your doing 3000 or 5000 rpm. Put your foot down and there is more safe overtaking than you'll ever need. In BMW fashion it's very linear but with the X6M it delivers the power in a far smoother manner than my e46 M3. There is just a lot more of it everywhere. Getting home I remind myself that this is a $200k plus car. After a 30km loop I'm left very impressed. I get to my driveway and park the car. I can't believe how refined and well mannered it is (before that M" button is depressed) These X6's are 4wd yet handle closer to a RWD. It had ever extra you could want with auto closing doors, heated seats , electronic everything and the best standard sound system I've heard in a vechile. If I'm sucessful in "big Wednesday" I'll be dropping the Lambo and Q7 and getting a XM6. You wouldn't need both !

Sorry Anndy for the wrong steer. Meach

btw spoke to an old mac fan, suggested this site maybe of use http://www.drdos.net/ Around the time that this MAC came out I had a job as an operator , the system took up a large room and had 4Meg memory & 1.6 gig of disk. I understand that the buy price was around $4 million for the hardware.

Think this has been discussed before. Check out the formual holden series single seaters before you bag the engine. Watched one break the manfield outright lap record a number of years back. Not a serious amount of engine mods to do so either.

Don't has any Dospro diskettes , but I do have backup floppies from an Se / Se30 circa 1988. Pop an email up on the NZ computer society , I'm sure a few of the older members will be able to help.

All were factory BMW options , my old one had sports steering wheel & factory recaro's. Dog leg and LSD where options as where Aplina style wheels. There would be bugger all E21's anywhere in this configuration. Body kit is 1980's period Zender kit , just looked at an old zender broucher. If I didn't have 6 vehicles in the garage I'd be tempted.

You can always upgrade all the capictors with the same value with good entry level Hifi / Audiophile grade ones, especially if in the audio path. http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-X-ELNA-STARGET-2200uF-16V

Got my last couple of sets for the e36's from the dealer. Paid abput $120 from memory

Scott , just wondering what you do to maintain the finish ? That was a spectacular transition.