Muppets 2........

[PAH]

Yet another one of my little anecdotes, let me set the scene: I have one of them radar detectors in my car and was blasting about on country roads near Oxford and it suddenly goes off. So I slows down. A few seconds later a mini convoy of seriously fast cars, nose to tail, blasts past me like I'm stood. Thinks to myself that there's trouble up ahead for them... Moments later hear a crunch, and just as I round the next corner I see they're all piled into each other. It was a temporary road works light that'd set the detector off. All the fast cars: the plod on a high speed driving course.

Bet they'd wish they'd had a radar detector, so what if the things are illegal, they save lives, mine being a good one to start with.

I bet you were tempted to shout "speeding kills" and wave your finger at them as you went past.

[PAH]

That's gotta be either a wind up or out of context, but.....

Many years ago I recall roadcraft (I think) used to advocate NOT indicating.

False indicating can be worse than not indicating.

On my driving test I approached a big roundabout in town, saw some numpty indicating to turn down the road I was pulling out of, so I assumed it was safe to go. The numpty then decides he'd got the wrong turnoff and narrowly missed taking the front of my car off.

Fortunately I had quick reactions and slammed on. The instructor was impressed with my handling of the situation and coolness afterwards, and passed me.

One thing I do remember about all that advanced police driving I saw on TV, is not to bother changing down gears when slowing down (e.g. for a junction), but to wait till you've stopped and choose the correct gear to proceed. Removes one less thing to concentrate on, and it's easier to replace worn out brakes than an engine! May have been more relevant before rev limiters were common place.

[threaded]

One thing I do remember about all that advanced police driving I saw on TV, is not to bother changing down gears when slowing down (e.g. for a junction), but to wait till you've stopped and choose the correct gear to proceed. Removes one less thing to concentrate on, and it's easier to replace worn out brakes than an engine! May have been more relevant before rev limiters were common place.

I'm always amazed at peoples reliance on their braking system. I had a brand new BMW 7 series that had faulty brakes at delivery. Didn't discover for quite a while as I just don't use them that much, except on race tracks. Long story shortened. I gave the car back with a recommendation it was scrapped as it was a death-trap. Anyways they sold it on as "nearly new" with a 10000 point inspection or some such crap. Apparently killed the next driver. He relied on his brakes too much.

[beaker]

Doesn't the 7 series have brake by wire (ie no physical connection between the pedal and brakes) or some other new fangled technology like that?

[threaded]

Doesn't the 7 series have brake by wire (ie no physical connection between the pedal and brakes) or some other new fangled technology like that?

Yeah, and at the time software that couldn't work out what to do if one disk was wet and the others dry, such as happens if there's a coolant leak from the engine (another at delivery fault on that lemon) that sprays right onto one of the front disks.

And if it like bursts into flames you can't escape from the fscking thing as it habitually locks you in and you have to phone BMW to come open the doors for you.

Great steaming pile: never buying another BMW.

[PAH]

never buying another BMW.

Whilst I love the fact they're (afaik) still all rear wheel drive, and having had a 5 series and more recently a 3 series in the past, I hate all that technology they keep piling into them. That i-drive nonsense for instance. I know Top Gear play on how complicated it is, but still it is OTT.

I do miss their build quality, drivability, and engines though. Fortunately there's possibly only the new 3 series coupe that I like the look of, all the rest just look wrong to me.

So I'll be looking at something like the VXR8 as my next mid-size saloon, once they've depreciated nicely. Can't wait to be honest. I just hope I can afford to keep it in petrol by then.

[threaded]

Whilst I love the fact they're (afaik) still all rear wheel drive, and having had a 5 series and more recently a 3 series in the past, I hate all that technology they keep piling into them. That i-drive nonsense for instance. I know Top Gear play on how complicated it is, but still it is OTT.

I do miss their build quality, drivability, and engines though. Fortunately there's possibly only the new 3 series coupe that I like the look of, all the rest just look wrong to me.

So I'll be looking at something like the VXR8 as my next mid-size saloon, once they've depreciated nicely. Can't wait to be honest. I just hope I can afford to keep it in petrol by then.

Well, I've gone onto bicycles and various italian exotica for wasting the earths resources. Incidentally a Gallardo is way cheaper to keep on the road than a BMW I've found: when you factor in maintenance and tires and stuff, darn it even a new mirror is a third the price fitted. And when the workshop says they're qualified to work on the car, they are not like the BMW ones who maybe had one guy on loan from another shop when they got certified and's retired by now anyway.

[oracleslave]

Well, I've gone onto bicycles and various italian exotica for wasting the earths resources. Incidentally a Gallardo is way cheaper to keep on the road than a BMW I've found: when you factor in maintenance and tires and stuff, darn it even a new mirror is a third the price fitted. And when the workshop says they're qualified to work on the car, they are not like the BMW ones who maybe had one guy on loan from another shop when they got certified and's retired by now anyway.

Vintage Threaded.

[threaded]

Vintage Threaded.

Well, you all got me going again. BMW Alpina B12 (BMW 850 is the more common variety) has two batteries both of which, whilst still being to all intents and purposes battery shaped, cannot be replaced by anything other than the precise BMW part as either they're too small to turn the engine over or can't be juggled to fit in the spaces provided without spilling acid all over. The cars electrical system takes so much power, just stood, you have to have it connected to the mains otherwise the batteries are both flat the next morning. Woe betide the air con running out of freon, or you'll discover all the wiring behind the radio melts (first indication of this is the LCD on the radio going a curious orange colour). Then there is the coil over shock front suspension, the coils snap! Now we all know shocks can gain leaky gaskets, but snapping springs? Then there is the front valance, it has the wonderful description of being "ablative". Ablative! It's not a fscking space craft re-entering the atmosphere, it's a car!

Give me strength!

[PAH]

The cars electrical system takes so much power, just stood, you have to have it connected to the mains otherwise the batteries are both flat the next morning.

Reminds me of the Cerbera I had, which due to a dodgy battery died of power failure on the M25 whilst in slow traffic. Fair enough I had the heater and headlights on at the time, but you expect the alternator to be able to generate enough power to keep the car going.