Beiträge von Ian Downie

  • x drilled discs for 850

    Hi Nick,


    I was talking to a guy the other day about his M% and he had Brembo brake set up on his car.


    He spoke very highly of them saying that his stock brakes also felt a little spongy - hence the upgrade.


    This is the UK Brembo agent - perhaps they can give you a quote.


    http://www.ecparts.co.uk/


    Ian


    PS - Sorry to hear about your rim - seems like we all suffer the same lack of respect and honesty from garages. I think we all need to digitally photograph our cars, get the mechanic to sign off on them before they start job so we have some recourse afterwards if things get damaged. Sounds extreme, but I have heard too many cases of damage being swept under the carpet and the poor owner left to pick up the peices (and bill)

  • BMW UK Owners Club

    THIS IS ALL VERY CONFUSING


    I can find about 10 places on thi siste where the UK meetings are posted.


    Is it possible for someone (Philippe or Al ?) to remove all the confusion and centralise the topic somewhere promionent so it can be read and accessed more easily ?


    This may require deleting non-relevant posts such as this :lol: etc and should really start with the detailsof the Gaydon Event as topic.


    If Alasdair is trying to organise this (good man) then can I suggest we give him the tools, platform and support to help..


    I believe we should be able to get around 30 - 40 8 series cars at the evnt but this iwll require clear planning and posting of details in a SINGLE froum thread.


    Just my 2 pence worth but I WANT this to work... and to HELP Alasdair.


    Cheers,


    Ian.

  • BMW UK Owners Club

    Alasdair,


    Sounds like an absolutely GREAT idea.


    Location is good (central) - it will be recognised by the BMW owners club and IF enough of us get together we can put on a great show for the 8 series.


    Can't wait ....


    Count me in !!!


    Ian.

  • What to replace my '8' with as an every-day car?

    John,


    Congratulations on the new Lexus by the way - good choice.


    Our Italian agent had one last summer and picked me up from Milan airport in it. Great ride and VEY well equipped.


    It was probably the most comfortable car I have ever sat in and I totally enjoyed the 30 minute open top ride from the airprot to the factory.


    Hi car was in a creamy/pearl colour witha light cream leather interior so maybe this is the same colour as yours.


    Look forward to seeing photos. :roll:

  • 17" Genuine BMW cross bolted deep dish 8 series alloys

    Guys,


    Anyone looking to upgrade their wheels ? With the imminent arrival of my Alpina wheels, I am sellling my current alloys.
    These are the genuine article and will bolt straight on and enhance your 8 series.


    4 x 17" deep dish, polished, cross bolted lightweight, staggered alloys (wider rears than fronts)
    Fitted with Continental Sports 235/45 ZR 17 front and 265/40 ZR 17 rear.


    Would cost you nearly £2K at dealers for the wheels alone, I am looking for offers over £500 for the lot.


    The wheels are in pretty good condition but DO require refinishing to get up to A1 condition. I have quotes from one of the top refinishing companies in the country at between £150 - £200 tops.


    This means you can get a PRISTINE set of these rare wheels for around £700 plus delivery.


    Email me if you are interested - thanks.


    Ian urbun@hotmail.com

  • UK Membership

    Nick,


    IF someone organises a UK meeting in Midlands, the Scots contingent of 8 could meet you en route for the remainder of the journey ...


    Who is organising the meeting again ? :roll::?:


    Ian

  • Diff upgraded

    Hi Nick,


    Don't worry - I'm not that technical either.


    Basically - our cars are produced to be Autobahn cruisers with the engines geared to cruise at 155 all day.


    Changing the rear diff is a very simple upgrade which "unlocks" some of the car horespower at lower speeds making it more responsive at lower speeds.


    If you imagine a racing bike with gear cogs front and back - I have changed the rear cogs- that's all.


    The trade off is that my car will probably top out at about 140mph - bummer :) - but will do 0-100 about 12% faster than previously.


    The Limited slip part also helps as it prevents the wheels spinning and distributes power evenly to the 2 rear wheels.


    The whole upgrade cost me £600ish.

  • UK Membership

    bertiebeemer


    You must really miss the car.


    If there is a UK owners meeting - I would llike to try and organise a Scottish convoy of 8s heading south.


    I am in Glasgow and knwo of a few others who would make the trip down south.


    Did you sell the car locally ? Maybe new owner would appreciate this board ..


    Cheers,


    Ian

  • @~'#'''## Dealers - please help -LONG

    The core broke up and the O2 sensors overcompensated making the car msifire badly ...


    WHICH REMINDS ME .. :idea::!::!: WORD OF CAUTION


    Tristan was talking about getting his car "de-catted"


    Tristan - please make sure whoever does this for you knows what they are doing - as the cats in an 8 can cause so much bother - you may also fail the emissions test at MOT ?

  • Sweden Meeting

    I won't be able to make it due to family holidays - but for anyone from UK who can ...


    The DFDS Seaways ferry from Newcastle to Gothenburg costs around £350 return with car and only takes 25 hours to get there.


    Not hugely practical - but heh - we are 8 owners after all :)


    BY THE WAY ... it sounds like it will be a great time with plenty of things to do throughout weekend.


    Who is co-ordinating the UK meet ? Looks :roll: like we have got some planning to do to match SwedeFest !


    Cheers,


    Ian.

  • @~'#'''## Dealers - please help -LONG

    The difference probably is that you have one of the older cars on the board - that perhaps isn't covered under warranty.


    I have to get my car serviced by BMW to keep warranty valid - BUT my limit is £650 per year - including MOT failure !


    That way I get to keep my car as good as new - with limited risk.


    For example my cat replacement would have cost £600 in parts alone - but I got it under warranty.


    Any upgrades I do either myslef or via local BM specialist (non dealer)

  • Diff upgraded

    Today I picked my car up after it has had rear diff upgraded.


    Here are my first impressions:-


    1) It certainly makes the car faster accelerating 0 - 60mph and makes the car seem much more positive and responsive.


    2) The approximate revs are now as follows in top gear :-


    80mph 2400rpm
    90mph 2800rpm
    100mph 3100rpm


    Tested on Motorway using Cruise Control in Drive Mode.


    For anyone who is interested here's what I did :-


    My car is an Euro 1997 840Ci Automatic Sport.


    It was originally fitted with standard 2.81:1 rear diff.


    I bought a 3.15:1 Limited slip diff from a 1990 BMW 750il from a UK BMW breaker for £300. This diff had 60k miles on it - but apparently these thing are bullet proof and mileage is not usually a consideration.


    In theory this should give me 12% more torque at the rear wheels.


    It was fitted by local mechanic in about 4 hours at cost of another £150.


    It was filled with standard BMW recommended LSD oil and they had to utilse the original diff casing.


    All in all I am delighted.


    For those more technically minded - the LSD is apparently preset at 25% locking - which will actually come into play before the standard 8 series traction control so if anything stabilise the rear end even further.