Beiträge von sandwich

  • How's life in E31 land?

    I know the feeling! Took the car to France and Belgium a couple of months ago to visit the WW1 sites. Car started stuttering badly up to about 3000 rpm so had to drive at full tilt for three days. Got it home to find that it was only a coil that had failed. Still hear horror stories re the SMG box but touch wood all fine so far!
    The E 31 has such massive road presence compared with the e46.......

  • Future classic??

    Zitat von BBMatic;117018

    You know that diving weekends are poorly concealed euphemisms, right Sang?


    I suppose that the dogging references aren't referring to Rex either? Have a cracking Christmas everyone

  • Future classic??

    I don't know. I well recall the days BB when that little circle by your name was always green. Whatever time of night or day I could rest assured that you would be here, extolling the virtues of the yellow peril [as well as other nuggets of info] These days I never see your ' green light' shining so I guess you're out popping the 286 horses on to the potholes of London town.....Or sipping a large cocoa?
    Sorry Angus....I must admit your description conjured up images of the John Lewis Christmas Ad...
    Anyway...the M3 Cab is fine. It's got one of those silly flappy gearbox thingies which is not really for me, but it was a decent price and goes like the wind. It's a massive PITA when the engine is cold as it jumps down the road like a scalded kangaroo. Do tend to feel like a bit of a winkle but soon warms up and then it's actually quite fun.
    Have a cracking Christmas chaps and hopefully meet up in 2014


    Oh BB....The Bongo wasn't the priority as wifey uses it in the summer for her fun diving weekends. Allegedly

  • Future classic??

    Damn and blast! No mention of the M3 Convertible


    I havent written it by the way!


    One of the most fascinating pieces I’ve written for Classic Car Weekly so far is a rundown of what the secondhand experts at CAP have chosen as their candidates for automotive investments, which is as intriguing for what didn’t make the cut as the 20 modern motors which did. Everyone’s got their opinion as to what’ll be the stars of shows up and down the land in 10 or 15 years’ time, and with the article done and dusted I can finally get a few of my own favourites off my chest...


    1) Mazda MX-5 (1989 – 1998) The fact no less than four of the Classic Car Weekly team have owned one – including Yours Truly – speaks volumes about this ultra-reliable, ultra-fun and, for the time being at least, ultra-cheap rear-drive ragtop. Consider my shoes eaten if this isn’t a mainstay of the classic movement in 15 years time.


    2) Peugeot 106 GTI/Rallye (1997 – 2004) Brilliant fun, perfectly packaged and already becoming increasingly sought after by hot hatch hunters. In fact, it’s looking increasingly likely the MX-5-shaped void in my life might get filled by a 106 GTI. Should I? Shouldn’t I?


    3) Rover 75 (1999 - 2005) I’ve already written that Rover’s swansong is tomorrow’s P6, and I still reckon a well-looked example – or its sportier sister, the MG ZT – is as cheap as it’s ever going to be. There’s plenty on offer right now for under a grand, but give it a decade and good examples of these gentle giants will be sought after.


    4) Ford Racing Puma (2000) You could argue the little Puma is tomorrow’s Capri, in which case this is the ultra-rare Tickford (in fact, just like its turbocharged Capri ancestor, the Racing Puma is a Tickford creation). Prices are already much higher than the standard Pumas, but with the rarity of the Racing Puma and the loyal following it’s already attracting, there’s only one way prices will go.


    5) Renault Wind (2010 - 2011) I might have enjoyed the French firm’s Twingo-based two seater when it was new but the Great British Public didn’t, so while it’s a bit of a flop now its rarity should count in its favour. Quirky styling and fantastically simple flipping metal roof are bonus points on a car that, even now, you don’t see every day.


    6) Peugeot 406 Coupe (1997 - 2004) Italian styling house Pininfarina worked wonders with the Parisian repmobile favourite to create a striking beautiful coupe. Best spec is the 3.0 V6 but 2.2 HDi versions are already proving popular with fuel-conscious enthusiasts.


    7) Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo (1995 - 2000) As above, but with added Italian flair and loopy amounts of punch from the five-cylinder turbo beneath the bonnet. Any car that manages to make Fiat Tipo underpinnings look this good has got to be in with a shout.


    8) Subaru Impreza Turbo (1994 - 2000) The original, four-door versions of the Scooby Pretzel are cheap now – you can, if you look carefully, pick them up for less than £1,500 – but it won’t be long before they’re being coveted as classics. Escort RS2000s, remember, were cheap and plentiful a long time ago...


    9) BMW 8-Series (1990 - 1999) CAP’s list included no less than three BMWs, but they missed out this one, which price-wise is where the original 6-Series was 15 years ago. Not that I could afford to run around in a secondhand 850CSi, of course.


    10) Volkswagen Polo G40 (1990 - 1994) Only 600 imported into the UK originally and they’re rare, characterful pocket rockets now. Worth seeking one out for the addictive whine the supercharger makes. Plus, they go like stink.

  • It's off! Ad on Pistonheads

    Hi chaps


    Well the moment came today and the car has gone to a new home. It's been a cracking 7 years with the old girl, but due to moving house shortly, it had to go, as I couldnt get it on the drive with the low front end.


    The chap who has bought the car has said he will sign up and introduce himself and no doubt you'll give him a warm welcome! The new reg is R684FWS by the way and the guys name is Russell.


    Thanks again all and sundry, for your help over the years. Special thanks to Revtor, Reinhard and Timm who have on many occasions gone beyond the call of duty!


    Now i'm off to the dark side that is the M3 Cab forums with a bunch of drug dealing hairdressers!

  • It's off! Ad on Pistonheads

    Zitat von wayneblackwell1000;114689

    Sorry to hear your leaving Steve. I do have a soft spot for Avus blue with Alpina's. Best of luck mate. It just shows you how these cars have dropped over the last few years, I got 15k for mine about 4 years ago


    I know Wayne. It really is galling, especially as it's in the main, down to the fact that I can't get it on to the drive! Anything over about 80000 miles and you get your pants pulled down!


    Staggered Alpinas Wayne, staggered!!!!:harhar:

  • 2020 miles

    Good on you! Went to Spain last year in the 8. Great fun and so relaxing. Only real issue was the narrow French roads in some of the medieval towns [ Buttocks clenched!]

  • It's off! Ad on Pistonheads

    So....the time has come. Due to embarrassing P/X offers , of which none were over £4k , I have decided to have a go at flogging the old girl privately.


    Here's the ad. So if anyone wants a 'low' mileage example of BMWs finest ..........


    http://www.pistonheads.com/cla…-------------1998/1692296


    No doubt I'll change my mind again at the last minute, but until then I'll dream of Beetles and 2CVs.....Actually looking at E46 330 and M3 Convertibles [ Thanks to BB!]

  • That was close....

    I've been mulling over whether to sell the 840 for the past few months. We're moving to a new house, where the drive at the front and back will be too steep to drive the car on to , without scraping the spoiler each and every time. To be honest I really don't think it will go up or down it at all.
    The house does have a huge garage, but I wont be able to get the car in to it, until a load of building work is completed next Summer, as we need to use it for storage. I have never left the car out in the 7 years that I've owned it so don't want to start now!
    So ....Decided, as I needed to drive down to Sussex yesterday, to see a couple of cars I had had my eyes on. Totally off the wall. One was a 67 Beetle , full body off restoration blah blah blah. Needless to say it didn't justify the price and I realised that cars had moved on in leaps and bounds . I had a 64 Beetle as a first car back in 74. That one wasn't really a problem. The guy wasn't enthusiastic so I walked.


    http://www.ambrosemotorcompany…n_beetle_saloon_10178.htm


    The second car was more difficult. I had always fancied, please dont laugh, a 2CV. We've got a couple of other cars to use so long distance, high speed autobahns probably wouldn't be on the horizon. It again was fully restored with over £9000 having been spent on it.It was just used as a corporate advertising vehicle and was superb.


    We chatted loosely about figures and then I popped out to the garage forecourt again to mull it over. I had valeted the 8 series the day before and it looked stunning. I glanced at the snail in the showroom and then back at the BMW...I did this for the next 15 minutes and realised I couldn't do it..What was I thinking? It's going to be so difficult to part with it!


    This was the 2CV by the way.


    http://www.gprcars.co.uk/used-…-st-neots-201327522277884


    Both prices look like madness, especially when compared with the pittance that needs to be paid to pick up a good 8 series. The Beetle will appreciate , thats for sure but the 2CV will hang around for a while yet.


    Anyway I couldn't do it so all in all its pretty irrelevant!


    God she's achingly beautiful!


    8er.org/forum/index.php?attachment/24586/

  • Very strange thing happened with my car yesterday..

    This was almost the same problem that I had. Only exception was that I think I had the tachometer.It failed for about 6 months. leapt in to life again for a month and then failed , once and for all. Was your fuel gauge working?
    We spent hours trying to diagnose the problem to no avail. Checked all caps and these were within spec. Put a scope on the relevant signal cables but nothing seemed untoward. Eventually I purchased a replacement cluster and the rest as they say is history! ...with a bit of help obviously.

  • Pixel failure son MID and radiio/CD

    I expect this has been discussed in depth, but wondered if anyone could recommend a UK bod to fix the two items? I wasn't too bothered but the radio is getting worse. Also there may be new fixers who have popped up recently!
    Any help gratefully accepted!
    Cheers
    Steve