The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)
Discussion
Output Flange said:
They're showing as likely to be available new from BMW.
Muchos Denarii - BMW has copied its German Cousin - pub talk puts the cost at £3500 for the pair. Much better to buy the CSL seat base, which tilts and fit Recaro PP/SPG or suitable Cobra/Corbeau alternatives trimmed in alcantara. Crook said:
In a pub conversation with Jeremy C we worked out my E36 cost more to run than his 996 GT3 based on the cost of servicing / ongoing upkeep.
You can get cheap and brisk, it's called a 350Z. Veritable buttons to run.
Was yours an M3? If so I'd not be surprised. If not - owie! You can get cheap and brisk, it's called a 350Z. Veritable buttons to run.
either way, I'd bet that if you add up the purchase and maintenance costs for both, the 996 would be the bigger number, even allowing for zero depreciation. I'm sure the 350Z is cheap to run and it is good car based on my experience of it. It is also certainly brisk compared to average "commodity" level transport (although this bar is constantly moving - you can buy factory fresh 600bhp estate cars these days, which I find completely nuts!).
It's not a perfect analogy but point is that it's all about what set of compromises fits your objectives and resource envelope isn't it?
I guess the analogy works best if you include modified cars - you can make a reliable and fast E46 M3 / 350Z / whatever, but it will cost you. Cars are a potentially a very expensive asset / hobby to have, but it's all relative to what time / money you have and are willing to spend it on. There are no wrong answers on that front.
Crook said:
ATM said:
Very nice indeed. Will be interested to hear how you get on with it.Re M3s of any order: when used as a daily doing around 50 miles a day they will cost you more than you think. After a while they will cost you more than you want to pay.
I'll try to keep that thread up to date. I dont want to go on here ... too much.
Diesel Meister said:
Was yours an M3? If so I'd not be surprised. If not - owie!
either way, I'd bet that if you add up the purchase and maintenance costs for both, the 996 would be the bigger number, even allowing for zero depreciation. I'm sure the 350Z is cheap to run and it is good car based on my experience of it. It is also certainly brisk compared to average "commodity" level transport (although this bar is constantly moving - you can buy factory fresh 600bhp estate cars these days, which I find completely nuts!).
It's not a perfect analogy but point is that it's all about what set of compromises fits your objectives and resource envelope isn't it?
I guess the analogy works best if you include modified cars - you can make a reliable and fast E46 M3 / 350Z / whatever, but it will cost you. Cars are a potentially a very expensive asset / hobby to have, but it's all relative to what time / money you have and are willing to spend it on. There are no wrong answers on that front.
Yes was a 3l and some of the cost was my doing with new bushes etc and just upkeep as it was of an age where refreshing was always a lurking requirement. Re GT3, if i'd have been able to scrape together what JC sold it for against what it could be sold for now, it would be a very cheap car to run! either way, I'd bet that if you add up the purchase and maintenance costs for both, the 996 would be the bigger number, even allowing for zero depreciation. I'm sure the 350Z is cheap to run and it is good car based on my experience of it. It is also certainly brisk compared to average "commodity" level transport (although this bar is constantly moving - you can buy factory fresh 600bhp estate cars these days, which I find completely nuts!).
It's not a perfect analogy but point is that it's all about what set of compromises fits your objectives and resource envelope isn't it?
I guess the analogy works best if you include modified cars - you can make a reliable and fast E46 M3 / 350Z / whatever, but it will cost you. Cars are a potentially a very expensive asset / hobby to have, but it's all relative to what time / money you have and are willing to spend it on. There are no wrong answers on that front.
With the M3 it wasn't the £78 a week in fuel so much as the fact that a lot of it was being burnt without any good purpose. I hate myself for liking it (and more so for posting about it) but the tdi thing I have does most of what the M3 did on the commute (save for flamboyance and engine) for almost free and it's actually quite a fun punt
But yes, money no object then no issue or if commuting distance was more reasonable. However I think that's where a 7 makes sense for a less cold weather proposition.
And then I think "996 C2" and lessons learnt are all too soon wilfully forgotten!!! Not to mention I only found that green E34 because I decided that I was going to get myself a 3.6 over the weekend to find that they are now all not worth to me what they now cost. Which is a bit galling.
So in summary: need more £ / must try harder.
Crook - I hear ya. I don't drive for work but the slowlo is, whilst slow and anaesthetised, still capable of raising a smile if only for the love of driving itself.
With you on the need more £ / must try harder (if only I had £X, then Y becomes a possibility.... etc.), although like you I'd still battle my inner conscience regarding the value propositions on offer in the current market (I'd like have a <insert interesting-but-just-out-of-reach car here> by now if I lacked the discipline / fear to avoid loan-sharks and default to eating boiled rice - bit like drug addiction!) . But then I've the feeling that better financially endowed folk feel the same (i.e. "just a bit more and I can get X toy / achieve Y objective...") - it's all relative!
With you on the need more £ / must try harder (if only I had £X, then Y becomes a possibility.... etc.), although like you I'd still battle my inner conscience regarding the value propositions on offer in the current market (I'd like have a <insert interesting-but-just-out-of-reach car here> by now if I lacked the discipline / fear to avoid loan-sharks and default to eating boiled rice - bit like drug addiction!) . But then I've the feeling that better financially endowed folk feel the same (i.e. "just a bit more and I can get X toy / achieve Y objective...") - it's all relative!
Cactussed said:
Opening a can of worms here, but daft / unattainable choices aside:
1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
1. What are we counting as daft/unattainable?1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
2. Almost certainly No or I'd probably have had a go.
ferrisbueller said:
1. What are we counting as daft/unattainable?
2. Almost certainly No or I'd probably have had a go.
This. Am contemplating it.2. Almost certainly No or I'd probably have had a go.
However, like moose, I'd settle for
1. E34/E39 M5 plus Exige V6 or a similar combo (I also like pork and W124s, funnily enough!)
2. Er, not likely - current fleet worth less than reasonable example of the M5s, savings currently being eaten by home renovation
I could play this game all night. Currently making my ultimate list to update my PH fantasy garage. About 5% of those could be obtained with currently available resources. Maybe 6% if I sell up and liquidate all assets!
Cactussed said:
Opening a can of worms here, but daft / unattainable choices aside:
1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
1. I'll take a GTi-6 converted Berlingo please.1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
2. Should be do-able.
Cactussed said:
Opening a can of worms here, but daft / unattainable choices aside:
1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
1. Just bought my Croc and it's early days but so far signs are good, imo does a lot of things very well if not amazing in one area and I will enjoy modding it, my SC Honda Elise is special and I would keep if I had the room and could justify a pure toy but at the moment I can't. I used to like trying different cars but now I just find buying and selling a pita. Other stuff I yearn to own is comfortably out of reach !1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
2. Yep tried and failed at this to a degree, at one stage I was 'long' on toys and also enjoying Ecurie 25, then slight career change coupled with private school for the kids saw it eroded fast, 1st world problems and all that, kids don't help your car aspirations much but obvs I wouldn't change a thing.
Edited by TheRocket on Wednesday 8th February 17:58
Cheburator mk2 said:
...would love to drop a N62B48 in a E46 M3. It would have to be the original more powerful and rev-happy engine from the E53 X5 4.8iS - 7000rpm limit. I know that a LS7 is even better, but I am one of these old farts who expects to see BMW under the bonnet on the rocker covers if it says BMW on the bonnet badge 
I looked into this a bit, Cheb. My 545i got me thinking about dropping that engine in an e46 M3. You'd hope the wiring, mounting, gearbox, fittings etc were a bit 'easier' than something from another manufacturer and a 4.8 from a scrapped X5 wouldn't be as much to buy as hunting down an LS/ AN Other. It would also keep it all BMW and you could probably get it looking pretty OEM.
However, a fairly extensive internet search revealed... Nothing. No one seems to have done it.
I guess it wasn't deemed powerful enough compared to a tuned M3 engine to make it worthwhile. Or perhaps the V8 is too wide across the cam covers?
I really, really like the idea though... That rumble!
Cactussed said:
Opening a can of worms here, but daft / unattainable choices aside:
1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
A few months ago I was X300 Jaag and Seven, and never look at a classified again. You could almost hear Elgar in the background. I've since changed this to an LS400/Seven, and am sticking to it. All bases covered.1. What car(s) do you genuinely want to own and keep? ; and
2. If you really wanted to, could you beg/borrow/steal to achieve this in a realistic time frame and still largely maintain your current lifestyle?
Begging/borrowing or more likely flogging something to get into something like 996 GT3 is very doable now. Some self inflicted austerity for a couple of years thanks to bricks and mortar, and I'm ready for a treat. But as has been said before, it's not the cost of entry to the club, it's the price of the drinks at the bar. A £10k engine bill on, say, a 997.1 would alter the family holiday destination and gall me to the bone. So no way. A higher pay grade may alter the perspective, but I doubt it: old habits die hard. Plus, life experience, wisdom and 100+ cars owned tells me that £60-£70k car will not make me any happier or my life any better. So why bother? I'll hand in my membership now. Anyhow, sometimes talking and dreaming about the next move is more fun, something we're all good at
So I'll stick with the painlessness and (to me) delight that LS and Seven ownership will inevitably bring. Twenty or so grand will see it sorted.
dom9 said:
Cheburator mk2 said:
...would love to drop a N62B48 in a E46 M3. It would have to be the original more powerful and rev-happy engine from the E53 X5 4.8iS - 7000rpm limit. I know that a LS7 is even better, but I am one of these old farts who expects to see BMW under the bonnet on the rocker covers if it says BMW on the bonnet badge
I looked into this a bit, Cheb. My 545i got me thinking about dropping that engine in an e46 M3. You'd hope the wiring, mounting, gearbox, fittings etc were a bit 'easier' than something from another manufacturer and a 4.8 from a scrapped X5 wouldn't be as much to buy as hunting down an LS/ AN Other. It would also keep it all BMW and you could probably get it looking pretty OEM.
However, a fairly extensive internet search revealed... Nothing. No one seems to have done it.
I guess it wasn't deemed powerful enough compared to a tuned M3 engine to make it worthwhile. Or perhaps the V8 is too wide across the cam covers?
I really, really like the idea though... That rumble!
barchetta_boy said:
While we're bearding on matters E46... the seats in the CSL look like Recaro PPs to me but they fold to let you get in the back.
This is what I want for my car, did Recaro produce an aftermarket version of these?
Also, thought you all might like to see a pic of my 12C which was de-diamond-cut-ed last weekend. 100 beard points to anyone (except Cheb who helped me choose it) who can guess the shade of silver.
Looks awesome. This is what I want for my car, did Recaro produce an aftermarket version of these?
Also, thought you all might like to see a pic of my 12C which was de-diamond-cut-ed last weekend. 100 beard points to anyone (except Cheb who helped me choose it) who can guess the shade of silver.
335i
Manual
Birds b3 kit - Bilstein / Quaife / roll bars / remap / exhau
£290 road tax - does that mean electric steering rack???
£10k for all that
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232217243515
Manual
Birds b3 kit - Bilstein / Quaife / roll bars / remap / exhau
£290 road tax - does that mean electric steering rack???
£10k for all that
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232217243515
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