The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)

The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)

TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED
Author
Discussion

illmonkey

18,197 posts

198 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Whilst we're talking about tyres, I need to replace mine soon (Z4MR). I currently have contis on the front and MPSS' on the rear (the fronts have lasted 2 1/2 times the rears hehe).

MPSS' can still be had, and I've been very impressed, but should I go for the PS4? PS4's are £20 cheaper too.

ferrisbueller

29,324 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Whilst we're talking about tyres, I need to replace mine soon (Z4MR). I currently have contis on the front and MPSS' on the rear (the fronts have lasted 2 1/2 times the rears hehe).

MPSS' can still be had, and I've been very impressed, but should I go for the PS4? PS4's are £20 cheaper too.
I've had PS3s on my 3-series for a while now and have no complaints. Having shopped around and considered the options I have a set of PS4s waiting to go on in the near future.

FWIW, blackcircles were the cheapest (mail order).

Leins

9,467 posts

148 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
I have PSS on my Mini and PS4 on my Audi, and as much as I can tell there's not a huge amount of difference between them now. Really like the newer spec

I'd say PS4S might be where it's at these days, but they don't do them in piddling 18" sizes

Olf

11,974 posts

218 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Fitted Pilot Super Sports to my Z4M a few weeks ago replacing the original Dunlops I think. Anyway. They are much much better on handling and comfort - I see the traction control lights an awful lot less. Road noise is the same everywhere except on concrete where for some reason it's go defiantly louder - fortunately not much concrete left nowadays. 737 fitted through black circles.

illmonkey

18,197 posts

198 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Leins said:
I have PSS on my Mini and PS4 on my Audi, and as much as I can tell there's not a huge amount of difference between them now. Really like the newer spec

I'd say PS4S might be where it's at these days, but they don't do them in piddling 18" sizes
Seems a perfect excuse to purchase a set of CSL's as well then!

ferrisbueller

29,324 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Leins said:
I have PSS on my Mini and PS4 on my Audi, and as much as I can tell there's not a huge amount of difference between them now. Really like the newer spec

I'd say PS4S might be where it's at these days, but they don't do them in piddling 18" sizes
The sizes listed on the Michelin website aren't the full range, oddly. The suppliers seem to have a pretty broad range available.

ETA http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/michelin/...


Edited by ferrisbueller on Monday 10th July 19:16

bungle

1,874 posts

240 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
I'd argue that the M54, N52/3 are all excellent in their own rights. Granted, they lack the ultimate potency and sophistication of the S54 but they also lack the downsides that come with that engine i.e. ///M tax. Having owned all bar the N53 (didn't want the added complexity over the N52), , plus S50 and others, I've never felt shortchanged with the non-motorsport donk.

I'm not a fan of the orthopedic shoe and I believe E85/6 will become sought after in a way the shoe never will.

I think the comparison is E46 ///M vs E86 ///M, which is a tough, and nice, call to have to make. Looking at Z3 breadvans, can't help thinking Z4 ///M is better than money in the bank.

All of these cars are hamstrung by runflats and overly stiff suspension set-ups IMO and lifeless steering.

Meanwhile I've realised what an BMW-we I am.
lol, thanks, i think...not sure my BMW beard is good enough to get all of the above (including orthopedic shoes...). I think you're saying the 3.0 Coupe (E85?) is good, but the S54 (in the M) is the ultimate and will only go up in value.

ferrisbueller

29,324 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
bungle said:
ferrisbueller said:
I'd argue that the M54, N52/3 are all excellent in their own rights. Granted, they lack the ultimate potency and sophistication of the S54 but they also lack the downsides that come with that engine i.e. ///M tax. Having owned all bar the N53 (didn't want the added complexity over the N52), , plus S50 and others, I've never felt shortchanged with the non-motorsport donk.

I'm not a fan of the orthopedic shoe and I believe E85/6 will become sought after in a way the shoe never will.

I think the comparison is E46 ///M vs E86 ///M, which is a tough, and nice, call to have to make. Looking at Z3 breadvans, can't help thinking Z4 ///M is better than money in the bank.

All of these cars are hamstrung by runflats and overly stiff suspension set-ups IMO and lifeless steering.

Meanwhile I've realised what an BMW-we I am.
lol, thanks, i think...not sure my BMW beard is good enough to get all of the above (including orthopedic shoes...). I think you're saying the 3.0 Coupe (E85?) is good, but the S54 (in the M) is the ultimate and will only go up in value.
Z4M Coupe (E86) would be a good investment IMO.

t4thomas

394 posts

166 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
You took me for a spin more recently than that.
My friends dad had a lovely Elan when I was growing up.

They are beautiful cars and the handling is awesome.

Leins

9,467 posts

148 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
Leins said:
I have PSS on my Mini and PS4 on my Audi, and as much as I can tell there's not a huge amount of difference between them now. Really like the newer spec

I'd say PS4S might be where it's at these days, but they don't do them in piddling 18" sizes
The sizes listed on the Michelin website aren't the full range, oddly. The suppliers seem to have a pretty broad range available.

ETA http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/michelin/...


Edited by ferrisbueller on Monday 10th July 19:16
Cheers, but I think that's just for standard PS4, which I managed to get in 18"s

For the PS4 'S' (which is the replacement for the Super Sport) they only seem to do 19" or larger at the moment: http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/michelin/...

Perhaps down the line they might manufacturer smaller sizes

ferrisbueller

29,324 posts

227 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Leins said:
ferrisbueller said:
Leins said:
I have PSS on my Mini and PS4 on my Audi, and as much as I can tell there's not a huge amount of difference between them now. Really like the newer spec

I'd say PS4S might be where it's at these days, but they don't do them in piddling 18" sizes
The sizes listed on the Michelin website aren't the full range, oddly. The suppliers seem to have a pretty broad range available.

ETA http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/michelin/...


Edited by ferrisbueller on Monday 10th July 19:16
Cheers, but I think that's just for standard PS4, which I managed to get in 18"s

For the PS4 'S' (which is the replacement for the Super Sport) they only seem to do 19" or larger at the moment: http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/michelin/...

Perhaps down the line they might manufacturer smaller sizes
Apologies, hadn't seen the suffix on first reading.

Leins

9,467 posts

148 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
Apologies, hadn't seen the suffix on first reading.
No probs smile TBH, I'm not sure why they didn't just call them Super Sport 2

ATM

18,284 posts

219 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]

ATM

18,284 posts

219 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Gruber said:
Late to the party, but... personally I'd sooner get a 130i than a 3.0 Z4. It's a nice engine, but it's not special. And given that the rest of the package is a bit compromised, you really do want that engine. The 3.0 would make a nice daily driver, but you'd soon (and I did) regret not getting the proper job.

I later got a Z4MC. Still unresolved, but the glorious S54 covers a multitude of (little) sins.
Also the later 1 series went to elec rack as part of the Efficient Dynamics package or LCI do they call it. I believe the original 130i had a hydraulic but I think these are only available in 5 door. I quite like the 1 series but for me it would need to be 3 door.

ferrisbueller

29,324 posts

227 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
dumab said:
Time flies.


That has blown my mind!

Clearly I'm older than I think, though senility probably does that.

Patrick Bateman

12,180 posts

174 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all


Fackin' 'ell.


braddo

10,464 posts

188 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
Had a similar thing for a 911 on a smaller scale. Burst coolant pipe required dropping the engine/gearbox out to replace. Lots of hours labour and a £1300 bill.

Cheburator mk2

2,991 posts

199 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Rust, rust, rust and rust again. Did I say rust?

Tin worm everywhere - inner wings, scuttle panel below windscreen, rear wings, bottom of doors, sills.

Also brake pipes at the rear tend to corrode.

Oil leaks - yet to see a completely dry M20 smile If looked after though it will last for ever. Don't bother with anything less than the 2.5 litre unit. The 2.0 is the smoothest, but most of the petrol it uses goes on to make noise and not power sadly. The 4-pot is utterly rubbish. It would be nice if the belt/pump have been done recently. BTB headers (copy of the original Alpina design) really wake up the engine and with a remap you will see 200bhp.

Gearboxes - the manual is actually quite nice. Suffers from warn bushes in the linkage. Peanuts in cost, but still labour to pay for. The switchable 4-speed is also very nice (taken into the context of the car's age). Diffs -quite a few came with LSD.

Suspension - a set of Bilstein B6 works an absolute treat. They also ride really well on 16". Anything bigger is pants.

Interior and soft top - electric one is nice, but make sure it works. Not difficult to fix, but no idea on cost of new motor these days. Cracked rear window not an issue - plenty of soft top companies will stitch in a new one for less than £200. Heated seats is a great option to have. And leather smile

If your friend has the cash he should go for as late as possible M-Tech car. Ideally a very late 1991-on, as it will have the updated rear lights and the build quality is really good.

Hope this helps smile


barchetta_boy

2,195 posts

232 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
Always had a soft spot for the E30, back in the days when German cars really were "reassuringly expensive".

I remember when they facelifted it, I loved the way the front fog light was integrated into the air intake. A rare example of the facelift looking unconditionally better than the original model.

Leins

9,467 posts

148 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
Good list above. Also high idle RPM probably a sticky control valve, can usually be fixed with a good clean

Loads have a cracked dash, due to sun heat damage

The 320i/325i is a belt not a chain, so check when that and water pump last done. If more than 4 years I'd be changing them

Jacking points also usually a rusty spot

Can check the VIN online to see the original spec of the car


TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED