Discussion
mark.c said:
Looks great mate, really like the new clocks... Very Group A.
They look like these... Not sure where yours came from but well travelled if they're the same.
When are we taking this head off then?!..
Yes, they could be the same ones. (Eric on s14.net) Most were alloy I think but I'm quite partial to a bit of carbon fibre.They look like these... Not sure where yours came from but well travelled if they're the same.
When are we taking this head off then?!..
Well I figured I would do the head over the winter, as I'll need to do a load of overtime first anyway. The problem is the parts domino effect, as if I'm going to do this, I want to do it right. Cams, head flow work, DTM oil pump, gasket set inc competition head gasket, ARP studs etc. Then there's the mapping to get the best from it all.
Have you seen the thread I started re standalone Mark? As you know, I had been considering DTA but after seeing the results Wayne @ Chip Wizards has had mapping Alpha N, I plan on giving him a shot first. I've spoken to him before and he does have an excellent reputation. The dyno sheets are there to prove it, along with drivers view/opinion. Certainly makes interesting reading.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Giving the car a bit of a service prior to a few days in Wales next weekend. There are a few of us in 2002's, E30'S etc and we're going to meet Friday evening and then head South on Saturday & Sunday. I'm hoping for some late summer sun and I'll try and get some video footage.
I also finally heard from DVLA regarding tracing the UK history of my car. Despite me giving them the name, registration and dates, all they sent was a piece of A4 that confirmed I imported in from Ireland 2 years ago. They didn't even realise that they were sending that info to the same name and address! I couldn't have spelt things out more clearly for them. Anyway, I rang and spoke to the section manager, who then said I had to write (write, as they won't accept an email for some reason!) and say I am unhappy with the info provided, so that they will then check their archive and use the chassis number for the search. I'm guessing the next letter will say the information was deleted or something. My only other hope is the previous owner who now lives in New Zealand. He said he has all the service history but it's in storage, in Ireland, where only he can access it.
Well a thorough service and a bit of map tweeking by Sandy Brown and power is up, along with more responsiveness. Very happy. I'll scan and post dyno sheet tomorrow.
Have been looking at the front bumper / spoiler and considering my options for dealing with the stone chips. A new one is nigh on £1000 but as they're NLA I'm considering either carbon or fibreglass? My OE one will sit in the loft. The engine work comes first though.
Have been looking at the front bumper / spoiler and considering my options for dealing with the stone chips. A new one is nigh on £1000 but as they're NLA I'm considering either carbon or fibreglass? My OE one will sit in the loft. The engine work comes first though.
To think it was all going so well.
Set off early hours Saturday, stopped for fuel, checked oil, water & tyre pressures and made good time to Brecon. There was a group of about 9 of us, with the proposed route taking us over Black Mountain, which is a favourite Welsh road of mine. I'd let a group of about 4 cars pass in the approach to a sweeping left hander when it soon became clear there was a problem with the right front tyre. I braked but the car just pushed wide with zero grip, where the tyre was clearly flat and/or had left the rim all together? Either way, I was a passenger but fighting to try and keep some control and not go over the edge of a considerable drop. I managed to get it away from the edge but the road swept away to the right and I ended up in the ditch. Bugger.
Because of the angle of the car I had to climb out of the passenger seat. I wasn't looking forward to seeing the damage but it could have been far, far worse. In fact, I got off pretty lightly and cosmetically it was just the front bumper, chin spoiler and splitter that were smashed. The oil cooler and offside wishbone are also damaged, along with the lower sump and the nearside wheels will need rebuilding.
Wasn't exactly the weekend I had planned but it's all fixable. Downer that I'll miss track time at Silverstone next Sunday though.
Set off early hours Saturday, stopped for fuel, checked oil, water & tyre pressures and made good time to Brecon. There was a group of about 9 of us, with the proposed route taking us over Black Mountain, which is a favourite Welsh road of mine. I'd let a group of about 4 cars pass in the approach to a sweeping left hander when it soon became clear there was a problem with the right front tyre. I braked but the car just pushed wide with zero grip, where the tyre was clearly flat and/or had left the rim all together? Either way, I was a passenger but fighting to try and keep some control and not go over the edge of a considerable drop. I managed to get it away from the edge but the road swept away to the right and I ended up in the ditch. Bugger.
Because of the angle of the car I had to climb out of the passenger seat. I wasn't looking forward to seeing the damage but it could have been far, far worse. In fact, I got off pretty lightly and cosmetically it was just the front bumper, chin spoiler and splitter that were smashed. The oil cooler and offside wishbone are also damaged, along with the lower sump and the nearside wheels will need rebuilding.
Wasn't exactly the weekend I had planned but it's all fixable. Downer that I'll miss track time at Silverstone next Sunday though.
Edited by e21Mark on Tuesday 20th September 14:29
Oh that's a shame mate.....any more clue about the cause? I could have had a similar incident some years ago when the roll bar link mount sheared off from the strut and attempted to embed itself in the tyre, that could have ended in tears as it happened about 5 miles from the Ring.
Like Richard said at least nothing chassis wise is bent. If you need any spannering doing then shout, it might make a nice colour change to lay underneath a red one!
ETA Jake if you're in Kernow and catch up with Mark and want to have a nose around some other early stuff then let us know.
Like Richard said at least nothing chassis wise is bent. If you need any spannering doing then shout, it might make a nice colour change to lay underneath a red one!
ETA Jake if you're in Kernow and catch up with Mark and want to have a nose around some other early stuff then let us know.
Edited by mark.c on Tuesday 20th September 19:52
Well this was a few minutes earlier.
At least the ditch was far kinder than the drop on the other side would have been.
The offending tyre.
Currently awaiting the insurance company engineer giving the go ahead for repairs.
Thanks for kind offer Mark. Once I hear from the engineer I will draw up a plan of attack.
At least the ditch was far kinder than the drop on the other side would have been.
The offending tyre.
Currently awaiting the insurance company engineer giving the go ahead for repairs.
Thanks for kind offer Mark. Once I hear from the engineer I will draw up a plan of attack.
ked!
After an impact like that, I would definitely have the Mag wheel centre Xrayed for cracks before rebuilding.
One reason I tend to use ali centres on split rim road wheels!
Hopefully you will be back on the road soon.
What happened to you at Crystal Palace this year, did you make it?.. I looked out for the car.
One reason I tend to use ali centres on split rim road wheels!
Hopefully you will be back on the road soon.
What happened to you at Crystal Palace this year, did you make it?.. I looked out for the car.
Yes, the wheels are going back to AGS and will all be checked thoroughly, prior to rebuilding them. I won't just be sticking new outer lips on and hoping for the best.
Witness said I hit a lump of flint (or similar) and I think the tyre either split, or the rim bent and lost all air in the tyre. It certainly felt as if I was driving on a flat anyway and explains the chronic understeer.
Witness said I hit a lump of flint (or similar) and I think the tyre either split, or the rim bent and lost all air in the tyre. It certainly felt as if I was driving on a flat anyway and explains the chronic understeer.
Well the insurance company are sending out an engineer next week, although a brief phone chat confirmed that he's put an acceptable value on my car so there shouldn't be any problem authorising repairs. Hopefully pretty much all the parts needed are available, although I may well buy some used bits, such as the lower sump? That said, I may well just 'big wing' it and baffle it whist I have the opportunity. I want to pull the engine anyway and it'll also mean I can bring the bay up to the standard of the rest of the car.
As the split rims need to go back to AGS for inspection and rebuild I bought a cheap set of Revolution in 8 x 16. They'll be handy as competition wheels although the ageing Yokohama A008r are a bit past their best. I'm not a fan of white wheels on red cars either, so it's a good excuse to have them blasted and coated in dark silver or anthracite possibly?
I'm running around in the 318is and I can see why people like them so much. Yes, you have to work them a bit harder than a 325i but that's half the fun. I do need to 16'' rims for it though. Ideally some Compomotive TH but they seem to make silly money nowadays.
As the split rims need to go back to AGS for inspection and rebuild I bought a cheap set of Revolution in 8 x 16. They'll be handy as competition wheels although the ageing Yokohama A008r are a bit past their best. I'm not a fan of white wheels on red cars either, so it's a good excuse to have them blasted and coated in dark silver or anthracite possibly?
I'm running around in the 318is and I can see why people like them so much. Yes, you have to work them a bit harder than a 325i but that's half the fun. I do need to 16'' rims for it though. Ideally some Compomotive TH but they seem to make silly money nowadays.
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