The V8 Bike Bus
Discussion
AW10 said:
How are you finding the new tyres? Looking to ditch the Dunlop runflats fitted to my X5.
I'm quite pleased with them, much more compliant sidewall than the various runflats I've tried. The previous Toyos that were on there were winter tyres and they had lots of squish in the treadblocks as you'd imagine. New ones have brought a noticeable increase of mechanical grip. Regular readers may remember that the lower corner of the front valence was damaged by the place that made my exhaust.
I recently booked a mobile smart repair guy to come out and repair the damage. He's local to me and has done work for me before. I can never fault the quality of the work and his price is really reasonable. He's also a petrol head and currently has an E90 M3.
He repaired some small marks on the corners of the bumper plastics too and charged me £120 for everything. No complaints and the car looks great again.
I recently booked a mobile smart repair guy to come out and repair the damage. He's local to me and has done work for me before. I can never fault the quality of the work and his price is really reasonable. He's also a petrol head and currently has an E90 M3.
He repaired some small marks on the corners of the bumper plastics too and charged me £120 for everything. No complaints and the car looks great again.
I wanted to tidy up the tired steering wheel in the E53. I initially thought I'd just get the standard one retrimmed. However, I find I push the gear selector straight over to manual when I'm driving it and then drive it in manual. To improve the driving experience, I decided to add paddles to the wheel, so I tracked down an E46 M3 SMG steering wheel to swap over.
I sent the wheel off to Royal for a retrim, opting for M tri-colour stitching and the black alcantara. I initially considered the OEM grey from the CSL, but Jack informed me this aftermarket black is much harder wearing. I also decided I'd get the lower facia panel trimmed to match.
The wheel turned up today and I refitted the multifunction button panel. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.
In between the rain showers I went outside and swapped the wheels over. I knew the E46 M3 wheel was a straight-swap for the pre-facelift E53 wheel but wasn't sure if it would fit mine with the existing slip ring. It turns out it does, so the swap was relatively straight forward.
The wheel feels really tactile and it's a better size than the standard E53 one.
Next job will be making the paddles active...
I sent the wheel off to Royal for a retrim, opting for M tri-colour stitching and the black alcantara. I initially considered the OEM grey from the CSL, but Jack informed me this aftermarket black is much harder wearing. I also decided I'd get the lower facia panel trimmed to match.
The wheel turned up today and I refitted the multifunction button panel. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.
In between the rain showers I went outside and swapped the wheels over. I knew the E46 M3 wheel was a straight-swap for the pre-facelift E53 wheel but wasn't sure if it would fit mine with the existing slip ring. It turns out it does, so the swap was relatively straight forward.
The wheel feels really tactile and it's a better size than the standard E53 one.
Next job will be making the paddles active...
LOL!
I did sell it and replaced it with a 1981 Dodge B250 van and a Cayenne Turbo. Obvious replacements really.
I've kept in touch with the chap that bought the 4.8is. He's a member on here and did say that he might update this thread. I know he quickly got the SMG paddles working on the M3 steering wheel, something I hadn't got round to.
I did sell it and replaced it with a 1981 Dodge B250 van and a Cayenne Turbo. Obvious replacements really.
I've kept in touch with the chap that bought the 4.8is. He's a member on here and did say that he might update this thread. I know he quickly got the SMG paddles working on the M3 steering wheel, something I hadn't got round to.
Err, less character to the overall car and even more of an image problem with other road users if that kind of thing bothers you.
Spec wise they were both very high and sat near the top of their manufacturer's ranges when new. Both were really well optioned with the BMW being £68k but the 957 TT being six figures with its options. They have similar tech and do similar stuff. The BMW felt slightly end-of-lifecycle with it being at the end of E53 production and some tech having been carried right through. The Porsche feels more of its age and with seemingly more recent iterations to its tech. I think the aftermarket high-end Carplay install mine has probably skews that feeling though.
To drive, the BMW feels better in many ways. It's more driver focused. The steering is better weighted, has more feel and is less corrupted. It feels almost RWD at times. The Cayenne's steering is lighter and over-assisted, it's less precise and is corrupted by the wheels being driven and feels very 4WD when modulating or applying power. I think the Porsche would benefit from more camber and a play with some toe.
The Porsche is much quicker, obviously. The BMW lifted its skirts well for an old, big girl and could still punch when needed and make a gap or overtake with ease. The Porsche is on a different level though and for such a big bus piles on speed really well. It has incredible traction too and it'd take something serious or electric to really trouble it in a TLGP. Figures seem to differ for it but tend to be quoted at 4.7 - 5.0 for 0-60 and that feels perfectly feasible. in something so big that makes you very aware of the mass and inertia that's building if you keep your foot in for extended periods. Luckily the brakes are incredible. The BMW, like all contemporary BMWs had brakes that were marginal for the performance of the car. Conversely, with huge Brembo 6 pots on the front, 4 pots on the rear and massive discs the Porsche brakes are spec'd to meet the car's needs properly as per most Porsches.
The worst thing about the Porsche, other than its image, is the noise it makes. The ridiculously good sound the 4.8is made only makes this worse. I've gone from that incredible burbling v8 rumble to something that sounds like a washing machine. I can imagine that some would choose the GTS for that reason alone, but you'd miss out on a pile of performance. I'm hoping with some changes I can make it sound much better than it does too.
I've already made quite a few changes but the next ones are to address its voice and make it sound appropriate and hopefully free up a 100 or maybe 200bhp more.
Spec wise they were both very high and sat near the top of their manufacturer's ranges when new. Both were really well optioned with the BMW being £68k but the 957 TT being six figures with its options. They have similar tech and do similar stuff. The BMW felt slightly end-of-lifecycle with it being at the end of E53 production and some tech having been carried right through. The Porsche feels more of its age and with seemingly more recent iterations to its tech. I think the aftermarket high-end Carplay install mine has probably skews that feeling though.
To drive, the BMW feels better in many ways. It's more driver focused. The steering is better weighted, has more feel and is less corrupted. It feels almost RWD at times. The Cayenne's steering is lighter and over-assisted, it's less precise and is corrupted by the wheels being driven and feels very 4WD when modulating or applying power. I think the Porsche would benefit from more camber and a play with some toe.
The Porsche is much quicker, obviously. The BMW lifted its skirts well for an old, big girl and could still punch when needed and make a gap or overtake with ease. The Porsche is on a different level though and for such a big bus piles on speed really well. It has incredible traction too and it'd take something serious or electric to really trouble it in a TLGP. Figures seem to differ for it but tend to be quoted at 4.7 - 5.0 for 0-60 and that feels perfectly feasible. in something so big that makes you very aware of the mass and inertia that's building if you keep your foot in for extended periods. Luckily the brakes are incredible. The BMW, like all contemporary BMWs had brakes that were marginal for the performance of the car. Conversely, with huge Brembo 6 pots on the front, 4 pots on the rear and massive discs the Porsche brakes are spec'd to meet the car's needs properly as per most Porsches.
The worst thing about the Porsche, other than its image, is the noise it makes. The ridiculously good sound the 4.8is made only makes this worse. I've gone from that incredible burbling v8 rumble to something that sounds like a washing machine. I can imagine that some would choose the GTS for that reason alone, but you'd miss out on a pile of performance. I'm hoping with some changes I can make it sound much better than it does too.
I've already made quite a few changes but the next ones are to address its voice and make it sound appropriate and hopefully free up a 100 or maybe 200bhp more.
Edited by 573 on Tuesday 9th February 14:41
I could put some stuff in here I guess. It's still a V8 and most certainly a bike bus.
Ride is similar between them both. I've compromised both by lowering the air suspnsion and fitting spacers. The actual kit under the Cayenne is pretty impressive though. The air struts have massively more volume and much more range of adjustment. It's also smarter and will adjust its height dynamically with speed and in conjunction with the optional PDCC that it has fitted. This obviously stiffens the springs but also stiffens the ARBs and does some dynamic levelling. It tows ridiculously well and loaded with bikes hung off the back like a huge lever its attitude on the road doesn't change at all.
The Cayenne also has proper off-road credentials. It's terrain mode lifts it right up giving it huge clearance but it also has diff locks front, rear and centre.
Ride is similar between them both. I've compromised both by lowering the air suspnsion and fitting spacers. The actual kit under the Cayenne is pretty impressive though. The air struts have massively more volume and much more range of adjustment. It's also smarter and will adjust its height dynamically with speed and in conjunction with the optional PDCC that it has fitted. This obviously stiffens the springs but also stiffens the ARBs and does some dynamic levelling. It tows ridiculously well and loaded with bikes hung off the back like a huge lever its attitude on the road doesn't change at all.
The Cayenne also has proper off-road credentials. It's terrain mode lifts it right up giving it huge clearance but it also has diff locks front, rear and centre.
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