MDifficult’s E82 1M Coupe & Ariel Atom 3

[MDifficult]

IAche said:

I believe you can use the side lights as DRLs too, I didn't at the time as the colour difference between them and my headlight bulbs made my teeth itch.

I tried forcing the self adjusters to, erm adjust, and it didn't make much difference.

I am itching for another adventure too. did the NC500 a few weeks back and its just whet my appetite even more. Half considering doing an Alps trip next year but feel I'd have to take my MTB for at least one day on that.

I'm really envious - the NC500 (or some variant of it) is very high on my WANT list, but it's just so far away from me down here in Berkshire

Almost easier to head to Europe, if it wasn't for the pesky virus.

I'm desperate to do it, but the schlep up and down to Scotland would probably kill any enthusiasm I had for the drive. Need to think of some way to spice that journey up without adding days and days to the schedule. Wish I was wealthy enough for someone to trailer the car up there

[IAche]

I did it last year over a week with my GF and my kids and really enjoyed it. This year was with a mate in his Golf GTI and was amazing. First day from the midlands after work and stayed at my brothers in Carlisle, second night got all the way to John o groats, second day was a big 8 hours of driving plus stops and camped on Applecross beach. Could have probably made it home the next day but stayed in Peebles. Nice and condensed but fast and great fun, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Leave early enough to get past Manchester by 8am and you should easily be able to get to Inverness for your first night.

[MDifficult]

IAche said:

I did it last year over a week with my GF and my kids and really enjoyed it. This year was with a mate in his Golf GTI and was amazing. First day from the midlands after work and stayed at my brothers in Carlisle, second night got all the way to John o groats, second day was a big 8 hours of driving plus stops and camped on Applecross beach. Could have probably made it home the next day but stayed in Peebles. Nice and condensed but fast and great fun, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Leave early enough to get past Manchester by 8am and you should easily be able to get to Inverness for your first night.

Thanks, really appreciate the tips. I like the idea of doing it as a family jaunt - but that would almost certainly mean taking the M5 which wouldn't really be the best tool for the job.

I re-looked at the schedule I put together last time I looked at it and it matches your suggestions really. 4am start gets me past Manchester for 8am, then another 6 hours or so to Inverness depending on stops & rests. That'd be easy-meat in the M5 but a brutal day in the 1M, so probably need the following day as a rest day.

Okay, you've got me thinking about it now! Maybe it could be squeezed into this year

[IAche]

M5 would be fine, the roads are plenty wide enough, but the 1M would be better. Also depends on how you drive, I found it fun with the family driving quickly but loads more fun on my own in the car driving much faster.

We took radios meaning when one person overtook slower vehicles they could give a heads up to the other on overtaking opportunity's. This turned stupid overtakes into safe ones as you knew another car wasn't coming. I'll use radios on all group road trips now.

[MDifficult]

IAche said:

M5 would be fine, the roads are plenty wide enough, but the 1M would be better. Also depends on how you drive, I found it fun with the family driving quickly but loads more fun on my own in the car driving much faster.

We took radios meaning when one person overtook slower vehicles they could give a heads up to the other on overtaking opportunity's. This turned stupid overtakes into safe ones as you knew another car wasn't coming. I'll use radios on all group road trips now.

Yeah, MrTouring and I are big fans of the walkie-talkie approach. Really makes a trip safer but also much more entertaining as the banter keeps going the whole time. So much so, I'm thinking of investing in some slightly more professional gear with a better range.

[IAche]

We just used dome dirt cheap units that did about 2 miles on the motorway. In the hills they didn't go much further than half a mile, enough to keep things safe and fun. Also much better than keeping making phone calls to suggest good photo opportunity's. They also make you feel like you're filming an episode of Top Gear

Higher quality units would be better but these will do for now.

[MDifficult]

I've been in real danger of doing what I swore I wouldn't... starting to treat the 1M like its a bit precious

Well, bks to that - so I took it out and got it proper muddy this afternoon. Absolutely lovely!

I decided to start by driving it head-first into a Constable painting...




At least with lockdown impending again, I'll have plenty of cleaning to do.

[ChrisCh86]

MDifficult said:

I've been in real danger of doing what I swore I wouldn't... starting to treat the 1M like its a bit precious

Well, bks to that - so I took it out and got it proper muddy this afternoon. Absolutely lovely!

I decided to start by driving it head-first into a Constable painting...




At least with lockdown impending again, I'll have plenty of cleaning to do.

We've all been there (and yes my pride and joy is tucked up in the garage - but NOT SORN'd). Great photos.

[MDifficult]

ChrisCh86 said:

We've all been there (and yes my pride and joy is tucked up in the garage - but NOT SORN'd). Great photos.

Cheers mate, thank you.

Unfortunately, I needed to go for a drive because the ‘curse of the idle M5’ has struck again and I needed some fresh air.

Rather than treating the M5 to something nice like a new steering wheel or refurbishing the alloys, I’ve unfortunately just had to treat it to a full set of 8 plugs AND 8 injectors.

I’m not prepared to say what that cost, suffice to say that it was one hell of a lot

For anyone reading this, who owns an F10 M5... for God’s sake use it daily! They just don’t like sitting around. It’s cost me more in the last 1,000 miles than it did in the previous 50,000 Just one more reason that COVID can fking do one.

[MDifficult]

Well, with the USA apparently on course for a civil war, and a four-week national lockdown only a few hours away, I decided to take the afternoon off and make the most of the absolutely glorious weather on this final day of freedom! Cue 200-odd miles of my favourite roads and a few different photo opportunities.

What could be better? Cold air, dry roads, blue skies, no bugs and no salt on the roads.

This'll certainly be the last chance for at least a month, so I'm absolutely delighted I had the chance to make the most of it. Absolutely stunning.








I've even come to terms with the big bill on the M5. These things are inevitable and it runs like a new car now. Worth every penny

[outnumbered]

Nice pics. I missed the last chance to take the CSL out before the salt unfortunately as I had to make a motorcycle trip to Essex instead (long story!). Who did you get to fix the M5 in the end?

[MDifficult]

outnumbered said:

Nice pics. I missed the last chance to take the CSL out before the salt unfortunately as I had to make a motorcycle trip to Essex instead (long story!). Who did you get to fix the M5 in the end?

Hey - thank you. Yet another downside to white cars is that they seem to be really hard to take good photos of

Have they started gritting around your way already? Does that mean the CSL is all put away until the spring? Seems a shame.

On the M5, I took your advice and went back to Grosvenor and so far, so good. I'm not sure they're any cheaper than using BMW but it's just so much more reassuring being able to talk to the mechanics rather than having to do Chinese-whispers with a 'tech' via the customer services rep who's really no idea what anyone is talking about. Only downside is the enthusiastically branded courtesy cars

[outnumbered]

MDifficult said:

Only downside is the enthusiastically branded courtesy cars

Have you had "BMW 320D" yet ? That plate always struck me as a £2100 investment that was never going to recoup anything in the long run

[Court_S]

Cold air, dry roads, blue skies, no bugs and no salt on the roads.....literally the holy grail, especially with a white car!

The one benefit of working from home is that my car won’t be getting battered wither road salt this winter....just mud from farmers working.

Some cracking photos.

[MDifficult]

outnumbered said:

Have you had "BMW 320D" yet ? That plate always struck me as a £2100 investment that was never going to recoup anything in the long run

Hahah, you must be a more valuable customer than me I've had BMW116D which must make BMW320D look like an excellent investment

Court_S said:

Cold air, dry roads, blue skies, no bugs and no salt on the roads.....literally the holy grail, especially with a white car!

The one benefit of working from home is that my car won’t be getting battered wither road salt this winter....just mud from farmers working.

Some cracking photos.

Sadly, money saved on low use seems to be a false economy. As per the earlier posts... M cars don't seem to like sitting doing nothing. They get bored and eat money.

Glad you like the photos - cheers!

[matt21]

Nice cars and enjoying this long term review. I have a 2017 M6 and a CSL so there are parallels with your fleet! You cars get more use than mine though

Sorry to go OT, @outnumbered I see you are a fellow CSL owner. Got a funny feeling I’ve seen you post that your in the midlands. If you are, who do you recommend for work on the CSL? Need a few things doing in the new year and fed up of driving to other side of the country for any work!

[outnumbered]

I'm in Reading so can't help directly. You could try asking on cslregister.com though?

[matt21]

Thanks and will do. 😊

[outnumbered]

MDifficult said:

Hahah, you must be a more valuable customer than me I've had BMW116D which must make BMW320D look like an excellent investment

My wife had a Bentley Continental off them for the day once when the 5GT was in for another grands worth of whatever nonsense. It was great, apart from it being a really hot day and the Aircon being buggered!

[MDifficult]

outnumbered said:

My wife had a Bentley Continental off them for the day once when the 5GT was in for another grands worth of whatever nonsense. It was great, apart from it being a really hot day and the Aircon being buggered!

Now you’re just rubbing it in!

It’s funny, I’ve had them twice now but I think those 116ds are a great advert for BMW. They’re leggy, and well-used, with a zillion miles of short journeys by uncaring total randoms. But, they’re also clearly well serviced and still drive better than almost any other dreary diesel hatchback from the same era

Shame the 1 series has moved to FWD now. The RWD ones are going to be looked back on fondly.