Gigsy

Z3 is a cracking little car... so long as it has either the 2.8 or 3.0 straight six in it

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Was MY03 FXT (262bhp) MY03 WRX (271bhp)
Now MY05 MCS, Z3 2.8, X3 3.0d, Vespa ET4 & BMW F700GS

Pindie

I'd have an AWD M3 if they made one. They don't though.

Scc28

James its called an S4, and we would have to ostracise you to a far flung part of the UK

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Gigsy

It's so not.

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Was MY03 FXT (262bhp) MY03 WRX (271bhp)
Now MY05 MCS, Z3 2.8, X3 3.0d, Vespa ET4 & BMW F700GS

Pindie

I'd boil myself in sick before turnin gin a cords and sweater wearing Audi man.

I like RS4s and 6s but its all the massed Audi owners that put me off. I don't like golf either - I do like the socks though.

Same for Mercs, Volvo, BMWs...... the list goes on. I know the marketing is good and the cars ain't bad but they are not for me.

At the rate Subaru sell the current WRX STi there will be some left in three years!

Gigsy

The problem is it's too easy to get a driving license.

If it were harder, then the manufacturers would have no choice but to develop cars for the more discerning enthusiast owners and we could do away with the boggo models that taint the brands

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Was MY03 FXT (262bhp) MY03 WRX (271bhp)
Now MY05 MCS, Z3 2.8, X3 3.0d, Vespa ET4 & BMW F700GS

Pindie

I totally agree. If there were stringent aptitude tests a lot of road users would not be allowed.

A car is a lethal tool and is complex. To drive one it requires the use of all limbs, head, neck and shoulders.

I find it amazing to see that someone in a neck brace, walking frame and other such adornments are allowed to operate such a machine. It's madness. I know they may not actually "have" the accident but their restricted ability may trigger a chain reaction on the road that makes someone else have one.

Its time the government made it a requirement to colour code drivers cars with less aptitude for vehicle control hi viz orange etc so you can see the hazard ahead. This simple aptitude test could be done every five years and only your roof gets painted. At least then people will be aware of the rolling hazard and can drive accordingly - I quite fancy an orange roof!

On the track you have lumi vests, black crosses on yellow squares to tell seasoned track users that they are approaching something un predictable. It should also happen on the road.

Gigsy

And taxi drivers in London, not the black cabs, the fookin Addison Lee people carrier driving numpties.... I swear none of them have a UK driving license. Still, gives you a nice adrenalin rush first thing in the morning!

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Was MY03 FXT (262bhp) MY03 WRX (271bhp)
Now MY05 MCS, Z3 2.8, X3 3.0d, Vespa ET4 & BMW F700GS

Bassmaker

There has been a move in recent years by many of the higher end manufacturers to build their cars in such a way that only the franchise can service it, by using specialist fastenings etc, and marque specific plug in diagnostics. It should be remembered that part of the long term plan for profit of a particular model of car is the sales of spares, service and backing over a projected period. In order to make this feasible, making it difficult or impossible for the non franchised workshops to service the car is an important part of the plan. While I have never heard of BMW gearboxes breaking, the so called specific requirements/conditions (oil must be cold for draining, really?) for this operation sound entirely bogus. BMW, along with the other high end German makers make outrageous service charges for any work outside of the warranty and this just seems to be another example. I expect their workshops are equipped with a pump and suction device specifically tailored to this job for removal, injection of flush, removal of flush and then refilling, inc the diff (and you can probably forget about the flush too, it's not in their best interests to make the car last indefinitely).

It may just be a case of finding out what the procedure is Fpan and then working out how to do it, probably requires a lift. I occasionally get professional tool catalogues from the likes of Seeley and Draper for some odd reason, and the ever increasing variety of "make specific" service tools is bewildering. A well equipped independent shop can purchase these but in order to keep up, the end result will force less competitive pricing, and perhaps that's the idea. Likewise, the cost of OEM service items for German cars was always overly expensive and a whole industry sprung up in the 80's offering "as good as" pattern parts at affordable prices.

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Scruffy 99 S Turbo. TD04-19T hybrid. DeCat. JGM.