Leaderboard

Thanks, both. I definitely remember your names! There are much better and newer cars out there, but I enjoy the feeling of driving something older than the norm and being able to fix most things myself. Excluding the E46, the E92 is actually one of the oldest cars on my street - I'll never be one for "keeping up with the Jones". The neighbour two doors down has a new-ish A43 AMG, but it doesn't appeal to me - its quick, but it sounds like a wet fart and is yet another overstyled blob in my eyes. I might consider one of BMW's last inline 6 turbo petrols (M140 or M240) when they're about ten years old as the styling is alright and I6 engine noises, then the U.K. will probably be taken over by EVs. I will have owned the E46 for ten years in January, so even if it manages to get condemned I'll just park it outside the house, keep it looking nice and celebrate ten years of ownership anyway.

I haven't posted here in ages... and neither has anyone else apparently. Looks like most people moved on (until Solar Crown, maybe?) as nowhere apart from the TDU section seems to get many posts now. Anywho and way, just dropping in for a car update - possibly a long post once I get going. Finally bought something 'new' in March. The E46 330d made it to 200,000 miles without any real complaint, then back in January (Friday 13th no less!) when it was booked in for its MOT, the rear brake line that runs across the back of the car decided to rupture on the drive while the car sat overnight. Got in the car the morning of the MOT... Hmmm, the brake pedal doesn't feel the same as it did yesterday and why is my foot now sinking to the floor. Poked my head under the rear wheel to be greeted with brake fluid all over the suspension components - great timing! MOT cancelled. Ended up ripping the old brake line out and fitting a new one with new flexi hoses to both rear wheels with the car on axle stands on my dad's drive (he's got more/better tools than me). Cleaned up the rear half of the car and applied rust converter and then Lanoguard to nearly everything. This was done over the course of a month and a half when we both had a tiny bit of spare time here and there. Still haven't got it re-MOTd just yet because... Early to mid-March I bought something I'd been looking out for, for ages. Another old BMW... an E92 335d. The M57 has been such a good engine in the 330d and obviously 46 x 2 = 92, so why not? Plus, quite frankly, I would be paranoid as hell if I bought a 330d with the N57 (timing chain snapping main bearing spinner) which is what you end up with if you buy a 325/330d built after mid-2008. 2009 BMW 335d M Sport Highline. Space grey with coral red leather. CIC Navigation and BMW retrofit kit for the audio system installed by the previous owner so it has an Alpine amplifier and upgraded speakers (and tweeters), oh and the A/C works which is also a bonus over the E46. It had some Triangle tyres put on the rear prior to sale which is a bit disappointing as it did has Pilot Sport 4S tyres all round, but those are now only on the front. The Triangles are getting interesting now because even in the dry I can feel the DSC fighting to put the power down in 3rd - they'll be getting replaced with a pair of 4S's or Eagle Asymmetric 6s before winter, I'm not an advocate of cheap tyres, but the Triangles were brand new and we were getting towards Spring/Summer, so I've ran them for a bit. Apparently, it had £900 of suspension and brakes just before I bought it, but I think all of that £900 went in to a set of Brembo discs and pads because both front shocks are.. not good and will be replaced very shortly. The E46 isn't going anywhere as quite honestly it is worth next to nothing with 207k on the clock and crusty rear aches (common E46 thing), plus my plan has always been to keep it and have something else to take the bulk of the miles. Every time I sit in the E46 I can't help but feel much, much more at home even though I haven't driven it properly for nearly 8 months.

I feel like 2010 and 2011. TDU2 all over again. lol