No todo que es oro brilla.
WASABI (06-13-2014)
Pretty much, but it's more bro-panties than anything.
When I do more to the interior, I am hoping to find this to replace the rear seat. It's a rare-ish option that has a drop down arm rest/ski pass through and adjustable headrests.
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So, I am dropping the e30 off at a shop in the area that is familiar with them, and Miatas coincidentally. It's balls-hot again, because humid Southern summers, and I need the A/C serviced. The car has been converted to r134a so hopefully all goes reasonably well. It worked when I bought it last summer, but knew it needed an annual recharge. Though white, the interior is black and leather, so it gets a bit 'swampy" on contact rather quick. I am going to have the alignment done because I knew the one I got for free wasn't 100% accurate and just want to be sure I am not going to destroy the tires.
A lot of alignment garages don't particularly like working on BMWs. This one technically only has toe adjustment in the front, but you need to weigh the car down to get it right. The upgrades and new parts I added to the steering and suspension make it particularly sensitive. It drives fine around town, but on the highway it wanders a little bit. The process for a proper alignment is something like 150 lbs in each front seat, 50 or 100# in the trunk or center of the rear seat. Yeah. Techs know they are going to have to load the ballast in the car and don't like it. Can't blame them, but it is what it is.
Other than that, I was at a BBQ over Memorial Day, a bunch of guys I never met were there with their wives. I walked outside to have a cigarette and they were combing over the car. I get a lot of questions about it and most times I am happy to answer them. Most of these guys drive/own much nicer cars than I do, but they love it. "I would love to dump this (new luxury sedan), for a nice classic like this, but my wife doesn't like them," is a response I get a lot. Personally, I hate car payments, hate dealerships, so why not drive something you like and *maybe* have to put a little money into here and there to keep reliable? The car is 26 years old. It's a survivor, parts are cheap, repairs are pretty easy, garages still know how to repair them and it still looks great! You still see them around, but the well-maintained examples aren't as common anymore. It's cheap fun!
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To that point, I saw this classy older Mercedes the other day. It was for sale, sitting in an office park. I stopped to look at it because I have a few friends on the west coast who are into these older M-Bs. This was a '74 280 (inline 6, some say one of the best engines M-B ever made), automatic. It has 67,000 original miles on it, seller is asking $3500 firm. The sign said "runs decent". I'm not knowledgeable about these cars, but at 40 years old, it is still a looker. Figure $3-5k to make this a super reliable, restored classic you can drive everyday? Yeah, I'd take that. You sure aren't going to have trouble finding it in a parking lot.
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Agent☣Orange (06-13-2014),The Driver (06-13-2014),tsingson (06-13-2014),WASABI (06-13-2014)
Youuuu caaaaan Dooeee iiiiit!
96 Montego, replacing a 95M... I miss: My running peeps in Tampa, running barefoot @ Clearwater Beach and First Choice BBQ, in Brandon. In So Cal I miss: The Malibu Canyons, CA 33 and In & Out Burgers ! I'm from Tampa, if I was from Tampa Bay, I'd be a fish!
I showed that Mercedes to my wife when you posted it on FB. She said "No way"
But...but, you could restore it with the boys!
I know!
She doesn't want you spending your time with a 40 y.o. lady.
She's the jealous type
kung fu jesus (06-13-2014)
A neighbor down the street just showed up with a white BMW like yours, well not even begun to be restored and it has a towel in place of a driver door window. He has some other old car in the carport I don't know what it is yet. I was going to snap a picture but he was outside mowing the lawn.
No todo que es oro brilla.
kung fu jesus (06-14-2014)
Nice...Originally Posted by AgentOrange
KFJ, do you know anything about removing the moon roof from these cars? I was looking at our e30 today and figured that might be a good way to lower the center of gravity and lose weight.
Vaguely. It is a sort of cassette type assembly.
Andy, if you remove it, and the seals are good, I may be interested in them.
AC works! YAAAAaaaaaaaayyyy!
Corrected the alignment, tires are out of round...went back to Discount Tire, showed them the other shop's results, they FINALLY do a ride match and road force. I have asked for this for 4 months.
Ride match, road force showed radial runnout of .06", .11", .11", and .16" beginning with the FR, moving counter clockwise.
Me: "So you're telling me 3 of the 4 are out of round?"
Manager: "Well, the one is, but the two are close. Let's see if this solves your issue."
Me: "How about we stop wasting my time and have the one replaced and we go from there?"
Manager: "Oh! Sure! Alright....looks like I can get one in 5-10 business days"
Me: "Considering this is the 5th time I have had this done in 6 months, what's another 10 days?"
Manager: "I see your point."
Me: "Good, because I am being subtle."
Manager: "Uhhhhhmmmm..."
Me: "Call me when it's in. Have a great day!" :dropped the mic
Agent☣Orange (06-17-2014),tsingson (06-17-2014)
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