The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 110 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: [personal] Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: [personal] Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: [personal] Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: Cat destruction Re: <E36> climate control cuts out Re: E36 climate control cutting out Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Re: 2.0L Diesel engine in 320d and 1 Series
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 11:25:36 -0800 (PST) From: Mike Hsu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For some reason these past couple months, I came so close to being side swiped by someone not looking over their shoulder. In fact, one time I was equally side by side to one car. Geez. Am I invisible? Do M Coupes come with a cloaking device? If it does, how do you turn it off? ;) Mike --- Scott & Charlotte Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > An article from our local newspaper is attributed to > Jim Mateja of the > Chicago Tribune. It says that Ford is developing a > blind spot > detector using "magneto-resistive sensors" - metal > detectors. Sensors > have been mounted under the corners of the rear > bumper of their Ford > Explorer test bed. Here's why it won't work: > > "When turn signals are engaged, the sensors in the > bumper determine > whether there is a vehicle next to you in the right > or left lane." > And, "If a vehicle is there and in the blind spot, a > turn-signal > indicator in the sideview mirror turns from orange > to red as an > initial warning." > > First of all, by my own unofficial estimate, fewer > than 15% of the > driving population uses their turn signals. Second, > if the sideview > mirrors were properly adjusted and the driver were > using them, then > they would see the car in the "blind" spot in the > mirror, and they > wouldn't need a colored flashing indicator to tell > them that a car was > there. > > More often than not, drivers change lanes or > initiate turns without > signalling or looking at the other lane. So this > technology is wasted > on the U.S. driving public. > > 'Nuff said. Not that this won't start a heated > discussion about my > statistical methods or something. > > Scott Miller > GGC BMW CCA > > > > Search the > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > __________________________________________________________________________ > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, > founder of the BMW CCA. > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and > home of the Ultimate > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 11:42:42 -0800 From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I think this would be most useful for avoiding motorcycles. Even though I am fairly religious on checking my mirrors and I have them set up correctly and they are HUGE (Chebby Avalanche) I come close to wiping out a motorcycle at least once a month. Part of it is that in CA donorcycles can split lanes at their whim.... Marco -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Mike Hsu Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 11:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [personal] Re: [UUC] Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> For some reason these past couple months, I came so close to being side swiped by someone not looking over their shoulder. In fact, one time I was equally side by side to one car. Geez. Am I invisible? Do M Coupes come with a cloaking device? If it does, how do you turn it off? ;) Mike --- Scott & Charlotte Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > An article from our local newspaper is attributed to > Jim Mateja of the > Chicago Tribune. It says that Ford is developing a > blind spot > detector using "magneto-resistive sensors" - metal > detectors. Sensors > have been mounted under the corners of the rear > bumper of their Ford > Explorer test bed. Here's why it won't work: > > "When turn signals are engaged, the sensors in the > bumper determine > whether there is a vehicle next to you in the right > or left lane." > And, "If a vehicle is there and in the blind spot, a > turn-signal > indicator in the sideview mirror turns from orange > to red as an > initial warning." > > First of all, by my own unofficial estimate, fewer > than 15% of the > driving population uses their turn signals. Second, > if the sideview > mirrors were properly adjusted and the driver were > using them, then > they would see the car in the "blind" spot in the > mirror, and they > wouldn't need a colored flashing indicator to tell > them that a car was > there. > > More often than not, drivers change lanes or > initiate turns without > signalling or looking at the other lane. So this > technology is wasted > on the U.S. driving public. > > 'Nuff said. Not that this won't start a heated > discussion about my > statistical methods or something. > > Scott Miller > GGC BMW CCA > > > > Search the > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > __________________________________________________________________________ > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, > founder of the BMW CCA. > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and > home of the Ultimate > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 12:01:25 -0800 (PST) From: willie yeo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I almost ran over a motorcycle couple months back. In LA, bikers zip between lanes especially during traffic jams. In stop and go traffic, I did a quick check on my side mirror to make sure no one is in the blind spot. But that is not sufficient when the bikes are moving a lot faster. Now I check my rearview mirror first. Oh..occasionally you will see bikers poping a wheelie on the carpool lanes during rush hours going 60-70 mph.. --- Marco Romani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I think this would be most useful for avoiding > motorcycles. Even though I > am fairly religious on checking my mirrors and I > have them set up correctly > and they are HUGE (Chebby Avalanche) I come close to > wiping out a motorcycle > at least once a month. Part of it is that in CA > donorcycles can split lanes > at their whim.... > > Marco > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf > Of Mike Hsu > Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 11:26 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [personal] Re: [UUC] Misguided R&D: Blind > Spot Detector > <non-BMW> > > > For some reason these past couple months, I came so > close to being side swiped by someone not looking > over > their shoulder. In fact, one time I was equally > side > by side to one car. Geez. Am I invisible? Do M > Coupes come with a cloaking device? If it does, how > do you turn it off? ;) > > Mike > > --- Scott & Charlotte Miller > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > An article from our local newspaper is attributed > to > > Jim Mateja of the > > Chicago Tribune. It says that Ford is developing > a > > blind spot > > detector using "magneto-resistive sensors" - metal > > detectors. Sensors > > have been mounted under the corners of the rear > > bumper of their Ford > > Explorer test bed. Here's why it won't work: > > > > "When turn signals are engaged, the sensors in the > > bumper determine > > whether there is a vehicle next to you in the > right > > or left lane." > > And, "If a vehicle is there and in the blind spot, > a > > turn-signal > > indicator in the sideview mirror turns from orange > > to red as an > > initial warning." > > > > First of all, by my own unofficial estimate, fewer > > than 15% of the > > driving population uses their turn signals. > Second, > > if the sideview > > mirrors were properly adjusted and the driver were > > using them, then > > they would see the car in the "blind" spot in the > > mirror, and they > > wouldn't need a colored flashing indicator to tell > > them that a car was > > there. > > > > More often than not, drivers change lanes or > > initiate turns without > > signalling or looking at the other lane. So this > > technology is wasted > > on the U.S. driving public. > > > > 'Nuff said. Not that this won't start a heated > > discussion about my > > statistical methods or something. > > > > Scott Miller > > GGC BMW CCA > > > > > > > > Search the > > > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________________________ > > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, > > founder of the BMW CCA. > > > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and > > home of the Ultimate > > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on > time. > http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html > Search the > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > __________________________________________________________________________ > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, > founder of the BMW CCA. > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and > home of the Ultimate > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com > > Search the > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > __________________________________________________________________________ > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, > founder of the BMW CCA. > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and > home of the Ultimate > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 16:11:16 -0500 From: Steve Tymoszuk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> But remember, checking mirrors or looking over a shoulder can be a challenge when talking on a cell phone. Not to mention the fact that the majority of the driving public has no idea how side view mirrors should be adjusted to begin with. -Steve At 02:42 PM 3/29/2004, Marco Romani wrote: >Even though I >am fairly religious on checking my mirrors and I have them set up correctly ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 13:21:33 -0800 From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [personal] Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> it's only a problem when I'm drinking a latte, shaving and reading the WSJ. Talking on a cell phone is easy. Marco -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Steve Tymoszuk Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 1:11 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [personal] Re: [UUC] Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> But remember, checking mirrors or looking over a shoulder can be a challenge when talking on a cell phone. Not to mention the fact that the majority of the driving public has no idea how side view mirrors should be adjusted to begin with. -Steve At 02:42 PM 3/29/2004, Marco Romani wrote: >Even though I >am fairly religious on checking my mirrors and I have them set up correctly Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 16:40:51 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [personal] Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> You have a hairy WSJ? That's really freaky. - Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > it's only a problem when I'm drinking a latte, shaving and reading the WSJ. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 13:45:34 -0800 From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [personal] Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ahhh, for lack of a comma. good one. M -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 1:41 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [personal] Re: [UUC] Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> You have a hairy WSJ? That's really freaky. - Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > it's only a problem when I'm drinking a latte, shaving and reading the WSJ. Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 16:23:27 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> What Marco said. With pickup trucks, there is often a sizable blind spot where a motorcycle or small/low car can hide on the driver's side. Despite religious mirror-checking and right-side over the shoulder checks, the left-side has a zone where things can hide. I overcame this with a stick-on wideview mirror which has proven itself immensely valuable, but as a rider I would certainly appreciate a "don't jump over yet, ya idiot" warning system on SUVs. Maybe there's a way to target the installation of these systems - just on leased vehicles with boring option packages... those are usually the blind lane-jumpers. Perhaps it could be automatically triggered by the installation of a baby seat or DVD system. - Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [UUC] Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> > I think this would be most useful for avoiding motorcycles. Even though I > am fairly religious on checking my mirrors and I have them set up correctly > and they are HUGE (Chebby Avalanche) I come close to wiping out a motorcycle > at least once a month. Part of it is that in CA donorcycles can split lanes > at their whim.... > > Marco ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 15:30:07 -0600 (CST) From: "Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Every car sold should come with a five-panel Wink mirror (the Wink in my E36 has been with me forever, I am never parting with this thing). - Kevin Jay '96 328is, red/tan, usual H&R/Bilstein setup, original Wink Deluxe ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 13:51:20 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> What's the problem? The problem is that most drivers are too lazy to turn their heads and look. It requires the use of numerous muscles and takes their concentration off of their cell phone calls. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA 1990 325i <-- old intake gaskets, exhaust gaskets, fuel lines, vacuum hoses, didn't flush cooling system - timing belt, tensioner, water pump replaced last year >Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 07:42:09 -0800 (PST) >From: Brad Couvillon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >What's the problem, again, with just looking over your >shoulder before you change lanes? > >It kills me how car companies spend so much time and >effort on electronic gimmicks that're just going to >have more and more problems as time goes by. > >Brad "Shifty" Couvillon >'87 528e <-- new timing belt, tensioner, water pump, >vacuum hoses, intake gaskets, exhaust gaskets, fuel >lines, flushed cooling system ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 10:40:38 -0800 (PST) From: Gary Derian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Cat destruction Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Probably not, if the cat was in good mechanical condition. If it was ready to fail, this would have finished it. Reading between the lines, my answer is obviously I don't know <grin>. Its amazing what happens when you feed the cat lots of fuel and air. Gary Derian --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > OK here's the scenario, put new plugs and wires on > the E32 but one of the > wires came undone. Car began to miss, immediately > headed home but right > side exhaust was red hot (naturally). Span of time > maybe 2 to 3 minutes. Is > this enough to ruin the cat? Gary? > > -Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 15:33:32 -0500 From: "Gaudio, Stefano" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E36> climate control cuts out Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Kevin I don't have a solution, but I can tell you one thing NOT to do: Replacing the Climate Control Unit BMW PN 641-11-8-379-521 for $500+ ($325 + labor ) I had the same exact issue, and fortunately my after-market warranty paid for it, but the problem is still there. I got so frustrated that I went to test drive a new 350z, but they are 2 different things, I like my M3. I'm supposed to have my mechanic look into it again but maybe the great Brett Anderson can shine some light here? In any case, I'll let you know if I get anywhere and please keep me posted with anything you find out. Good Luck. Stefano '98 e36 M3 w 89K Kevin Wrote... >------------------------------ >Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 01:03:37 -0600 (CST) >From: "Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: <E36> climate control cuts out >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Earlier pleas for help with E36 digital climate control backlighting were in >error... turns out the whole thing intermittently cuts in and out. When it's >working, everything operates normally. When it's not, the display goes >completely blank and the fan goes dead. Sometimes the LEDs on the selector >buttons remain lit, sometimes they go dark too. All other electrical >functions of the car are normal; this is isolated to the climate control. >It'll stay on for a few minutes, go dead for a few more, and bounce like that >over and over again. Doesn't stay on for more than maybe five minutes at a >time. >If anybody has any BTDTs, I'd be terribly grateful. Is this a wiring problem? >Some issue with the control unit? Or is it just the head? I'm thinking this >could be a real b*tch to debug, so if anybody has any experience with this, >please do share. I'm going to re-seat everything tomorrow, but somehow I have >to believe something is on the way out. >- Kevin Jay > '96 328is, intermittent climate control >------------------------------ _________________________________________________________________ This e-mail and any attachments may be confidential or legally privileged. If you received this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should destroy the e-mail message and any attachments or copies, and you are prohibited from retaining, distributing, disclosing or using any information contained herein. Please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 16:16:22 -0500 From: "Gaudio, Stefano" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Eric Giles'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: E36 climate control cutting out Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Eric I did miss your posting and it does sound good, but here is my dilemma: If the problem was related to the unit itself why didn't the complete unit replacement fixed the problem? Stefano '98 w replaced unit but still bad climate control -----Original Message----- From: Eric Giles [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 4:00 PM To: Gaudio, Stefano Subject: E36 climate control cutting out Stefano- I was wondering if you saw my reply to Kevin's original e-mail regarding this issue. You can fix the climate control module yourself with not that much effort! The most you will have to spend is around $30, and that is for a soldering iron and solder (if you don't already have one). I did this fix to mine over a month ago and it has worked perfectly since. I am going to send you a link to Bimmerforums where you can get an idea of what you need to do to fix it yourself. Note that in the instructions he replaces a capacitor-you do not need to do this! All you will be doing is reflowing the solder where the main wiring harness connects to the circuit board, and where the blue capacitor is connected. If you are not familiar with soldering, then you can take the unit with these instructions to a electronics repair shop and have them do it-should not take more than 15 minutes max. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. http://www.macadamizer.com/bmwfix.html Eric Giles _________________________________________________________________ This e-mail and any attachments may be confidential or legally privileged. If you received this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should destroy the e-mail message and any attachments or copies, and you are prohibited from retaining, distributing, disclosing or using any information contained herein. Please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 13:53:54 -0800 From: John Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Misguided R&D: Blind Spot Detector <non-BMW> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > As far as mirrors are concerned, Ford F250/350 excursion > towing mirrors with the convex mirror at the very bottom > has to be one of the best mirrors out there when > adjusted properly. I wish they would add this type of > a setup to every car. They're wonderful. They're also HUGE. > As far as BMW content, my E30 M3 has euro mirrors with two panels > in place of the single panel mirror. Hard to describe > in an email but essentially 3/4s of the way outward one panel ends > and a smaller convex panel starts. Neat. I've got that in my E39 M5 - the aspheric mirror, inner section is slightly convex and the outer section more barrel-shaped. Nice little line on the mirror that when set properly makes a great tell-tale as to whether you're clear of what's next to you, and they'll pretty much allow you to see anything right up to your driver-side B-pillar. Everything looks a little small, of course... Ordered through Pacific BMW, was a little pricey but very much worth it. John. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 16:27:29 -0800 From: Keith Wollenberg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: 2.0L Diesel engine in 320d and 1 Series Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >And here's the magic part. The 120d has 251 ft/lbs of torque. You heard me >- that's more than the E28 M5 that I'm driving right now. And the 120d >weight works out to 2900lbs (and this might be the WET weight even..) I just got back from France yesterday. when I checked in at Europcar, to rent my car, imagine my distress when the Renault I had reserved was not available and I had to take the 320d instead. <VVBG> It is still hard to get used to the clacking noise when you are diving through the small towns with narrow streets and stone buildings. But, from inside the car, the experience is amazing. The power bans is narrow, so they give it a 6 speed manual. That said, it is gobs of torque, and plenty of get up and go power, even at speeds well in excess of the posted 130kph. And the best part is that, in the land of very expensive fuel, we cruised on the autoroute with economy between 43 and 48 miles per US gallon. Around town, we still managed in excess of 35 miles per gallon. And that is with the same torque as my E28 M5 (although not the same horsepower, of course.) Keith Wollenberg ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(15 messages) **********
