[n00b]

Quote: Originally Posted by IML337

Have spent time in a 325i and they were a bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing too, but given their pricing, there's no way a 130 will be less than $75k on the road...

That's what I think too...see my post above. If it's $80k for a decent spec car, might as well give $15-20k more for a used E46 ///M3.

Quote: Originally Posted by Todd!

I think that is the good part about htem Evan, wait for the 130... it is a pparantly a ball breaker.

I thought that they had already released the 130 in Europe? I thought there was even one at the Melbourne Motorshow?

8:35 around the 'ring but the price of them is something to consider. Then again maybe wait a few years, buy a 116i then try find a ///M3 then slot it in. The only problem is ADR..technically you can't slot an engine that's older than the car itself. They're putting one on show at the Sydney Motor Show in October (probably)

[Todd!]

why would you want to waste your time doing that when the 130 has the same sort of power as an M3 and it is all engineered in the car. What is the point of modifying for the sake of modifying?

I think the days of modifying cars with engine swaps are pretty well over in Australia... judging by the VicRoads roadblocks in the last week that have seen over 1000 cars put off the road - I think they want to make it as hard as possible for car modifyers.

[Tit]

this country is turning into a police state when it comes to cars...

with Victoria leading the way....


then foolish shows like today tonight tell stories like 'beruit by the bay' and all the old voters think that everyone under thirty with a car is like that....

[n00b]

Beruit by the bay is pretty much a minor bunch of car owners..and it's debated to death over at other forums.

Todd, maybe I've used the wrong example, maybe Hartge's V8 conversion might be more fun sure a 130i or the M2 (whatever it's called) is a complete package but isn't a MCS a complete package too? Regardless how complete that package might be, people will find a way to chuck mods in it.

[Todd!]

I am... what are you talking about!?! Burnouts, making oink noises at coppers, and other random stupid stuff!

I love it

Seriously, I grew up as the son of a hotrodder, my dad had a 400kw 1928 Ford A model with open engine and huge tyres and rims - we had fun in the car, as did all of his friends with their cars. No one got hurt.

My dad caught up with alot of them just recently andthey were having discussions about the past and how the road authorites have cracked down in the past... it is the same story, knee jerk political reaction.

The real story is - how many people die in "Street races" or whatever!?! IT IS BULL $HIT!!

The people who are hit at the street drags are dimwits anyway!

Look at what has happened in the last few days in Victoria...

2 people have died on the roads as drunken pedestrians on the road late at night. Authorities look at deaths from the accidents, but not the people who were driving along minding their business and run over the fool laying in the middle of the road.

People drive head on into a truck and no one does anything to stop it happening again...

When the speed cameras stop making money, why not cash in on the non-oem modifications made by so many car enthusiasts - a perfect opportunity to raise some revenue with limited effort.

A $5000 fine for 10 minutes worth of inspection for a failure to have a covered CAI... sure beats trying to spend hours parked on the side of the road trying to catch people doin 4 km/h over the speed limit...


//RANT!

[n00b]

This is where the sleeper look comes in. Tonnes of idiots these days slap all sorts of mods onto their shopping trolley, those are the ones that ruined it for the real enthusiast. If the car looked stock and being driven sensibly, no way would the cop do an inspection around the car to pick up defects. Some of them are just asking for it...

The rules are there, easily accessible by just about everyone and in NSW at least, if you are unsure you could call the RTA tech inquiry line to ask a question or two about legality of your mods. Most follow but some just decided to ignore it.

[MickyD]

regarding the naming (1, 2 etc.) I recall that BMW are heading towards odd numbers being 4/5 doors, and even numbers being coupes.
so 1, 3, 5, 7 are all sedans/hatches
and 2, 4, 6 are coupes (i.e. the new 3 series shaped coupe may be a 4 series).

[Todd!]

Wait til your insurance company finds that your car is not road legal... bye-bye insurance cover.

These roadblocks are random, you drive down the road and are pulled over for noise, speed, whatever they feel like... all cars, be it modified Jap or Aussie cars, they check it out and move to the EPA set up, it is very elaborate in testing and quite fast.

On Australia Day Eve they had one direction of the major thoroughfare through Geelong, every car was checked for drivers BAC, drug tested, while the car was sitting there, they do a brief inspection. If it raises any flags, the cars were pulled into a full test - where your car is tested from a number of DB meters at 3000rpm, strict roadworthy tests by automotive engineers.

Your cars VIN number is checked to make sure it matches the engine number etc. The car has a team of peole doing a roadworthy on it and anything that flag means fines and or off the road.

The cops are getting tough and their knowledge is increasing... you are kidding yourself if you think you can build a car that is a sleeper in the sense of looking stock.

[Todd!]

Quote: Originally Posted by MickyD

regarding the naming (1, 2 etc.) I recall that BMW are heading towards odd numbers being 4/5 doors, and even numbers being coupes.
so 1, 3, 5, 7 are all sedans/hatches
and 2, 4, 6 are coupes (i.e. the new 3 series shaped coupe may be a 4 series).

As I heard

[n00b]

Quote: Originally Posted by Todd!

The cops are getting tough and their knowledge is increasing... you are kidding yourself if you think you can build a car that is a sleeper in the sense of looking stock.

Sounds like it's a war down there in Vic..would've thought they're a bit lenient down there than here. Once again, it the car looked stock and you don't drive like an idiot then no one will care about you. It haven't happened here before that every car gets looked at but only the modded ones are pulled out, give a brief inspection then decide whether to let them go, a defect notice or a red/canary.

Maybe it's safer to drive a completely stock car but hey, a MCS with a HiTech exhaust (aren't they loud ) MTH/GIAC/AmD and a 15%...byebye emission and welcome home, defect notice if they're that anal about it.

Back to the 1 series, lovely car but need more easily accessible pockets to store stuff. The standard stereo sucked compared to the MCS and the rear seat is worse than a Corolla.

[AndrewH]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tit

this country is turning into a police state when it comes to cars...

with Victoria leading the way....


then foolish shows like today tonight tell stories like 'beruit by the bay' and all the old voters think that everyone under thirty with a car is like that....

Lets start a petition for mandatory annual drivers exams for anyone over 60 that'll give those cranky old buggers something to chew on Oh hang on, I'm planning on being 60 one day, scratch that idea

[MickyD]

Quote: Originally Posted by dairyboy

Sounds like it's a war down there in Vic..would've thought they're a bit lenient down there than here. Once again, it the car looked stock and you don't drive like an idiot then no one will care about you. It haven't happened here before that every car gets looked at but only the modded ones are pulled out, give a brief inspection then decide whether to let them go, a defect notice or a red/canary.
.

there was a virtually stock BA GT-P defected down here on the weekend - they got him for the load rating on his tyres (fair enough actually...)
they are getting VERY tough, and will find a defect on any car if they decide to look hard enough (no water in the washer bottle anybody?..... I've heard of it happening)

[n00b]

Quote: Originally Posted by MickyD

there was a virtually stock BA GT-P defected down here on the weekend - they got him for the load rating on his tyres (fair enough actually...)

Yeah fair enough. Gotta be careful with the load rating...haven't heard anyone got done for that up here though.

Quote: Originally Posted by MickyD

they are getting VERY tough, and will find a defect on any car if they decide to look hard enough (no water in the washer bottle anybody?..... I've heard of it happening)

The washer bottle? Yeah I've got that done before in the Skyline and ripped the defect notice apart in front of the cops. They gave me 12 hours to clear it and it's 7pm Saturday night, obviously I didn't get it done in time.

[Cooper76]

Late-2006 will see the I6 1er coupe hit North America. From BMW spy shots, it is looking gorgeous and will put the, dare I say it, hatchback to shame. 218 hp as well. Nice.

Now, if it'd only get here!!!

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by dairyboy

Yeah fair enough. Gotta be careful with the load rating...haven't heard anyone got done for that up here though

Hi,

I have heard of people defected in NSW for tyre load rating. Also, I've heard of cases where a certain insurance company has refused insurance policies after accidents because of illegal load rating In honesty, I think it is one thing they should really crack down on. There are thousands of people driving around with aftermarket wheels and tyres that are illegal in rating. The wheels and tyres are probably the most fundamental part of the car as far as safety is concerned. The manufacturer sets minimum ratings for a reason, not just to be difficult The truth is most tyre and wheel shops dont care, and just want to sell product

I've also heard on insurance refused because someone changed to non original seats (the previous owner had put seats from an M3 into a normal 3 series)

Cheers

Robbo

[Tit]

I was with a mate of mine in Melbourne on the GP weekend and we were out in his (highly) modified VC commodore. There's an RB30DET (VL Turbo) under the bonnet and it had fat fresh & shiny intercooler piping under the bonnet. It's a tasteful car - with a new paint job, clubsport wheels and nothing else on the outside....to the untrained eye, it would just look like a neat dunnydore really....it's not loud either.

We were at some illegal street drags...(yes....stoopid, but we won't go there...I wasn't driving! )...but weren't racing. We were parked in one of those smaller parrallel side streets that runs alongside the main road - there were at least 20 modded cars there with everyone standing around just watching (didn't see any drugs, alcohol etc...)....Anyway...the cops turned up and just didn't do anything. We had to leave anyway, so we got in the car and he drove off at about 15km an hour as there were people around.

Sure enough...the lights go up.

So there we are....with two cops. I stay in the car with another mate while the driver gets out (meanwhile, everyone else is leaving....funny though...as there's a drag race RIGHT NEXT TO US, just before the lights go on....!!!! But it seemed like the cops didn't see it or ignored it or something.. ).

"Is there anything non-standard under the bonnet sir?"
"uh...no...it's just a six"

haha...anyway...they make him pop the hood....I swear I could see their eyes bulge when they saw under there...(sort of like in pulp fiction when they open the briefcase..haha). He also had some of those aftermarket horns - 3 of them (slightly illegal!). The cop's looking in there and asks him to honk them....hahaahhaa.....with his head right next to it....my mate comes over, looks at me and grins, and lays it on big time.....the cop leaped back and nearly hit his head on the bonnet....

ahahahahaha...so funny....

crazily enough though....he got defected for, get this:

freyed seatbelts.
no padding on his steering wheel.
the horn.

incredible.

[CanberraCooperS]

Quote: Originally Posted by IML337

That's a big call... and one I plan on verifying while I'm shopping in the coming weeks

As for mid $60k? I reckon with a few options you're looking at $80k+ on the road EASILY

Time will tell I guess...

Do it do it do it!!!!! hehehehehe... but dont drive it like the mini or you will crash!!!!!
remember the mini is a nose heavy b#tch and the 1 series is very neutral. PS you need to find a down hill run to get any decent speed up and test the switchback handling.

[CanberraCooperS]

Quote: Originally Posted by IML337

Have spent time in a 325i and they were a bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing too, but given their pricing, there's no way a 130 will be less than $75k on the road...

Ok well based on the quote the dealer gave me last night which is official ballpark figures... without major currency changes $72k with the options i based on 120i options.
I dont want this to be a top line with I-Drive etc.. i dont need all that hoopla.
just the basic car... leather sport seats, reversing camera, and well all the good stuff comes standard like it does on 330's and so on.

[Todd!]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tit

crazily enough though....he got defected for, get this:

freyed seatbelts.
no padding on his steering wheel.
the horn.

incredible.

As far as I know in Victoria, you have to pass a full roadworthy to get a defect lifted off a vehicle... so they have been defected for the above, but the rest will appear and have to be changed to get the RWC to lift the defect...

Although it seemed reasonable it will get picked up if you use a ligitimate Roadworthy tester (they are private organisations in Vic - mechanics etc.) if they are in any way dodgy you ca get around it.

[Todd!]

Sorry to go off topic... so the 130 will have similar options to the 330? That will be awesome!