2024 is a few months old now, so quick interim update! First of all, I scored a set of decent winter wheels for less than a 100 euro's. That's wheels and tyres (reasonable tread left still) for less than a tank of fuel- briliant.
Gotta say, I like the look! I had decided on different summer wheels, however another big purchase has since thrown a huge spanner in the works: I've bought a house! My GF and I had been looking for a while, when suddenly sometime mid February we came across the perfect spot. Although this means some of my Zed-plans will have to be put off for the time being, I'm over the moon with this next step. Naturally, I'll build myself a nice workspace too so I can work on my car -and others- in peace (and more importantly, warmth and comfort!).
So does that mean I haven't moved forward with the Zed at all? Err, well...
Say "hi" to Zed No.3: an M-roadster- or what's left of it. Managed to pick this up at a good price, so what's the idea? Well, in preparation for my big project on the green machine, I need the full running gear from an M. That's front- and rear subframe, drive shafts, M-diff, suspension arms front and rear... The lot really. In due time, the N52, current gearbox, drivetrain, and full suspension and brake setup will exit and find their new home in a to-be purchased 2.0L donor, creating a fun roadster runabout. The coupe will get a new heart at that point... :evil: Oh and yes, that Z8 in the background is absolutely stunning :wub:
All that work was originally planned for next autumn, but I'll be moving in October so realistically it will have to wait for at least another year. Oh well! Meanwhile, I also snagged up a new daily driver back in January:
A lovely E91 325i LCI in Monaco Blue with a saddle brown interior. It belonged to a German BMW mechanic who has fastidiously maintained it, tackling all the typical N53 quirks and issues when he got it 4 years ago. Interesting to experience what is in essence the successor to our N52's. The smooth, lineair character of the atmospheric straight six is very similar to the N52. Fuel consumption is down significantly, running about 7.5L per 100km compared to the 8.9L I get from the Z4 (which is about 250kg lighter too). This is partly due to the direct injection, which unfortunately also kills the beautiful soundtrack at idle you'd normally get. The injectors are loud, but as soon as you set off it reverts back to type and produces a sonorous, quiet hum that is in no way intrusive even when cruising at 160km/h.
You really only get to know a car on a longer trip, so [ref]MaldivesMax[/ref] and I set off for a pair of M-sport seats he needed for his roadster. We had already collected another pair, but those were non-heated electrics. These are heated manuals, exactly as he wanted them. I've got something planned for the electric set, so more on that in about a month.
The 3'er performed flawlessly, getting us to [ref]BigWinn[/ref] on a single tank of fuel, then getting us back home again on another. Averaging 97.8 km/h, the 1500km flew by that day. Besides the short wait on the train, we really managed to keep moving all day long. Nice!
So what's next? Expect an update on Max's seats and mine in about a month, roadtrip to Ultimate BMW by the end of April (anyone else here going?!) followed by a few days of fun in Wales. Any recommendations, feel free to share
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