Hello and let me introduce myself!

[mr wilks]

Rob ? did you ever write owner articles in Porsche magazine,s ?

Yes...I was the founder/publisher of Total911 Magazine so wrote a few pieces over the first 48 issues before selling to Imagine Publishing in 2008 (and one or two since actually)

Great mag,s that i read cover to cover many times & only recently gave them to fellow Zerr who went astray
Bought my first 911 ( a 964) at 41 / 5 years ago & just wish i still had it
I still visit 911uk now & again & look forward to another flat 6 in the future
Welcome to Z4dom anyhow , you joined the pinnacle of car forum,s

 

[robmug]

Rob ? did you ever write owner articles in Porsche magazine,s ?

Yes...I was the founder/publisher of Total911 Magazine so wrote a few pieces over the first 48 issues before selling to Imagine Publishing in 2008 (and one or two since actually)

Great mag,s that i read cover to cover many times & only recently gave them to fellow Zerr who went astray
Bought my first 911 ( a 964) at 41 / 5 years ago & just wish i still had it
I still visit 911uk now & again & look forward to another flat 6 in the future
Welcome to Z4dom anyhow , you joined the pinnacle of car forum,s

Thanks for the comment re t911...it's something i'm incredibly proud of; damn hard work though especially as a part-time venture!

I've had 3 964s; first one on 1994 (an '89 C4 Coupe), then a C2 Tip Cab (yes, really!) in 2002, then a C2 Coupe in Midnight blue from 2003-5 when I bought the GT3...964s still my favourite and my business partner has a yellow 964 RS. My ideal garage has quite a few cars that I should never have sold...

eally enjoying the welcome to Z4-forum too...nice friendly bunch

 

[mr wilks]

Yeah it is very friendly , knowledgeable & doesn,t take itself too seriously :wink:
just missing a "Zingari"

 

[Vanne]

love the cars mate, nice Zed, and the mini sure stands out. CooperS? or standard? bet your kid loves it

 

[Vanne]

love the cars mate, nice Zed, and the mini sure stands out. CooperS? or standard? bet your kid loves it

 

[Wyldie85]

Hi and welcome!

Love the E46 but it must be nice having the option of the roof coming off after wanting a convertible for so long!

Enjoy the forum!

 

[Stevie.w]

OK...cars...

The Z4...this is the dealer's pic...better ones soon hopefully...

The CSL...(this is also the car that Evo have used several times in various features...wearing its original plate RK04 WJD)

The MX5 Race car...

..and my son's mini...we spent a good chunk of the last year building it from a bare shell having bought a tatty 1988 Mini Designer.

..and my not-forgotten GT3 Clubsport...

Hi and welcome. Track work obviously in your blood, out of all your cars what has given you the most fun?

 

[robmug]

Most fun?

Well, the midnight blue 964 I had for a few years was great; Total 911 trips to Nurburgring and French Riviera were very good memories.

The Smart Roadster that I had 2010-11 was great fun too...much ore fun than you would think is possible from 80ish bhp!

Most of the fun I have is dictated by the road trips that I do...and of course reliability is a large factor, as is cost. Unreliable, or higher costs than I'd like do dampen the experience.

320D M Sport Touring is one of the 'best' cars I've ever owned as it is so accomplished.

So...I can't decide!

 

[Stevie.w]

Was wondering about your MX5? I built a track MX5 for my sons to have a bit fun in. Started well then turned into a serious track car, but has always entertained.

 

[robmug]

Was wondering about your MX5? I built a track MX5 for my sons to have a bit fun in. Started well then turned into a serious track car, but has always entertained.

MX5 is built to BRSCC spec; so 960Kg inc driver, standard 1.6 engine but rebuilt/slight rebore and heads...132bhp, 7k red line and pretty reliable.
Tyres £26 each...brakes standard and I'm still on the same set of discs and pads as when the car was prepped (2500 track km ago)
Lots of fun...considered putting it through an MOT, but the downsides (lack of roof, windows, heater or any locks) would make it an impractican road car, except for dashes round the evo triangle...might still do it!

 

[Stevie.w]

It would certainly be a blast to run it on the road, they're such fun to drive. When I need a bit of a boost I pull our wee MX5 out for spirited drive.
It always puts a smile on my face.

 

[robmug]

Ooh that looks nice Stevie...what's the spec? Some nice neat mods too...

 

[Stevie.w]

Originally put together for my boys to have a bit of fun on the track. Thru a turbo on the side on standard motor and ran it at 250 low boost and 270 high for 18 months with no issues whatsoever. I forged the wee motor last winter and ported the head and now runs 380bhp and 330ftslbs at 1.6 bar. It's done a 13.1 quarter mile at 108mph, not that we do drag work. It was an event my boys were at and they had timing gear there and it would be rude not.
Chassis has been poly bushed, coil overs, big brakes,rail stiffeners, rollover bar, anti roll bars, arches stretched 50mm to cover wheels and tyres. S2 elise seats, harnesses. This car has been an absolute joy to drive and embarrasses very expensive machines on track. The next step required I think is aero aids as we've had a few seriously scary moments when the back ends got a bit flighty at speeds between 120/145.
At the time I built it I didn't realise it was one of the most powerful MX5's in the country and only just been beaten last week by 19bhp. I could switch on the water/methanol and map it to see what's achievable, but the poor 6speed is already on the limit (spare tucked away for the inevitable).

 

[Adamski]

Friend of mine has a similar mini rebuilt from scratch. He's got an 1,100 cc motorbike engine in his. Same colour. Wierd, but cool.

Looks like a cracking car collection

Welcome


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stevie.w]

Bike engined Mini's are serious bits of kit, would love a go in one.

 

[robmug]

The mini is quite good fun...although it does make me feel old...plus as I built it I have quite a lot of anxiety every time as I listen for / feel various things that I worry about!

The plan is to get his first year (insurance) out of the way then see how the budget looks for putting a bit more power in. Everything bar the engine/box was refreshed or replaced (subframes, brake lines, fuel lines, suspension arms and bearings, bushes...) so engine/box should be all that's needed...

In the meantime the Z4 has gone back to Cotswold as there were a few things I wasn't happy with...ready for the list?

- handling...despite a KDS before collection, the car handles slightly oddly, noticeable when pressing on down A roads as the car feels imprecise and moves laterally over bumps. I checked the KDS report and although everything is 'green', rear cambers are half a degree apart (even though each is within tolerance, the are at opposite ends of the tolerance). After a little bit of debate (including them swapping the wheels/tyres to see if it made a difference) they have agreed to redo the KDS

- wheel bearing type noise from the rear. Turned out to be the diff. New one when in today.

- one of the rear lights has water droplets. Both being replaced under warranty.

- Roof sensor (or two) playing up causing the roof to stop halfway.

- Headlamp washers - both remain protruding a little after use. Both being replaced under warranty.

- wheels; 2 were "smart" repaired. Both done quite badly. One was clearly painted whilst dirty as it's rough as sandpaper on the inside (yes, I clean the wheels on the insides)

- throttle delay. Not had reslution on this. Noticeable in all modes (car's a manual) but slightly less so in Sport/+, but a few tenths of a second delay when coming from off-throttle. Quite disconcerting on roundabouts or tight bends as you naturally compensate for nothing happening by pushing the throtle a litle further...then it comes in more than you wanted...they are currently saying "they all do that" but I remain to be convinced. No other BMW I have ever driven has done it...

- scratched dash trim. The ali/carbon finish on the ashtray lid is scratched (as is the center console)...they're saying they have to draw the line somewhere when prepping a car for AUC, and at £400 to replace I doubt they'll give in. Need ti see if there's a way of repairing...