Your fleet running reports

[Jimexpl]

First proper run in the 530d yesterday. 52.3mpg there, 49.1mpg back, aided as always by long stretches of 50mph & 40mph roadworks on the M4. Based on my previous F10 and F01 that should be fairly accurate. Unlike the RR that was reading about 20% over. Other highlights:

* BMW adaptive cruise control from 2010 is much better than the RR attempt from 2017
* HUD is added to my list of "sounds like a silly novelty but I really like it"
* RR leather is much higher quality than the base spec BMW leather - need to spec Nappa on the BMW
* I'm enjoying the funky ARB / rear steering, the car sweeps through roundabouts really nicely
* The a/c has stopped working already ! But the dealer is fully supportive, says it's likely the condenser, has ordered one already and I just need to get the car over to his mechanic.

That sounds like they knew the condenser was on the way out!
Standard BMW leather has been pretty average since about 2003. My 2001 Compact is much better than the X5, and the real leather on the 140i didn’t feel like it!

[integrale_evo]

Is it even real leather?

Or is it only the cheaper models where ‘leather’ is actually plastic?

[Gavin]

Well the ABS light on the Mini did not turn out to be due to a reluctor ring or sensor, the pring had snapped (Thanks awesome potholes) and the broken bit had slid down and had trapped and was wearing at a brake flexi, so it is still at the garage.

When I drove the Mini the other day after washing it, it was fine, but I really nticed how poor thr brakes were compared to the Superb, and how the cheapo front tyres were casing torque steer under hard acceleration.

[John]

The Beetle only came with one key so I set about trying to get a spare. Surprisingly it was the original and had the key code stamped on the key body, this enabled me to order a replacement which arrived a couple of days later and works perfectly in the ignition and driver's door lock (no lock on the passenger door).

This just left the engine lid which neither key would lock, I suspect it isn't the original. After watching a couple of YouTube vids I set about re-keying the lock. This involves removing the barrel from the lock body by removing a couple of pins, a tiny screw and other small easily lost fixtures. The key is then put into the barrel and any protruding pins are filed down to sit flush with the body. Reassemble the pile of bits and the engine lid now locks.

[Jobbo]

You probably need to start watching Bosnian Bill and Lockpickinglawyer videos on YouTube now John

[John]

I became quite an avid viewer of LPL although he did make me a bit paranoid about leaving my bikes anywhere

[Matty]

So a couple of weeks into the QV so far, and it's a reminder that it's the first really modern car I've owned. Everything else has been <2010 or intentionally basic, and I'm angrily getting used to pointless modern tech. Like auto handbrakes, and why it's got fucking awful fly-by-wire breaking. But those aside, it's very positive so far.

It's an incredibly good looking car from nearly every angle, especially in this colour. The seats are the best I've sat in, bar the Evora and ITR. Averaging about 27 MPG at the moment, mainly longer drives. It's fucking quick, I did a few 60-100 runs and counted in my head about 4.5 seconds, but reckon I reckon I could do it in a lower gear to do quicker. Engine pulls right to the redline but it's smoother than a smooth thing and it revs through incredibly cleanly. Also love the dials, thankfully no digital dash.

The "problem" is that it's so good at being a normal car I've barely used the Up. But the actual problem for me is that when pushing on, it needs more drama. Both the SLK55 and the VXR8 did this split personality really well, probably thanks to a massive V8 unburdened by forced induction....but the QV, there's zero intake noise, and the exhaust is fairly muted even with the valves open especially in such a cossetted car. Add in the smooth engine, and you're doing insane speeds (that feel 20mph less than you're actually doing) very easily and sedately. It needs more of an aural edge when you want to drive like a dickhead.

As an only car, I can completely see why they're so highly rated, they're brilliant. I can't help compare it to my old VXR8, a car I still maintain is one of the most fun I've owned. I recently re-read the EVO review for the QV:
https://www.evo.co.uk/alfa-romeo/giulia ... ng-with-it - "for I adored it like no other long-termer I’ve been privileged to run in this profession" - and the hooligan element is mentioned.... I'll see what it's like when the roads aren't so sticky, but at the moment while it's so much of a better car than the VXR8 was, I still need to find the hooligan element.

[mik]

Interesting.

Are aftermarket pipes well thought of? I think Milltek and Akrapovic offer systems (amongst others).

OEM silencers on the VXR8 were extremely aptly named…

[V8Granite]

I wonder what the intake noise can be made to sound like on a turbo without removing any filtering.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

Maps updated. Quite how BMW have confidently issued maps including roads that won’t be built until next year I don’t know but here we are. Maybe it’s like the daft American system of “model year” always being actual year +1.

IMG_1739.jpeg (33.17 KiB) Viewed 3005 times

Joking aside - impressive that this system is still supported at nearly 15 years old.

[Sundayjumper]

Is it even real leather?

Or is it only the cheaper models where ‘leather’ is actually plastic?

Apparently it’s real leather. Feels pretty cheap though.

[MikeHunt]

I wonder what the intake noise can be made to sound like on a turbo without removing any filtering.

Dave!

I’ve swapped to k/&n panel filters in my m500 and at the same time removed foam from the air boxes. There is a small difference, not a lot of extra intake noise but enough that it’s not placebo. There is a lot more turbo chatter, the flutter is a lot more noticeable.

[Matty]

Interesting.

Are aftermarket pipes well thought of? I think Milltek and Akrapovic offer systems (amongst others).

OEM silencers on the VXR8 were extremely aptly named…

Akrapovic was a factory option but veeery expensive so it's incredibly rare to see on fitted. £5k I think, and it wasn't a huge difference in sound. Various other do systems, I looked at the Supersprint (as my old GTA sounded great) but with manifolds its about £10k

Most just remove the silencers, but theres a bit debate over X-pipe, H-pipe and straight through. Most (inc specialist garages) seem to recommend H-Pipe, being turbocharged, but others suggest that the OEM exhaust doesn't mix gasses, so a straight pipe is 'correct' and that's also what Akra do on their fitment.

I've still got factory warranty until May next year, so it'll be a while before I fit anything anyway!

I wonder what the intake noise can be made to sound like on a turbo without removing any filtering.

Dave!

No one really messes with the intake on these, minimal power gains or noise. It's only really changed mainly for looks (carbon setups being £1500+) It's a really strange setup with the intake being right at the back of the engine bay too, so unless done properly I'd suspect you'd be getting a fair bit of warm air:

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[Mito Man]

Nice hot air intake, what a muppet.

[16vCento]

Best thing I ever did to my S60 was get rid of the R intake and fit a cone filter.

Everyone said it would lose power, fvck the MAF etcs, I fitted it in a enclosed chamber, used door seal to finish the edges to make it a tight fit to the bonnet when it was closed, and used the OE S60R cold air intake to make sure it still got whatever it did in the first place, and on the Dyno it made no positive or negative influence whatsoever.

It made a huge difference in making it sound like a 80's rally across though.

I miss that noise

[Ascender]

We've now partially moved house, so what better way to ensure a smooth move than by deciding to change my car in the middle of it. Luckily, the dealer gave me a loaner for a few days to allow me to take what I needed north.



Macan GTS... surprisingly nice and absolutely a great way to move lots of stuff including a daughter and two cats around. Very impressed with the steering feel, nice and responsive engine, comfortable ride and 30 mpg.

So it was 300 miles up on the Friday morning, then 300 back on the Saturday morning.

I then picked up the M3 replacement and its first drive was the 300 miles back up to the Highlands on Saturday evening..



It's a 992 Targa 4 GTS (I think that's the right words in the right order) and whoever specced it seemed to love Spinal Tap - "It’s like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black". Not a fan of all black cars but here we are. And yes, centre lock wheel nuts. The salesman just laughed and said, if you get a puncture, don't even try and get them off. We'll come and pick it up from you, sort it and deliver it back/

Initial impressions - it's the most involving, rewarding car I've driven in a very long time, especially on the twisties. It's insanely fast in the couple of modes I've tried it and the power delivery is absolutely instantaneous. It also feels absolutely planted and the ride is surprisingly comfortable for the suspension and wheel/tyres. It seems to flow incredibly well through bumps and changes in camber, takes a lot to unsettle it.

Amazing service from Edinburgh Porsche from start to finish. Hopefully get to put some miles on it tomorrow as we need to pick stuff up from further north.

[Matty]

Very nice And Targa as well....would 100% be my choice, love the look of those.

So much more involving/rewarding than the M3? Suprised to hear that...appreciate they're very different cars, but still.

[Ascender]

Very nice And Targa as well....would 100% be my choice, love the look of those.

So much more involving/rewarding than the M3? Suprised to hear that...appreciate they're very different cars, but still.

Based on first impressions on that drive, worth factoring-in the "new shiny toy" element I guess.

I think it's a few hundred kg lighter than the touring and you definitely feel it. I think they're about the same width, but the targa is so much easier to place on the road - that's been really obvious when mooching around up here on some very narrow single track roads.

The other thing which I saw as a good thing on the M3 and I think someone else said similar about their recent M car was that there's times when you put your foot down, that you can feel the software is doing all its can to make sure you don't lose traction. So sometimes it can feel like there's a fraction of (turbo) lag when you kick down in, but I think it's more that they're balancing the power v traction. There's none of that on the targa. You kick down and the power is instantaneous.

Hopefully I'll get some more miles on it this week though.

M3 Touring was absolutely incredible, especially as a one car garage, but we just don't need another practical car now, so that's when man maths came into play after the test drive.

[Jobbo]

Hope the rest of the move goes well Mike. I can tell you that a Macan will transport more than just two cats; 5 cats, 2 dachshunds and a tortoise plus driver and passenger in ours Not sure why my wife gets low 20s mpg though; I really should have gone for an S.

Really envious of the 911. I am thinking about them pretty much every day now. I want that Rubystar one I posted a link to.

[Ascender]

Hope the rest of the move goes well Mike. I can tell you that a Macan will transport more than just two cats; 5 cats, 2 dachshunds and a tortoise plus driver and passenger in ours Not sure why my wife gets low 20s mpg though; I really should have gone for an S.

Really envious of the 911. I am thinking about them pretty much every day now. I want that Rubystar one I posted a link to.

Thank you!

That's pretty damn good going!

I was really impressed with it, totally changed my perception of them.

I'd googled that Rubystar one way more times than is healthy, it's properly stunning. The sale guy also said if it rains, so long as you're not doing under 30, you don't need to put the roof back up cos "physics". And yip, he was right.

Really have missed open top motoring.