OV9

R5e alarm went off at 12.18am last night, waking me up again. I’ll be deactivating it as a matter of course every night for now but I need to get it to Renault.

Apparently the alarm is fitted when it arrives in the U.K. is that common these days? Every car I’ve owned for maybe 20 years with an alarm seemed to have it integrated and I assumed from the factory. But the only obvious sign on the R5 is an alarm sticker in the window.

@jobbo - sounds like a right PITA.

I can't believe dealer fitment alarm/immobiliser is in any way "normal" these days - unless the factory one doesn't meet Thatcham requirements (?).

Last time I even thought about this was 2001 when I ordered a new Leon from The Netherlands as a grey import : I had to spec the (factory fit) alarm as it was oem spec for that model in the UK, but not the rest of Europe.

Marv wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:36 am

Jimmy Choo wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 11:16 pm

Marv wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 10:23 pm

I prefer to be low-key about such things. I might actually start referring to it as "the E46 Coupe"

How about just "the 3 series"?

3'er ?

BM?

Jimmy Choo wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 9:25 am

Marv wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:36 am

Jimmy Choo wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 11:16 pm

How about just "the 3 series"?

3'er ?

BM?

The car.

The centre stand on Will’s Aprillia SXR50 snapped at a shonky Italian weld. 2 weeks after the warranty ran out.

A bit inconvenient to say the least, 10 days to get the part from Italy via the dealer.

Car wheels all got powder coated last week. The car itself has decent paint so they lift the wheels to match. I went with the refurb chap's recomendation and they are a sort of metallic anthracite grey. On a Black car I am not 100% convinced, but better than 7 year old slightly tatty diamon cut and quite similar to the painted sections as they were.

Still averaging 35 mpg as well, which is nice, although that is mostly wafting along and had afew decent trips to help, as it has had over 40 on longer drives, at the NSL so not hyper miling.

Overall still really pleased with the car.

It does attract hate from people in mundane boxes though. I had someone a foot from mt chuff as I went through roadwroks on the M90 so I waved my hand (really just waved as in what are you tailgating for) then I speeded up a bit and he gestured as if he was self manipulating, quite vociferously.

So he was annoyed I was going at the posted limt, and annoyed when I speeded up. Once past I slotted across and he went past, I was expecting more gestures but he glanced across and then just carried on. I found very short hair had a similar calming effect when I live in London.

@Gavin I don’t find the S6 attracts any particular attention like that, so I think the S4 is maybe a bit more flashy to make other drivers want to prove themselves. The MX5 does attract attention but it’s mostly smiles and waves, though white vans like to tailgate in 30 limits. Could be the mirror magnifying them or the fact you sit much closer to the back of the car and they’re actually a normal distance away

I think modern German cars in general seem to suffer a little from this.

CarPlay fitted to the 360


Special import from the US, they’re not available anywhere else. Which seems crazy as they seem to be the only proper single-DIN solution available and there’s definitely a market for that.

Also, it’ll accept a reverse camera. That will be the next job.

Nice how many pennies?

a load of guys on the elise pages were fitting the £30 aliexpress ones the other day - they look similar.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007 ... 32ab140e26

The Aliexpress ones don't fit - they're too tall to fit a standard DIN aperture. 64mm vs. 58mm. Check their install pics...

i love it when manufacturers make up new weird standards!!

(to be fair, bicycle manufacturers are worse for it).

Sundayjumper wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:48 pmCheck their install pics...

They look like they fit the elise hole anyway - i’ll probably get one when i get round to it.

tim wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 10:33 am The centre stand on Will’s Aprillia SXR50 snapped at a shonky Italian weld. 2 weeks after the warranty ran out.

A bit inconvenient to say the least, 10 days to get the part from Italy via the dealer.

Assuming it’s steel, if you can get it over to bury I’m sure I can find a way to stick it together until the replacement arrives.

Single Din CarPlay looks like a better more modern aspect ratio.

Rich B wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:54 pm

Sundayjumper wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:48 pmCheck their install pics...

They look like they fit the elise hole anyway - i’ll probably get one when i get round to it.

Huh. You must have an oversized hole ! The definitely don’t fit a 360. I’ve seen some shocking photos of radios that “fit” when they obviously don’t.

Jobbo wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 8:39 am @Gavin I don’t find the S6 attracts any particular attention like that, so I think the S4 is maybe a bit more flashy to make other drivers want to prove themselves. The MX5 does attract attention but it’s mostly smiles and waves, though white vans like to tailgate in 30 limits. Could be the mirror magnifying them or the fact you sit much closer to the back of the car and they’re actually a normal distance away

It was an S5 sportback I got, so not as subtle as an S4 or S4 Avant. It is not a huge number of reactions, but noticably more than the utterly anonymous Superb.

If/Wehen it gets stolen, I will replace it was the S4 Avant and debadge it.

Sundayjumper wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 1:12 pm

Rich B wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:54 pm

Sundayjumper wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:48 pmCheck their install pics...

They look like they fit the elise hole anyway - i’ll probably get one when i get round to it.

Huh. You must have an oversized hole ! The definitely don’t fit a 360. I’ve seen some shocking photos of radios that “fit” when they obviously don’t.

i've ordered one now as you reminded/inspired me to do it. i just need to get an opportunity to fit it (as well as fixing the variety of other issues it has!)

integrale_evo wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:56 pm Assuming it’s steel, if you can get it over to bury I’m sure I can find a way to stick it together until the replacement arrives.

That's very kind of you mate, I actually ordered it Saturday last week so it should be here any day now, but if it's gone awry I will deffo take you up on that!