Your fleet running reports

[JLv3.0]

A one-litre Ducati makes more than that now

[Jobbo]

It wasn't even that close

That said the old Audi is still quick enough, and the big lusty N/A engine mit manuel means it ain't being sold for a looooooooong time.

It's all about the DSG gearbox really.

[GG.]

It wasn't even that close

That said the old Audi is still quick enough, and the big lusty N/A engine mit manuel means it ain't being sold for a looooooooong time.

Nothing in it on the rolling start though. Pretty much all of the S3's advantage was in the launch.

[Nathan]

It wasn't even that close

That said the old Audi is still quick enough, and the big lusty N/A engine mit manuel means it ain't being sold for a looooooooong time.

Nothing in it on the rolling start though. Pretty much all of the S3's advantage was in the launch.

The S3 has 100bhp less though so you kind of expect it

[JLv3.0]

True dat but even so - it's not even an RS3 and it's humping the oldtimer

[Jobbo]

Yeah, I've been in a few significantly quicker cars over the years, but the 330 is definitely pokey enough to be entertaining.

I mean, it's only 230bhp, remember. Not that much at all nowadays.

That is a good measure: pokey enough to be entertaining. While my Alpina was a fair bit more powerful than the 330i Touring which followed it, the 330i never felt much slower in normal driving because the Alpina needed all the revs to make the extra power. It was only when you encountered a 320d driver on a mission that you would realise how hard you need to work it to go more quickly.

2.0 turbo diesels and modern auto gearboxes mean your average repmobile is as fast as a Sierra Cosworth these days.

[ste]

It wasn't even that close

That said the old Audi is still quick enough, and the big lusty N/A engine mit manuel means it ain't being sold for a looooooooong time.

Interesting video, but an RS4 doing a 14s 1/4? Come on. Should be high 12s / v.low 13s. It was absolutely grannied off the line.

[Nathan]

DFI engine probably needs the head cleaning

[McSwede]

The march of progress - I remember when the E36 328i came out and the 2nd hand car place I worked at had one come in. It felt like the fastest car in the entire world, as did the Golf VR6 that was sat next to it. Barely adequate nowadays IMO.

Here's a video graphically demonstrating the march of progress:

And my little Noddy hatchback would show them both a clean pair of heels. If it was dry and warm

[Jobbo]

It wasn't even that close

That said the old Audi is still quick enough, and the big lusty N/A engine mit manuel means it ain't being sold for a looooooooong time.

Interesting video, but an RS4 doing a 14s 1/4? Come on. Should be high 12s / v.low 13s. It was absolutely grannied off the line.

S3s seem to manage 12.6/12.7s usually so the 13.5s in this test was a bit slow too.

[scotta]

DFI engine probably needs the head cleaning

This - JL IIRC said that made a huge difference.

[V8Granite]

The efficiency of a modern auto/DSG gearbox makes a huge improvement. Even the fluid activated 4 speed in my 500e feels slow compared to the more modern 7 speed in the ML flat out.

But, efficiency was never as fun and the seamless changes and extra gears of modern stuff removes a big layer of fun.

For everyday driving I always take the Defender as you are always changing gear and doing something, makes daily running about much more fun. I bet JL also enjoys keeping his RS4 in 1 gear and working it from 2000 to 7000 rpm needlessly aswell as it’s just good fun.

Is there still an improvement in MPg from modern diesels and petrols, BMW had this sewn up 10 years ago but I’ve not much interest in anything modern anymore.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

Well, it looks like we well & truly f*cked the engine mounts yesterday On both sides you can see where the brackets on the engine have been hitting the chassis, and there's a couple of small dents in the bonnet too ! I've ordered "EXTREME" engine & gearbox mounts that "ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR GENERAL ROAD USE". Not my capitalisation. That's exactly how they describe them. My gearbox mounts actually look fine but they're a bit soft and nineteen years old, so I may as well change them while I'm at it.

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[Swervin_Mervin]

The march of progress - I remember when the E36 328i came out and the 2nd hand car place I worked at had one come in. It felt like the fastest car in the entire world, as did the Golf VR6 that was sat next to it. Barely adequate nowadays IMO.

Yeah, I've been in a few significantly quicker cars over the years, but the 330 is definitely pokey enough to be entertaining.

I mean, it's only 230bhp, remember. Not that much at all nowadays.

Only recently I've really started to notice the march of progress when in my E91 330i. 254bhp in mine.

The plan had been to keep it for a while yet and spend any spare cash on something more interesting for the weekend, but for the first time since owning it (the longest I've owned any car - 6yrs now) I'm starting to look around a bit...

[integrale_evo]

Dents in the bonnet is pretty good going, mind you the inlet does sit pretty high on the 4pot. Be glad it doesn't have a viscous fan as they make a bit of a mess if they hit the shroud because the engine mounts are dead!

On my m3 when they went it locked the steering under high speed cornering as the manifold hit the steering shaft. That was quite interesting

Should always fit similar stiffness engine and gearbox mounts so one end isn't trying to twist more than the other. Might be worth adding a solid or powerflex black rear diff bush to match if you don't have one already.

I guess if you're going properly hardcore on it you can get rear subframe reinforcement plates which would be simple to add with it out, and depending on the type of events you're doing there are off the shelf twin rear caliper brackets so you can have a separate hydraulic handbrake circuit.

[speedingfine]

Serviced the 300E on Friday, all went well. Seemed to be running much better on a 300 mile round trip over the weekend

Far more important than this however was stopping a ticking noise coming from the HVAC fan by removing a leaf. Had to dismantle most of the area under the wiper motor... Pelican Parts manuals and old threads on Benzworld proved most helpful.

Still love it for some strange reason, minor rusty bodywork getting sorted soon.

[JonMad]

Well, it looks like we well & truly f*cked the engine mounts yesterday On both sides you can see where the brackets on the engine have been hitting the chassis, and there's a couple of small dents in the bonnet too ! I've ordered "EXTREME" engine & gearbox mounts that "ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR GENERAL ROAD USE". Not my capitalisation. That's exactly how they describe them. My gearbox mounts actually look fine but they're a bit soft and nineteen years old, so I may as well change them while I'm at it.


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That may well explain some of the noise then. Impressive to have dented the bonnet
How's the passenger window?

Just to add, thanks to SJ for the opportunity to let me be navigator. We both went into it not knowing what to expect but after the first run it was a general case of, 'well this is just epic fun'. Took some concentration, I'd say, to be able to give the correct instructions whilst also enjoying SJ sliding us around the coned areas on tarmac, loose and forest conditions. I think I might have been persuaded to try an auto solo in the Megane - the diff will help with that a fair bit I think - but maybe not the stuff we did yesterday as it's clear you need to be able to look after the car yourself, otherwise it stops being cheap motorsport. I'd happily navigate again. SJ kindly offered to let me drive and whilst that would have been amazing, (a) we'd have been slower and (b) I didn't want to break his car any more than he managed himself.

The Touareg also looks to have very good off-road specs including a comedy ride height mode. More pics from the paddock to follow, as well as the official ones from the photographer of the event.

I also need to write up about Rockingham, see separate thread in General. Busy weekend.

[Gavin]

Finally got round to fitting the new Xenon Osram Xenarc bulbs. 1 minute to swap bulbs, about 45 minutes to remove the indicators, grills an headlights! They are far brighter than the existing ones, also Osram NB Xenarc funnily enough but well past their best.

Fired up and drove the Volvo around, the old ignition barrel is still hanging off but a screwdriver works and the brakes are all shiny and silver again.

[Swervin_Mervin]

MOT on the 330i. Nae problem. As I do every time, I get an advisory for engine covers/undertrays being fitted though.

Tread's getting very low on the rears though. And apparently the front brake hoses are looking a bit tired as well. I'm going to have to try and hold off a little longer though as I've not started paying myself yet and money's a leeeeetle bit tight

The New Year could see quite a spend on it again, as it needs the fuel filler breather hose replacing, a couple of gaskets, tyres, possibly hoses and possibly front pads.

[Sundayjumper]

And apparently the front brake hoses are looking a bit tired as well.

I have had that fairly regularly over the years, on all cars. Then the following year it's not mentioned.

I don't think I've ever replaced a hose just because of an MOT advisory !