Your fleet running reports

[Swervin_Mervin]

Misfire tonight on tue way home in the 330. Was fine when setting off but started stuttering after joining a d/c. Exited at the next junction and switched off and back on again and all ok.

Meh.

[Mito Man]

Car in having its wheels refurbished, decided to stick with the same colour so had to pay extra for a colour match. On the way there had a lemon just pull out of a T junction into the main road in front of me without looking - if you’re not paying attention and do something stupid like that mash the throttle because coming to a full stop and apologising just gives me even less braking distance and would result in you getting hurt more in a side impact vs being punted up the arse... Came to a stop half a metre from his face.

[Sundayjumper]

Compact #1 is back on the ground and went for a shakedown last night.

The first run was cut short when I discovered I'd not done the wheels up properly. D'oh.

Second run better. New beam bushes (the old ones were very knackered indeed) & LSD make the rear end feel far more planted when deploying the entire ~100bhp on hand. Lower ratio too, which should help, but it means 70mph is nearly 4000rpm now and it's a bit noisy by then.

There's a few odd jobs still to do but I'm now pretty much ready for the Bramley Targa this Sunday

[JonMad]

Compact #1 is back on the ground and went for a shakedown last night.

The first run was cut short when I discovered I'd not done the wheels up properly. D'oh.

Second run better. New beam bushes (the old ones were very knackered indeed) & LSD make the rear end feel far more planted when deploying the entire ~100bhp on hand. Lower ratio too, which should help, but it means 70mph is nearly 4000rpm now and it's a bit noisy by then.

There's a few odd jobs still to do but I'm now pretty much ready for the Bramley Targa this Sunday

Just needs your navigator to not fuck it up.

[Sundayjumper]

Just needs your navigator to not fuck it up.

Meh. I'm sure I can fuck it up all on my own !!

The car should be loads better than last time though. The engine is actually fixed down now and not bouncing off the bonnet, there's a lower x-brace at the front, a substantial welded strut brace / harness bar at the back and the aforementioned LSD. It should be lots of fun.

The next big job is the engine swap, to get the 318ti engine (M44) in, that should give me an extra 30bhp and 20 lb⋅ft.

From some idle browsing it appears the M42 is the preferred base if you get serious about power as it has a stronger bottom end. 200+ bhp if you throw enough money into a full build. Similar to an E30 M3.

[Rich B]

Just needs your navigator to not fuck it up.

Meh. I'm sure I can fuck it up all on my own !!

The car should be loads better than last time though. The engine is actually fixed down now and not bouncing off the bonnet, there's a lower x-brace at the front, a substantial welded strut brace / harness bar at the back and the aforementioned LSD. It should be lots of fun.

The next big job is the engine swap, to get the 318ti engine (M44) in, that should give me an extra 30bhp and 20 lb⋅ft.

From some idle browsing it appears the M42 is the preferred base if you get serious about power as it has a stronger bottom end. 200+ bhp if you throw enough money into a full build. Similar to an E30 M3.

isnt the point of the compact that it’s cheap? Might as we use your 911 if you want to start throwing money at the compact? All sounds lots of fun though!

[Sundayjumper]

isnt the point of the compact that it’s cheap? Might as we use your 911 if you want to start throwing money at the compact? All sounds lots of fun though!

Don't worry, I'm not going for that kind of engine build ! Based on the websites of some specialists in the States, "enough money" is upwards of $10k

There's multiple angles to "cheap" though. Cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to repair ? I could spend ££s on some nice bits for the Compact, then crash it, and most or all of the nice bits would transfer to another shell. A Compact shell is quite cheap. Virtually free if you're lucky. A Porsche shell, less so...

Also, as these Targas are run under road rally regs, you're not allowed engines with more than four cylinders, so the Porsche is out anyway.

[drcarlos]

Subaru needs a clutch, driveshaft seals and a new sump plug on the gearbox.

Disappointed as when I bought it despite the lack of history (it got lost in a house move) the seller was quite convinced it had a fairly recent Exedy Sport Clutch fitted. So either he was mistaken (everything else has been fine so I have no reason to disbelieve him) or it may have been a fake Exedy clutch which are rife on the internet and fail early.

So I'll get a real Exedy Stage 1 Pink box kit from Japspeed and get that fitted and get the seals changed at the same time along with a fluid change and new sump plug. The exhaust has to come off to do the job too so I may get the rest of the prodrive system fitted, but then again the gaskets are being done I was going to fit an STi turbo and then it needs mapping too, that's going to get expensive.

Carl.

[Rich B]

Sure enough, this time it’s due for more..... much more.

I’ve done about 10k miles this year. So, Oil, filters, spark plugs, gearbox oil, diff oil.... that lot will be the best part of a grand including //M tax!

I still count that as winning. I reckon 2k a year in running costs on anything interesting.

Absolutely, I’m not upset about it - i also like the idea of keeping cars looked after. As I’ve said before, an unreliable car is an utterly pointless thing in my view!

Turns out I needed 2 new front tyres and the the wife’s 320d (which obviously sailed through it’s not) needs 4 new tyres... that’s 6 x 19inch tyres I’ve just ordered!!!

[tim]

This missus is running 19s on a 320d? Well played Sir...

[Rich B]

This missus is running 19s on a 320d? Well played Sir...

yeah, it could easily be argued that is daft to put expensive 19s on a diesel wagon, but they look cool! (and unlike the evo lawyers division, I put my wife in a decent car!)

[McSwede]

This missus is running 19s on a 320d? Well played Sir...

yeah, it could easily be argued that is daft to put expensive 19s on a diesel wagon, but they look cool! (and unlike the evo lawyers division, I put my wife in a decent car!)

They are lovely wheels those 19's and the car looks spanking. They are a super family wagon!

[Matty]

What do the SWAS know anyway? Anything under 18 inches is just a caster.

[Mike1215]

Just needs your navigator to not fuck it up.

Meh. I'm sure I can fuck it up all on my own !!

The car should be loads better than last time though. The engine is actually fixed down now and not bouncing off the bonnet, there's a lower x-brace at the front, a substantial welded strut brace / harness bar at the back and the aforementioned LSD. It should be lots of fun.

The next big job is the engine swap, to get the 318ti engine (M44) in, that should give me an extra 30bhp and 20 lb⋅ft.

From some idle browsing it appears the M42 is the preferred base if you get serious about power as it has a stronger bottom end. 200+ bhp if you throw enough money into a full build. Similar to an E30 M3.

Sounds great

I still enjoy my Compact a lot, nowhere near as modded as yours but has been the most fun of my recent BMs - the only one I enjoyed more was my old E21 323i

[IanF]

This missus is running 19s on a 320d? Well played Sir...

yeah, it could easily be argued that is daft to put expensive 19s on a diesel wagon, but they look cool! (and unlike the evo lawyers division, I put my wife in a decent car!)

That's a good looking car!

[DeskJockey]

What do the SWAS know anyway?

What a comfortable ride feels like?

[Jobbo]

I love the way buying one of the most common repmobile diesel estates for your wife is a ‘decent car’

Very practical transport Rich. Does she sell many photocopiers?

[Rich B]

I love the way buying one of the most common repmobile diesel estates for your wife is a ‘decent car’

Very practical transport Rich. Does she sell many photocopiers?

lol - buttons pressed!!

Yep, it’s very practical, and safe too! I’m far happier knowing that my wife and child are in an NCAP 5 star car, rather than some old cheap shitbox.

[John]

The fleet is down by one as I've sold the Berlingo. Hopefully get a replacement in the next week or two.

[IanF]

I love the way buying one of the most common repmobile diesel estates for your wife is a ‘decent car’

Very practical transport Rich. Does she sell many photocopiers?

lol - buttons pressed!!

Yep, it’s very practical, and safe too! I’m far happier knowing that my wife and child are in an NCAP 5 star car, rather than some old cheap shitbox.

Yeah, "most common repmobile" isn't in any way an insult in this instance; seems like a smart purchase to me.