[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by findtom

No kidding.

Note to self: Don't buy or own off-warranty BMW.

Or any other luxury car/truck - they are so stuffed with electronics that once you're out of warranty, you better have a line of credit to service the cars.

[Wolf359]

Very true, I had my E46 one and a half year after warranty expired and it really got on my nerves when I saw that dreaded Check engine light come up to wonder if I was not going to have to cough another grand (And two times I had to do just that). At the end of the 4-years warranty of the E90 I'll either buy the extra warranty or change it.

As for chips, before winter I filled a small hole with paint, flush with the rest of the car's paint and you really had to look hard to find it (Slight difference in shine because I didn't have time to put a clearcoat on it, maybe the dealer will be kind enough to do it when I order a spa for the car this spring). Besides that I don't know if I have any - The car is a mess, it has not been washed in two months. I'm hoping the coat of dirt will have a protective effect for the paint.

[StewtheBassman]

I am really looking forward to spring.

Washed my car yesterday....not very well, but it was better than how it looked.

Check the weather guys.....I switched my All-Seasons back on the car tonight....yay!! Spring is here!!

[Bimmerista]

Show off.

I will not be putting my high performance summer tires on mine until end of April. irrespective of snow, those high perf tires do not like the (relative) cold.

[StewtheBassman]

I'm not sure I'd risk High Perf tires now, but my run-flat AS tires are adequate (I feel) for whatever remains of winter. Plus they're quieter and a bit tighter in corners.

The M3 Dunlops that I used for winter were very good though. They weren't too noisy, and they performed really well. My comparison point are the big winter Toyos they put on the 320i loaners at Jalbert. Now those are big noisy heavy tires!

Oddly, my car is lower to the ground in my winter setup than in my summer setup! I feel like I'm driving an SUV now!

[Bimmerista]

I agree that the Dunlops M3s are very good winters-but my run flats are noisier than the Dunlops M2s on my wife's x3 (and they are 55s).

Run flats are screamers !!!!

[StewtheBassman]

Do you guys have some oil-related stocks or mutual funds? With Canada being one of the few politically friendly oil producing nations around, our oil patch is behaving very nicely.

[findtom]

I can't wait to get my runflats back on... then it will be a battle of will to not test the top speed when I find myself on a flat open highway. Must... be.... strong.

Stew, I'm curious... how does the performance/handling of the X5 compare to your E90?

Isn't the oil thing part of why the CDN dollar is flying high?

[Bimmerista]

Can't wait as well for my summers.

I am sure I have oil since I have some fund called something Canadian growth fund.

[StewtheBassman]

Yeah, all the "growth funds" have some oil stuff there...just checking...I want you guys to be able to afford to buy gas and buying oil stocks is the only way LOL...

Foreigners buy our dollar to buy our oil and resources and associated stocks, yes.


I cruise at 150 in my 325xi with the AS tires...such a nice car!


Do you guys read Bimmer Mag? I just got mine today, they're starting a long term test of the 330xi.

The X5 is still a SUV, so while it corners well and floats down the highway effortlessly, it's still big, and since it is a BMW, the steering is definitely heavier than my 325 or my Jimmy. The old AWD (40:60 full time) is nowhere near as good as the xDrive. What the steering is, though, is loaded with "feel". You know where you're going at all times. Does that answer the question?

[Bimmerista]

Some financial mags have started calling the Canadian dollar a petro dollar.

Now if only I could afford the Lambos etc. that seemingly all those citizens of the other petro economies can afford....

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by Bimmerista

Some financial mags have started calling the Canadian dollar a petro dollar.

Now if only I could afford the Lambos etc. that seemingly all those citizens of the other petro economies can afford....

You may not have to look that far... Just Alberta (With the government tax refunds - Nice being paid only to stay there...!).

I too am looking forward to spring, the 205-series tires look skinny in fenders that accomodate 255 summer rubber! I usually wait to the first week of April for the wheels change but I might push it and get it done in the last week of March. We'll see how the weather behaves...

[StewtheBassman]

I tried a Ram 1500 pickup today with the Hemi. Very nice ride, 20" wheels, very studly looking. 1.8% for 60 months! or 0% for 48 months........at least they take regular unleaded! It can tow a house, and the interior is very quiet and comfy, even for me.


Oh, and I tried the Golf GTI (the new one) also Wednesday...it was very nice as well with the 2l turbo and the 6-speed manual.

Sam used to have a GTI, right?

[Wolf359]

Have you tried the F-150? It's steering is supposed to be more precise than the RAM, and the interior more upscale... That said, a RAM is a machine that can work hard (And I'm not a fan of Ford, though I must admit the F-150 is one of the class leaders too).

[StewtheBassman]

Okay, okay....you AND my client today telling me to try Fords!! I'll go and try one out!

[findtom]

I have to admit the F-150 is pretty nice as far as Fords go.

[StewtheBassman]

Although there is something about a Dodge Truck that I like...it reminds me of the 30 ton IH flatbed i used to drive when i delivered building materials in the States back in the 80s.....

[Bimmerista]

Ford F-150 King Ranch dude-the interior of a luxury car and you can tow your house when you go camping. It is available in AWD, and it costs as much as a new X5.

Honk if you like country


PS as nice as da truck is it is still a truck-if you need the attributes of a pick-up, get the cheapest one out there and use it only as required. For everything else there's BMW.

[StewtheBassman]

It almost makes sense to lease one on a super low mileage basis.....assuming 8 horse shows a year @ 800 kms a weekend.....and then some work around our place.... I could get a regular cab, as long as it has the towing capability....I could even lease a 2WD.....


Good thinking Bimmerista!


I cleaned the interior of my E90 last night.....took almost 75 minutes. That's what i get for letting my wife and kids use the car for a couple of weeks! It's nice using BMW Leather cleaner, it reminds me of my first 325i, and has a nice new smell to it.

I also put the new 18" wheels on the X5...lighter steering (less truck-like), and a little twitchier handling....VERY nice and it looks cool too.

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

It almost makes sense to lease one on a super low mileage basis.....assuming 8 horse shows a year @ 800 kms a weekend.....and then some work around our place.... I could get a regular cab, as long as it has the towing capability....I could even lease a 2WD.....


Good thinking Bimmerista!


I cleaned the interior of my E90 last night.....took almost 75 minutes. That's what i get for letting my wife and kids use the car for a couple of weeks! It's nice using BMW Leather cleaner, it reminds me of my first 325i, and has a nice new smell to it.

I also put the new 18" wheels on the X5...lighter steering (less truck-like), and a little twitchier handling....VERY nice and it looks cool too.

I guess you'll be replacing the Jimmy then ? Perhaps even buying a used pickup may do the trick ?

[StewtheBassman]

Ideally I would have two vehicles only.......I also detailed the Jimmy with an eye to selling it. I'll put an ad in the Hudson Gazette and see what comes up. If no one bites I'll keep it.

[StewtheBassman]

Tom, was that your black manual E90 parked on de Maisonneuve and Union today?