Why are you waiting? The 996 turbos (even less so the GT3/2 I'd think) are not really depreciating at this point (probably stable to slight uptick especially for the latter), so...

7/28/2014 3:13:41 PM

i meant i'm holding out for a 997.

plus they don't really make any sense for me in my current situation. i drive 30,000+ miles/year, hence the Insight.

7/28/2014 11:18:49 PM

[Edited on July 28, 2014 at 11:21 PM. Reason : dbl post]

7/28/2014 11:21:00 PM

And I was asking you WHY you’re holding out for a 997...

7/29/2014 1:43:41 AM

My guess is looks

7/29/2014 8:46:17 AM

Really, you think they’re THAT ugly, even the wide body models?

I suppose since this is the “what have you done to your car” thread, I’ll post a couple of pics of mine. Carbon center console, got rid of all of the orange everywhere;

7/29/2014 4:54:57 PM

I didn't think you were a fan of carbon fiber interiors... or is that only applicable to the vinyl overlays?

7/30/2014 12:31:52 AM

Ahmet, to clarify I wasn't saying I dislike the look of the 996 Turbo. While in my opinion it's the least attractive turbo model I still think it looks good and I wouldn't think twice about owning one if I could.

Back on general topic, the Integra failed inspection today b/c of an exhaust leak. BLAH! Anyone know of a reputable exhaust shop that offers fair prices? I'm fairly certain the leak is from where the header bolts to the engine block and that's a can of worms I'd prefer not to personally deal with. Last time I did anything involving those bolts I snapped half of one off in the engine block

7/30/2014 9:30:21 AM

^^ not a huge fan of carbon interiors/non-functional interiors (and this IS an overlay), but I bought this car with orange suede glued or sewn in everywhere... I was able to remove and replace most of the parts, but the console didn’t look great and a replacement in good condition was expensive - and to be honest I wanted to see how good of a job I could do... Anyway, following are two more pictures of before and during.

Before:

During:


^ if it’s indeed leaking from between the head and the headers, you don’t need an exhaust shop, you need a mechanic. Usually a penetrating lubricant/temperature changes/tapping (with a small hammer for example) helps to loosen things.

7/30/2014 1:51:58 PM

Thanks, and I suppose that's true as there would be no fabrication, etc needed. Gonna try to confirm location of the leak later today.

7/30/2014 3:03:49 PM

installed a ZHP shift knob. $70. money well spent.

7/30/2014 4:26:22 PM

was checking tire pressure...and noticed the balancing weights were completely gone on one wheel

Depending on how shipping is, I may be patching two pinholes in the top this weekend and reinforcing other areas with ballistic nylon. Here's to hoping I don't completely fuck everything up with this vinyl cement

[Edited on July 30, 2014 at 7:23 PM. Reason : ]

7/30/2014 7:22:30 PM

Yeah, the exhaust leak is definitely coming from where the header attaches to the engine block. One of the bolts was loose to the touch, and I wasn't able to tighten it with a socket wrench...got a little tighter and then just would turn, and turn. Yay.

7/31/2014 8:15:36 AM

Designing engine straps so I don't have to use motor plates.

8/1/2014 8:13:35 AM

Almost killed 4 gay dudes in 2013 honda fit. They ran a red light and E39 t-boned them.
Car most likely totalled. Shame...as I really loved that car.

8/5/2014 4:05:10 AM

Damn man. I hope you are okay! Sorry about your loss.

8/5/2014 6:42:43 AM

Fuck man, your M5?!?

Hope you're not hurt.

8/5/2014 8:53:58 AM

I am ok, thanks for asking. Car is most likely totaled due to high mileage (166k) not necessarily because of big damage. On a $12k car it doesn't take much.
Honda fit with 4 people inside ran a red light on my green. T-boned the hell out of them, they admitted fault and running a light. One of the guys has broken ribs. They were really lucky I was going somewhat slow. I think getting a 4th E39 M5 would be a bit too much as much I love that damn car. Going to be shopping for some time while rental runs out. used e9x m3, cayman, z06, b7 rs4, x63 amg, alpina b7, prius (shhh), STI...too many things considered...

8/6/2014 3:26:48 PM

Glad you’re alright and that others are “mostly” ok also. Would love some pics of the carnage btw!

As for the cars, I’m not a fan of the e90 M3 at this point despite how good they look and sound. :/ Venture out, drive some cars man!

8/6/2014 3:38:13 PM

Thanks. Yeah, I'm thinking to try something else. Been reading about Cayman R, but out of my budget for now. Tired of myself and being all over the place. Can't make a decision.

8/7/2014 1:00:18 PM

starter solenoid replaced
head unit replaced

8/7/2014 1:20:38 PM

I bet it is totaled, though the damage doesn’t look bad at all. I assume the airbags did not deploy judging by the windshield. I’d seriously consider buying it back from the insurance co. and swapping over a new hood, bumper, headlights and fenders... Shouldn’t be hard to find in black either (I assume fenders and hood are interchangeable between the M and the regular 5 series).

8/7/2014 1:56:00 PM

Quote :

"I’d seriously consider buying it back from the insurance co. and swapping over a new hood, bumper, headlights and fenders"

That's what I was about to propose.

I did that when someone "totaled" my car and made some $ in the process.

8/7/2014 1:57:53 PM

Has anyone deleted their stock mufflers and just put a normal ol pipe in their place with tips? I've read across a few forums on cars with the same engine (BMW S52 on 99-00 M Roadster/Coupe, E36 M3 USA) and the opinion seems to vary wildly and most people who have done a muffler delete have headers, delete cats/resonators/etc, so I'm not sure if I can isolate the impact of the muffler delete itself.

I have a mostly stock '00 M Coupe with only a CAI. I feel like I can't even hear my exhaust over the sound of the engine up front...any remedies this for?

Cutting the quad tips off with a nice stainless pipe and Vibrant quad tip set up, for $250, sounds rather tempting. Any advice? I'm looking for something meaner above 3-4k, but I don't want to make it unbearable day-to-day.

8/7/2014 3:45:54 PM

youtube that shit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlkNmgPbdVU


as the king of shitty, useless exhaust modifications I'd advise against doing that to a DD.

[Edited on August 7, 2014 at 3:53 PM. Reason : -]

8/7/2014 3:51:56 PM

^^^&^^^^Yes, went through buyback process before and sometimes you can come out on top. Problem is cooling system is also busted. Realistically, it is a $10k car on the market. What you dont see in the picture is that two quarter panels (front sharp pointed ends) are also damaged. I'll see what the buyback price is first.

[Edited on August 7, 2014 at 3:55 PM. Reason : f]

8/7/2014 3:55:02 PM

^^ Thanks, I've somehow not come across that one.

What's your suggestion for a little more backend noise at a reasonable cost? Given that it's a cost I'll never get back, I'd like to do it in an affordable way or just leave it stock. Options are....different mufflers (e.g. some magna-drones)? For the money, I don't think it's worth it to do a full system (e.g. supersprint, remus).

8/7/2014 4:02:36 PM

I searched "Straight piped m coupe"

As for mufflers, do they not have 'axle-back' kits for those things? Throwing on a random manufacturer's muffler may result in undesired resonant frequencies.

I'd gander a pair of 2.5" perf-core glasspacks with some appropriately sized tips.

8/7/2014 4:15:15 PM

^ Do you think the glasspack and tips would be closer to stock or straight pipes?

8/7/2014 4:45:18 PM

nothing is going to be close to OEM muffler attenuation, but the glasspacks may absorb more of the sound you don't want to hear in the cabin.

Why not just nut up to some of this:
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-Z3-M_Coupe-S52_3.2L/ES1843983/

8/7/2014 4:52:19 PM

Ha, I'd love to, but on a 15 year old car with 7 owners, I'm going to fix something if I'm going to spend that much. For 100-300 bucks, I dont mind adding a little rasp to the car; anything more, I can't justify sound over preventative maintenance.

8/7/2014 5:05:41 PM

Yay, I have to replace the timing chain tensioner now.

But that's long over due. According to s2ki, you're lucky for the OEM to last 10 minutes after the car left the factory.

8/8/2014 2:47:41 AM

if i had an i6 bmw in need of exhaust, it would be a supersprint catback

8/8/2014 11:04:12 AM

Quote :

"What's your suggestion for a little more backend noise at a reasonable cost? Given that it's a cost I'll never get back, I'd like to do it in an affordable way or just leave it stock."

Not true. If you buy an aftermarket exhaust system keep your OEM one. You can always sell the aftermarket one later and re-install the OEM one. That's getting back money.

8/8/2014 12:59:19 PM

Tore the interior apart installing shift knob & boot, stereo & backup camera on my new old Toyota in Pontiac's clothing. Hope the burning electrics smell this evening wasn't my car
Dig this little go-kart!

8/17/2014 9:37:36 PM

Fiero?

8/17/2014 9:41:15 PM

damn, dude.. sucks about your e39 M5, 1in10^9

I know how you feel about them, I feel the same way with mine

hope it all works out


as far as what have I done with my car lately:

took 2nd overall at today's RallyX in Wilson

8/17/2014 11:04:00 PM

That is a very good looking car.

8/17/2014 11:22:11 PM

My 7-year old changed the transmission fluid in my Honda yesterday. I did not lay a single finger on anything other than to kick the ratchet to break loose the drain plug, and then to pull it a little tighter for her after she reinstalled it.

8/18/2014 1:04:47 AM

Hiro `03 Vibe GT since the second-gen Tacoma murdered my income-debt ratio. Stupid name, seriously quick with the same engine found in a Lotus Elise!

8/18/2014 9:54:45 AM

Thanks, Hiro

8/18/2014 11:08:55 PM

Awesome photo Ray.

And awesome daughter Duke.

8/19/2014 9:23:39 AM

Hah, that's awesome Duke, when are you going to get her karting?

H8R, are you running SCCA RallyX? And what class are you running?

We've lost all our sites for RallyX locally unfortunately, although I did get to take my Civic out for a test and tune (first time trying it on dirt with the Si drivetrain) at a local Go Kart track that's trying to clear enough for a RallyX:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG4CDx_QWOE&feature=youtu.be

My Civic will be in Modified FWD for SCCA RallyX now, and I want to gut it, cage it, and do a number of other things to make it competitive for RallyX and legal for the NASA SandBlast stage rally, maybe next year. I really need a local RallyX site to test and tune it on though.

8/19/2014 10:14:19 AM

Thanks, Pat!

I haven't done any SCCA RallyX events yet, none closer than 5 to 6 hours away. Just not feasible for 10 minutes of track time...

I do THSCC events, which are local (within an hour or two of Raleigh)

There's a RallyX at VIR on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, which will be a lot longer than usual ~2 mile laps if anyone is interested

more sideways

8/20/2014 4:53:05 PM

R1200R
[X] Final Drive Fluid Change
[X] Transmission Fluid Change
[X] Engine Oil Change
[X] New Rear Tire

She's a solid bike at 49,862 miles.

8/20/2014 7:39:51 PM

Thanks H8R. It was sad to see her go, but perhaps it is time to move on. It will be hard to find a replacement

8/22/2014 1:27:28 AM

if anything were to happen to mine, i'd buy an e30 and swap the s62 and 6 speed into it

already done in my mind.

8/22/2014 2:56:29 PM

welp, the AC stopped working in the Cayman and the line pressure is fine, no recharge needed.

8/22/2014 8:05:59 PM

CPO?

8/22/2014 9:51:00 PM

dang, Pat. That sux, good luck with that.

8/23/2014 2:43:30 AM