Car Talk 6: Best of times and Worst of Times

[max225]

2010

Yeah that's just not that old.

12 years is not that not old either. Same as driving a 1988 pos in 2000

[max225]

Just had an epic fail working on the mini. Attempted to remove the headlight and failed. It has these insane contraptions that hold it in place and the T30 requires massive amounts of force on the front of the contraption that then has a nut spin freely in the back as the back contraption that is supposed to hold it in place doesn’t … in other words an over complicated way to secure the light … I got 2/4 fasteners off and the 2 I couldn’t are inaccessible from the rear so I can’t secure the nut in order to take it off.

[razr390]

Just had an epic fail working on the mini. Attempted to remove the headlight and failed. It has these insane contraptions that hold it in place and the T30 requires massive amounts of force on the front of the contraption that then has a nut spin freely in the back as the back contraption that is supposed to hold it in place doesn’t … in other words an over complicated way to secure the light … I got 2/4 fasteners off and the 2 I couldn’t are inaccessible from the rear so I can’t secure the nut in order to take it off.

Time for BMW service

[adoob]

Just had an epic fail working on the mini. Attempted to remove the headlight and failed. It has these insane contraptions that hold it in place and the T30 requires massive amounts of force on the front of the contraption that then has a nut spin freely in the back as the back contraption that is supposed to hold it in place doesn’t … in other words an over complicated way to secure the light … I got 2/4 fasteners off and the 2 I couldn’t are inaccessible from the rear so I can’t secure the nut in order to take it off.

This is the kinda shit I hated my VW for.

[razr390]

Just had an epic fail working on the mini. Attempted to remove the headlight and failed. It has these insane contraptions that hold it in place and the T30 requires massive amounts of force on the front of the contraption that then has a nut spin freely in the back as the back contraption that is supposed to hold it in place doesn’t … in other words an over complicated way to secure the light … I got 2/4 fasteners off and the 2 I couldn’t are inaccessible from the rear so I can’t secure the nut in order to take it off.

This is the kinda shit I hated my VW for.

Oh man that DRL bulb on the Jetta. If you don’t want to take the headlights off to replace… many a bloody knuckle

[adoob]

This is the kinda shit I hated my VW for.

Oh man that DRL bulb on the Jetta. If you don’t want to take the headlights off to replace… many a bloody knuckle

I bought low and high beam bulbs along with my DRLs because I decided if I was gonna go through the pain of pulling off the bumper to get the headlight housing out to change the DRL, might as well change it all at once. I drove with one DRL out for almost a year because I didn't feel like doing that LOL

[adoob]

Speaking of DRLs, I gotta figure out some way to add DRLs that don't look jank on . Thinking either getting a white/amber switchback thing for the turn signal bulbs to work as DRLs, saw a pic of some NC somewhere with that setup that looks good. Or doing that one wiring mod to allow the fog light switch to function independently of the headlights, because those Morimoto LED fogs look great.

Florida drivers are blind.

[max225]

Pot metal on the back of the T30 can not prevent the nut from spinning fucking up the removal

This is the easiest one of the 3 one is under the bumper essentially and behind the windshield washer bottle… impossible to get to without pulling half the car apart

[max225]

Part of the “solution” some dudes weld it … other complain it is cross threaded from factory

[wap]

[Johnny_P]

What the hell lol

[D Griff]

Speaking of DRLs, I gotta figure out some way to add DRLs that don't look jank on . Thinking either getting a white/amber switchback thing for the turn signal bulbs to work as DRLs, saw a pic of some NC somewhere with that setup that looks good. Or doing that one wiring mod to allow the fog light switch to function independently of the headlights, because those Morimoto LED fogs look great.

Florida drivers are blind.

I'd just go with the fog light solution if it's easy, that would be and look pretty OEM.

[D Griff]

Man a friend of mine is trying to get me to sell him the Beemah for $22K. More than I paid for the thing 30K miles ago in 2018.

I don't think I'm going to , what the hell else am I going to get?

[razr390]

Man a friend of mine is trying to get me to sell him the Beemah for $22K. More than I paid for the thing 30K miles ago in 2018.

I don't think I'm going to , what the hell else am I going to get?

The real question is what the hell are you going to get that your wife will also be onboard with?

[Tar]

Man a friend of mine is trying to get me to sell him the Beemah for $22K. More than I paid for the thing 30K miles ago in 2018.

I don't think I'm going to , what the hell else am I going to get?

BRZ?

[D Griff]

Man a friend of mine is trying to get me to sell him the Beemah for $22K. More than I paid for the thing 30K miles ago in 2018.

I don't think I'm going to , what the hell else am I going to get?

The real question is what the hell are you going to get that your wife will also be onboard with?

She doesn't care if I don't spend more money. I could talk her into spending more but it's also a 'pick your battles' type thing. I bought a bike for $3K 10 days ago

The thing is, I actually need a car now for work/going into the field, so playing an unknown waiting game isn't really an option. Everything used is dumb as far as I know, curious if I'm , but the only thing in the $20-30K range I really would want is maybe a Miata... BUT I am going to be driving to Atlanta, Raleigh, around Charlotte, occasionally other smaller markets like Ashville, Greenville, Columbia, etc. at least once a month. The BMW would be more fuel efficient and comfy than a Miata.

I do covet a GR86 but it would also be a bit worse for the commutes, worse if the thing happens at some point, +$12K or so on top of the Beemah cash if I was to do that, and then the waiting game.

For what I'm doing (trips around the Carolinas for work, occasional track events, driving to MTB parks and such), I really can't think of a much better do it all vehicle than the 328i unless I doubled the price to say an M2 or Hype R or something. New Si or maybe Elantra N are cool but not sure they're really worth +50%/the hassle of dealing with buying a car in today's market.

I think the wise choice is just driving the BMW either until it becomes unreliable or we get a house with better parking, and then offing it for Prius + GR86.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Man a friend of mine is trying to get me to sell him the Beemah for $22K. More than I paid for the thing 30K miles ago in 2018.

I don't think I'm going to , what the hell else am I going to get?

BRZ?

Or GR86.

$22k for BMW, extra 8k on top for a base BRZ/GR86, really

[Tar]

BRZ?

Or GR86.

$22k for BMW, extra 8k on top for a base BRZ/GR86, really

Apparently one dealership near me has two BRZs on the lot. Both grey, and two more coming... not sure if GR86 is attainable at this moment. ? I like the Toyota version better personally.

[D Griff]

Or GR86.

$22k for BMW, extra 8k on top for a base BRZ/GR86, really

Apparently one dealership near me has two BRZs on the lot. Both grey, and two more coming... not sure if GR86 is attainable at this moment. ? I like the Toyota version better personally.

I do too. If I went out and bought a grey BRZ I would just forever wish it was a red GR86. I have compromised on spectoo many times, it's worth waiting for the right thing.

I just hope the 328i isn't worth $10K in a year, but it is what it is, that would just be normal.

[fledonfoot]

The real question is what the hell are you going to get that your wife will also be onboard with?

She doesn't care if I don't spend more money. I could talk her into spending more but it's also a 'pick your battles' type thing. I bought a bike for $3K 10 days ago

The thing is, I actually need a car now for work/going into the field, so playing an unknown waiting game isn't really an option. Everything used is dumb as far as I know, curious if I'm , but the only thing in the $20-30K range I really would want is maybe a Miata... BUT I am going to be driving to Atlanta, Raleigh, around Charlotte, occasionally other smaller markets like Ashville, Greenville, Columbia, etc. at least once a month. The BMW would be more fuel efficient and comfy than a Miata.

I do covet a GR86 but it would also be a bit worse for the commutes, worse if the thing happens at some point, +$12K or so on top of the Beemah cash if I was to do that, and then the waiting game.

For what I'm doing (trips around the Carolinas for work, occasional track events, driving to MTB parks and such), I really can't think of a much better do it all vehicle than the 328i unless I doubled the price to say an M2 or Hype R or something. New Si or maybe Elantra N are cool but not sure they're really worth +50%/the hassle of dealing with buying a car in today's market.

I think the wise choice is just driving the BMW either until it becomes unreliable or we get a house with better parking, and then offing it for Prius + GR86.

Want to buy a corolla hybrid?

[D Griff]

She doesn't care if I don't spend more money. I could talk her into spending more but it's also a 'pick your battles' type thing. I bought a bike for $3K 10 days ago

The thing is, I actually need a car now for work/going into the field, so playing an unknown waiting game isn't really an option. Everything used is dumb as far as I know, curious if I'm , but the only thing in the $20-30K range I really would want is maybe a Miata... BUT I am going to be driving to Atlanta, Raleigh, around Charlotte, occasionally other smaller markets like Ashville, Greenville, Columbia, etc. at least once a month. The BMW would be more fuel efficient and comfy than a Miata.

I do covet a GR86 but it would also be a bit worse for the commutes, worse if the thing happens at some point, +$12K or so on top of the Beemah cash if I was to do that, and then the waiting game.

For what I'm doing (trips around the Carolinas for work, occasional track events, driving to MTB parks and such), I really can't think of a much better do it all vehicle than the 328i unless I doubled the price to say an M2 or Hype R or something. New Si or maybe Elantra N are cool but not sure they're really worth +50%/the hassle of dealing with buying a car in today's market.

I think the wise choice is just driving the BMW either until it becomes unreliable or we get a house with better parking, and then offing it for Prius + GR86.

Want to buy a corolla hybrid?

Nah, I think if that was my only car I'd be too

Don't really have room for two at the moment.

The more I think about it, the more I'm committed to CuckMW life. , it's a solid car.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Apparently one dealership near me has two BRZs on the lot. Both grey, and two more coming... not sure if GR86 is attainable at this moment. ? I like the Toyota version better personally.

I do too. If I went out and bought a grey BRZ I would just forever wish it was a red GR86. I have compromised on spectoo many times, it's worth waiting for the right thing.

I just hope the 328i isn't worth $10K in a year, but it is what it is, that would just be normal.

If buying a new car at MSRP, get what you want with minimal compromises. Even something as stupid as color makes a big difference. There's only been a few times where I was able to line up my ideal color for a vehicle, and it makes a big difference in my "like" for the vehicle. I love the way my bright orange JT looked, I really love the way the 4R turned out, which is particularly good because I waited longer specifically for the color. I could have had a white or gray one far quicker, but it was worth the wait.

[max225]

Just had an epic fail working on the mini. Attempted to remove the headlight and failed. It has these insane contraptions that hold it in place and the T30 requires massive amounts of force on the front of the contraption that then has a nut spin freely in the back as the back contraption that is supposed to hold it in place doesn’t … in other words an over complicated way to secure the light … I got 2/4 fasteners off and the 2 I couldn’t are inaccessible from the rear so I can’t secure the nut in order to take it off.

Is the captive nut seized on the bolt?

I don't recall running into issues on the wife's F56; all of the headlight bolts came out without an issue from what I can remember. It was just a little tedious getting everything lined back up again so the shut lines were equal on all sides of the headlight.

somewhat seized I think...it just seems like it doesn't want to come out past the last 3 threads... Fking bizarre. 1 came out just fine (annoyingly the one that is accessible from the back) the other 2 are basically stuck on. Sounds like the factory uses some sort of loctite component that may be doing this

[fledonfoot]

Want to buy a corolla hybrid?

Nah, I think if that was my only car I'd be too

You are not wrong. Fantastic appliance and a solid tool.

[Tar]

Apparently one dealership near me has two BRZs on the lot. Both grey, and two more coming... not sure if GR86 is attainable at this moment. ? I like the Toyota version better personally.

I do too. If I went out and bought a grey BRZ I would just forever wish it was a red GR86. I have compromised on spectoo many times, it's worth waiting for the right thing.

I just hope the 328i isn't worth $10K in a year, but it is what it is, that would just be normal.

I couldn't but a grey BRZ either, but would have a close look at one in a better color.