Recent content by cheburator

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    Longtube manifolds for GranTurismo (and QPV)

    Wayne has actually arrived in the 21st century! Believe it or not he has a calendar on his website and now can be properly booked/pre-paid in advance. So no more desperate voicemails left on his answerphone and asking friends with workshops to get hold of him so he can schedule a session to map...
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    Longtube manifolds for GranTurismo (and QPV)

    Mischa, forgive me for asking the obvious, but why didn't you try Wayne Schofield at Chipswizzards? This man has probably forgotten more about Bosch Motronic ECUs than Bosch ever knew about themselves... The other interesting thing is that the US GT4 race cars, which run standard engines, but...
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    Polybushes for front control arms

    No self respecting race car will have polybushes... They are a cheap replacement for the real thing that is uniballs (spherical bearings). Although it's tempting to fit the polybushes, if I were in your shoes I would get in touch with VPS in Slovenia and order their bush kit and have it done...
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    Anyone tempted by this spoiler?

    Seconded. Also, added the tiniest drops of black to tint the lacquer ever so slightly. Now the carbon - mine has the full pack - mirrors, front splitter, door handles, rear spoiler - looks really deep and you can make the weave out properly.
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    MSP or ASR disable

    Early BMW E46 M3s have traction control where one long press of the button kills it. Then there is a "hidden" function,, where another long press of the button kills the ABS too. If you want all the systems re-instated, you need to turn the car off and restart the engine. Very handy for street...
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    Oil and fuel. Thoughts and opinions

    Absolutely... I run a hot V8 BMW - turbos inside the V of the engine, hence under-bonnet temperatures are off the scale. In addition, the engine is designed to run hot - about 105 to 110C optimal coolant temperature in order to meet and exceed EURO6 and 7 emission standards. And yet BMW's...
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    Maserati UK sales (or rather lack of them)

    I was just about to say that Maserati has far more history and tradition than Aston Martin or Bentley. It was never a cheap alternative - a real Ghibli or a Bora had no real rivals from pretty much anyone but Ferrari or Lamborghini… I got a feeling that while a new Bentley would be on another...
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    Is the F! Transmission Control Unit ( ECU for gearbox) the same on the 4200 F1 as the 360/ 575 F1 or Alfa?

    What are you trying to achieve? 231.XX NCRs can be reflashed and so can 301.XX found on the later cars such as F430, F599, GranTurisno or last of the Quattroportes. But what are you trying to accomplish? A 575 NCR won’t work in a 4200 for sure. 4200 NCR will work in a 360 and it’s actually an...
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    Maserati Specialist Recommendation

    i would think that £95 + VAT for real expertise is ok value for money in the context of today ... my local BMW dealer is charging £212+VAT per hour and they would not recognise an E46 M3 even if I park mine in the middle of their showroom ... OPC South London is £204 + VAT...
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    Hideous BMW

    Alpina are indeed the masters of suspension, also their engines are great. I remember driving the Alpina Z4 roadster - the 3.4 stroker based on the old S52B32 was an absolute masterpiece, and somehow the car rode very well. Chalk and Cheese compared to my Z4MC at the time. The M3 engine was more...
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    Hideous BMW

    Don't get me wrong - the E36 M3, especially the LHD E36 M3 GT is a superb car and the chassis is to die for. I also really like the little driver orientated design flourishes in the interior, while the Vader seats are an all time design classic. Where the E46 M3 wins is the quality of materials...
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    Hideous BMW

    Following an E24 M635CSi, an E28 M5, Italian E30 320iS, which had been converted to M3 5-lug suspension and brakes, E34 M5 Touring, E39 M5, Z3MC G-Power, Z4MC, E61 M5 Touring, F85 X5M and about 8 E46 M3s - yes, I think the E46 M3 is the best ///M car ever made. Not the best in terms of power...
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    Hideous BMW

    With all due respect to your friend, but the best BMWs were probably made between 1995 and 2005.... E46 M3 - the best M car ever made by a mile E39 M5 - the best 5 series E38 740i Sport - the best 7 series Z3MC - the coolest sports car BMW has made for a very very long time Quality wise the...
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    The Cheapest Car

    2004 bought a 1989 Atlas Grey Golf 2 GT 16v with 160k miles on the clock for the princely sum of £450. It had a full service history and loads of receipts. Once I dived into them, I found a proper VW invoice for an new engine fitted 60k miles ago,. Result! Also, not a spot of rust on it. Had...
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    Alpine Tour 2024

    I did the French/Swiss/Italian part of the trip in a 928GT 20yrs ago - Gavia is single track on the Southern side indeed. Stunningly beautiful, but also pride denting - the cyclists were way faster on the way down :eek: