Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright · December 2017

nyccarguy said:
I'm starting to think it's the CV Joints more and more. Now the banging happens when I turn left or right with the wheel cranked and the low speeds.

Well if it is, don't try to rebuild just the joint--get a complete axle kit for that side. Be sure, however, to buy a good quality axle kit--know the source.

xwesx · December 2017

stickguy said:
(she was wondering why no solutions offered),

That description makes for a tough arm-chair diagnosis! The location is a tough one to really offer an educated guess. I can think of four possible fluids: Engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, or coolant. All of these are distinctly different from one another in terms of smell (and, often, appearance), so it shouldn't be difficult to quickly determine which.

You said you thought it was engine oil. So, at that location (on top of transmission?), the only way I can think that a "little puddle" could form would be if there was a leak in the ventilation system (or maybe EGR). But, if you're getting that, and oil into there, then I would be surprised if you didn't notice a performance issue at the same time. If she's smelling it, then probably also dripping (slightly?) onto the exhaust and burning off.

Again, it's really tough to say. Fluid leaks of most kinds are direct powertrain items, so probably no worries about whether it is a warranty issue.

andres3 · December 2017

ab348 said:
Shocked myself today. Was in the ATS trying to turn left onto my street at rush hour this aft., saw a gap and floored it. I burned rubber all the way, got a little sideways, and made a wonderful noise. Neighbors must think I'm a hooligan. I forgot that RWD w/limited slip and lots of power can be so much fun.

Time to take it to the nearest Canadian track for an HPDE weekend.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2017

andres3 said:

ab348 said:
Shocked myself today. Was in the ATS trying to turn left onto my street at rush hour this aft., saw a gap and floored it. I burned rubber all the way, got a little sideways, and made a wonderful noise. Neighbors must think I'm a hooligan. I forgot that RWD w/limited slip and lots of power can be so much fun.
Time to take it to the nearest Canadian track for an HPDE weekend.

What happened to your traction control?

stickguy · December 2017

I was poking around again. Harder to find since I swabbed up a bit of the puddle. I think it might be trans fluid. Seems slightly reddish. But I won't swear to it. Oil is still at top of dipstick after about 3K since last change. Definitely not coolant, and pretty sure not break fluid (that looks full also). But, is underneath the brake fluid resevoir. If lucky, it was some spillage from last time a fluid was added, but that is a long time to just sit there like that. And I did not expect an actual diagnosis, just saying that she apparently has a high opinion of y'alls talent.

will know Tuesday. I just don't want to pay for it. I stopped at tire store today to get some prices, so already have that bill to look forward to (not to mention the college tuition bill that arrived today. Thankfully, that is the last one of those I will ever see). Oh, and yesterday the Visa showed up with the DP on my car. This is getting to be one heck of an expensive December, without even adding in Christmas. Oh well. Can live like a miser starting in January.

I think, for tires, settled on the Coopers. I was leaning that way anyhow, Michael likes his (well, Mrs. Michael has not complained!). And makes me think of my old doggie (the green avatar guy was named Cooper), and like he will keep us safe!. They are also about $20 cheaper installed. So hard to argue.

andres3 · December 2017

Mr_Shiftright said:

andres3 said:

ab348 said:
Shocked myself today. Was in the ATS trying to turn left onto my street at rush hour this aft., saw a gap and floored it. I burned rubber all the way, got a little sideways, and made a wonderful noise. Neighbors must think I'm a hooligan. I forgot that RWD w/limited slip and lots of power can be so much fun.
Time to take it to the nearest Canadian track for an HPDE weekend.
What happened to your traction control?

Probably accidentally turned it off instead of the usual Auto-Start-Stop turn off he does.

Speaking of rear ends revolving, I had a lot of that at Buttonwillow the other weekend.

I no longer am in the passive trail braking intuitively zone, I'm now in the practicing trail braking to speed up lap times actively zone.

Incorrect timing on braking that includes trail braking into a turn can mean too much weight up front, and too much speed which leads to the rear end coming around. For 7 out of 8 sessions, I had the ESP half off which meant that it would correct the spin just as I was starting to correct it myself, always managed to keep the front facing forward and the car on track.

Last session on Sunday the brakes are over worn and I'm coming in hot. The ESP is fully off on this session. The car spins and I'm unable to save it, I stay on track but end up stopped facing the apex of a right turn head on with about 2' of pavement in front of me. I have to turn 90 degrees to the left, drop a tire, but quickly get back on track (chose this over reversing to make room to avoid dropping a tire).

mjfloyd1 · December 2017

Proof positive to never have a European car out of warranty. My 08 335 with 37k miles had the coolant light come on and I also noticed an oil spot under the car. Looks like the oil filter housing is leaking and the water pump is leaking (both are known problems with the N54 motor)- $2100. Luckily I bought an extended EasyCare Totalcare warranty for 10 yrs / 100k miles so I should only owe $250.

It has also paid for 6 tires so I'm money ahead.

corvette · December 2017

The E90s were not BMW’s most reliable machinery. Glad the warranty has helped. How much longer before it expires?

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@nyccarguy get it looked at as soon as you can not safe to keep driving for long time!

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@ab348 nice you wher having fun and burning sum ruber! keep it up!

fintail · December 2017

It seems the ~2005-2010 era might be BMWs malaise era, with few highlights. Kind of like how MB had it around 5 years before.

I have a MB that went out of warranty when LBJ was in office that's still moving along fine

tbirdmarco · December 2017

happy Friday all have an good upcumming weekend all!

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@stickguy hope was an small problem with yiour wifes car did you get to bring it in to dealer today?

stickguy · December 2017

goes in Tuesday.

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@stickguy o red down the page mor going in on Tuesday nice nice! and nice that you have the new Tires picked out to!

xwesx · December 2017

stickguy said:
she apparently has a high opinion of y'alls talent.

Well, of course she does! We're a talented bunch!

andres3 · December 2017

I forgot to mention my favorable impressions seeing my Brother-In-Law's new Mazda 3 2.5 over the Holidays.

The interior is nice, trying to compete with VW-level and competing it is. The car has all the bells & whistles, and the 2.5 4-banger does scoot it along competently. He can actually merge at freeway speeds at some of the central valley's very short on-ramps on Interstate 99. He chose the beige interior which helps bias me favorably.

215/45R18 wheels/tires. Rides nice.

Definitely fits or lives up to the bill of "poor man's BMW or Audi."

xwesx · December 2017

Andres, what do you mean when saying "drop a tire" in your post from the Sunday HPDE?

toomanyfumes · December 2017

mjfloyd1 · December 2017

corvette said:
The E90s were not BMW’s most reliable machinery. Glad the warranty has helped. How much longer before it expires?

Warranty until 12/2019 or 100k miles

mjfloyd1 · December 2017

Drop a tire is dropping a tire off the pavement / track onto grass/ shoulder

andres3 · December 2017

mjfloyd1 said:
Drop a tire is dropping a tire off the pavement / track onto grass/ shoulder

That's it, except in Southern CA all the tracks have desert dirt and rock and gravel, very dry. It's a way to get small gravel onto the track, which is what the Viper seemed to do on every turn (but he was fast doing it).

nyccarguy · December 2017

Ok, so it is 12/2. I've got to get snow tires mounted on my Infiniti at some point. Maybe I'll just take it in for an oil change early (20K now, next oil change due at 22,500) and have the dealer do the snow tire swap. This way I can get a loaner car out of the deal.

nyccarguy · December 2017

I'm going to bring the Pilot to my trusted indie mechanic next week. I'll call him Monday & most likely drop the Pilot off Tuesday AM.

qbrozen · December 2017

I'll be discovering how good or bad the tires on the f150 are in the snow.

stickguy · December 2017

Bradd, with the AWD, you still need to buy snows? Or are you using ones you had from the Subaru that will fit?

Q, I plan to just hope that we get no snow at all this year. I hate snow now. But I would assume an AWD PU should have adequate tires to handle a little winter action. What did your truck come with anyway?

If I finally get myself back up to Mavis I will at least have deep tread on the RDX in case do have to drive in some snow. Anything new has to be better than worn out Michelins. With dry rot, and apparently some chunks out of some of the shoulder tread blocks (probably not a good sign). Really need some snow in Colorado next week so I can get a first hand report on how the Coopers handle it!

iluvmysephia1 · December 2017

stick if you ever need snows get Michelin X-ICE iE3's. Incredible plowing power and confidence through turns and stopping. Makes the other snow tires seem like child's play.

stickguy · December 2017

I really have a goal to never live where I actually have to buy snow tires. Or where they have block heater plugs in parking lots. That is a huge red flag!

iluvmysephia1 · December 2017

Ahh. I'm just saying that with these tires on the Soul I feel like I can plow through the best of it and stop myself on a dime.

nyccarguy · December 2017

qbrozen said:

I'll be discovering how good or bad the tires on the f150 are in the snow.

What's the stock rubber on that bad boy?

nyccarguy · December 2017

stickguy said:

Bradd, with the AWD, you still need to buy snows? Or are you using ones you had from the Subaru that will fit? Q, I plan to just hope that we get no snow at all this year. I hate snow now. But I would assume an AWD PU should have adequate tires to handle a little winter action. What did your truck come with anyway? If I finally get myself back up to Mavis I will at least have deep tread on the RDX in case do have to drive in some snow. Anything new has to be better than worn out Michelins. With dry rot, and apparently some chunks out of some of the shoulder tread blocks (probably not a good sign). Really need some snow in Colorado next week so I can get a first hand report on how the Coopers handle it!

Q40 has the same size rubber as my Legacy did. Part of how I was able to justify the punch. I have them, so I might as well use them. Plus I don't know how much confidence I have in the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble tires that came on the car. I think my dealer puts these on all their CPO Q40/G37x

ab348 · December 2017

Not a fan of any Hankook tires I've ever driven on, nor do they generally get good reviews on tire-specific sites. YMMV obviously.

ab348 · December 2017

toomanyfumes said:

A man of few words!

mjfloyd1 · December 2017

I've had those Hankook. Horrible in the snow and slush.

andres3 · December 2017

I read a tire review of the OEM Falken's on the Alltrack and they said it went up a snow hill incline like a mountain goat.

I'll take that to mean it can indeed track in all locations and conditions.

nyccarguy · December 2017

mjfloyd1 said:

I've had those Hankook. Horrible in the snow and slush.

I figured they wouldn't fair so well. The dealer puts them on all the CPO Q40/G37x they sell so they can say the cars have "new tires." They haven't been so bad in the early AM temps thus far (low 30s), but I don't want to push it with the white stuff.

qbrozen · December 2017

Typical Goodyear Wranglers. 275/65/18, for those keeping score. Apologies for the filthy wheels.

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@xwesx yes we all shore are in hear! and have lots of nolage to!

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@nyccarguy would just go and do the owial change early wont hert any thing at all! and do the snow tire swop to as whell what is the owial change interval on that infinity?

tbirdmarco · December 2017

@nyccarguy nice nice glad you are going to bring the wifes SUV in to the shop next week! to see whats what!

xwesx · December 2017

mjfloyd1 said:
Drop a tire is dropping a tire off the pavement / track onto grass/ shoulder

Oooooh. okay, thanks! LOL

xwesx · December 2017

iluvmysephia1 said:
stick if you ever need snows get Michelin X-ICE iE3's. Incredible plowing power and confidence through turns and stopping. Makes the other snow tires seem like child's play.

Somewhat disagree.... They are really good on packed snow or ice, but not very good at all in deep snow. Way better than any all-season, mind you! I mostly don't like how fast they wear - these are very much similar to Blizzak in that respect. Their longevity is terrible. I wouldn't really mind that if they cost a lot less, but when I can get other tires for less that last longer and perform better, I'm not sure why I would buy another set of X-Ice.

Sandman6472 · December 2017

Folks, I meant push button start/stop...had a senior moment there! Hate using any key now and so many of our rentals have this feature, I've grown to love it. I usually wear my keys on one of those devices one loops around their belt thingy, so it's always right there but a pain to take off each time I need to start the vehicle.
Most auto start/stop systems we have are pretty unobtrusive but the Checy's are the worst!!

The Sandman

Sandman6472 · December 2017

Getting more Infinit's at work and they are a blast to drive. They accelerate rather quickly but it's a real rush. Am very interested in the small X30 to be honest, seems to sticker a bit lower than it's Mercedes cousin and am starting to like it's exterior looks. Inside, it's like 95% GLA which is a good thing. Betting the mpg's are pretty awful though as for some reason, Nissan's/Infiniti's don't have the best numbers in that category. For some reason, Toyota and Honda seem to excel here and Hyundai/Kia aren't to far off.
But did come to a conclusion yesterday while driving a new Kia Soul, as much as I like these vehicles with the longer warranties, I really want my next vehicle to be pure fun, even more fun then I'm having with my current Golf. I want to feel that "rush" every time I push the accelerator but I also want a lux interior. That might mean giving up stellar mpg's and a longer warranty, two things I do like. And right now, BMW is at the top of my want list, a 328i blue with a tan interior. Prefer the light blue but the darker one would work as well as that brown over brown unit I saw months ago. Waiting till right before I leave Hertz is my target date but going CPO BMW might be the ticket, just don't know. But on the other hand, those new hybrids from Hyundai and Kia look very appealing also as do that smaller Infinit suv.
Luckily I've got plenty of time to decide. Just hope the Golf will behave now since the warranty is kaput. Next week is 3 years of ownership and I can honestly say I've enjoyed them immensely!!!

The Sandman

Michaell · December 2017

@stickguy - sorry, no snow in the immediate forecast here. And, the girls are commuting in the MINI next wee, anyway.

Sandman6472 · December 2017

Thinking of doing my next synthetic oil change a bit early, like some time this month. I've never been a fan of the 10K limits that VW uses and since I'll be close to 7.5K and have a great coupon, might as well do it a bit early. Also need to have the sneakers rotated so might as well do it all once there. So far, the Bridgestone run flats have performed like champs with no issues whatsoever. Car drives just as easily as it did with the OEM Continentals and the Bridgestone Serenity tires I was going to get were within pennies of the run flats. My tire manager friend was pushing the run flats and said he has them on his vehicle even though he put the Serenity's on his wife's. Basically said both would work fine for me but pushed the former so I said sure. Still very happy with them.

The Sandman

nyccarguy · December 2017

Marcothecarguy1986 said:

@nyccarguy would just go and do the owial change early wont hert any thing at all! and do the snow tire swop to as whell what is the owial change interval on that infinity?

According to the owner's manual, it is 5K mike intervals. I use full synthetic and have NO problem pushing that to 7,500 miles. I had the oil changed for the 1st time (since I owned the car) at 15,000 miles. I'm currently at a few ticks over 20K, so technically it's not due until 22,500 miles.

roadburner · December 2017

My son's car is running a 15K interval with no issues at over 105,000 miles. 10K on the 2 Series.

suydam · December 2017

I think anywhere between 7500 and 10,000 is fine. It was 10k for the Accord generally with their maintenance minder, and around 9k for the Buick with theirs. Anything earlier is just a waste of oil and bad for the environment to boot. No idea how long the Volt should go between oil changes as I’m not using any gas around town. I’ll ask when I get the tires rotated next month.

mjfloyd1 · December 2017

xwesx said:

Drop a tire is dropping a tire off the pavement / track onto grass/ shoulder
Oooooh. okay, thanks! LOL

I make my 15 year old drop a tire off of the road and get back on as practice for when it happens on accident when she is driving on her own.

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