Yank in your neck of the woods [Archive]

m3dragon

14-05-2013, 08:28 PM

Welcome, congrats as well :thumbs:

Where all are you going in Ireland ?

LOL well have not planned much yet. Have the plane tickets and that is it at the moment. Wedding is the weekend before we fly out so was planning on figuring it all out then.

I am a BMW owner as well just in case anyone reads and goes hummmm. My M3 started off as a normal US M3 but I have made it pretty close to what you guys have with all the OE parts.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=412413

Trawler

14-05-2013, 09:05 PM

You are more than welcome to see mine
I live between Edinburgh and Glasgow

Or take it for a test drive. There are great roads & scenery in Scotland.

Mark CSL

14-05-2013, 09:32 PM

If you are in Scotland Edinburgh is a very nice city
Also you should try and visit Pitlochry in Perth-shire its beautiful and some fantastic roads. :supz:

http://www.pitlochry.org/

m3dragon

14-05-2013, 09:38 PM

If you are in Scotland Edinburgh is a very nice city
Also you should try and visit Pitlochry in Perth-shire its beautiful and some fantastic roads. :supz:

http://www.pitlochry.org/

That looks like right up our alley. Thanks for the info.

Granted for the roads part, our little rental car will not be as fun as either the M3 or 1M I normally drive.

derek

14-05-2013, 10:37 PM

I'm on the road to Pitlochry near perth hope to catch up with you

Mike R

14-05-2013, 11:58 PM

Just read your entire thread - if only BMW had done the simple relocation of the dipstick to clear the air box. Was this done with all OE parts? If so, when the air filter needs doing next, I'm going to get this done as well, as I just don't trust the electrical measurement LOL.

m3dragon

15-05-2013, 01:47 AM

streightsix

15-05-2013, 03:11 AM

If you are in Scotland Edinburgh is a very nice city
Also you should try and visit Pitlochry in Perth-shire its beautiful and some fantastic roads. :supz:

http://www.pitlochry.org/
+1
I do the run up from down south fairly regularly *Pitlochry* :thumbs:
West coast is awesome too, a long trek but worth it, one of my favourite roads B9007 past Lochindorb a couple of weeks back, obviously not as picturesque as the west coast - Muir of Ord and up to Ullapool :smokin:
7983

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m3dragon

15-05-2013, 04:52 AM

Wow thanks for the info.

Rough Idea is 4-5 days in Ireland to see the sites. Then cross over to Scotland and then work south and end in London.

As the distances are short for us, I am sure we will get to see a lot. Mrs and I organize fun drives that cover more than 321 kilometers on average.

Mike R

15-05-2013, 10:54 AM

HAHA so you were either bored or just curious about my car. The Dipstick was bent using a tube bender. Probably about a 10 task. Just make sure to take your time and don't rush it.

All us US guys who do the conversion have to do that as it is not cost effective to do all the CSL parts. Example are my door panels, same look as yours with Oe handles, but I did them in alcentra. Stole the idea from my 1M.

I did something similar to my track car :).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/MikeR/Bodywork%20restoration/Bodyrestoration097.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/MikeR/Escort%20Photos/6f377295.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/MikeR/Escort%20Photos/DSC00096.jpg

LeinsCSL

15-05-2013, 12:38 PM

Drop me a PM when you know if/when you're in Dublin, and will try and meet up if I'm about. There might be a few of us messing about with cars on the bank holiday weekend when we get back from Munich (first weekend of June)

Welcome along btw!

Steve B

15-05-2013, 12:49 PM

Excellent build write up..... and I'd like to do that dipstick mod.

Steve

Jon8710

15-05-2013, 01:52 PM

give me a shout when you in london and id be happy to take you out

m3dragon

15-05-2013, 04:26 PM

Wow thanks gang for all the info and friendliness.

I will post the map of our planned route and dates in a week so. Any input on it would be great in case we missed something we should see. Just don't hate on my rental car if I we meet up LOL :hahaha:

In case any of you want a holiday out west, I am leading a road trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons at the end of June when we get back from this trip. Anyone here is welcome to come out west and join. Thread is here (http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10393)

If you want to fly into Sacramento, you are welcome to stay in one of our rooms to join us on our caravan there. Or I can try to put you in touch with a east cost caravan.

Cheers

m3dragon

15-05-2013, 04:31 PM

Excellent build write up..... and I'd like to do that dipstick mod.

Steve

Thanks Steve.

Where is the dipstick on your guys OE cars? Is it just a short tube under the air box which is my guess based on the posts. If you want to do it buy a OE standard M3 dip stick and put two bends in in to clear the air box.

Mike R

15-05-2013, 04:54 PM

Thanks Steve.

Where is the dipstick on your guys OE cars? Is it just a short tube under the air box which is my guess based on the posts. If you want to do it buy a OE standard M3 dip stick and put two bends in in to clear the air box.

Yes, you have remove most of the air box to access it - stupid design LOL.

m3dragon

15-05-2013, 05:13 PM

Yes, you have remove most of the air box to access it - stupid design LOL.

Wow, well that was not very German now was it :119:

Mike R

15-05-2013, 05:15 PM

Wow, well that was not very German now was it :119:

Hence why I couldn't believe they just didn't do what you did - seems a bit lazy on BMW's behalf :moan:!

northernjim

15-05-2013, 05:20 PM

Hence why I couldn't believe they just didn't do what you did - seems a bit lazy on BMW's behalf :moan:!

saves a few grams tho' :smokin::clown:

m3dragon

15-05-2013, 06:18 PM

Work was slow so I made a rough idea for the Ireland leg of the trip

Link to rough map route (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Dublin+Airport,+Ireland&daddr=Guinness+Storehouse+to:St+Patrick%27s+Cathed ral,+Dublin,+Ireland+to:Dun+Aengus,+Tallaght,+Irel and+to:Glendalough,+Ireland+to:Glendalough,+Irelan d+to:Waterford+Crystal+Visitor+Centre,+Waterford+C rystal+Visitor+Centre,+Waterford,+Co.+Waterford,+I reland+to:Charles%27+Fort+to:Killarney+to:Dingle+P eninsula,+Kerry,+Ireland+to:Bunratty+Castle+and+Fo lk+Park+to:Cliffs+of+Moher+to:Aillwee+Caves+to:The +Hill+of+Tara+to:Br%C3%BA+na+Boinne+to:Millmount+T ower+to:The+Burren+to:Sligo+and+Area+to:The+Giant% 27s+Causeway+to:Belfast,+UK&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=53.219191,-5.943604&spn=5.645824,16.907959&sll=53.599025,-7.833252&sspn=5.595714,16.907959&geocode=FaA3LwMdcMyg_ymN0hGTthFnSDENrJ1BGFTX9w%3BF fDuLQMdlhKg_yGi5wV1kjMZsylrBcVAhA5nSDGi5wV1kjMZsw% 3BFWjlLQMd9k2g_yFUsSW2m-bIkimlWDVsCadESDFUsSW2m-bIkg%3BFYrzLAMdls2e_ylbytlKzHRnSDEwWGZgVP5Dnw%3BFQ zmKAMdEGqf_yl79nlC2ZdnSDGgNt83qccAGA%3BFQzmKAMdEGq f_yl79nlC2ZdnSDGgNt83qccAGA%3BFTlQHQMdmEWT_yktxQN-GMRCSDH1-jxTuQze0g%3BFRfTFAMd1VB-_yEHFvMC7nk97Sn1L36OG2JESDEHFvMC7nk97Q%3BFcJWGgMdo gBv_ynZbpe0DDxFSDHAdDGXqccACg%3BFSVBHAMddd5k_ynf2W QOTP9PSDGmRdK7wQQmdw%3BFeMWJAMda4p5_yEVtB6G29SrGSk F1QH9IUJbSDEVtB6G29SrGQ%3BFfAmKAMd5eZv_ynzgbgLrwFb SDHmwLhIkEY6KA%3BFZ0UKgMdp3J0_yFPJnGulDX6pClzt-reG6FbSDFPJnGulDX6pA%3BFRyHMQMdGByb_ylXxGdC9EJnSDG 43y2iY1yeXw%3BFZRPMwMd0y-d_yEXjNC-_Q-FzCkv7dqiYjhnSDEXjNC-_Q-FzA%3BFQ-TMwMdZx2f_yHwlZW_Dw-ZQymteISKijlnSDHwlZW_Dw-ZQw%3BFcYzNQMdCIye_ylfcdAUrjZnSDE601IqSIHG_Q%3BFQI yPAMdR6p-_ynprnxnteleSDGAczGXqccACg%3BFWgGSwMdf_yc_yHSH94Zo Iwi8ykPjxX0RClgSDHSH94ZoIwi8w%3BFaUWQQMdeIOl_yk7it DX_f9gSDExxcfvLBZXLg&mra=ps&t=m&dirflg=d&z=7)

Is there anything towards Castlebar that I am missing? I used Google to find the "top" sights to see in Ireland. The stops listed are what came up to see when visiting.

We are starting in Dublin and ending in Belfast. From Belfast head over to Scotland.

m3dragon

28-05-2013, 04:56 PM

Evening Gents,

Heading your way Friday. Looking forward to exploring your neck of the woods and hopefully meeting up with fellow enthusiasts.

Thank you again for all the suggestion of where to go.

Neil M

28-05-2013, 05:57 PM

You missed out the West, the smell of the turf on the open fires, Galway onto 'Cong' where the 'Quite Man' was filmed, stay over at Ashford Castle.

Then head for Castlebar not much there, but if you head west to Westport, then Clew Bay and the 'Reek' St Patrick's Mountain and on to Newport, Mulranny and Achill Sound, lot of folklore around there those parts, hoof prints of St Particks horse can be seen in the Rocks on the Atlantic Drive. Cross onto the Island Dooega and Dugort you'll step back in time. Keel Bay, Keem Strand with their Sandy beaches and dolphins.

If you don't do Mayo you haven't done Ireland!

m3dragon

06-06-2013, 08:56 AM

Having a great time here in Ireland. Your roads are NUTS as in you like to make tunnels with no shoulder. Also tractors on the road are rather a odd site and a pain to pass.

Cheers

chrisburns

06-06-2013, 10:40 AM

Good man, where are you then ?

karbonkid

06-06-2013, 10:47 AM

Hence why I couldn't believe they just didn't do what you did - seems a bit lazy on BMW's behalf :moan:!

I dont think it was down to lazyness. A lot of BMWs are no longer being fitted with dipsticks at all and rely purely on the sensor to give a reading. At least the CSL has half a one :hahaha:

J13NY S

06-06-2013, 02:57 PM

Hi mate,

You’re certainly covering Ireland well in a few days, Neil M is 100% right but I suppose you can’t do everything.

One small tip tho, when leaving Derry/Londonderry stick more to the coastal road rather than the one suggested on the map via Limavady/Colraine.

I drove Highway 1, San Fran to LA & while in Carmel lifted a travel mag with an article on coastal drives & to my surprise not only did the Causeway Coast rank in the top 10 it was ranked highest in Europe, couldn’t believe my eyes.

Also, unless you have somewhere to go in Ballymoney/Ballymena I’d stick to the coastal road on route to Belfast rather than the motorway & if you find yourself in the Mid Ulster area I’ll pull the cover of mine & take you for a blast up into the Sperrin Mountains... if I’ve the time... & its not raining.

gingernuts

06-06-2013, 09:26 PM

More than welcome to have a look at my car when you in scotland. could maybe meet derek and I near perth or something

derek

07-06-2013, 02:15 PM

More than welcome to have a look at my car when you in scotland. could maybe meet derek and I near perth or something

Give me a shout if you arrange anything :thumbs:

Yanto

07-06-2013, 09:04 PM

Pm me if you're in LDN

Bounce

07-06-2013, 09:28 PM

And me if you venture down to Cornwall.;)

m3dragon

07-06-2013, 10:56 PM

Hello Guys,

We know we can't see everything in all countries but we sure are trying are darnd-est too HAHA. While the tour has been a whirlwind of adventure, we are having a blast. Minor issue in Belfast with flights, cars and bookings but over all just rolling with it :beer:

As of this post on 6/7/13 we are in Inverness. We picked up the new rental car in Glasglow and headed north stopping and taking pics along the way. Tomorrow we are doing a North loop and then staying again in Inverness.

We don't have a mobile phone here so I can't call ahead to much. Best I can say is Monday we head South and will go through Perth on the way to Edinburgh. I will post tomorrow with more info in case anyone wants to say hello and see my killer Pugeot 308 rental car.

m3dragon

07-06-2013, 10:59 PM

More than welcome to have a look at my car when you in scotland. could maybe meet derek and I near perth or something

Working on the schedule with the Mrs at the moment. I will post when I have times when we are near / in Pert.

Mark CSL

07-06-2013, 11:47 PM

Sent you a pm with some info :supz:

m3dragon

08-06-2013, 08:51 AM

Sent you a pm with some info :supz:

Got it, thank you sir =) Heading out to explore.

m3dragon

08-06-2013, 08:12 PM

The Glover Arms

If anyone of you near Perth want to meet us there for lunch, We will be there about 1-1:30 to have a bite to eat, see the castle and then head on down south.

Cheers

derek

08-06-2013, 09:19 PM

The Glover Arms

If anyone of you near Perth want to meet us there for lunch, We will be there about 1-1:30 to have a bite to eat, see the castle and then head on down south.

Cheers

Hi is that tomorrow or mon you will be at glover arms only 1 mile from my house if its tomorrow I can meet you cheers Derek

m3dragon

08-06-2013, 10:22 PM

Hi is that tomorrow or mon you will be at glover arms only 1 mile from my house if its tomorrow I can meet you cheers Derek

HAHA nice. We are in a Black 308 (yellow plate) KNI3 CKJ so you can find the car. Can't miss me, Shorts, t-shirt that says Curacao. Figure around 12:30 -1 based on the route we just made. After lunch we are going to see the
Huntingtower Castle

Chat with you tomorrow hopefully.

Cheers

derek

08-06-2013, 10:56 PM

Just sent pm with contact details

derek

08-06-2013, 11:04 PM

Ali is going to turn up as well

m3dragon

08-06-2013, 11:35 PM

No mobile ( I know we went off grid, crazy huh) .

We will be there for sure so up to you guys if you still want to come out. If not no worries.

Cheers from Inverness

derek

08-06-2013, 11:37 PM

Hi me and Ali will be there about 1230 look fwd to meeting you

m3dragon

09-06-2013, 10:25 PM

Thank you Derek and Ali for taking the time to show me your amazing cars. It was a honor to meet you guys. Sorry we could not chat longer, I am sure we would have talked cars all afternoon but the wife might have gotten a bit mad as she wanted to see Sterling Castle.

In either case thank you again. I need to get / make a few changes to my car now after seeing yours. So no sure if that was a good or bad thing LOL.

If you guys ever make your way to CA, NorCal area, let me know as we have plenty of room to put you up for the night and show you the area. Tahoe and Yosemite are close.

Thanks again.

gingernuts

09-06-2013, 10:47 PM

No probs! Nice to meet you too, and good luck with the project!

m3dragon

09-06-2013, 10:56 PM

I did forget to ask you when we were talking about roads a few questions that I have not been able to figure out since I have been here. These my I know will sound silly but have a good chuckle over them.

1. What is the speed limit for you A and B roads? I only see signs near / in towns and other than that I am "I guess go as fast as you want". My guess is 60 on A roads but there are people flying at 80 so I follow them.

2. Speed camera signs. Are they always there or only when the cops have the van out? In Ireland, I saw the sign and slowed down. People FLEW past me when I slowed so now I just look around and igonre them. I assume (probably wrong) that is the cat and mouse game we play in the states with the cops hiding off the road with radar guns.

Enjoy the laugh.

streightsix

10-06-2013, 12:05 AM

Not laughing at all...

Both of your assumptions are correct dude, 60 unless there's a barrier between each side on what we call dual carriage way(2 lane) in which case it's 70.
(no barrier it's still 60!)

Watch were the 2 lane ends because it's a good game the 'plod' play to catch you at the end of one when it returns to single each way where due to frustration you could be 70+ ;-) trying to pass a caravan train:banghead: and there will be a van waiting to catch you as you re-enter the 60!

It's all a game and IMHO a cash cow, bring back a human and a subjective assessment on how you were behaving and the road conditions etc...

Look out for white police vans (with some patches of hi vis stickers) parked on:
Motorways: On bridges normally on dangerous stretches or downhill sections where it's easy to pick up speed.
A/B roads: In laybys, van will have a rear smallish window section dropped.

Generally if you're very observant and don't take the piss (& you know what to look for) you should be fine :smokin:
...but if say how quaint we all are and how funny it is they don't carry guns that might work ...or you could just leave the country ;)

m3dragon

10-06-2013, 09:27 AM

Thanks for the 411.

So far we have been using the force so lets hope it is strong with us the rest of the trip.:beer:

derek

10-06-2013, 03:01 PM

Good to meet you, cant believe the work you have done to make your car a csl. I think you wife has good grounds for divorce. :-D:-D:-D

m3dragon

11-06-2013, 10:15 PM

Good to meet you, cant believe the work you have done to make your car a csl. I think you wife has good grounds for divorce. :-D:-D:-D

Same Sir.

LOL, She is a trooper and I count myself lucky as she puts up with the car stuff with a smile.

Told her my next project car and she just smiled and said OK, :smt055

streightsix

11-06-2013, 11:21 PM

You lucky lucky man :smokin:

Go on, whats the next project then - local muscle?

Same Sir.

LOL, She is a trooper and I count myself lucky as she puts up with the car stuff with a smile.

Told her my next project car and she just smiled and said OK, :smt055

m3dragon

12-06-2013, 10:26 PM

LOL I don't buy local. I want to turn ;-p though it would be cheaper. V8 Mustang with Vortec Super Charger. Car is 12K US, SS kit 5K, Full track suspension 1K, MISC 2K. That gets you a 600 Wheel HP car with as much torque and can turn. But in the end I am still a mustang.

I still have to work on the 1M but as it is the DD keeping it tame for now.

I am thinking I am building another E46 M3. S65 4.0 V8 and making it look like the street version of the GTR. E9X are to fat for me and only other cars I would step into like a F430 and so on have to much shop time to drive time. I drive my cars and rack miles on them. Close friends love their F cars but 15K for a clutch is just wrong.

So might as well make a E46 M3 that is rare(r) to be different.

Thats the plan, but as the wife laughs I change it weekly. LOL

Off to Stonehenge tomorrow then Dover for the night. Of course stopping by the TG airfield for a photo opp =)

Cheers form the road still.

m3dragon

18-07-2013, 10:07 PM

With the new season of Top Gear on now, I can share my images from my visit there. While on honeymoon, we stopped by to see the airfield as well as the studios. We initially were told no but when the guard found out we were on honeymoon he gave us a tour.

We got to see the new reasonably priced cars, the trailers that were really the Top Gear production offices and inside at the studio. The studio was not setup yet as they just finishing filming a movie there. It is worth to note that production offices are really the production offices, even though they made jokes about it. One last interesting thing is the stars that come on the show enter through a storage closet LOL. All the budget for the show is for the cars and trips is for sure.

I could not post it until now as we were there before the show aired and did not want to get anyone in trouble.

While there we also saw the new McLaren Mp12-4C GT being tested. We could not take pictures of it of course but saw it flying down the runway. It was flat black and fly’s like a bat out of hell.

I also got a souvenir that I can’t post what it is but if you ever are coming to an event, remind me to bring the official paper work I have of TG =). It was a great time there and the guard was a amazing wealth of knowledge and hoot to talk to.

All the images I was allowed to take.

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (1).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (2).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (3).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (4).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (5).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (6).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (7).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (8).JPG

http://www.eurosunday.net/press/norcalcsl/Top Gear (9).JPG