*** Official New England Chat Thread ***

I got clipped trying to merge into 5mph traffic and have a scrape I need repaired - I'll probably end up using Sansossio for it. Let us know how the pricing works out

Originally Posted by trizzuth

In other news, is it me, or do you all feel the same way?

When the temps are warm, but still cool, about 50-60 degrees, it seems like the sweet spot for my 330. She just seems to run so perfectly at that temperature for some reason and purrs like a kitten and seems to pull all day long through the RPM range..

anyone else ever notice this? When it's cold, or too hot, it's not the same experience. Maybe it's just because I am most happy around those temps. hmmmmm.

I'm with ya. I think it's for a couple reasons.
1) At those temps it's finally turning into a nice spring so I'm in a better mood anyway and my summer rubber has been applied. Driving is fun again.
2) Cool air is great for your car. You probably already know that cool air is denser and hold more oxygen for your car to burn through. A little colder is good too, but you need to balance of warm enough for good rubber and cold enough to make the car happy.

Originally Posted by Sam 330ci

Well, as it happens when my car went up on the lift they discovered . . .



. . . both rear shocks are blown!


I'm curious as this could be, considering my Bilsteins were purchased NEW last summer and installed professionally!

So I called my friends at Turner Motorsport where I got them and it appears as though they'll be covered under warranty. Just need to swap out some rear shocks (and maybe buy some new pads & rotors while I'm up in Amesbury . . . ) and I'll be back to BPG for an alignment.

Ahhh these cars. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em . . .

Sam i bought Pss's from Bavauto i have had to replace my rear strust 8 times.

I will never buy bilstein again

Originally Posted by trizzuth

you guys think that undoing those bolts on the rear trailing arms to check the bushings is just asking for an alignment? since they are so buried up under the frame, there's no way to inspect them without dropping the trailing arm itself, which uses that camber plate to adjust camber a little. I'm afraid that if i drop it down to inspect it, i'm asking for trouble.

any symptoms of a bad rear trailing arm bushing? i think mine are fine, but at 140K, i wanted to at least inspect them..

When my RTAB's went bad on my E36 it was obvious. It felt like I was really skating around corners, especially curved highway onramps. Accelerating around a corner just didn't feel solid. The play in the bushings was allowing the rear wheels to move a little too independently.

I haven't looked into it for an E46 yet, but I assume they make shims for the RTAB also. After the new bushings and installing shims, the car sat down in corners again like a champ.

Originally Posted by MightyY

Back from a week in Punta Cana. Picking up my car from Sansossio today. Can't wait to see how she came out.

Originally Posted by trizzuth

looks awesome, didn't go, but saw pics.

that quote was from Russo replying to a thread started by some noob that was using HORRIBLE english, my god i laughed so hard.

How was Punta Cana?
I'm in the middle of deciding on Punta Cana or North Shore Puerto Rico for a couple days in May? Are you a golfer? If so, did you play while there?

Punta Cana was awesome. Weather was perfect the whole week. Beaches are amazing. This was the second time I've been there (last time being back in September). Weather right now is perfect. Back in September, it was super humid. This time around I stayed in the platinum suites at the Bavaro Princess and it was great. Never been to Puerto Rico, so I can't compare. I will say that the beaches in Punta Cana are nicer than the ones in the Rivera Maya/Playa Del Carmen area of Mexico.

Outside of the resort is super sketchy and the drivers are crazy. Didn't golf at all.

Sansossio did an awesome job. Paint came out great. The PDR guy left no traces of any dings. Phil Sr. was a nice guy to work with. I'd definitely bring the car back there if/when she needs more work.

Luan it's looking great, let me know when want to do that shoot :-)

that looks so good! I wonder if they do detail work as well, perhaps I could get my scratch fixed and a detail all in one stop

Originally Posted by MightyY

Punta Cana was awesome. Weather was perfect the whole week. Beaches are amazing. This was the second time I've been there (last time being back in September). Weather right now is perfect. Back in September, it was super humid. This time around I stayed in the platinum suites at the Bavaro Princess and it was great. Never been to Puerto Rico, so I can't compare. I will say that the beaches in Punta Cana are nicer than the ones in the Rivera Maya/Playa Del Carmen area of Mexico.

Outside of the resort is super sketchy and the drivers are crazy. Didn't golf at all.

I thought Punta Cana was a bit overrated... Although I did love how English was the 3rd language on the island...

If I'm hitting the Caribbean now its to either Turks or somewhere in BVI. Love St. Marteen too. Hate Mexico... Although quite franlkly I'm bored with the Caribbean--next stop is back to the Amalfi Coast, which might be one of the greatest spot on earth...

Originally Posted by sunydude

Luan it's looking great, let me know when want to do that shoot :-)

Almost done with appearance mods, Sunil. Just waiting on a rear CF diffuser. Then I'll be ready for a shoot!

Originally Posted by Sam 330ci

that looks so good! I wonder if they do detail work as well, perhaps I could get my scratch fixed and a detail all in one stop

Thanks, Sam. Give Phil Sr. a call or just drive over. Nice guy. He gave me a quote on the spot.

Originally Posted by MightyY

Sansossio did an awesome job. Paint came out great. The PDR guy left no traces of any dings. Phil Sr. was a nice guy to work with. I'd definitely bring the car back there if/when she needs more work.

that deserves to be quoted, cause Daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn that looks incredible!

Hats off to Sansossio! no pics of the CSL trunk?

I don't have a CSL trunk. Not really keen on the way they look for the vert. I prefer the OEM with the lip spoiler. I'll post pics of the rear end after I get the new diffuser and exhaust tips installed.

Originally Posted by MightyY

I don't have a CSL trunk. Not really keen on the way they look for the vert. I prefer the OEM with the lip spoiler. I'll post pics of the rear end after I get the new diffuser and exhaust tips installed.

Feel the same way.... they look so out of place up against the quarter panels, not clean at all...

Dude.... WHERE DID YOU GET THAT FRONT LIP?

I've been dying for a one piece to come out, I guess I missed that train....

I got it from the vendor Iconz on M3forum. The lip looks better in person than in the pics.

do they still have them? how much did you pay?

Originally Posted by JJR4884

do they still have them? how much did you pay?

I know they're still making them. I was part of the GB, so I got it for $350ish shipped. I think they're up to $400+shipping now. It's made to fit only the OEM M3 bumper. Not sure if you have OEM or rep.

its a rep.... can't imagine it being THAT difficult to get on there... idk i'll take a look into them and see... i have always wanted the race lip

I'm making Mike trade me wine for bumpers russo.