LG V20 video test... drone / GoPro style!!! Bmw love..E30 E90

Cleaned up my E90 today and decided to try a drone style / go pro wide angle video.

The stabilization on the LG V20 is pretty decent. You can even see the smoothness when recording it live.

Here's some phone pics and my youtube vids....

Save yourself a dumb ticket and put on a front plate! Gotta make is semi decent though...

In California it is the law to have a front license plate. Lots of people still drive without one but this is just an opportunity for law enforcement to pull you over for probable cause while in disguise it's more of a 'fishing expedition' on you. Also areas like in Los Angeles have the meter maids who will just ticket you while parked. That's $20-60 gone from your pocket.

I like anybody else wants their car to look clean and modern as possible but I refuse to pay a frivolous expense.

This is the tow hook relocator  from ebay: ebay auction

it seems to be a copy of this one: original model?



Check out my video about this install.

You can see my old blogpost about the Cravenspeed model which is nicely built but not adjustable: Cravenspeed plate relocator on Golf R

I really like the option of height and angle to conform to the bumper. It just eases the pain.

Trunk slamming hard? You NEED new lift supports!!!

So my recently purchased BMW 335i needs new trunk shocks. They are officially known as lift supports but who uses that terminology? I call them trunk shocks. Others may call them dampers, struts..whatever. The point is your trunk or hood is slamming hard and could take out something you cherish.

I bought mine from eBay for $17. OEM shocks are double that so I decided since I don't open my trunk on a daily basis that I can live with a cheaper unit. They definitely made a difference.

Check out my YouTube video with my sons helping me on it. The only tool you need is a flat head screwdriver.

335i front bumper is going for a makeover

The white Bimmer I picked up a couple weeks ago had only 1 flaw. The front bumper was rashed up. It's a really good fitting M3 replica bumper too but the repercussions of highway driving took a toll on it.

I pulled it off tonight and will drop it off for it's makeover tomorrow. I should have it back by next week. In the meanwhile I'm going to change some fluids. The rear end and tranny needs to be done.

Stay tuned for a photoshoot.

2017 Nissan Titan XD Cummins diesel obstacle course test drive!!!!

I went with my buddy Fred today to check out the new Nissan Titans. I wanted to see how the Cummins model was. I liked it.

I'm not sure how it compares to the Big Three but it's improved many times over versus my 2004 Titan I used to own. I'm sure the price tag does reflect it as well.

If you're looking for a truck, you should check it out.

Below is a video of the drive.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST - 300whp+ on E30!!!!

Met up with my buddy who has a FiST as they call it. These cars have been coined to be the 21st century E30, Integra Type R, etc...

Stock the horsepower isn't much but yikes he's putting in twice the power stock now!!!

Did a photoshoot and video...check it out!

Another toy..BMW 335i I have an addiction

As you may noticed, I like performance cars.

I picked up a AMG C32 that was supercharged but it just didn't feel right. I think it was due to a lack of style. Great sleeper though.

I can't resist when I see a decent deal so I pulled the trigger on this alpine white E90.

It's dropped on KW V3 suspension sitting on 19 inch real deal BBS LM wheels.

front hood and bumper as well as rear bumper and BMW Performance carbon fiber rear spoiler.

The thing I really did is that it's an auto but has an upgraded M3 steering wheel so the shift paddles are the correct PLUS/MINUS paddles versus the both sides up and down controls.

Check out my video

Light Sensor Visit Workshop!!!!! What is this???

As you know I just picked up a 02 AMG C32.

The previous owner pointed out a few issues for transparency. Well he couldn't lie as it pops out at "faults" and "malfunctions" right on the dash display. haha.

Anyways one of the issues was "Light Sensor Visit Workshop."  I spent a few hours on the web trying to see what others had to say. It was consistent that logically you would assume it was an actually bad sensor but comments were that an old battery couldn't hold the same voltage so the light sensor was the first device that could sense it. This is a prime example why overengineering isn't always a good thing.

I checked the age of the current battery and it was just over a year old. Voltage test from my multimeter showed 12.5 volts which is lowish. The previous owner drove the car only 6000 on average per year. It was mostly garaged and sitting at home as the weekend toy. I slapped on the charger and got it up to 12.9 volts.

It didn't fix a thing.

So last night I'm about to order a replacement sensor but saw there were a few different part numbers. I decided to look at the part that I have. Well I opened up the cover to find it was disconnected!!!

I noticed there was no slack at all so somehow the wiring got too short and popped off. I'm guessing the windshield was replaced and that happened. Anyhow I had to pull off overhead console and rear view mirror. I loosened a bracket that holds the mirror in place. Yanked the wires for more slack and voila! No more light sensor issue!!!

Here's some pics below. It was midnight so pics didn't come out too clear.

Clearly disconnected!!!!

What a mess of wires!!!!

New toy to play with...AMG C32

Today I picked up a 2002 AMG C32. I wanted a C55 because of the NA V8 but I got a good deal on the this C32 and the C55 that I saw was clean but overpriced.

For some who don't know AMG is Mercedes tuner sector. It's like the M group for Bimmers. This car has 349 horsepower to the flywheel and a 5 speed auto transmission.

Overall it's a pretty clean car and the PO (Previous Owner) took care of it well while keeping receipts. It has a few issues which I'll be blogging here or talking about on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/robdaman

Camera phone pics for now. The hood is open because I decided to charge the battery. PO only drives 6000 miles annually.

I'll be giving my opinions about handling, braking, etc compared to my other cars soon.

Beds can fit in a E30!

I went to IKEA the other day to pick up a twin mattress for one of my sons. I figured to try to see if I can get it in the trunk otherwise I would squeeze it in the cabin somehow.

Well it fit! Obviously it was rolled up but the width of the roll fit perfectly into the trunk with tons of room left.

I've owned many sedans and coupes. The only trunk I've experienced being bigger is the 96 Impala SS I owned but that was a full-size cop car.

An S2000 has a tiny trunk. Evo X was dismal in which my 135i convertible trunk was in fact bigger than that!

Overall I'm still liking this car. It's a great bang for the buck ride. I wished I got one years ago. I may have had the bug sooner and bought a E30 M3. No way I'd pay what they're going for nowadays.

Still tons of space left!!!!

Battery dead in 4 days in my E30

So the E30 has a 2 year old Kirkland battery. I had to fly out a week ago and thought to take my car and let it sit. Well fortunately I hadn't driven my car for a few days and decided to check the battery. Well it was dead. So dead I couldn't even get dash lights.

I ran a 6 amp charger on it and I was able to start but it was dead the next morning. I had to take that flight so when I returned I saw that the battery only measured 5volts. Charged it again and went to Oreilly's to get it checked out. Starter and alternator tested good. Battery tested "marginally good" so i'm sure there's a weak cell. I guess it's time for a new one. I'm going to see if Costco will return what I have even though I'm not the original owner.