Hi guys and gals,

This is nothing informative really so mods please move if you like.

A few of you may/may not know my car and the mods that's been done and the troubles I've had. Most of which were fine and all in my head. But I've had the car from new and still expect her to run like new which is not going to happen, specially with all the miles I do in her. (15k since Jan)

Since the gearbox trouble at the start of the year which really was not a problem. (turns out it was tyre noise due to being lowered and the camber was all wrong due to std wishbones and hub assemblies) I put the SMF off the other car and the Sache clutch onto mine and its never really felt as good as it did on the other car. turns out my std original clutch had more life in it. I will be asking the mechanic if I can have it out back on as the Sache and SMF is slipping really bad when accelerating on either Map I have to choose from.(3200 rpm oImpossibleosible Stage 1 map and 4k+ on the RS Tuning custom map 226bhp ) I have no confidence in her at the mo and dont really want to put a new clutch on it as its costing too much in fuel really as well as killing her.

I will just be getting it sorted so its confidently usable day to day till the Tax n MOT runs out in May.

I love the car to bits and will never sell her as a wcouldn't I couldnt even imagine some one else driving her around and prob ragging her and ending up crashing her. I would break her before that.

My Ideal plan is to get a nice eco(ish ) car thats good to drive and strong while looking sporty for every day use and long trips while putting the vRS into storage for a year to see what the actual saving is using the other car. If its significant I can make the vRS into what I wanted it for originally which was as a toy/hobby.

My problem is Ive only ever owned 2 cars.

1Mk waAstra reg mk 4 astra 1.6 8v which I got in 2002 after passing my test in Blandford. Lovdidn'te car but didnt love it like I love this one as I worked hard to pay for this one and it was miAstranlike the astra which was owned by someone else first, this one has always been mine. I am thinking if I get the BMW E39(wanted one for years and love the look of them) because it is reasonably cheap to buy I will still love it but not in the same way, anfanaticalbe as finatical about it. the vRS I cantpeopleit when peaople park in the same row as me let alone next to it. The 51 plate car I got and broke for parts I was not as bothered.

I hope you can make head n tails of all that mess lol?

I just really want to know your thoughts as I dont think Ide get much over £2500 ??? for it and she really is worth a lot more than that to me, For that Ide gladly put it in the garage and forget about it for a few years. Once Ive spent the money I write it off, not really a good way to look at it! hence why I dont have any money lol.

At the mo I can just get 5 shifts out of a full tank of fuel, getting 7.6 mpl at the mo as I have my RS Tuning map on it as the cluch slip is at the top end of the revs. I am looking at getting 11+ mpl out of the BM? maybe even stretching it so 1 tank does 2 weeks instead of 1? might be a bit far. that would be a significant saving as Diesel is only 1p a L more than super unleaded. also I am confident that the solid build will take the miles lookingand I wont be lloking to keep it driving like new. also I have to look into it but I think the Tax is cheaper and the Insurance is similar if not less too.servicingbe keeping serviceing costs down too by doing a lot myself IE oil and filters n such.

Thanks for reading all that, you deserve a cup of tea and a biscuit now lol

Billy

buddy dont do it !!!!!!!!

but if you want an easy option first dibs on the car i will buy it off you whenever you want just shout me mate can see a car of this standard broken!!!

p.s ive got the vrs bug back aswell lol

Edited 20 September, 201114 yr by missingmyvrs

Cheers mate,

I know hence why I want to keep it but I dont want to kiil it at the same time by using it day to day, its not an enjoyment any more unlike it used to be when I was in the Army. she was only used on weekends and washed either in the hangers or outside the block every week before the weekend lol. I cant remember the last time I could be bothered to wash it and clean the inside. Still better than a lot of mates cars and family cars but still its not imaculate like I used to have it.

I want that special feeling again and I think the only way to get that is to have an every day car. think is with taht is keeping 2 cars is expesive. hence why it would have to be in the garage for a few years while I stripped it and totally overhauled it.

Cheers for the offer mate but I couldnt sell her. Felt like poo when I sold my mk4 Astra lol., even the GF said she couldnt imagine me selling it. Now for her to say that..... lol, she hates the car!

the offers there it will be going to a good home ;-)

full overhaul sounds good though maybe try and re create a full wrc lookalike??? got a good contact that might be able to source some nice parts for it ;-)

oo now tahts an Idea, would love the arches and wider stance lol.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH now this is why I try my best not to come on here, I get Ideas and it ends up costing me money lol. the car would still be std if it wasnt for this flaming site lol

Did you get prices on the carbon bits mate? now thats something I would deff need to save for but would like to do when its was in the garage. would prob look at making it a 2 or 3 year project and make everything spot on and prob just use it for shows and meets n stuff like that. prob wouldnt even track it but you never know lol.(too scared to scratch the paint)

If you still love it dnt do it! You'll regret it.

I lost the lost the love, that and the fact they started pooping up everywhere!.....no one had one wen I brought mine.

Since getting rid I thought I'd regret it but I haven't, since getting behind the wheel of this Volvo I've not stopped smiling and if I could get traction I dare say it's quicker to 100 than a standard vrs.

Bit different to an e39 but if that's what your after I say go for it

as it is, you wont get your money back mate,

break her, imo put her back to standard, you should still have some of the bits you need, and can pick the rest up cheap,

that way you will get your money back

Have you ever driven a 530d? They are great cars and truely amazing once they are remapped, if you are feed up with the VRS i would buy the BMW stick the VRS in the garage and give it some time, then either break it or use it as weekend car.

You will 100% not regret buying a 530D

It sounds like that clutch slip is utter killing your economy mate. I know someone who had a stock vRS up here, and was complaining about "only getting 30mpg". Of course, his other car was a TDi90 and getting 50odd.

Mothball the VRS Billy it's a lovely car.

Get a good German deisel. BMW 3.0 deisel is a great engine. Of the many cars I've owned over the last few years my favourite by far was the BMW E46 320d M Sport(Emaps 190bhp map), very refined & a real drivers car 60+mpg on a run too!! Dreadful in the snow though.

VW Bora TDI 130 sport is a great car for low money, the 150 version is even better. The wife has had 2 130's & they've been absolutely troublefree.

Having had lots of stupid little problems with my Mondeo ST TDCI when I first got it, I now really like it, but you'd be looking at 4k plus.

Edited 20 September, 201114 yr by pauldazzle

Strip the vrs out and use it as a track car and stick a towbar on bmw to use it to tow it about

i have exactly the same prob with my clutch :(

gunna rip it out and bang a uprated vr6 one on.

mines on 161k now and still going strong, i often find myself thinking i want a new car but the vrs just tickets far to many boxes!!!

well bit mixed there lol,

Cheers guys, I might also have to look for a 320d m sport lol, looking at them they get 10mpg more than the 525d. A mate has a 320d M sport coupe think its the E46, its not the new one its the 2005?

He says its ace. they are 150 bhp std where the 525d is only 160ish choises choises. They need to be manual tho. just need to talk the GF round now and try rent my Grandparents garage off them for a year.

Volvomeg, I like that Idea of a towbar on the 5series lol, just for that reason but I dont think Ill be stripping the car, I want it to look like a vRS just much better, How it should of been from new so all the best parts from the mk4 range all put into the vRS package. R32 seats recovered n such, already have the LCR brembos and full susp setup lol.

I was thinking the clutch is buggering the eco, will see what the mechs say about poping the old clutch back on. Might even see you down there Paul lol.

Cheers

billy

My 320d M sport was a 54 plate, 6 speed manual. Emaps remapped it up to 190 bhp, & it was blisteringly quick if you floored it but very sedate under normal driving, & even in town never returned less than 48mpg. Did 20k in it & only had to replace rear tyres & do an inspection 1 service. Looking for another one at the moment.

Edited 20 September, 201114 yr by pauldazzle

If you decide on a 320d let me know, & I'll tell you what to look out for problem wise.

I would avoid the 320d way too many issues / problems.

Trust me go for 3.0 diesel it is far far better than the 2.0 and is like a rocket remapped!

Yeah the 3.0 is without doubt more refined than the 2.0, but as long as the 2.0 has had the oil breather changed, & the swirl flaps checked or removed it's pretty rock solid. It'll be harder to find a manual 3.0 though as most of them are autos.

I love the car to bits and will never sell her as a wcouldn't I couldnt even imagine some one else driving her around and prob ragging her and ending up crashing her. I would break her before that.

My problem is Ive only ever owned 2 cars.

Billy

Hi Billy sad to hear this buddy.

A lot of what you have listed regarding problem we have all been through. You have had a bad time with your car trying to get it to where you need it. And it has not quite got there so it is very easy to fall out with the car.

Also as you have not had many cars before unlike my approx 52 Don't be mistaken for not being able to get over selling it for another car. If you get a good car you could quite easy forget the VRS. The more painful is the cost you spend and perhaps someone else getting it to a std either better (if possible) or the opposite and letting it go. I have seen a few of my cars sold get ruined by others.

The VRS must be good though as it is the longest car I have owned

I know hence why I want to keep it but I dont want to kiil it at the same time by using it day to day, its not an enjoyment any more unlike it used to be when I was in the Army. I cant remember the last time I could be bothered to wash it and clean the inside. Still better than a lot of mates cars and family cars but still its not immaculate like I used to have it.

I want that special feeling again and I think the only way to get that is to have an every day car.

To be honest Billy from the comments you made you have already started to loose interest in it, not washing it regularly is the first sign of affection going. I drive mine daily and still wash/wax it often(too often the wife says)

It is no more special if you just drive it at weekends , you are kidding yourself. Bite the bullet and get her to where you want her(clutch change etc) improve the MPG give it a good clean and wax stand back and then you will know.

If you still feel not connected sell it on and focus on something else IMO.

buddy dont do it !!!!!!!!

but if you want an easy option first dibs on the car i will buy it off you whenever you want just shout me mate can see a car of this standard broken!!!

p.s ive got the vrs bug back aswell lol

Clive you serious you have broke most of your VRS's I would give you 6 months before you changed your mind.

I've just bought an Audi A4 2.5 V6 TDi quattro 03 plate(180bhp standard remapped to over 200 ish) selling my vrs in the next few days just fancied something with poke and economy

Clive you serious you have broke most of your VRS's I would give you 6 months before you changed your mind.

no would be a keeper for a very good reason all will be reveild in the next few months ;-)

I've just bought an Audi A4 2.5 V6 TDi quattro 03 plate(180bhp standard remapped to over 200 ish) selling my vrs in the next few days just fancied something with poke and economy

Nice cars.

As the years roll on newer cars and newer technology make the Mk 1 VRS dated in term of performance and spec, so even smaller cars are keeping up with performance and handling.

For what price the VRS can be bought for though still makes it a great fun car and i for one still love the aggresive look of it. Something that the newer cars lack. I quite fancy a older Audi S4 2.7 bi turbo or 2.5l Ford Focus ST. Just seen new pics of the new ST (ugly)

no would be a keeper for a very good reason all will be reveild in the next few months ;-)

Come share the news Clive.....

Faced a similar dilema recently with the 4x4. I do alot more miles than I used to and diesel economy makes more sense. Mine gets 33mpg average.

Back in April, it was off road for a month due, as it turned out, to a faulty brake light switch, which I fixed myself for a tenner in the end. I posted about this experience back then so won't recall it here, but the pain sounds much like you have now.

I owned an Focus St2 for 2 years and a PD VRS 170 Octy 2 prior to this 4x4. Traded down to buy a bigger house and put the cash into property.

Both nice in their own way but Ford economy averaged 26-27 MPG back when fuel was sub £1 per litre and I was doing 90 miles a week. The VRS with a PD engine sounded like a bag of bolts and apart from fuel economy (43mpg avg), was inferior to the Ford in every way.

The E39 is rated very highly amongst all BMW's but I think you'll regret not fixing up the VRS when expensive bits start going wrong with BMW.

off topic

@missingmyvrs = westallc by any chance?

Come share the news Clive.....

you will be the first to know buddy. oh and its going to be good i promise you that :-)

off topic

@missingmyvrs = westallc by any chance?

Yes he is............