Frankiethebear

nice one alvo, never thought of that. The 250 exhaust i found on ebay was mild steel, stock part as far as i can tell. I may hold out and have a custom one made and fitted. only problem with that is that i can't find a company up here that would do it for me. i'd need the whole job completed on the same day, but i'm not really willing to travel to the Midlands to do it. There are other bits and pieces i'd like to change/improve, but as i'll have the car for the next couple of years there's plenty time. frankie

oooh, i like them very much. I also would like gunmetal alloys on my black 220d, but i'd need to source new ones, 18" i think, as the 16's that are on it look too small for the car. the front doesn't look too bad, but the back just doesn't look right. the back quarter panel is too deep for 16's. just my thoughts, but yours do look very, very nice indeed. good job matey. frankie

wifey offered to buy me one for my birthday a couple of years back, so I chose one that included her name and my childhood nickname. It was nothing to do with disguising the age of the car or anything like that as it's been on several cars now. It was a cheap one, cost a total of 255 which isn't really expensive in comparison to some. as i said earlier on, there was no one-upmanship involved, I just liked the thought of both our names being a part of the car. Some of the prices i've seen for personalised plates are utterly obscene, such as the one reported here k1ngs for 400k. If you are earning 20k per annum it would take 20 years just to earn that amount of money and when you see some of the things going on around the country and the world i would find that difficult to justify, but its personal choice. if someone has the resources and wants to waste a vast sum of cash on such a plate, that's their prerogative. I can justify 255 to myself and my conscience, but 400k? That's a different matter.

janet, I've been listening to a lot of hybrid north african/european music recently. Particularly Trans Global Underground and Natascha Atlas. first came across the around 30 years ago and they're still going strong. Also keep an ear open for a malian bloke called Salif Keita; truly uplifting voice and although I haven't a clue what he's singing about, the voice and the music combine sublimely. If you have any trouble finding them try you tube or drop me a line. Frankie

i've had a radio scotland theme today, so no music. getting a bit fed up with the six that are currently in the car, so time for a change mefinks. It was one of your earlier posts, pretty early on in the thread that you admitted to being tonsorially challenged! Unless it was someone else, in which case I'm triplets! I'll check out my hard drive over the weekend and see what I come up with. I like to go with a good mix of styles to try and cover all my moods both going to and coming back from work. Watch this space!! Frankie

great link eek. I've always had an interest in looking up, but only just got round to buying the three inch reflector. up till now i've tended to be more interested in the quantum universe rather than the macro one. lets get this right. you're 51 balding drive a lexus keen on astronomy... are we twins? frankiethetwin

hey dood, welcome. i use a 220d, but there are plenty here to help you. good luck. frankie

Hi eek, what will you be using for following ison? i bought a new 76mm reflector a couple of weeks back, but not been able to use it yet due to this stinking weather. Still trying to find my way around it as i've never had one this size before. really looking forward to doing some serious stargazing with it. Need to work out how to use it properly first! Frankie

Dave and Tiger. Can we start this all over again please? dave, i do respect your opinion, mine is just different. tiger, I am in a suitably chilled place and, as stated, i'd like to start from the beginning again. Frankie ps. my plate contains a special message for my wife and i have very personal reasons for it. Plus it does look nice! Frankie

cheers normski. i found one on ebay from a 250. looks like it would bolt straight on. only problem is notching the nsr part of the bumper. i intend to speak to one of the techs at a tyre and exhaust place in perth and see if they will take the job on. i'd need to notch the bumper first, but a bit worried about cocking it up! I'll maybe check on the cost of a bumper, there seem to be plenty 250's around. Frankie

hey alvi, hope the car's running well. you don't have any pictures of before and after fitting do you? I'd quite like to do this too, but need to see how it's all fitted first. frankie

do you ever have meets up in Scotland? I've noticed there are quite a few contributors around the east and north east. Has anyone ever arranged something? Sorry, but still new to the site and finding my way around.

i think that stating that someone who has a private plate is somehow vain or exhibits the trait of snobbery, although doing it in the form of a sarcastic question is effectively slagging off those who have them. Have I come here and had a go at anyone who does not have a private registration? No. Why, because I respect the opinions and views of others, I respect the choice of the individual to do and buy whatever they want for their car. So, again if you don't like them, don't buy one. Besides, I do think it enhances the appearance of your vehicle and makes it feel as if I have put my stamp on the car, effectively saying "this is my vehicle." Not only can I use bold, I can also use inverted comma's appropriately. Frankie

sorry, had a troublesome toolbar that suddenly arose and had to be put to the sword! is my post still there mikey? i'm having a problem with my laptop. some things have disappeared without my knowledge.

fair point Mikey. I never set out to offend anyone, but sometimes it happens, so please accept my genuine apology for any offence or unease caused. My condolences are sent to anyone who has lost a friend or relative in this, there is no justice in this world sometimes. if this has offended you it has probably offended others. is there a way that i can withdraw it? Frankie

ps, i'm able to use 6th at60 on the motorway with cruise on. prior to chip, 60 was exactly 1500 revs. it was a perfect match exactly 60 and exactly 1500. Since the chip 60 has dropped the revs to 1400, so i cruise at around 63/64 and that now is a match at 1500. I reckon i'm getting about 43+ to a gallon. Frankie

neddie, i know what you mean about the boxes with the resistor. those are the ones that tend to be on sale for 80.00 or so. the one i bought is fully adjustable and although its set for your particular car, it can be altered by turning it up or down as desired. they have a processor inside and are on a full circuit board. the price was high in comparison, but after looking at the cheaper ones, the tech specs didn't make any sense to me, it was basically a string of words stuck together that meant nothing. i think they are just meant to appeal to the less serious motorist. not trying to appear superior or snobby in the slightest, but i think when it comes to this type of modification, you get what you pay for. One thing to be very, very careful of though is pulling away very quickly. when i first installed it and tested it by wellying it the rear end sort of bounced a bit, so be wary. If i decide to keep it, as is likely, i may look at a different rear diff, it possible. I'm still getting to know the car, so i'm not sure what is and isn't possible with it. the last thing i want is a sheared propshaft! I haven't seen any real improvement with the turbo lag. Like i said, i may tinker with the settings over next weekend and see if that makes a difference. again, watch this space. Frankie

bluesman, really nice claim to fame there. that'll stick with you till you last breath. watched the django link and the bloke was a real genius on the jazz guitar. loved the fact he only uses two fingers. frankie

eek, you have to persevere with gogol bordello! they really are brilliant. also look out for some of the albums les claypool has made with various artists. the guy is the most innovative and skilled bass player of this or any other generation. I'm gonna replace the cd's in the car in the next couple of days, six weeks of the same six albums is about my limit. I love music and don't want to get fed up listening to them, so a change is in the wind.

hi neddie, still nothing bad to report and loving the car. after researching as much as i could and looking at the tech specs of as many boxes as i could find, i went for the racechip pro2 from germanyland. It's not cheap at 186gbp, but i was satisfied with the stats and the guarantee. i emailed a bloke called david for info and he was as up front as he could be. I asked for recommended settings but the box came set for power and economy. i noticed an instant surge in power and acceleration, but i won't insult anyones intelligence on here with estimates. I dont have access to a r/r, so this is all anecdotal. the factory settings are working great for me and i haven't tinkered with it as there is no doubt that setting it too high would damage the engine and i don't need that right now! Now that i am happy an d the car is performing well, i may twist it up a notch...mibbee...! Regarding economy, I bought the car with 61000 on it and a full history. The previous owner must've had a right foot like douglas badder's falsey because it was showing 32.4 average. after the chip its now on 37.0 exactly. i know that doesn't sound a lot, but i didn't undo the battery to reset the meter, so assuming it was averaging 32.4 over 61000 i have made a major improvement. iv'e done less than 2000 miles since sept 29 when i got it so looking at the ave of 37 it's made a hell of a difference. on a tank full costing 70.00 i'm getting 530 miles. that was from the last two tank fulls. i also add a cetane booster, but i can't say anything about an improvement as i have no frame of reference for this. on the whole, i am delighted with the car, the chip and the fuel economy. like i said this is all anecdotal and you should always do your own research and make your own decisions. nothing i've said above should be taken as a recommendation neddie. all i can say, hand on heart is that i've had nothing but good things to say about the car and the add ons. hope this helps matey. anything else i can help with just gimme a message. Frankie

i have one on my 220d. I also had it on my previous s class mercedes s320. This is not snobbery, its simply about making the car look and feel an individual thing and a part of your life. You don't like private plates? Cool, don't get one, but don't come on here and slag off the ones that do, ok? It's down to personal choice, live with it.

sorry, press the TEXT button to show album details or press twice to show track info. Frankie

if you use nero to burn your own cd's from your downloads, you can add the title at the stage where you burn the cd. If you don't put it in, it ain't gonna show. Any probs, gimme a pm. frankie

"Unless I am very much mistaken.... I AM very much mistaken!" "Mansell is slowing down, taking it easy. Oh no he isn't IT'S A LAP RECORD." "This is an interesting circuit, because it has inclines. And not just up, but down as well." "The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical." "The most important part of the car is the nut that holds the wheel." "I know it's an old cliche, but you can cut the atmosphere with a cricket stump." "Tambay's hopes, which were nil before, are absolutely zero now." "And there's no damage to the car. Except to the car itself." "That's the first time he had started from the front row in a Grand Prix, having done so in Canada earlier this year." "Here in Malaysia, it doesn't rain here by the bucketful, it rains by the ocean." "How you can crash into a wall without it being there in the first place is beyond me!" "Excuse me while I interrupt myself" "And the first five places are filled by five different cars." "And Damon Hill is following Damon Hill." "Michael Schumacher is leading Michael Schumacher." "Jean Alesi is 4th and 5th." "Villeneuve is now twelve seconds ahead of Villeneuve." "Frentzen is taking, er, reducing that gap between himself and Frentzen." "This has been a great season for Nelson Piquet, as he is now known, and always has been." "It's lap 26 of 58, which unless I'm very much mistaken is half way." "I'm ready to stop my start watch." "Only a few more laps to go and then the action will begin. Unless this is the action, which it is!" "I can't imagine what kind of problem Senna has. I imagine it must be some sort of grip problem." "He's obviously gone in for a pit stop. I say obviously, because I cannot see anything." "And the first three cars are all Escorts, which isn't surprising as this is an all Escort race." "He is exactly 10 seconds ahead, or more approximately, 9.86 seconds." "Look up there! That's the sky!" "There's nothing wrong with his car except that it's on fire." "I don't want to tempt fate but Damon Hill is now only half a lap from his first Grand Prix win and… and HE'S SLOWING DOWN, DAMON HILL IS SLOWING DOWN… HE'S... HE'S STOPPED!" "As you look at the first four, the significant thing is that Alboreto is fifth." "He's the only man on the track, except for his car." "You might think that's not cricket, and it's not. It's motor racing." "And Michael Schumacher is actually in a very good position. He is in last place." "One light, two lights, three lights, four laps, five lights, go, go, go!" "That's history. I say history because it happened in the past." "There are a lot of IFs in Formula One, in fact IF is Formula One backwards!" "Anything happens in Grand Prix racing, and it usually does."

bluesman, if there is any Django Reinhardt that you've been looking for but can't find, let me know. I have a friend.....