I received a letter today that my 325Ci is being recalled for faulty ignition coils. I was thinking "Fine, it happens."
As I was reading the notice, though, I realized that it said "... 2002, 2003 and 2004 model year BMW automobiles, equipped with six, eight and twelve cylinder engines..." WTF?!?!? That's like every single BMW sold in the US! Potentially that is 600,000 cars and SUVs (oh, sorry... SAVs) in North America alone.
How is it I haven't heard about this? I've been busy lately, but I think I would have noticed if 600K BMWs were recalled. GM would be crucified for that many.
Best I can figure is BMW has been sneaky on this one. They are calling this a "Voluntary Emissions Recall Campaign." OK, it been a long time since I had to use my BS in MechE, but I think if a few of the ignition coils failed, my Ultimate Driving Machine would sound more like a
'78 Olds 88 Diesel. A bit more than an emissions issue, in my book. It's not a safety issue like some, but many other manufacturers have reported lesser recalls to higher fan fare. My current theory is this kind of recall doesn't get the usual governmental paper-pushers all worked up, and avoids significant press.
Also, this seems to be something that has been a phased in. I've been trawling the BMW message boards, and it seems that a 5 Series owner here, a Z4 owner there have been getting these notices for a several months now. Also, some owners have been getting the coils replaced for even further back through a secret recall, extended warranty, etc.
Obviously, BMW knows a thing or two about good press vs. bad press. GM and Ford should take a lesson. When you need to recall, don't delay until the last minute and be proactive before it hits critical mass. BMW is only getting away with this because they have given themselves the luxury of time before we're all stranded on the road. Also avoid a nasty public demand from consumers or a governmental agency.
This stuff happens to all manufacturers, but I'm pretty amazed how this has played out.
Once again, Dave and the guys over at
MPH have a kick-butt spy photo, this time of the
BMW 3 Series hardtop convertible. (Those guys get all the good stuff.)
As I've
previously stated, BMW is making a great decision to make the next 3 Series convertible with a retractable hardtop. While much more complicated than a traditional soft-top, these are infinitely superior for those of us in climates where you spend at least 50% of time with the top up. The visibility is much better, and driving with the top up is much quieter.
When it was leaked that BMW was going to make the convertible a hardtop, I was a little concerned that BMW would have to compromise the styling to accommodate the mechanics of the top. It looks like they haven't had to compromise much of anything. This thing could end up being the most stunning BMW in years. When I say stunning, I mean not fucking hideous. Somebody must have finally taken away Chris Bangle's ugly stick.
(Note to BMW: Please NO CHROME EYELIDS ON THE GRILLE. They just look silly.)
This blog was originally to be a mixture of cars, gay politics, DC-related news, and... oh... hot guys. I've mostly focused on cars, with a little DC content. For the most part, I haven't delved into anything really personal, and that was by design. This post is different... I just got back from my first trip back to Chicago since the "divorce." It was a trip I was pretty nervous about making, and it surprised me a bit. Click through only if you are really interested in the neurotic workings of my mind.
Continue...Like I said, I was a little nervous about this trip. I know myself well enough to know situations set me off, and this was going to be a whole weekend of situations. Luckily, the cheapest flight was into Midway, and I always flew into O'Hare when I was with Scott. So no reminders there. Also, Andra had already started scheduling most of the weekend... sometimes down to the minute. Very little time for me to get sentimental.
Let me just say... Never fly into Midway from Dulles on United... NEVER. The puddle jumper taking me to Chicago took off from the H concourse. Where's that you ask? Basically, you have to walk past the moving walkways to the B Concourse, past the mobile lounges to the C, D, F, and G concourses, walk outside to a BUS, which will drive you to an over-glorified toolshed with covered walkways to the planes. I felt like I was flying in 1962 in a third world country.
The flight was uneventful, and I arrive in Midway. I haven't flown into to Midway in probably 7 or 8 years. I really didn't recognize it. Jamie and Andra collected me from the airport, and off we drove to their place. This is where it came full circle. They live in Wicker Park, which meant we had to pass downtown. Mercifully, after a brief thought, Jamie decided that he wouldn't take Lake Shore, which would have taken us right past Scott's place. Still, as we headed up the Dan Ryan, there it was. It was even worse was when we approached the exit for Ohio St. That was the exit I had taken so many times before. I kept it together, but I really wanted to start crying.
After we arrived at Jamie and Andra, they immediately offer me a drink which I happily accepted. I really needed it. Also, it started snowing. Every time I've stayed with Jamie and Andra I think it's snowed... every time... before I met Scott (once 30 inches), when I needed to spend the night at their place after a big fight with Scott... and now. Chicagoans must have rejoiced when I met Scott... the snow stopped.
After spending a lazy afternoon together, Andra's plan kicked up in high gear. That night we were going to see TWO plays (with dinner in between). It sounded a bit much, but luckily we missed the message that 500 Clowns Sings Christmas Carols was sold out that night. Instead, we headed to the restaurant were a friend of theirs worked. He was quite the cutie... and Andra told me he thought I pretty cute also. But... he's 25 years old. I worked out the math in my head. He was probably in 2nd grade when I graduated high school. That thought gave me the creeps, at least for now. After enjoying the delicious Red Apple Manhattans he bought us, we went to dinner at Cafe Laguardia. (It's not fancy but is quite tasty Cuban. Go!)
After dinner, we went to see Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind at the Neo-Futurists. Even though it's the longest running show in Chicago, I had never seen it. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it. It's really fun, and, oh, Andra is Managing Director of the company. After the show, who mysteriously shows up at the theater but 25 Yr Ol' Cutie. We all of course go out with 25 Yr Ol' Cutie for more drinks, and then to a 4am bar near by until... well, almost 4am. The goodnight kiss I got from said 25 Yr Ol' Cutie made that night much easier. (He kisses really well.) I had been scared that sleeping at Jamie and Andra's would have made me sad. The only time in the past several years I had slept there was when Scott and I had a very intense fight. I had kind of associated their guest room with Scott and my problems. Not tonight... all I could think of was the kiss.
The next day was a (very) late brunch, and shopping. Then we went to a lovely dinner at Scylla, and then headed out to see Lady Kier at Circuit. Now, this is going to show our age... please don't laugh. Andra thought that Lady Kier was going on at 9pm. I told Andra, that if Lady Kier was starting at 9pm, she was probably just spinning, and not performing. But we'd see. So after dinner, we stop by Circuit to get the skinny. Yes, she was actually performing, no, she wasn't spinning, and no, she wasn't coming on until midnight.
So we head down to Roscoe's. Roscoe's is one of my favorite bars in Chicago. Just very comfortable, plus big and scenic. Unfortunately, I couldn't relax. Scott and I would end up there probably 60+% of the times we went out. I kept checking the door to see if Scott, or one of his friends had walked in. Depending on who it was, I would expect either anger, disdain or just pity, none of which I wanted. Luckily, we left early enough to head back to Circuit. When we were there earlier, the bouncer was nice enough to give us free passes. That was a very good thing. As we were walking in, Miss Foozie told us that Lady Kier wasn't coming on until 2am. OK, back in the day I wouldn't have blinked an eye, but that seemed a little late. Still, we decided to stick it out, especially since we were getting in free.
Well, by 1:45am, Lady Kier had not come out, the crowd was thinning out, the music sucked (lot's of stuff which jumped the shark ages ago) and we decided that we probably wouldn't want to see Lady Kier perform to a half empty house at 2:30am. So we left. Andra told me that 25 Yr Ol' Cutie had left a message that he thought I was charming. Somehow, that and the cocktails got me to sleep.
Sunday was another busy day. We had brunch reservations at X/O for 11am. I enjoyed it, but Andra was hoping for a drag brunch, which either wasn't happening, or was much later than we were eating. Afterwards, Andra wanted to look at multi-unit open houses. Jamie and Andra was been trying to get me to move to Chicago before I even met Scott. Their latest scheme is to buy a 2 or 3 flat together. Unfortunately for them, the holiday weekend made those open houses scarce. So we just drove by any on MLS we thought were interesting. During this time, I kept looking at the properties and thought "Why would I give up my place in DC for this?" Maybe I was grumpy, but nothing we saw, whether in West Andersonville, or in the middle of it all in Lincoln Park did it for me.
We finally made it to 500 Clowns on Sunday. It was fun. Despite the reviews, it needs a little refinement. If it's REALLY interesting to you, go see, but otherwise wait a couple years until they fill out the show a little better. Afterward, Jamie introduced me to my new addiction Sudoku. It's kinda like crossword for those of us who are illiterate.
For dinner, we headed out to Smoke Daddy for some good BBQ and got one of the nice surprises of the weekend... probably the best balanced jazz quartet I've seen. Very enjoyable. I could have used that goodnight kiss, though, because that night I cried myself to sleep. I don't know if it was real estate talk, or that I knew the next morning I was leaving, and Scott didn't show up and make everything right again the way I secretly hoped he would. Either way, I was sad.
The next morning, I got up early, and was on the El to O'Hare for my early morning flight. This had me fighting back the tears. Where the El parallels the Kennedy Expressway, I looked out at the cars stuck in traffic. Scott and I had made this drive so many times before this early... usually with me all crazy and freaking out about being late. I saw a car which Scott had been talking about buying the last time we had talked. I wonder if it could possibly be him. (I knew it wasn't, but I was being my own personal drama queen.) I had been a 2-hour interview away from moving to Chicago, and thought in July I would be living totally there by now. But on that train ride to Chicago, I FINALLY knew that it wasn't Chicago I was moving to... I had wanted to move to be close to someone I loved very much and it had nothing to do with Chicago. I'll probably not be moving to Chicago anytime soon. I'll always enjoy Chicago, for it's diverse theatre, and having brunch down to an art, but DC is the place I belong at this point. No question.
Final note... 25 Yr Ol' Cutie gave Andra instructions to give me his email and phone... We'll see.
Happy Thanksgiving!I'm stealing this from
Ed, who stole it from
Chrisafer:
I am thankful that I have a loving, supportive and crazy-ass family.
I am thankful that I have a job where I can be my own person.
I am thankful that I have friends who make me laugh so hard, I cry.
I am thankful that I have friends who make me laugh when I cry.
I am thankful for my little house in the 'hood.
I am thankful that Chrisafer is gay. (Gotta keep the chain going.)
I am thankful that Ed is finally letting go. (He's got quite a grip.)
I am thankful for my health and health insurance.
I am thankful for the smile I get from driving my car.
I am thankful that I quit smoking.
I am thankful that Scott was part of my life for so long.
I am thankful that I persevered when Scott went away.
I am thankful for 4 of the coolest niece and nephews.
I am thankful that I will get another soon.
I am thankful for the old friends that have come back into my life.
I am thankful for another year to be thankful.
I've been incredibly busy at my real job, and had guests from out of town in all weekend... thus why no posts. But I couldn't this go:
WHY? WHY? WHY?
This ridiculous monstrosity from
Mattig will be shown at the
Essen Motor Show. The Essen Motor Show is a bit like a German version of our
SEMA, which of course mean I have
no use for it.
Never mind it's for an E46 which isn't even produced anymore. Nothing like taking a $35K sport sedan and making it look like a $10K ricer.
From "I Love New York" on Madonna's new album,
Confession On A Dance FloorI don't like cities, but I like New York
Other places make me feel like a dork
Los Angeles is for people who sleep
Paris and London, baby you can keep
Oh dear... I didn't realize that the fall off the horse resulted in brain damage.
Actually, the new album, while no
Ray of Light, is reasonably entertaining for what it is... a compilation of dance music. Like any album, there are some stinkers (**cough** Forbidden Love **cough** Push **cough**), but also some pretty catchy singles (Hung Up, Jump). Nothing earth shattering, but definitely worth a listen. Then again , after
American Life, my expectations were pretty low.
P.S. I know a drive-by review of a Madonna is pretty faggy... guilty as charged.
 | + |  | = |
| 2005 Lincoln Aviator | | Grille of an ol' Caddy Deville | |
 |
2007 Cadillac Escalade
(Come on, GM. THIS is what killed the Zeta?) |
This is an open letter to the festering anal wart who broke into my house yesterday morning.
Just wanted to congratulate you:
Congratulations for being so brazen as to break in while I was upstairs in the shower. Most folks would have waited for their victims to go to work. You, on the other hand, were so tweaked and desperate for your next fix that you couldn't wait.
Congratulations for having the perseverance to hit my place after the failed attempt at the house down the street
Congratulations for having the insight to grab a broken DVD player, an iPod dock (but of course leaving the iPod) and a 4 year old laptop which weighed 10 pounds and had a battery life of 10 minutes. While you might have gotten $50 for the laptop, I had to spend 20 times that to replace it, plus lost source code for a independent project, every digital photo I took in the past 6 months, and more importantly my pictures of hunky, nekkid men.
Congratulations for having shifted my previously unwavering support of gun control. Maybe having a gun in the house would be OK if it keeps pathetic junkies like you out.
Congratulations for turning my world upside down. You may have gotten cash for your next fix, but now I don't feel safe in my own house, can't sleep and jump at any weird sound.
You better watch out! All of us on the block have been talking. If you ever try it again, we will have some surprises for you.
Fresh on the heels of
Renault's (at least in the world that revolves around me), comes an extremely well done
Citroen advertisement.
The French always seem to polarize folks, but no matter your opinion, you gotta admit they have come out with Super Bowl caliber advertising for the everyday.
Maybe
Bill Ford will take a look at these, stop boring us to tears and make want to BUY his cars.
(Via
The View Through The Windshield.)
I can't stop laughing...
Joe Sherlock compares the
Hummer H3 to "a jack-booted lesbian midget with a large trucker's wallet and chain."
This thing is sex on wheels. And with the seats down, you could comfortably do the deed.
The guys at
MPH have the latest
spy photos of the BMW M5 Touring (that's station wagon in Bimmer-speak). I personally think that the 5-Series wagon is vastly more pleasing than the sedan. Then again, I just have a weird thing for wagons. Regardless, those of us who are city dwellers, and have limited parking, need a car that can be practical and still emotionally titillating. And with a 500hp V10, the M5 Touring should be able to haul... both literally and figuratively speaking.
I think the
previous object of my lust has just been cast aside.
I have been swamped at work, so I haven't been posting much. Honestly, there hasn't been much to post about.
This week was the
SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which I really couldn't care less about. I personally find a trade show about oversized chrome wheel, and tacky plastic add-ons for your car very unappealing. If I wanted to see that kind of travesty, I could just walk around my neighborhood to see the S430 with a tacky spoiler, or the Chrysler 300 (not 300C) with the 22 inch chrome wheels and mesh grill.
To make a short story long, the entire auto press has been obsessed with SEMA and I couldn't have been more bored. This absurd photo was taken by
Dave at
MPH. He seems to have the same jaded outlook about this that I do. (As far as I know, the hot guy is just a bystander.)
Autoweek is reporting that Malcolm Bricklin's attempt to bring cars from Chinese manufacturer
Chery to the US is stalled. Oh, I'm so shocked.
It seems that he needs to provide the financing for Chery to create all new cars for the US market. Chery's existing cars won't fill the bill since they too tiny for American tastes, don't meet our safety standards and/or are
blatant rip offs of other companies.
I can't figure out why anybody even pays attention to this ol' coot. Malcolm Bricklin is not a automotive visionary, or even a good business man.
The View Though The Windshield has a good summary of failures. He is sometimes referred to as the man who brought Subaru to the US. Actually in 1971, 2 years after the Subaru 360 went on sale, Subaru paid Bricklin off to get the fuck out. He used the pay off to to create his sports car, which went bankrupt under 32 million in debt. His only successes in my book were importing the Fiat X1/9 and Spiders, along with the Yugo in the 80's. Not exactly a great legacy.
So let's analyze what went wrong:
- Visionary Vehicles: Dumb name. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. My 6 year old nephew could come up with something better.
- Requiring a separate 15 million dollar dealership: Let's face it, Chinese cars are not going to have the reliability of their Japanese or even Korean competitors. (This article mentions the weld quality, which would never fly here.) There will be a lot of risk for both customers and dealers. The customers will demand a very low price, and dealers will want to lay out a minimal amount of capital. 15 million dollars up front is too much to ask.
- Developing new products: Bricklin's current plan was to create affordable luxury cars. Trouble is Chery doesn't have anything quite like that. Maybe The Oriental Son could pass as a luxury car in China, but is more like a mid-size family sedan here. Chery's SUV (Tiggo) is pretty much a copy of a RAV4, so it could not be sold here, especially as a luxury SUV. Gee, wouldn't it have been easier to find Chinese cars that are already in production, and could be federalized?
- Launching with a 5 car lineup: Let's look at how most companies have introduced their cars to the US. Everyone I can think of started out with 1 or 2 cars that they could sell the hell out of, and then slowly expand the range. Hmmm.... I wonder why? Maybe it's that whole risk thing of having such huge capital expenditures. Maybe it's the ability to finance future models with the profits from the original core. Maybe it's a way to keep all your eggs out of that one basket, and be able to adjust your strategy if you were a little off in your market research. (Assuming Bricklin did any.) Creating an all new, 5 car lineup would be a challenge for any auto manufacturer, but almost impossible for a company without any experience in creating cars for the US and it's maze of regulations.
I say goodbye and good riddance to Malcolm Bricklin and his Visionary Vehicles. We hardly
wanted to know ya.
