[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by sblument

hey that's my car from the outside!!!

the only difference is inside I'm the "teutonic all black" with the brushed aluminum.

I just got off the boat today (Courage). Your car looks great! Especially love the shots from the back with the wide tires.

Hey...when the three of us get together, it should look like 3 identical cars from the outside! It should be an interesting shoot. I'll be curious to see your aluminum trim. Teutonic black? What is that?

Congrats for making the trip over. Just a matter of days now. If you're trek through the VPC and overland mirrors mine, you should be looking at Friday or Saturday when your car arrives! Monday at the latest, barring in-transit damage, which would warrant more time at the VPC. Still...only a matter of days for you now!

[sblument]

Oh Teutonic black is just a reference to the traditionally black and somber interiors of German sedans from years past...think 80s BMW and Mercedes interiors... it's not a specific trim color.

Yes I'm happy to not be checking the WW tracking site again for a long time!

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

Latest delivery update. I'm wondering where some of our shipmates disappeared to?

Delivery Status:
b311lee, DC - took delivery 3/13/06, pics posted
Beto Pereira, FL
Carguy1965, GA - took delivery 3/9/06
Cinci330i, OH - took delivery 3/6/06
fletcher969, IL - took delivery 3/8/06, pics posted
irowharderthanyou, FL
KL2DC, VA - took delivery 3/10/06, pics posted
mandrimac, PA - was to take delivery 3/3/06???
no_exit, MN - took delivery 3/8/06, pics posted
Romulus, NE - took delivery 3/4/06 (according to this thread)
Scrooge4277, IL - taking delivery 3/14/06

Thought you might want to keep your list current / updated...

Mr. Beto Pereira (listing 2) is a no go on the e90 ... he went ahead and bought a CLK350 *gasp* according to this ... his BMW dealers gave him a hard time, I remembered him having problems with his lease figures.

Beto, I am sure its a great car ... enjoy and do drop us a line

[fletcher969]

Ok...how's this then?

Delivery Status:
b311lee, DC - took delivery 3/13/06, pics posted
Beto Pereira, FL - jumped ship, lost at sea!
Carguy1965, GA - took delivery 3/9/06
Cinci330i, OH - took delivery 3/6/06
fletcher969, IL - took delivery 3/8/06, pics posted
irowharderthanyou, FL
KL2DC, VA - took delivery 3/10/06, pics posted
mandrimac, PA - was to take delivery 3/3/06???
no_exit, MN - took delivery 3/8/06, pics posted
Romulus, NE - took delivery 3/4/06 (according to this thread)
Scrooge4277, IL - taking delivery 3/14/06

Sorry to see Beto went with the MB (Maybe Baby), but they are nice cars in their own right, and I'm sure he'll have years of fun with the CLK. Nice detective work Mr. K!

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

Ok...how's this then?

Delivery Status:
Beto Pereira, FL - jumped ship, lost at sea!

Sorry to see Beto went with the MB (Maybe Baby), but they are nice cars in their own right, and I'm sure he'll have years of fun with the CLK. Nice detective work Mr. K!

LOL ... nice updating.

I was bored (at work) felt the need to track something

Been going down for those (smoke breaks) to see the car in the cool shimmering light of the basement garage ...

Btw, the car has a name - Ralf!! - great guy but a little stand offish, strong silent type; he's German for crying out loud. All this while, I was expecting a girl but after getting to know the car better, had no doubt in mind that she is a he so there!!

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

LOL ... nice updating.

I was bored (at work) felt the need to track something

Been going down for those (smoke breaks) to see the car in the cool shimmering light of the basement garage ...

Btw, the car has a name - Ralf!! - great guy but a little stand offish, strong silent type; he's German for crying out loud. All this while, I was expecting a girl but after getting to know the car better, had no doubt in mind that she is a he so there!!

Geez...in that case, wouldn't Wolfgang, Lothar, or Hansel have been better choices??

[no_exit]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

LOL ... nice updating.

Agreed - nice work Fletch

Originally Posted by KL2DC

:I was bored (at work) felt the need to track something

How shocking - Mr. K feeling the need to track.

Originally Posted by KL2DC

:Btw, the car has a name - Ralf!! - great guy but a little stand offish, strong silent type; he's German for crying out loud. All this while, I was expecting a girl but after getting to know the car better, had no doubt in mind that she is a he so there!!

Grats on getting the name nailed - I woudl have thought it would have taken a bit longer. But what do I know? I've never named any of my cars.

Also, I'd like to wish this thread a happy one month anniversary. As of this writing 556 posts and 4934 views - not bad for a ship tracking thread. Thank you all for the making this thread so enjoyable!

[KL2DC]

Hey hey ... didn't realize it ... has it been one whole month!!! Time has flown ...

Cheers Everybody!!! This thread would not have been this substantial, enjoyable and worthwhile without each and everyone of your posts/responses/contribution.


Wrt to RALF ... the car gave me his name ... I don't name cars Surprised he told me so soon, me thinks he just wanted me to know who's boss early in the game so ... We are getting along fine but just between me and you, I think he has a little drinking problem

... I am only averaging 14mpg on my 2nd tank (light-footed city driving). How are you guys doing?

[KL2DC]

I was just surfing and I came along this pic and thought of our friend Beto and his CLK

It's a cute pic, not sure if you guys seen it or remembered the original ad ...

[Carguy1965]

Well folks if it worked here are the pictures after all. One is my Wife with our CA getting her indoctrination.. Other two are after our weekend road trip and pre bath.. Car continues to just amaze us, and one thing I can say for sure.. And its true of all our rides. The pictures just dont do them justice. They look so much more impressive in real life its unreal.. Fletcher do you think the spacers are gonna cause more road rash on the back quarter panels?? Only drawback I can see.. Hope evryone is enjoying tons of enjoyable miles...

[KL2DC]

Carguy1965: Finally Pics of your Mystic Blue beauty!! I count this color as one of my favorites on the e90 pallette (others being SG and Barrique). How about some interior pics?

Are those 330 tips or 325 tips? They look long ... I recommend the 330 grilles, they literally are a snap to swap ...

Once again congratulations on a lovely car, you must be (rightfully) proud...wish you many happy motoring miles.

[no_exit]

Originally Posted by Carguy1965

Well folks if it worked here are the pictures after all. One is my Wife with our CA getting her indoctrination.. Other two are after our weekend road trip and pre bath.. Car continues to just amaze us, and one thing I can say for sure.. And its true of all our rides. The pictures just dont do them justice. They look so much more impressive in real life its unreal.. Fletcher do you think the spacers are gonna cause more road rash on the back quarter panels?? Only drawback I can see.. Hope evryone is enjoying tons of enjoyable miles...

Carguy - Finally! it's great to finally see pics of your new car - it looks fantastic! I have yet to see a Mystic Blue E90 in person but I think it's a beautiful color in pictures. It snowed here over the weekend so I haven't driven mine since Sunday The weather in your pics looks unbeatable.

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by Carguy1965

Well folks if it worked here are the pictures after all. One is my Wife with our CA getting her indoctrination.. Other two are after our weekend road trip and pre bath.. Car continues to just amaze us, and one thing I can say for sure.. And its true of all our rides. The pictures just dont do them justice. They look so much more impressive in real life its unreal.. Fletcher do you think the spacers are gonna cause more road rash on the back quarter panels?? Only drawback I can see.. Hope evryone is enjoying tons of enjoyable miles...

Carguy....great pics, beautiful car!

Spacers...I can't say for sure if spacers would cause more flak to be tossed up along the backside or not, but all I have observed is there hasn't been any more dirt tossed up behind that wheel than can be observed behind the front wheel also. I suppose it's possible, but one could put some "small" mud flaps behind if so concerned. All I can say, IMO, is the spacers give the car the look it should have had all along. It's a personal preference thing, and should be weighed with other considerations, so in the end, it's all a matter of personal preference. How's that for not being very helpful?

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

... I am only averaging 14mpg on my 2nd tank (light-footed city driving). How are you guys doing?

I've been averaging 19.1 so far.

[KL2DC]

Funny you guys should mention it, been giving serious thoughts to the mudflaps ... at least for the front wells. Shuddering at the thought of winter grit/sand/salt eroding the sides come next winter I think I can live without the rear flaps...as a compromise...generally not into the mudflap look on european cars eventhough the e90's quite subtle and well-constructed. The DIY looks like a PITA though...esp for a DIY-adverse guy like yours truly

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

I've been averaging 19.1 so far.

Its coming back up ... I averaged that on my first tank iirc...still working on the 2nd tank (310 miles on her as of this morning)

Btw just signed up for BMW CCA membership...mainly for the publications/news but also for the discount on next bimmer.

[KL2DC]

400th post...wanted it to be here, just like the 300th...speaking of, Mr. Fletcher, your post count is looking similarly healthy

Might as well make this one productive. How are all of your cars going so far? Any rattles? Issues? ... I'm hearing some faint rattles/squeaking but have not localised the source (need more seat time). Also, a faint smudge mysteriously appeared on my left A-pillar on the mouse-grey cloth surface Wasn't me, must have been from co-workers viewing the car yesterday...any suggestions?

[Carguy1965]

Just filled up the car this morning after the first full tank... Showing 22.5 mpg. Math agrees with the onboard as well. So far there is not a rattle or squeak to be heard. Much less anything that might require dealer attention. She has been virtually flawless thus far.. I gotta think on the mudflaps.. But I want the spacers for sure...

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

400th post...wanted it to be here, just like the 300th...speaking of, Mr. Fletcher, your post count is looking similarly healthy

Hey, I hadn't noticed. Looks like most are in this thread though!

Might as well make this one productive. How are all of your cars going so far? Any rattles? Issues? ... I'm hearing some faint rattles/squeaking but have not localised the source (need more seat time). Also, a faint smudge mysteriously appeared on my left A-pillar on the mouse-grey cloth surface Wasn't me, must have been from co-workers viewing the car yesterday...any suggestions?

Only thing I've noticed is a "possible" shock/sping type noise I get sometimes when I travel at relatively low speeds over a bump or something similar, but I haven't yet determined if it's not certain angles, speeds, etc. Aside from that, nothing else.

The cloth is suseptible to dirt I've noticed. I had a few on the handles above both doors, and just around each handle which I noticed a couple of hours after I took delivery. I took a clean cotton cloth with some soap and water on it, and dabbed the spots away without a problem. You might try the same.

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by Carguy1965

Just filled up the car this morning after the first full tank... Showing 22.5 mpg. Math agrees with the onboard as well. So far there is not a rattle or squeak to be heard. Much less anything that might require dealer attention. She has been virtually flawless thus far.. I gotta think on the mudflaps.. But I want the spacers for sure...

If you're getting them, either H&R or Rogue Engineering are the two most people recommend. I got mine from Rogue Engineering. 5 minute per tire DIY.

[Carguy1965]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

If you're getting them, either H&R or Rogue Engineering are the two most people recommend. I got mine from Rogue Engineering. 5 minute per tire DIY.

I noticed in your last batch of photos, that your rear wheel studs are a different color from the front? I assume the spacers have longer studs and they are different. I was looking at the ones on the creative autoworks website.. Yours are 15MM correct. My CA said he would see if he could find some but he didnt think they had ever sold them.. Im willing to take a bit more spray to get that look...

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by Carguy1965

I noticed in your last batch of photos, that your rear wheel studs are a different color from the front? I assume the spacers have longer studs and they are different. I was looking at the ones on the creative autoworks website.. Yours are 15MM correct. My CA said he would see if he could find some but he didnt think they had ever sold them.. Im willing to take a bit more spray to get that look...

Hmmm....what happened to my original reply? Lost in the ether, I guess. Oh well...I'll answer again.

Yes, the spacers from RE came with extended lug bolts, but they weren't black, so, given I like the black-bolt appearance better, I'm looking for black extended lug bolts...which are proving to be difficult to find. Worst case, I'll have to switch the front ones with silver/chrome ones. Uggghh!

If you're looking at the spacers on Creative Autoworks, they are the RE (Rogue Engineering) spacers I mentioned above. Good quality, and they come with the extended lug bolts...just not the black ones. Put them on, compare the black vs chrome bolts, and I'm guessing you'll like the black ones better. Then you can help me find a place to purchase them!