Andrew Watters || 4ndr3\/\/ \/\/4773rz :-D
a.k.a. Andy Watters
home | Law Offices | email me
2008-11-07 16:03:05
At last, US101 through Santa Rosa has been appropriately widened after 50 years as a two-lane highway. I can't count the number of times I've been stuck in traffic in either direction at all hours of the day; it's like driving in L.A. sometimes. I don't know what effect this will have on me exactly, but at least I can now get to or leave the office when I want instead of having to arrive late or stay late to avoid traffic.
2008-11-06 11:28:48
Another year, another continuance of trial in the big case I'm working on. On the plus side, a sudden increase in the amount of free time I have. On the minus side--and this is a big one--for certain reasons I can't go into, I wish the continuance had happened three or four weeks ago instead of last week. Life-changing events seem to happen at the worst times for everyone...2008-11-03 13:58:10
I finally got Novell network drives working on my workstation at the office. All I had to do was uninstall the official novell client and use the unofficial novelclient application. I'm really excited because I can now just have a windows PC for time entry and windows applications like proprietary legal research systems, and use my linux computer for the heavy lifting.2008-11-03 04:59:04
Well that was random. My neighbor fell in her apartment, and the Fire Department woke me up thinking I was the manager of this building. I don't know why anyone would possibly tell them that, but anyway. The guys couldn't open her door because their master set of keys didn't work. So what did I do? Of course I let the Fire Dept. climb from my balcony to hers, and luckily her window was open! I can't go back to sleep now.
An addition needs to be made in the "reasons to have an on-site manager" column. There is an emergency number in the laundry room, but it goes to an answering service.2008-11-02 17:45:43
Well, I finished up that cool project I was alluding to in several previous posts: a large 3-day hearing using the latest in presentation technology. The multiple desktops and Compiz Fusion window compositing made for an amazing visual experience and incredibly efficient switching between my Impress presentation, photographic and documentary evidence, and other information. The only problem? The judge said she got motion sickness from my constant zooming in and out, so I had to restrict myself to the Compiz 3-D cube effect. It was really cool.
OpenSUSE 11 rocks.
2008-10-27 06:10:25
I went into Foot Locker a week ago and I learned that my favorite shoes ever, the Nike Air Jordan V, have been reissued. Back when I was in the 5th grade, these were all the rage although white was more popular. After months of me begging, my parents got me a pair when they went on sale. I have to say, they were totally worth the then-exhorbitant price. I would like few things more than to have another pair in an adult size, in my previous color--black--because I have fond memories! And now I need to get back to work...I allowed myself an hour break given that this month is going to be my all time high billable month and a personal record for effort expended. Hopefully it will be worth it and the results of this big project will be self-evident.
2008-10-26 12:51:42
What a hectic couple of weeks since I updated this-- things have been clay-z! My desktop workstation is now at the office, and I'm typing this from a slick black MacBook that I am borrowing indefinitely :). I can't wait to post pics of the project I'm working on at the office-- in a few days :) Until then...2008-10-17 11:16:32
So, after brief consideration I went ahead and deleted MS windows entirely from my computer, and installed OpenSUSE 11.0. It's so great! The only things I really needed to transfer were my documents, photos, etc. The nvidia drivers appear to work much better on OpenSUSE than the official Novell Linux distro, which makes for nice 3-D desktop effects. I look forward to some really cool upcoming projects.2008-10-16 11:11:31
Well after all that effort, I was left with a kernel panic after updating my software with the official Novell security updates. It took forever to figure out the problem: because I am using the LILO bootloader, when I updated my kernel a new initrd file was not created, which left me with an unbootable system. Apparently all I had to do after updating was run /sbin/lilo to fix the problem. I did not, and my initrd was deleted. I fixed the problem by reinstalling (which creates a new initrd file), then when I updated the Nvidia drivers I was again left with a crashed system. Screw that. To make matters worse, my Novell Groupwise 7 client on Novell SUSE linux is not compatible with my office's Groupwise 6 server. That was the whole reason I chose Novell enterprise linux for this project. Sigh. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise because now I get to try OpenSUSE 11.0 which is much more current/bleeding edge, and which also has a Novell client in the pipeline (meaning I can potentially hook it up to my office network). This should be pretty cool. Fortunately the effort I put hasn't been wasted because it got me thinking about way cool stuff to do both for some upcoming projects and general office administration.2008-10-12 21:27:57
I can't believe I used Windows for all these years. This linux install, properly tweaked, is a completely viable alternative that I believe will lead to dramatic advances in my productivity. It feels like a new computer now that all the Windows bloat and wasted space has disappeared. I have a number of special projects coming up that depend on this system, and it's looking great so far!2008-10-12 10:27:53
Hey, this is pretty cool. I'm running Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, which is Novell's commercial version of Linux. I have to say, it's really polished. I have flash video, Realplayer, adobe products, and access to Novell applications. Once I configure Xen to work with the LILO bootloader, I doubt I will ever need to startup in Windows again! Check out the 3-D desktop and a couple other cool features:
3-D desktop-- you can configure a "cube" to have more than 4 faces too!
The amusing "rain" feature with window transparency and live updating windows.
Compiling a program, watching a youtube video, dragging a window, and taking a screenshot-- no gaps in the audio, video, or window dragging, which would never happen with Windows XP!
A key feature I have been wanting to add to my system is mass auto-resizing of images for my blog, so I don't have to do it manually. The standard linux "convert" command offers that feature, and a simple shell script would afford many possibilities.2008-10-07 21:45:42
I've been researching various operating systems in preparation for some upcoming experimental legal project management. It turns out that Novell sells its own brand of linux, which features apparently the entire suite of Novell applications. I couldn't have asked for a better platform from which to launch custom applications in this field. The advanced compositing effects, for one, make new versions of linux very cool:
A 3-D cube transitions between desktops and allows intuitive navigation.2008-10-04 11:49:20
A couple of Montana trip videos: of all the randomness, driving into the sunrise while Def Leppard's "Love Bites" plays on the radio, followed by driving into the sun to the tune of Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know (if he really loves me):"
2008-10-03 10:51:46
It's not every day you see a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead and Phantom Coupe traveling together. I happened upon the two automobiles on US101 between Novato and Cotati. I thought to myself, what are two Rolls with Georgia plates doing in Sonoma County? Given their exit at Highway 116 West, my guess is it was a member of the Bohemian Club who doesn't like flying. I can't imagine anyone driving or even transporting two Rolls to California just to be able to drive them to/from an event. Of course, if one can afford $1 million in cars, one can afford to ship both of them to California and fly in to drive them for a week or two. Pretty cool actually. Anyway, observing the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe from behind as it floated over expansion joints and bumps confirmed all the online praise and Top Gear approval: The Phantom is a beautiful machine. The paint in particular, even though these were white and black and not some fancier color, was special. There's something great about hand-built cars that just isn't present in most vehicles...
2008-10-01 16:46:31
I just found a really insightful article about google. the google OS. This has to be what Google is doing; so many of the pieces fit into this plan. Corroborating the article is Microsoft's recent announcement of a cloud OS. I just wish there were some way I could contribute to the very exciting advances just around the corner, but I hung up my programming shoes long ago. The best I can do is probably a law office run like CTU on 24 but that's a long way down the road...2008-10-01 16:46:21
Well, Montana was an interesting experience this time around. The highlight of this latest work trip was the two hour drive from Bozeman to Billings this morning. There's just something about driving through scenery like this into the sunrise in an economy rental car while listening to local radio, which happened to be playing Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know (if he really loves me)" as well as a segment exposing actor Dennis Quaid as a major asshole. Life can be random...
You'll just have to check out my pics when I upload them tomorrow. I forgot my memory card reader so no luck until then.2008-09-27 09:55:30
One of the fun things about blogs is the randomness, fueled by ready access to billions of webpages. Here's the one I've selected for your consumption this morning-- the end scene from The Last of the Mohicans (1992), a Michael Mann frontier epic set in upstate New York in 1757. The nearly wordless 7 minute conclusion of the film, punctuated by a unique violin solo and the majesty of the vistas, is haunting.
Fortunately, the end differs from the James Fenimore Cooper novel-- Cora doesn't die. Also fortunately, earlier in the movie Magwa doesn't eat Colonel Munro's heart-- on screen at least...barf. Eww, seriously.2008-09-26 22:15:39
Well, another work-related trip to Montana this Monday and Tuesday. This is going to be a difficult one given the punishing redeye flight the first day. Oh well, I have to play in my championship softball game! Update will follow when the trip is over, since I will be running on vapor until then. At least I know the drill now, since the first trip was about 12 days and the second was 7 days. Hopefully I will find some great scenery on the highway from Bozeman to Billings.2008-09-22 21:54:25
Rick Astly - Never Gonna Give You Up is a classic. It's hard to believe that guy was 21 or 22 when he did that, given his very strong voice.2008-09-15 23:36:49
There are so many great hits on youtube. Just a few more!
Imagination - Xymox
Real Life - Send Me an Angel2008-09-15 16:17:31
File this under pet peeves: people talking on cell phones while using restrooms. And I don't mean while washing their hands...today I distinctly heard the toilet paper roll in a bathroom stall while a seemingly important conversation on sales figures was taking place. What gives with people who don't have boundaries?2008-09-14 06:38:00
Seriously, youtube is great. All kinds of classic yet rarely played music is there. Here are some more good ones:
OMD - Electricity
OMD - Enola Gay
OMD - If You Leave2008-09-14 06:19:27
An uncharacteristically slow song from freestyle artist Stevie B: Waiting For Your Love. It's also a great song...2008-09-14 06:17:06
Another great song, Belinda Carlisle - Circle in the Sand. I always appreciate a well-done live performance with (apparently) no lipsynching.2008-09-14 06:11:10
A great song, Sandy Rogers - Fool for Love. Quentin Tarantino has this really cool habit of putting great, obscure songs in his movies, and this is one of them (appeared in Reservoir Dogs (1992)).2008-09-06 07:44:18
Another classic, Cynthia - Thief of Hearts. A side note, these slideshows are often just placeholders and don't have a particular significance. Sometimes they can be good though, like the one on Johnny O's "Fantasy Girl."2008-09-03 08:16:46
Youtube has allowed numerous ventures into music that's outside normal channels. Example, covers done by less well-known artists. There's Johnny O's "Fantasy Girl." Then there's Stevie B.'s cover of Johnny O's "Fantasy Girl!"
Before youtube and (to a lesser extent) mp3 sharing, one of the only ways to hear music this rare was to hope for a late-night freestyle feature on Wild 94.9, back when it was Wild 107.7. I for one am glad it's easier now.
Johnny O - Memories.2008-08-30 06:26:20
More cool youtube vids! Here we see hacked roomba vacuum cleaners, the first with a wireless "handle" and the second with an airsoft gun! While on the subject of airsoft, here's a pretty amazing urban airsoft combat video.
2008-08-29 07:34:13
I think I might have posted this before, but this is some amazing, crazy stuff. The guy in this video jumps out of a plane and flies 15 feet above the ground at 100+ mph like a flying squirrel. Insane, obviously, but also really cool. A more in-depth article is found online as well.
2008-08-24 13:11:52
This is a fascinating tutorial. It begins with showing basic cartography and ends with fourth dimensional shapes. Dimensions. I have always enjoyed science.2008-08-22 07:33:25
Back to the office! A vacation often produces a "glow" should last for a while. I'm really looking forward to two upcoming hearings and a trial in November.2008-08-17 15:11:32
Ah yes, being on vacation is great. On Monday it's back to work, and I'm actually about ready for it-- lots to do before a big trip to Montana for more depos in this one case...
This is what Montana looks like. Towns and cities are like any other rural towns and cities, but this is why they call it "Big Sky Country." In places, it's a breathtaking and impossibly cloudless blue.2008-08-03 16:16:07
Ok, this goes at the top of the list of things I have smiled about this week. The diner near where I live has pancakes. I noticed today that they have a "Mickey Mouse" pancake. So I asked what it was, and they said it was exactly what it sounded like-- a Mickey Mouse-shaped pancake. And they weren't kidding! This is great, maybe even good enough to go on Cute Overload (yes, I occasionally see that website when my boo sends me the link :)
2008-08-02 20:56:49
If only everyone were as conscientious as Mike Tillman. I just realized something when looking at Mike's website-- the service advisors at the BMW dealership are on commission, so they make no money from warranty repairs. No wonder I get the silent treatment!2008-07-31 22:21:39
I finally got all my stuff done that I could reasonably expect to finish before my trip. I can't wait to go on vacation!!! Sorry for the brief updates but a lot is going on...more later.2008-07-24 20:09:27
Another day, another deposition! This one allowed me to use my IT experience to full effect, with some nice results...I can't comment further because it could affect the case :)2008-07-22 10:37:33
There are some serious speed traps happening on US 101 in Novato, CA. For each of the last three or four workdays I've seen CHP officers there with LIDAR devices, as well as officers on the side of the freeway waiting to pull people over as their partners call out speeding vehicles from overpasses and the like. I almost got tagged yesterday as I was passing a whole bunch of cars in the fast lane around Atherton Avenue, which is a dramatic, sweeping, hilly turn where the median vehicle speed is probably 75-80 mph and it's hard to hold back on downhill speed. There was only one officer, and after seeing that I was just passing people before settling back into the #3 lane and driving normally, he pulled over the guy in the yellow Corvette who foolishly stayed in the fast lane and was going faster than surrounding traffic. Whew! That also tells me it wasn't LIDAR, just visual estimation of speed as confirmed by the officer pacing the Corvette before pulling him over.
Someone who passed me today got tagged by a CHP officer in a truck. Those officers normally work commercial vehicle enforcement, so I was surprised to see a couple of them parked together under an overpass. Obviously a LIDAR team who felt like going fishing. Sigh, I wish there were a U.S. autobahn, or at least roads or even lanes with derestricted speed limits. I do have a clean license, believe it or not...
You won't necessarily see someone holding a LIDAR unit before you get pulled over...moral of the story, don't speed during daylight hours when there's light traffic, which lets them single you out!2008-07-21 13:16:12
I love driving. So much that next on my list is a PlayStation 3 with Gran Turismo 5, plus a force-feedback steering wheel and stereo headphones. The key with PS3 is the high definition graphics at 60fps. It would be even cooler to have 3-D projection, I wonder when that is coming. This is amazing--it's photorealistic! Just check out this amazing video (worth the wait to load)
2008-07-20 22:17:40
The Nissan GT-R...what an amazing car. Top Gear test driver "The Stig" took it around their test track in the same lap time as the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. And that's not all-- it comes with Gran Turismo-style technical readouts showing g-forces and other cool features. At a base price of $69,000 which is about the same as the Z06 Corvette, this is looking like a lot of value for money. Kind of like the value for money of the E46 M3...I'm happy because the M3 has been a great daily driver for me, and I plan to hold onto it for many years. I will, however, have a slot open for a street-legal race car in about 18 months. I'm serious about the Ariel Atom 3, on the condition it can be custom-configured with an F1-style paddle-shift sequential manual gearbox. Shouldn't be a problem since it's a kit car. We shall see!2008-07-17 09:46:03
Gasoline has finally reached a price point that changes consumer behavior. It was a long time coming, and I'm glad it's here. 10 years ago when I was in high school, I recall gas starting at $1.71/gal. in California, and people said it was high. Let's put things in perspective-- in 1998 $1.71 was the cost of a large bottle of Gatorade at a gas station. Would you rather have a gallon of gas or a one liter sports drink? I almost can't believe that used to be a difficult choice. Or rather, that the question motorists asked themselves while filling up was not, "can I afford to fuel my car?" but rather "what flavor Icee do I want?" $4.55 seems stratospheric by comparison to old prices. Needless to say, the old prices didn't discourage wasteful consumption by idiots who drive giant lifted trucks as their daily drivers. Hey, I had a Tonka dump truck when I was a kid too, but that doesn't mean I have to drive one for real!
This truck is a giant erection on wheels. I can understand having a show truck, but I see lifted trucks pretty often around Santa Rosa just in regular driving. What purpose does it serve other than being a "status" symbol? I say "status" in quotes because it's like the people who drive them live in a fantasy world where status depends on how high your truck is lifted and how chromed out it is, not how great a person you are, how rich you are, or how skilled you are. Before I get too high on my high horse, I will readily admit that I drive a sports car and have a long commute. However, I get 27mpg on the freeway and 22-23mpg overall, which is at least double and probably triple what Mr. lifted Ford F-350 gets. I also consume less natural gas, electricity, water, and space now that I moved from a 2+ bedroom single family home to a new, smaller, energy efficient apartment in an area with more young professionals like me. I also don't spend a disproportionately high percentage of my income on gasoline. When the guy with the lifted truck starts paying $5+ per gallon, he may start to feel like his job in a skate shop can't justify or support the lifted lifestyle. I'm all for that kind of wakeup call. What would be nice is a higher gasoline tax during high-use and low supply portions of the year, as well as--shocker!--a tax on larger engines and heavier vehicles like in Europe. That would make a lot more sense than the misguided but well-intentioned proposed 60-mph national speed limit. I can't drive 60, much less 55!2008-07-15 11:18:57
Well, another service appointment at the local dealership. I can't say no to free front brakes! Although I thought I'd fixed the vibration in the front, the dealer agreed that the rotors need to be replaced. New rotors means new pads, and it's all under warranty. I look forward to finding out which courtesy car I get this time...
Update: a different 328i. This one seems to be slightly less whack, or maybe I was less jarred this time based on familiarity.2008-07-14 11:02:03
Wow, this is one of the coolest title sequences I've seen in a film. It's from the original version of The Italian Job (1969). Jeez, I can't imagine driving on a road like that, at that speed, in a car without stability control or ABS. And what a finish!
2008-07-10 20:50:02
Now this is a sports car. The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is to die for-- check out the video in which GM sets the Nurburgring production car lap record at 7:26.4, a full three seconds faster than the new Nissan GT-R. At around $100,000 the ZR1 is a bargain performance powerhouse-- a full 21 seconds faster around the Nurburgring than the $300,000 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, yet with a full 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Stuff that in your sports exhaust, Mr. Enzo, and keep the flashy interior.
The thing is, the M3 is my daily driver and will be for years to come. So what I'm really looking for next (after of course getting a house or something) is something like the Ariel Atom 500 as a street-legal weekend car. I'm starting to save already!2008-07-09 06:58:25
Well, I liked getting my car back yesterday but the brakes still need to be done. I suppose three days without my favorite car ever are worth getting free front brakes in return... :)2008-07-07 16:16:40
K now I'm pissed. I have to suffer the 328i for another day because the dealership forgot to check out two things I told them to, which changed their tune from "it's ready!" when they called at 1:30pm today to "well, we want to hold onto it until tomorrow because we've got the wheels off now and want to find out what this vibration is" at 3:45pm today. This could have been prevented had the service advisor transferred my comments to the work order, which he admitted he didn't do. Although I'm of course happy that I get warranty service and free maintenance, the dealership gets paid for this work by BMW. Which is why BMW calls me after such appointments and asks about quality of service. Which is why I know what I will be telling them when they call this time...nothing personal. At least I get a free car for two days this time, unlike at Prestige Imports in Santa Rosa where I had to rent a pickup for two days last time! (also noted when BMW called me :). This is an example of a cascade-- for want of a nail, the shoe was lost...and so on. Lesson from this cliche: a small correction at the beginning can "nip it in the bud" and prevent a big problem later. Why do I care this much about this? My significant other and I have plans this evening in San Francisco, and I have a hearing tomorrow morning at 8:30 that is now about to settle. No time to be messing with servicing my car or mistakes therein.2008-07-07 14:30:31
Today while my ride gets serviced at Sonnen BMW in San Rafael, I've been pleasantly surprised with the chance to drive a new BMW 328i, which is one of their courtesy cars. Of course, what I'm about to say will make them wish they hadn't hooked me up with a free courtesy car. I figure the free advertising is a fair tradeoff because this is targeted at the manufacturer and not the dealer...
The 328i starts at $32,700. For $32,700 I don't expect something mind-blowing. However, I expect it to have leather seats and be better than, say, a Toyota Avalon which starts around $27k. And the 328i just isn't. Although it is a looker on the outside, the base model's interior is definitely "budget," with a plastic covering on the dash and steering wheel, cheap looking and ill-fitting wood trim, and uncomfortable fake leather seats. The stereo is awful. And it gets worse when you drive it; the shift ratios in the automatic transmission's Sport mode are a disaster, and throttle response is vague at best. Steering is heavy enough but the car doesn't respond instantly like the M3; rather, if I flip the wheel left then right as when avoiding a pothole, by the time I get to right the car has just stopped going left. Chalk it up to budget tires. The auto transmission sucks; manual is the only way to go with a 2.8. It's hard to believe this has 230 horses (manufacturer's claim, lol). As a matter of fact it feels less responsive than my old 530i which had the same 230hp.
A reasonably equipped 328i (leather, sport package, manual trans, premium package) runs over $40,000. By then you're getting into 335i Coupe territory, which is a better value anyway with its turbo 300hp inline 6.
In sum, the 328i has become the Honda Civic of BMW. It's designed to hook the younger customer into the brand (note the Ultimate Service program-- no maintenance costs except tires for the first 50,000 miles), so the younger customer graduates to more expensive cars later. Mind you, this is not a dump on BMW. They make some amazing cars. It's just that the quality, performance, and value gaps between my three year-old certified preowned M3 and the new 328i are as wide as the coolness gap between Will Smith and the clueless guy in Hitch (2005). My M3 was only somewhat more expensive than a reasonably equipped 328i and yet wipes the floor with it, not to mention having many more amenities. The quality of the fit and finish shows me that BMW cares about the quality of its ///M models, and the loving craftsmanship and attention to detail are two key reasons I appreciate the ///M division. People also seem to like to maintain it (c.f. enthusiasm from mechanics/service advisors, or maybe that's my imagination). My three year old car is still state of the art and will last much longer than a new 328i. In other words, the writing is on the wall for anyone seeking sport luxury. Of course, the thing is that the E46 M3 is not for everyone. Without getting my nose too high in the air, the M3 with Competition Package would be pretty much wasted on people who aren't at least minimal driving enthusiasts. In addition, sharp steering and tight suspension make driving over rough pavement kind of a chore for the uninitiated. But I wouldn't trade it for anything else right now, because the M3 is my vision of a pure driving experience for a young professional like me, and is probably the best purchasing decision I've made in the last few years.
2008-07-06 19:53:25
No updates in a while...let's just say I've been busy!2008-06-30 23:00:55
I got my cast off today-- back to typing with two hands is great, although there was an hour or two where it felt like learning to type all over again. Weird. Doc says I can go back to softball immediately if I wear the brace they gave me. Fortunately the summer softball season starts in two weeks to give me some time!2008-06-29 10:27:37
One of the best driving songs of all time:
On further research, there are many online resources devoted to realistic speed limits, which appear to increase safety by causing most drivers to drive at the same speed. That prevents wide differences in speed which are reportedly the biggest single cause of accidents.
What I would like to find or do is a google mashup with freeway maps showing the posted limit as well as a realistic limit. Example, US101 from the Golden Gate Bridge through Novato is posted 55, but virtually everyone goes 65-70. It's hard not to on a 4-lane freeway with sweeping curves!2008-06-27 07:30:49
Pretty landmark decision from the Supreme Court yesterday. In California, there is a law against carrying a loaded firearm in a public place in any incorporated area. So "open carry" is prohibited unless the gun is unloaded. Since there's no point in carrying an unloaded gun, I wonder what effect the ruling will have on that.2008-06-18 07:40:00
I've learned over the years to be careful with absolutes. Absolutes would be something like "this is the most ___ I have ever seen" and things like that. The danger is that one becomes focused on the absolute and disappointed with anything less. It's a problem because it's not right to be hard on yourself if someone better at something beats you. One absolute that is true is "nobody's perfect."
When a true absolute occurs, there's something magical about it. I posted something about this particular video a while back, but it deserves a repost.
This is a video of F1 driver Ayrton Senna, then the best and richest driver in the world (later died in a crash), stopping a qualifying run and risking his own life to help a competitor in distress. This is the greatest act of sportsmanship I have ever seen, and it even brought a tear to my eye. No more words are necessary.
2008-06-17 21:49:09
A big thank-you to David Zeckhausen, owner of Zeckhausen Racing. David saved my bacon by diagnosing a brake pulsation/judder as inconsistent depositing of brake material rather than warped rotors. After following my own modified version of his bedding procedure, the problem is solved. It meant a lot that he took the time to write a detailed email to me on the subject:
Andrew, StopTech forwarded your request to us, since we've been evaluating their carbon ceramic brake system. If you read the preview on the forum, you'll see this is not simply about rotors and pads. This is a complete $15,000 brake system with new calipers, lines, rotors, brackets, etc. It replaces everything. In your email, you mentioned upgrading your E46 M3 ZCP brakes to avoid "warped" rotors from street driving. Your description of brake judder as "warped rotors" is an incorrect diagnosis. The rotors are not warped - they have uneven deposits of brake pad material on them. The late Carroll Smith did an excellent job describing this phenomenon here: http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_warped_brakedisk.shtml. Once you understand what's going on, it's easier to come up with a solution that doesn't involve spending an arm and a leg replacing all your brake components. In fact, many times you can cure brake judder for free, simply by following these bedding instructions: http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm. There are several different types of brake pads that may be more appropriate for your particular driving style and conditions. We prefer Axxis ULT pads and often combine them with StopTech stainless steel braided brake lines, for a firmer pedal feel. You can find these here: http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=3_16_168. If your M3 is not equipped with SMG, you probably want to read about our modified Clutch Delay Valve (CDV) here: http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm in order to improve the shifting of your 6-speed manual transmission. If you have any other questions, feel free to call or email. Sincerely, David Zeckhausen President, Zeckhausen Racing (800)222-8893 www.zeckhausen.com > -----Original Message----- > From: Andrew G. Watters [mailto:---] > Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:14 PM > To: StopTech > Subject: carbon ceramic rotors > > Hi, > > After one too many warped rotors from twisty mountain roads, I'm > interested in front carbon ceramic rotors/pads as a direct replacement > for my stock E46 M3 w/ competition package. I saw the preview here: > http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=177624 > > How much are they and how can I get a set? > > Thanks, > > Andrew Watters >2008-06-05 07:42:25
Updates have been sporadic for two reasons: one, I broke my wrist playing softball last weekend so I can only type one-handed, and two, I have been extremely stressed out from so much work. I haven't even had time to unpack but I hope this weekend will let me do that.2008-05-31 17:21:11
Well, I moved in and this place rocks. Downtown San Rafael is way more suited to me than the Rincon Valley area of Santa Rosa. In terms of the commute to Santa Rosa, this is a bad time to be making such a move because of increased transportation costs...however, (1) my sports car is reasonably fuel efficient, at 17/26 mpg or so (I've gotten up to 30 mpg on the highway, and overall is going to be around 23), and (2) it's worth it to me to do this.
Impressions of the new place-- building is great, with OCD-style cleanliness, new condition, underground parking, shops/food on the first floor, walking access to anywhere downtown, etc. Downsides are few: resident parking is a long drive down two levels (with speed bumps) and I'm in the back corner; as with any apartment building, it gets annoying when I don't really feel like chatting and someone strikes up a conversation based on what I'm carrying and stuff like that. I'll put up with it :). Perhaps the best part? High rent tends to filter out people who would be problematic, like losers. The downside is that cool young people are also filtered out...many residents are married couples with a baby...cue the screaming. Fortunately the walls and floors are concrete!2008-05-26 08:53:24
I'm moving this Thursday and Friday-- can't wait! With a new place always comes new possibilities and optimism. Uhaul is my choice for moving everything except the largest items. The heavy coffee table and couches are a little much for me and my brother, which is just fine with me.2008-05-21 22:40:25
Memories are a funny thing. I happen to be blessed with a near photographic one for unusual life events. At this moment I recall watching two king snakes (black and white striped) in the backyard of my family's place in San Anselmo in 1986. I was in kindergarten at the time. Then there was riding to school one time in my classmate Kelly's parents' VW bug. Then there is a t-ball game in which the ball was hit and I ran directly away from home plate with my glove outstretched and caught the ball without looking, then followed it up with a solo triple play because the base runners didn't realize I had caught the ball. How about that? Then there's a classmate named Michelle and cat's tails formed with crochet needles and a wooden block with a hole drilled through it and four nails around the edges. The memories when refreshed become vivid as if these events were yesterday. I am grateful for them. I just don't know what it means to be able to recall vivid details about what people wore, where they stood, how their voices sounded, and the expressions were on their faces.2008-05-19 21:37:48
This last Saturday's season finale of Saturday Night Live with Steve Carell was awesome. I have to say Usher was one of the best performers I've ever seen on SNL. He sang two singles from his new album, Here I Stand and had one of his trademark Michael Jackson-caliber dance routines. It was great.2008-05-18 10:00:39
I attended my kindergarten teachers' party yesterday evening to celebrate the dedication of the Petite Sousa and Terry Maloney Kindergarten at St. Rita's School. It was great seeing them although I was the only one from my class attending. Actually I ran into the mother of one of my classmates, Jessica Legnitto, who gave me some updates about other classmates. Unfortunately there is no alumni database; apparently many people didn't get invitations.
Terry Maloney and Petite Sousa. They are a dynamite team, and it shows from the biggest smile I've seen from myself in a very long time!2008-05-13 23:38:57
I've been wanting very much to write some type of case management software for my law practice. This software would let me have every document in a case accessible not only to myself, but also to my clients by giving them a "portal" to login to and manage their cases, payments, documents, etc. Because Groupwise email and CompuLaw Vision calendaring are SQL-based, I could have a single interface with every necessary application in it.
Sadly, I have no time to do this right now without being paid to do it. Needless to say it's not in the budget, so I will be on my own on this one. But an experimental version would be cool. Full text search and markup of client documents comes to mind, as well as advanced task management. I've always liked Ecco Pro, which is now defunct but which would form the basis of any task manager I would do. The best part of all this is that after 2 1/2 years of practice I now know what features are required in a case management system. Time will tell whether this is possible.2008-05-04 22:52:29
Another amazing Founder's Day golf tournament for my fraternity. What a great weekend, and I didn't even get a hangover Sunday! Thanks to my home boy Kevin Brody for hosting myself and "Bootorious" Jeremy Mckenzie for the weekend. It was an event to remember, to say the least!
Tha homies (l-r) Andy, Steve, and Kevin on the way.
A nutritious breakfast.
The incomparable Kevin Brody rocks the Jay-Z and the 'lac with style.
Tha homie K.L. rocks the Jager on the bus ride back. More pics forthcoming.2008-05-01 13:11:06
How about this, it turns out my kindergarten teachers are being honored at the 50th anniversary celebration for my former elementary school. By coincidence, I happened to email the alumni administrator recently to add my contact info to their database, and I found out about this event. I had no idea they were still teaching there, so this is so serendipitous. Facebook will come in handy if I can just remember my classmates' last names!2008-04-26 22:40:23
I attended an event last Friday 4/18/08 where Pat Boone was the headliner. The organizers described Pat Boone as the "moral foil" of Elvis Presley! That didn't sound right to me, so for insight into Elvis's morals, I turned to the internet. The first thing I read was a blurb about his military service. It appears Elvis was drafted into the Army at age 22. At that time he was already on top of the charts, and rich. Although the other services "bid" for Elvis, even offering to create a special company of troops just for him and give him special treatment so he could sing and tour throughout his required two years, Elvis refused all the offers and perks and went to lengths to be treated like everyone else. He was a tank gunner, sentry, and jeep driver, being promoted quickly from Private to Sergeant. Colin Powell, then a Lieutenant, writes that while on maneuvers he met a weary, grimy looking soldier who turned out to be Elvis. Powell says his impression was that Elvis was down-to-earth and friendly even though he was "the King." There are stories from other service members describing Elvis's positive attitude toward service and kindness to his fellow troops, resulting in their respect. That story alone tells me most of what I need to know to form an opinion.
But there's more. Regarding his personal life, I was shocked to read that women he dated prior to marrying his wife Priscilla describe a very sweet, "perfect gentleman," who often spurned their advances and refused to have sex, preferring to lie in bed, watch TV, and talk, and was even reported to be "practically impotent." Priscilla writes in her memoirs that Elvis was not overly sexual during their five year marriage.
What also surprised me is that Elvis was reported to be a religious person, the recipient of childhood bullying, a stutterer, from a poor and alcoholic household, and a sad, shy, and unattractive boy. When Elvis hit it big he supported his immediate family rather than walking away from them. When his mother died after Elvis was drafted, he was a broken man, even using his mother's nightgown as a blanket and crying himself to sleep.
Pat Boone, on the other hand, apparently grew up in Nashville and graduated with high honors from Columbia University at the time Elvis was drafted. Things seem to have never gotten dicey or even difficult for Boone. It's obvious who had the more challenging life and thus, the more inspiring achievements to me.
Like Pat Boone, Elvis had hits with gospel/religious songs. Unlike Pat Boone, Elvis recorded three grammy-winning gospel-only albums and was nominated for 14 other grammys!
I was most impressed with Elvis's music about the sadness and pain he felt from his wife leaving him. There are even videos of his and Priscilla Presley's home photos/videos set to his hits "Always on my Mind" and "I'll Always Remember You." Seeing the two of them together shows to me a couple with a powerful love for each other and great happiness, and it's not hard to see why Elvis was heartbroken. So here's someone who feels the full depths (and heights) of the pain and happiness of the real without denying them. Admittedly, there were a lot of substances in Elvis's life, but perhaps it's the product of overwhelming sadness for his losses, because his home videos and photos show a healthy and loving husband and father.
Pat Boone, on the other hand, seems to do songs that tell not show how he feels, and which are devoid of emotional impact to me. It appears Boone's greatest hits are just his covers of other people's original material. When I hear Elvis's Anyone (Could Fall in Love With You) compared to Pat Boone's Letters in the Sand, it's no contest. The delicate and touching words of Elvis speak from the heart; Boone's song, though not bad, seems simplistic (why all the whistling? seriously) and far less emotionally powerful, even empty.
The event hosts said that Boone outsold Elvis. If that is even true, then they ignore the fact that Elvis died in 1977 while Boone has had the last 30 years to release more material. That seems really dishonest, because Elvis buried Boone in sales while Elvis was alive, even accounting for the two year gap in his recordings. Unlike Elvis, Boone had the government after him for false advertising, settling the case and releasing a vague explanation through his attorney of what happened. That tells me a lot about Pat Boone.
So in terms of the hosts' criticism of Elvis, all I can say is it's like they live in a fantasy world. It's like they want to believe Pat Boone is a great guy and that he's been rewarded for his "good clean fun" Christian image, and that Elvis was punished for what they call a life of sin. It seems they deny people's real desires and needs as expressed by the uninhibited Elvis in favor of a sexless and hypocritical "good clean fun" kind of guy, which is not only far from the truth, but not even original. As a matter of fact Boone's smarmy white-shoe and apple pie image makes me want to vomit, despite the fairly insightful things he had to say at the event. So I know which singer is more honest, more real, and more deserving of my admiration.2008-04-26 09:30:53
I'm excited about moving to San Rafael. As a matter of fact I signed the lease Thursday 4/24/08 and I will be moving in May. Naturally, I will continue to work at my firm in Santa Rosa. Basically this is to try out living in a new area and I'm very much looking forward to it. I have many family and friends in Marin.2008-04-22 20:34:43
I really wanted to go to my middle school reunion, which is the same day as my fraternity alumni day in L.A. on 5/3/08. It would normally be a tossup, as I haven't seen most of the middle school people in 14 years and I'd really like to go. However, I already committed to attend the fraternity alumni day and paid for everything. Had I gone to high school at CSU, it would be a different story. Also, the event was planned way too late. My high school alumni reunion started in the planning stages in January 2008 and the date of Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving '08 was already set in stone-- so the most possible people can attend...2008-04-15 20:35:58
Mariah's new album is excellent. I think it has at least three and possibly four #1 singles, and that's all I can really say since my comments don't do justice to the songs. I will say that it would be nice if Mariah had more of her early 90's style songs on her recent albums, and not as much Emancipation of Mimi type hip hop, but I guess this is what sells. Each song has a strong hip hop element. Her best high note is on "For the Record," also an amazing song in other respects. I predict Mariah's next album will be slower-paced love songs like her earlier material once she surpasses the Beatles 20 #1 singles. Simply put, Mariah Carey is a national treasure.2008-04-12 15:56:53
This is why I love driving. It's a good thing I had the camera on. It's an LS1 Camaro with a big V8, and this wasn't planned.
The video shows the advantages of a high-revving (8,000 rpm) but lower displacement (3.2L v. 5.7L) engine with similar horsepower. With more revs, there's still power at a given speed, and shifting can happen later. There was still (some) power left here, although it wasn't exactly a scientific comparison.2008-04-03 23:09:47
Work has been pretty crazy this week. Not much to say other than that...2008-03-30 12:18:00
I'm shocked to see that the new BMW M3 will get the 7-speed double-clutch transmission this year! Initially, reports indicated that the DCT would not be out this year because they were still working on it. That now appears to have been an excellent use of disinformation and public relations-- the motto is, "under promise, over deliver." At an MSRP of about $68,000 for a well-equipped M3 with the DCT, it's out of many people's price ranges including mine. However, it shows the direction BMW is going in and I like what I see-- they have a car for everyone now, from the young professional just starting out (1-series) to the street racer (M3) to the successful executive (7-series, M5, and M6). The M3 is my vision of a pure driving experience, and I am very happy with mine :)2008-03-30 11:30:49
This is so great. Yesterday I visited my cousin Shannon Tracy, who is in San Rafael. She showed me around the apartment complex I'm looking at and the neighborhood, and I was pretty much blown away. The apartments are on the small side (I'll be downsizing-- big time!) and on the expensive side, but the location is just right and they are in immaculate condition. Later that evening, Shannon and some friends and I hit up a local lounge and I was very impressed because the scene was just right. I'm very excited about this and I'm thinking May 1 or June 1.2008-03-23 23:07:07
I received my first speed challenge on the freeway today-- I-280 from Hillsborough to Millbrae. A guy in a teal green supercharged 1990 Mustang was behind me and then flew past at 100+ mph. The noise was ear-shattering, although pretty cool. I trailed for a little bit and caught up with him, flashing a thumbs up for what must be an awesome machine. However, I was done after that since I'm not willing to exceed 100mph on a public highway filled with Easter Sunday traffic. Elsewhere it might be different.2008-03-22 09:50:46
And they say perfection is unattainable...although I agree, near-perfection is attainable :)
Showroom shine.
Credit to Turtle Wax super hard shell.
Color me OCD. The extra long wheel brush allows cleaning the entire wheel. Unfortunately the right side wheels are corroded too much to benefit from this, but the left ones look amazing.2008-03-19 20:45:55
Youtube has introduced me to a lot of different kinds of music, music videos, and random cool stuff. Here is a selection of some of my favorites:
Toto - Africa
Prince - U Got the Look
Eddie Van Halen - unnamed harmonic solo
Kool and the Gang - Fresh
Journey - Send Her My Love
2008-02-29 09:01:55
I think Public Relations or some other courses on communications theory should be required in law school. There's a lot of that in the practice of law.2008-02-22 21:17:55
I purchased a Sticky Pod recently for use in my new motor club, North Bay Motoring. The idea is I plan to document my favorite routes by video. Should be cool. Check back Sat. evening for my first video.2008-02-17 10:49:24
The new BMW M3 build-to-order page is up-- pretty cool. The base MSRP is $56,500 which is lower than I thought. However, configuring it with good options (full leather, 19" wheels, extended premium sound, electronic damper control, heated seats, etc.) pushes the price up to $66,000+. It appears I made a good decision to purchase my pre-owned fully loaded '05 model, which also sports the competition package and the formerly exclusive-to-comp. package Interlagos Blue metallic paint. Pictured here are the new E92 M3 as well as my E46.
The new M3
Yours truly. I think the old one looks more classy, but the new is definitely an amazing car. Until I can afford a Dinan supercharged upgrade ($18k and it's not CA-legal yet), the new car will be faster. However, the stage 3 Dinan supercharger package bumps horsepower to 460. With the old M3's lighter weight, it's a significant gain in performance over the (stock) new car. A company in Germany also retrofits the M5 V10 engine into the old M3 for 550 horsepower! Shipping the car to Germany just for that modification is not feasible-- the cost of the shipping, upgrade, tuning, and return shipping would easily exceed $30k in my estimation.2008-02-14 21:54:00
I absolutely detest Valentine's Day. Sigh.2008-02-12 19:53:39
Mariah's new single!2008-02-11 21:07:23
The tournament I judged was o.k. I always cherish the opportunity to visit the Stanford campus-- it's a very special place. The debate was a little disappointing because the quality of argument was mediocre, but I can't fault the students for trying. A couple of participants were exceptional. I'm glad I did it and I'm not sure I will do it again.2008-02-07 20:51:28
Looks like I'm going to be judging a speech and debate tournament this weekend. I mean, I've come full circle-- I did the Stanford Invitational as a debater in 1997 and 1998, so 10 years later this should be interesting.2008-02-06 20:05:12
This post concerns an incident at the Jumbolair aviation estates in Ocala, FL in late January 2008 wherein five young men died after crashing a BMW M5. I had been wondering specifics about the accident, such as the speed at which the car left the runway, and because the articles gave two key details-- elevation of the runway and distance to impact-- I was able to use Newton's equations to figure out details of the accident. It was a fun project and I succeeded.
85 ft / 3.280 m/ft = 25.915 m fallen
200 ft / 3.280 m/ft = 60.98 m distance
d = 0.5 x g x t^2
25.915m = 0.5 x (9.8 m/s^2) x t^2
t^2 = 25.915m / (0.5 x 9.8 m/s^2)
t = sqrt (25.915m / (0.5 x 9.8 m/s^2))
t = sqrt (25.915m / 4.9 m/s^2)
t = sqrt (5.289 s^2)
t = 2.3 s
60.98m / 2.3 s = 26.51 m/s
= 86.95 fps = 59.28 mph
4012 lbs empty
+180 lb driver
4192 lbs = 1905.45 kg
[car with driver only]
60 mph to 0 mph in 112 ft. [Edmunds.com test]
88 fps to 0 fps in 112 ft
26.83 m/s to 0 m/s in 34.15 m
a = (v(t + dt) - v(t))/(dt)
For 60-0 mph, I counted 3.1s in the Edmunds.com video review of the M5.
a = (0 - 26.83 m/s / 3.1s)
a = -8.65 m/s^2 [-0.88g -- sounds right]
f = 1905.45 kg * -8.65 m/s/s
f = -16482.14 kg/m/s/s (newtons) [max power of the brakes]
4012 lbs empty + (180 lbs x 5) = 900 lbs
4912 lbs = 2232.72 kg
-16482.14 kg/m/s/s = 2232.72 kg * ? m/s/s
(-16482.14 kg/m/s/s)/2232.72 kg = -7.38 m/s/s [max deceleration with 5 passengers]
155 mph = 227.33 fps = 69.3 m/s
-7.38 m/s/s = (26.51 m/s - 69.3 m/s) / dt
dt = (26.51 m/s - 69.3 m/s) / -7.38 m/s/s
dt = 5.8 s to slow from 155 mph to 59 mph
d = 1/2 (vi + vf) x 5.8s
d = 1/2 (69.3 m/s + 26.51 m/s) x 5.8s
d = 277.85 m
d = 911.34 ft
911.34 ft to slow from 155 mph to 59 mph once the brakes are applied.
Assume braking power is constant, ABS was on, no fade, 0.5s reaction time, and the car was at its electronically limited top speed when braking started. At 155 mph, the car travels 113 ft = 34.7m between the decision to apply brakes and application of the brakes at full power.
The decision to brake occurred 312.55m from the end of the runway, braking commenced 277.85m before the end of the runway, and 5.8s at full braking power elapsed before the vehicle left the runway at 59.28 mph.
At 155 mph, they would have needed 9.39 s of full braking power, or 325.37m (1067 ft.) to stop. With 0.5s reaction time, the decision to brake would have had to occur 359.75m (1180 ft.) from the end of the runway. It would appear the driver was only 155 feet beyond the safe stopping distance in this case or just over 0.73 seconds too late!
Any physics students in the house who would care to confirm/correct the above?2008-02-01 07:47:18
A timely and important story about young men and cars: M5 crash kills five.
The young men were driving on a private runway and failed to brake in time, which made them fly off the edge of the runway and hit a tree 200 feet away [google map]. It's been suggested that the incident merits a Darwin Award.
I'm the first to say that young people who are careful can handle almost anything. Case in point, I was 21 and a senior in college when I purchased a Springfield M1A automatic rifle. Our men and women in uniform handle more than that at a younger age. However, a 500 horsepower car in the hands of a thrill-seeking 18 year old is simply too much, and a recipe for disaster. Add to that the fact that the driver in question reportedly had four traffic citations in the two years he was driving. He was posting on the unofficial BMW M5 bulletin board (m5board.com) seeking advice on shifts at 140 mph (!) and on disabling dynamic stability control. One member wrote back that he was concerned about being on the same streets as an 18 year old with a 500 hp car who was asking those questions. I second that. This reminds me of the story about an 18 year-old woman who killed herself with her father's Porsche.
Based on the outcome, it's easy to say now that the father, apparently the true owner of the car, negligently entrusted the car to his son. As a result, his son and four other young men are dead. Lesson hopefully learned-- people without experience should not be entrusted with unusually powerful machines. I'm a 27 year-old man, and it took me 12 years of driving, apx. 150,000 miles, and countless driving scenarios before purchasing a sports coupe with "only" 333 hp. The M5 is a full 67% more powerful than the M3, and no 18 year-old belongs in the driver's seat absent special training and/or a natural talent. Marco Andretti is someone I would trust to drive an M5 at age 18, but no one else really.2008-01-30 06:09:13
Home depot runs for items that don't fit in the trunk are going to have to wait until I pick up a used pickup. I'm thinking a late model Ford Ranger 4x4-- the price would be a lot lower than a used Toyota pickup of similar specs. The beemer definitely won't be going to Tahoe in the winter at least, so a 4wd 2nd vehicle would be good for that.2008-01-28 22:29:04
I don't know how I'm going to do Home Depot runs or other trips requiring transportation of large items. I do like the Toyota TRD pickup shown in the below photo...it will be another year at least before that becomes a possibility in terms of a second vehicle...
The brakes are so powerful that when testing them yesterday I actually felt the skin on my face pull forward faster than my face-- now that is a new experience for me...2008-01-27 16:30:07
There is no substitute for washing and waxing your own car, provided you do it properly.
Showroom shine, even in the rain. Note the high reflectivity. The secret? Wash thoroughly and dry with terry cloth towels. Allow to dry completely. Apply Turtle Wax Platinum Ultra Gloss with a microfiber or terry cloth applicator. Let haze. Get a pack of lint-free 100% cotton polishing cloths (available at auto parts stores). Remove the excess wax crust by wiping gently. Using a clean cloth for each section of the car, buff gently until the sheen of the metal is consistent across the entire surface (i.e., no dark spots or flecks of wax). Patience is required. For the wheels, use a nylon brush to remove grime from the corners of the spokes and finish with a polishing cloth. Apply tire dressing and admire the beauty of the mirror finish. For the interior, vacuum everything, brush off particles and dust, use a feather duster, and then apply detailing spray to the synthetics and leather conditioner to the leather. Finish with a spritz of new car scent. The results are pretty amazing and add to the driving experience.
Once I touch up the paint, I'll go even further and do a light clay treatment before waxing next time.2008-01-25 07:05:31
2008-01-20 08:04:27
I went on my usual weekend drive today-- let me just say, I made the right decision on this car! Listen to the engine [youtube]. I'm averaging 20.5 mpg overall, which is about the same as the old car even with 50% more horsepower. Pretty ironic. The fact that the car is more reliable than a regular Beemer (per my mechanic-- the M series are built to be tougher) and still under the new car warranty indicates that this purchase was a smart one from a financial standpoint. $0 maintenance for the first 50,000 miles or 4 years means I will pay less overall than the old car, and when the warranty runs out I anticipate making more money at that time to be able to pay for any necessary repairs.2008-01-19 13:41:48
Life begins at 5,000 rpm :)
I drove my new car in SF for the first time this weekend. I was nervous about all the hills but I only stalled it once and didn't have to use the handbrake method. I also got the gist of rev-matching downshifts, which makes things a lot easier on the clutch and syncros and allows selection of the proper gear for exiting a turn well before the turn, among other benefits. One thing that's happened is that I don't feel the need to speed because the car feels so sporty already :)
Some time last week some asshole put a huge ding on the right side, messing up the otherwise perfect paint. I hate that kind of indifference (I have never dinged someone else's car in my life), but it looks repairable without too much touching up as long as they can use the "paintless" method after touching it up. C'est la vie!2008-01-17 23:04:28
I still haven't been over about 5,000 rpm, which is about 60% of the available revs. The sound is beautiful from inside the car, especially in third gear! I can rev match downshifts into every gear now (except first of course), and the transitions are more or less correct (e.g., no more over-revving on upshifts and under-revving downshifts. My clutch technique needs some more finesse on downshifts as I tend to let it out too quickly. Also, hill starts still suck.2008-01-16 21:31:42
Perfection in motion.2008-01-16 05:16:04
This is so Flash!
Seriously, it is almost unbelievable. I feel very privileged. The car is better in every respect than the old one-- I was concerned that the ride would be too harsh, but it's actually comparable. In fact, because the seats are much more comfortable in the new one, the ride feels smoother. I was concerned that the size of the car would be an issue, but it's actually roomier for the driver than my old car although the door is much closer so I don't have quite as much wiggle room on the left side. While the M3 is certainly nimble, the car doesn't seem small while driving it. And because the steering is tighter and more direct, it feels a lot better. Visibility from every angle is superior to the 530i. Mileage is-- get this-- identical to the old car (17/25) even with 50% more horsepower! I must say, the engine is a masterpiece with low-end pull, a great midrange, and a high high-end. I haven't explored much past 4,000 rpm just yet.
The gearbox seems to be good. After less than a day I can shift as smoothly as an automatic transmission when I want to, but redline every gear if needed. The "throw" (distance of travel of the shift lever) is a little long, but it can be changed by a tuning shop if needed. I think it's good for a beginner. I have not attempted "heel toe" shifting yet, as I am having a hard time rev-matching on down shifts and that is a prerequisite. At city speeds it isn't really necessary anyway.
My favorite feature is the color-- the metallic blue is darker than one might expect and it has a hint of purple, and it looks amazing. My second favorite feature is the "Sport" button. The button changes the throttle map so the throttle is more sensitive at every speed. Frankly, the car may not be any faster. But the effect could be described as explosive, which is cool, and it's even noticeable in sixth gear. In fact, this throttle map is probably how it should be all the time, as Top Gear personality Jeremy Clarkson pointed out in his review of the M3 CSL. I hope it can be set on permanently.
The competition package features are great-- the brakes are, in a word, astonishing. They are extremely powerful and sensitive, which is good in many ways but may result in a greater likelihood of rear end collisions. I love the suede-like steering wheel and the special aluminum trim. The 19" wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tires are quite handsome as well, not to mention grippy.
My conclusion thus far is that I made the right decision and I was right to go with my intuition rather than a concern over not having driven a manual before for more than two blocks. I did just fine-- I stalled it a couple of times on a hill but I practiced on a familiar street with an insanely steep grade until I got it right. Virtually no roads (except in San Francisco) would have the same grade as Murphy Drive in San Mateo. I don't know what percent it is but I could compare the distance traveled backwards in one second in neutral and determine it is the steepest road I've ever been on. Of course, my clutch won't forgive me but I knew what I was getting into...the smell of burnt clutch isn't so great...it was necessary I tell you.
That's so flash!
I found myself having a hard time responding to questions from family members during test drives-- shifting definitely takes concentration. One "wish list" feature would be better shift gates-- I accidentally downshifted several times when I intended to upshift, which was a problem. The manual even encourages the driver to press the shift lever to the right "in order to prevent inadvertent selection of a gear in the 3rd/4th gear plane" when in 5th or 6th. I call that a design flaw rather than something the consumer should have to deal with. Another help would be a gear indicator on the dash to show what gear the car is in. I know that's probably a newbie feature, but it could be helpful at low rpm's as when coming to a stop. One key problem, and probably the only actual problem with the car, is that the handbrake is partially blocked by the center armrest. So I kind of have to reach over the armrest to pull the lever, which is awkward on hill starts. Fortunately I haven't needed the brake for that after practicing.
There seems to be less soundproofing in this car-- it's great for hearing the tone of the engine as well as debris on the road. Still, the HK sound system is able to handle it. However, there is a button for turning the HK on and off. Again, why isn't it on all the time?
I like the heated seats-- since I have no garage, it can get freezing cold in the car. I can fit in the backseat with some adjustments to the front, although it is a little tight back there. This fits with my very rare carriage of more than one passenger.
The climate control has an automatic stench control feature-- it detects "pollutants" in the outside air and automatically recirculates the inside air. That will be useful for my many trips past the cows in Petaluma.
Apparently the first owner was an officer in the service who was attending the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. It shows-- the car is in immaculate condition. The car is going to be a wonderful daily driver for me, lasting many years, with a ragged edge that can be drawn out. I don't see any need for aftermarket Dinan-type upgrades, but you never know. 333 hp is enough for now, and I can't imagine what 460 hp from Dinan would be like!
In terms of "image," I am glad I waited two years to purchase something like this. A third year litigation attorney with an M3 doesn't really raise eyebrows, but a rookie would.2008-01-14 19:50:36
Everything's looking good for picking up this car tomorrow. I appreciate the prompt assistance of USAA and the dealership in pushing this transaction through. It was a fair deal all around.
I am hopeful that I don't get "the finger" too often given that I worked extremely hard for five years (law school plus two years out) to be in a position to afford to treat myself to material things that I really want. Let's just say I don't spend a lot on trendy clothes or gadgets, instead favoring things that last. All of my suits except one (my high school graduation present) and all of my dress clothes except one overcoat were inherited from my father Tom or my uncle Mike, and I'm not too proud to wear them or talk about it.
I look back with nostalgia on the days when I was so poor in Summer 2001 (between my junior and senior years in college) that I had to eat turkey sandwiches and plain spaghetti nearly every day for four months. It seems like yesterday. There are many other memories from that period of time that are wonderful, however, due to the wonderful person I was with. I wanted that to work out more than anything, and 6 1/2 years later it saddens me to this day that it didn't. I am glad she is happy and I hope I meet someone like her again. If anything that's a key lesson here-- material things are not a substitute for happiness that comes from having a partner worthy of one's best. Although I'm told it wouldn't have worked out, she did bring unmitigated happiness into my life, and I have yet to experience that on the same level again. I believe I would trade the car, my job, and my future if it would mean that feeling again.2008-01-14 05:42:51
Test driving a 2005 M3 with Competition Package on Saturday was pure joy. My offer to purchase was accepted-- I look forward to posting pics and a detailed review. It did cross my mind that a used E36 M3 might be good to start out with so I can practice and get really good, but I figured that maintaining two cars would be prohibitively expensive and much more so than simply purchasing a certified preowned M3 still under warranty. Because I love driving and I drive every day, I decided that the extra money is worth it.
My 2001 530i isn't exactly a slouch, but the handling of the new car is tighter, more responsive, and better in every respect. With the new 2008 M3 anticipated to cost at least $65,000 well-equipped, the E46 M3 (2001-2006) was the only real option.
Go ahead and tell me I'm crazy...whateva. It's not an investment-- it's a privilege!2008-01-10 21:17:29
I started a club: North Bay Motor Club. It's going to be great.2008-01-10 20:40:09
M3. I would rather have a house though. Only question is what kind of home loan I can get. If I don't like the numbers, at least I can have a sports car :)2008-01-09 12:29:09
New Corvette or certified preowned M3? I'm having a hard time deciding. I can't afford a house so I might as well drive a sports car, right?2008-01-04 12:34:45
Today's Northern California weather storms make me glad, once again, that I have a car with Dynamic Stability Control and that I don't skimp on tires. The conditions were the second-worst I have ever seen-- second only to a white-out rain/mist monstrosity in the mountains at Grapevine, CA in January 2001. Today they closed US 101 in both directions in San Rafael; other parts of the same freeway flooded; and they closed the Richmond-San Rafael bridge due to four overturned big rigs. My power went out at home, of course-- I saw PG&E trucks everywhere both on my (aborted) trip to Berkeley and around town. My office is closed, which makes my vacation bittersweet, but at least I have an excuse for not going running or something and devoting my day to working around the house/playing Counter Strike, etc.
The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires I purchased recently were flawless in the rain, never hydroplaning and never engaging the DSC. That tells me I can go faster than 65, but it isn't a good idea with rain blowing in the wind so hard that it blocked out my windshield almost completely even on the highest wiper setting with new wiper inserts. I just had an idea-- a forward looking hi-def camera in a fogproof, rainproof enclosure to be used in severe conditions, combined with an infrared device that could see through fog. Those are just too expensive to be practical for everyday vehicles though.2008-01-03 16:18:16
I admire extreme talent. Here's just one example -- Mariah Carey performs "Without You" live. To witness the perfect use of a one-of-a-kind musical instrument never equaled by anyone else (i.e., Mariah's voice) outside the studio is truly inspirational. Five stars. The version that inspired Mariah is also great.2008-01-03 07:54:32
Now that the new M3 is here, I've been waiting hopefully for information on price, as well as detailed reviews. The reviews are starting to trickle in, like Top Gear. No price information for North America is yet available, although it appears the car will cost around $60,000 due to the prices of the 335i ($40,000), M Coupe ($50,000) and M5 ($82,000). My personal prediction is $59,000 base with necessary options pushing the final price up to around $66,000. The 335i looks like quite a bargain actually, with 300 twin-turbo horsepower and great performance for $20,000 less. Personally I'm holding out to see whether a stripped-down M3 CSL or 1-series CSL are in the works. Those would be lighter and more hardcore. The concept 1-series tii looks fantastic, and will probably come out before the M3 CSL (if the CSL ever does come out), not to mention being a lot cheaper. If I had to pick one, I'd go with the M3 since it's probably a more practical daily driver.2008-01-01 22:41:23
Random video link: Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, whose unnatural talent and lightning reflexes made Schumacher look like a side show bumper car driver, stops to help a competitor during practice runs. He put himself in danger in order to help another person when under no obligation to do so. In my view that is the measure of a great human being.
Senna was also the winningest driver in Formula One history until Schumacher-- only because of Senna's untimely death in 1994-- passed that mark. Senna was an intense, ruthless competitor, who went so far as to ram the car ahead of him in order to preserve his point rankings in the Grand Prix. However, he was a fine human being in other respects. When rescuers pulled him from the wreckage of his fatal accident, they found a furled Austrian flag, which Senna intended to wave on his anticipated victory lap in tribute to Roland Ratzenberger, a driver who died the day before on the same turn at Imola.
In Senna's will, he apparently donated most of his $400 million personal fortune to charity. Ayrton Senna's intense competitive drive coincident with selfless, empathetic behavior is something I aspire to.2008-01-01 18:39:16
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