Driving the BMW 530i e60

Can't sleep in the morning due to some unexpected issues. It has been a crazy week, and an even crazier weekend.

The highlight of the day is being appointed the wedding driver for Mr & Mrs Lee. The bridal car was the new 530i.



1. This is a huge car. Its monstrous. OK, maybe its not monstrous, but from the drivers seat, the bonet looks super long. I was thinking that parking this car is going to be a headache... and I was right...

2. I found it difficult to even drive OUT of my house, thanks to the cars parked outside my house. Had to repark the X20 for the BMW to drive out. *noob*

3. Took the BMW for a spin the night before, kinda like a get-to-know-you session with the car. So many buttons, sticks and features! The car has an EXTERNAL reverse sensor & display (weird, whats wrong with the in-built one?). Too bad the GPS doesn't work. Dunno how to turn the wiper on permanently. *NoOb*

- The car is beautiful. Few will disagree on this point. It looks super sporty, yet maintaining the elegance of BMWs. It comes with a sun roof, great sound system with subwoofer, sport rims, smoked headlights with projectors, and ofcoz the bridal car deco.

- The car handles superbly. It really is a driver's car. Suspension, handling, horsepower, there is absolutely nothing lacking in these areas. The car is torque-y, with no lag when flooring the accelerator (compared to the BMW 325i e46 that I drove for MY wedding).

4. While parking at the lunch reception @ bangsar seafood, the owner of the 530i was watching me park HIS car. *tension* Even with the parking valet's instructions, I failed miserably at the parking attempt. After the few failed attempts, the parking valet guy (who looks like a night club bouncer) took over and parked it in a few seconds. *NOOB*

5. After picking the bride, the wedding ceremony, the lunch reception, 2 tea ceremonies, I finally returned the car, and I got back into my X20. Phew! I was so relieved.

Driving the 5-series is so stressful. I love the compact sedan, and I LOVE THE X20!

Other Cars... and X20 sightings (no pics)

Work has been crazy. I finally have some free time to blog! :)

Sightings
I saw 2 X20s this week, but no time to take photo:
- Yesterday, on the way to work
- Today, in Selayang traffic lights

Other Cars
I love what this guy did to the black Neo bodykit. I'm not sure if this is stock, but the greyish-brownish bodykit looks awesome.




I saw this white BMW X6 on Jalan Tun Razak last week. Its so menacing and screams intimidation. So far, I've seen 3 on the road already. Btw, I think the X6 looks like the 3-series on top, with a huge A$$.


On an unrelated note, I dreamt that I crashed a Porsche Cayanne, by parking it on a high gradient slope, and it toppled over... *weird*

The New Tucson and Sonata (ii)

More and more pics surface, affirming their good looks:

1. C-class, eat your heart out!


2. "The all-new four-door sedan embodies Hyundais so-called “fluidic” design language..."


3. The tail lights look like a stretched X20 lights :) NICE! Love the shark fin antenna too. At least Hyundai knows what works.


4. Simple and stylish. Is that an animation of a car taking a left bend in 1.6km?


Reported sites:
Motoring Sky
Hyundai-Blog 1
Hyundai-Blog 2
SGCarMart <- More pics here!

I can't upload the Tucson pics due to copy-write reasons, but you MUST go this website to view them:
http://www.slrclub.com/bbs/vx2.php?id=theme_gallery&no=1143784

The New Tucson and Sonata (leaked)

Tucson

The Sexy Utility Vehicle. It reminds me of a Nissan Murano mixed with an Hyundai i10.




It looks much better in the video than in the pics:



Sonata

These are leaked pics, courtesy of Paul Tan:

Black Hummer H3

This THING is HUGE! You can't imagine how big these rims are, coz there's nothing to compare it to. I was driving wife's kancil when I spotted this fella. The tyres are almost the height of the kancil.



Spotted near Jln Tun Razak.

Interesting No. Plate

Saw this X-trail on Jalan Tun Razak with an interesting no. plate. It reminded me of a car I saw in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (in front of Jasima) which was PEN 15.


What the duck?

Interesting Number Plate

The owner of this car should be a resident of Kelana Jaya, or a young politician aspirant.

Protectionism... and our local car makers

Proton (PeRusahaan OTOmobil Nasional) Holdings Berhad, established in 1983 was the brain child of former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahatir Mohamad. The first production car, Proton Saga was manufactured in September 1985. Back then, Proton was at least 20% cheaper than non-national makes in the same 1.3 to 1.5 litre class. By 1988, Proton had overtaken all other makes and grabbed 73% of the passenger car market.

[READ more here]

Perodua (Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua) Berhad, established in 1983, with shareholders:
- UMW Corporation Sdn Bhd (38%)
- Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. (20%)
- MBM Resources Bhd (20%)
- PNB Equity Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd (10%)
- Mitsui & Co. Ltd (7%)
- Daihatsu (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (5%)

The first production car, Perodua Kancil was launched in late 1994. Perodua mainly produces small-compact cars and therefore does not actually compete with Proton for the same market niche. Perodua does not actually produce any in house designs or engineering for the main components (i.e engine, transmission). All Perodua cars are badge engineered from Daihatsu. Perodua cars have won multiple awards (here).

[READ more here]

=============================================

I used to drive a Perodua Kenari, my wife owns a Kancil and my brother just ordered a Myvi. Perodua has good cars. Proton is government backed. However, that is not enough:

Banks set to increase interest on borrowings for non-national car buyers [source]

Problem: The current reasoning for the hike in loan rates for non-national cars is to make up for provisions set aside for losses and administrative costs. (that means, loans that are not serviced)

Solution: Increase the interest rate for non-national cars.

Genius...

OZ Racing Record on Mini

Who would buy overpriced Italian (OZ Racing) rims? Only old skool fellas like me and this Mini Cooper driver, using a 4-nut Oz Racing Record:


Photo taken without permission at Ikea car park :)

Btw, the Cooper S is one of the cars mentioned on the OZ UK website:
http://www.ozracing.co.uk/record.htm

BMW Sightings

Having Sapura Auto (BMW distributor) opposite my office, I get to see more than a few BMWs. Yesterday morning was a BMW 740 Li, code named E66 LWB (Long Wheel Base).


This car is super long and naturally a super long wheel base:


Some more wiki specs:
- V8 4.0 L (4000 cc/244 in³) heart
- 306 hp @ 6300 rpm
- 390 N·m (288 ft·lbf) @ 3500

Check it out HERE.

BMW 1-series Sighting

The 1-series has a butt? I thought BMW only had 1-series hatchbacks. Anyway, this one is a 135i Coupe brought to M'sia by Sapura Motors (Jln Tun Razak).


Some online information reveals that this relatively small car has:
- A 2979 cc twin turbo v6 petrol heart.
- 6-speed manual/auto
- Only 300 HP
- About 1.5 tonnes in weight, 41 kg less than the 335i Coupe, making it a power-to-weight ratio beast
- 0-to-100km/h in 4.7s (Auto) and 4.8s (Manual)
- torque at 306 PS (302 hp/225 kW)
- a limited top speed of only 250km/h (*sigh*)
- Fuel efficiency of 7.66 L/100 km
- M-sport kit (Click "M-sports Package" tab)

This is the PERFECT COUPE!

The only thing that I don't like, point out by Paul Tan, is the droopy line at the bottom.


Visit this link to view a digital plastic surgery on the droopy line.


Info taken from Wiki.

Long Overdue SNIPPETS

1. My last post was October 16th. Thats more than 2 weeks ago. I feel sorry for those who have been coming back here regularly and finding no updates. Thank you for your visits.

2. I haven't seen any X20s on the road, however, in Kluang, an SG Avante is spotted!


3. Oil prices are in the RM 60+ region. I dunno to be happy or sad. 40% of M'sia's funding comes from Petronas. I wonder how the lower crude oil prices are affecting our budget, since Budget 2009 was tabled when the oil price was RM 125 per barrel.

4. No updates to my car. However, upcoming events are THM TT at Kajang (with alot of poison) and TT at Fara's. Details to come.

5. Two brothers from my church are car enthusiates. Both of them drive the Toyota Trueno, or its more famous name, 86 ('part loke' in canto). All of them with stock engines, but kitted bodies and modified interiors. The white one, driven by the younger brother, won a time challenge race recently

Enjoy some pics:














This is the interior of the Red 86. Nice gauges and bride seats!


Same Red 86, black bonnet - a "cool" oil cooler with the engine code on it (not intercooler)






Check out the depth of those rims.

Snippets

Petrol Price in Malaysia is Down on 15th October 2008
As you are aware by now, the petrol prices dropped midnight yesterday. The current crude oil price at $73.61 seems like its dropping daily. The next question people are asking are are the food prices going down? Is the cost of living gonna drop too?


Who the heck is YB J?
On the 12th October 2008, there was a 'fictional' story written by Chamil Wariya and published in Utusan Malaysia about an MP called YB Josephine (YB J), who is:
- presumably Chinese
- accused of being anti-Islam & anti-Malay
- most likely from a opposition party (People's Action Party)
- afraid that her home may be petrol-bombed
- accused of wanted to change the road names in Jawi to Chinese

Finally in the end she is killed by a person from her same race, revolver bullet to the chest, piercing her heart. The killer then killed himself after. There was a note in the killer's possession that said:

"YB Josephine adalah ancaman terhadap keharmonian. Lebih baik riwayatnya ditamatkan supaya masyarakat berbilang kaum boleh tinggal aman damai di negara bertuah ini. Saya berkorban untuk masa depan."

Who is YB Josephine? Is there a meaning/purpose to this story? Or is it just for entertainment and is purely fictional in nature?

I feel sick.


Mitsubishi Lancer GT
Yesterday morning, I saw a nice grey Mitsu Lancer GT with gun metal rims while on the way to work (Jalan Tun Razak). Looks awesome:

Nissan Bluebird Replacement is Ready for Bookings (Sylphy)

My first car that I drove was a manual Nissan Bluebird. I was 15 or 16, and took my dad's ride out for a spin. What he didn't know won't hurt ME. I still remember who I
did it with. Now, we have its long-awaited replacement, the Sylphy (Seal Fee? Sai-L-Fai? Who knows...).

Paul Tan is on my favourites listing for automotive news. His postings are informative, precise and concise. Although I wish his pics were a little bigger...
Anyway, here's the Paul Tan's link:

Nissan Sylphy 2.0 Initial Details And Pricing

My comments:

- The interior is definately for drivers above 35 yrs old.

- Rear drum brakes? Thats a turn off.

- "The Nissan Sylphy’s 2700mm wheelbase is the equal to the Honda Civic’s which means impressive cabin space is highly likely. The Sylphy and the Civic have the longest wheelbase measurements among the C-segment sedans in Malaysia, with the Hyundai Elantra coming in second at 2641mm."

- Auto headlights that turn on in the dark! Headlight aim control from cabin! Cool!

- Foldable wing mirrors *sigh* why X20 don't have... :(

- The Luxury package includes a full V-kool tinting (but dunno which V-kool range)


Price (West Malaysia):

Nissan Sylphy 2.0 Comfort Package - RM113,000

Nissan Sylphy 2.0 Luxury Package - RM117,000


Pics:










* Pics taken from Paul Tan and Automobilemag

EDIT: Looks like some "bad" advertising on Paul Tan's site, check this out.

EDIT 2: Paul Tan said...

The warning is due to a rogue advertiser that installs spyware advertising on one of the banner networks that I use. I have tracked it down, removed that banner network, and filed an appeal to Google. There should not be a warning anymore. Very sorry for the inconvenience!