It has been a while. I have had some conversations with some but for the most part haven’t been around for some time except for a couple of quick pop-ups. It is hard to get away from a community I have been involved with now for nearly five years. But work and family activities keeps me busy anymore and hardly allots time to spending on the board. But with recent changes, for the better, and with some new J-Series involvement I will be spending more time here. Anyway, it is good to see many familiar names.

But since this is car talk I will begin with the topic matter. As some may or may not know, I am currently working on 02AV6’s blue E-Manage harness, converting it to use with the new EU (E-Manage Ultimate). By all indications it should now be able to advance timing just fine along with a host of other features. I will be finishing it up over the weekend and will be configuring it for use with the J-Series. I need to get the entire jumper settings figured but they are close enough to the blue unit that it shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll see soon enough though if this will be another possible modification for the J-Series.

Continuing on the car talk topic, I am still running the S4. Nothing has really changed much but soon will. I have down pipes and an exhaust to add in the next couple of weeks. Those should put me into the high12’s at about 110, better than my previous GIAC X-Chip only run of 13.1@106.6. The car has been great with a few minor exceptions which were handled under warranty. But IMO, as usual the German’s over complicate things; simple systems are made too complex. It just makes things harder to work on. But nonetheless, it is a fantastic car and one I enjoy driving daily. Plus, having traction is a great bonus now!!

Oh yea, I did pick up a PhatBox for it and don’t know how I lived without it.







And we still have the baby hauler. No full pictures of it as it is a minivan and well, I just don’t care about it. But the Sienna XLE Limited is an excellent car for what it is for. And that DVD system keeps the girls happy on long trips.



But now on to the fun car. As some may recall, I was engaged in a plan to acquire an NSX and turn it into a beast. After several failed leads and after evaluating that I do not have the time available in my life to dedicate to the project, I ended up going a different route. The choices switched several times and finally ended with the below. It is a stock, except for the stereo, 2000 //M Roadster. We got a good deal on it and it is in pristine condition. All who have seen it have a hard time believing it is a 2000 MY with 62k miles.

I have driven these many times but a quick drive doesn’t allow you to explore it completely; now I have. The power is fine, not outstanding but adequate. It has pretty good midrange torque so that shifting isn’t always required. The thing I like the most about it is the exciting behavior. Driving it hard on a windy road definitely takes concentration. It has enough power to get the back end squirrely on demand when DSC is off. However, with less than 2900 lbs and 245 tires out back, it can hang onto a turn at a scary rate provided you do nothing stupid. I know the suspension is dated but it is still a joy to drive and more appealing than some newer numb designs. The steering is about as precise as you can get with extremely quick turn in. I have fun just about everywhere I go which turns out to be sideways very often.

The brakes are nothing to dismiss either; they stop the car with great authority.

The car is currently up for sale though. We got it at such a good price it begs to be placed back on the market for a potential profit. If it does not sell in the next couple of months we will most likely start modifying it and keep it. The plan is the Dinan SC first and maybe only that. To me, it just needs more power, I am very happy with everything else.











Now on to the OT portion which, as a proud parent, is a must. My miracles of twin daughters just turned 2 on the 6th. And I can’t believe two years have already gone by (although I hardly remember the first six months). I remember it was right before they were born that I penned the first rendition of the intercooler. And due to the raising of these two it took about 7 months to get it built and on the car.

They are just growing too quickly that it is scary. It is such a joy to see them everyday and that each day holds a new adventure. Now with them talking, or their version of speech, things are taking new twists. Natalie will talk your ear off it you will listen and don’t even need to understand. Makenna will try to tell you something but if you don’t understand she will get irritated with you.

There is no telling where and what all these two can get into. They now plot and work together to get what they want. I don’t fully agree with the idea that kids are all good; those people that think that are just not as bright as kids. The girls have known for quite some time how to manipulate adults. In fact, Makenna has been manipulating her sister for nearly a year now. Natalie is just now catching on though so some fierce battles have ensued. But it is very entertaining to watch though. Especially seeing them process new information and the deductions they make about things they have never seen. It is simply amazing.

Below are just some quick pictures from recent months.

Blowing out Candles at their Birthday Party


A Walk on the Beach


Natalie Posing (She looks like she was posing, she was actually just getting up from falling down)


Natalie at her Kitchen (this is the second of their play rooms, my former work out room. That is what happens in a house full of females. I am left just with the garage now)


Makenna Playing Piano (No, she cannot really play, yet. But she does try and probably already knows more about what is under the hood of a car than most people. )


Makenna and Her Baby (She is very motherly. She always makes sure her sister has everything she has and gets very worried when Natalie gets hurt)


Anyway, it was great to read up in some threads and see what is going on. I also look forward to interacting more with the forum once again. Some obviously felt I wasn’t around here enough based on some higher up decisions. No worries, I kind of expected it…

 

Great pics. Love the m roadster. Cute kids

 

Glad to see all is well-the kids are B-E-A-UTIFULL!!


Out of curiousity, how much are you asking?

 

Thanks and am asking $26,500 for it.

 

Welcome back

You be able to sell that roadster no problems.

cute kids

 

That is what I am thinking which is good and bad. Although I would like to see a profit. A vehicle in this good of condition is hard to find.

 

Well, in LA where nothing is rare...M roadsters and coupes for sale are very rare. And they command a pretty penny. I can't see it being any different for your car. Sounds like you got lucky as hell on the original purchase. I bet you'll make some kind of a profit.

 

Cute babies Steve!

 

Too bad you don't live in the Bay Area, I'd love to do a joint project car using my NSX.

 

i feel for you man, a house full of women is a scary place to be some times (in about 10 years it'll get really scary). but you have beautiful kids.

 

I've seen some FAST M roadsters (500 + whp) Those things can keep up with 700+ whp supras.

If you go to bimmerforums.com and talk to Silverstreak (he ran a 14.1 with a totally stock CL-S, a 14 flat with a stock 330Ci and mid 13s with a stock S2000) he'll tell you about 11 second 1/4 passes with just 320 whp on that little thing!

 

Glad to see things are going well!

 

WOW!!! The twins are TWO already!!!!

How time flies!!

GOOD seeing you again scalbert!!!! I have missed
you and your posts!!!!


Glad to hear all is well in your household!!

Dont be a stranger!!!!

 

Now that would have been fun.

 

The M looks so hot, still don't believe it has 62K on the odo.

The girls are gorgeous!

A

 

Great to see you're back Steve

I know that when I first joined the forum, I could always count on some informative stuff if you posted in a thread.

Your kids have grown up quite a bit since the last time you posted pic

2 geman cars now ?? Jesal will be proud

 

Not to get off topic, but how does an M Roadster compare to an S2k performance-wise?

 

Where the hell have you been Steve. Glad to see you're back!

 

hey steve, good to see you around. nice cars, kids and such.

 

the babies are lookin as gorgeous as ever!!

 

Tell me about it. I hear from many people that boys are harder in the early ages. But once they get to be in the early teens, girls are much harder.

 

It depends on what you are doing. I have driven a coupel of S2000's and they are nice. On a dedicated track the S2k would possibly win. But when pushed in a combination of daily driving and hitting the mountains, the M would dominate. It has better pull in the midrange than a CL-S6, obviously better than an S2k, so you are never waiting for power. But it can get a bit twichy when provoked in the corners.

IMO, the steering is the typical BMW sharp but the car still has some edge to it. And that fantastic straight 6 with good midrange puts it on top.

Plus, I find the MR to look better, the lines are classic IMO.

 

Thanks, I love the color. It is actually a metallic black (Cosmos Black) which takes on a charcoal color in sunlight.

And thanks about the girls, I am worried when they get older.

 

Too quick... They scare me every day.

Has Jesal wrecked any more lately?

 

Audi is doing just fine, thank you very MUCH!
Great cars btw! Im very proud you have good taste in them.


Cute kids, I wouldnt smile either if i had you as a dad!

 

Been the same place, just busy. Industry has been picking up and capital projects as well. Not to mention the little ones keeping me on the move.

I even took them to the Audi dealer where they rode the swattro in the show room. Everyone got a kick out of that. I need to get by the Automotive forum to keep an eye on where the RS4 will be coming in. I beleive it will be way to high when compared to the upcoming E90 M3.

 

Thanks Matt, based on your avatar it looks like you moved on? No more nitrous J-Series?

 

Thanks man, they are making me age quickly.

 

Glad to hear my Audi brethren is doing well.

Yea, having me for a father isn't a cake walk.

I dread, for their sake, when they get older and bring a guy home. If I don’t scare them enough I suspect my girls will. They will be able to change the tire quicker than the guys. And they are, and I suspect will be, very petite like their mother.

 

Welcome back steve... been a while.. First and foremost your kids are beautiful, and happy to see everything is going well. The roadster look like in mint shape, you shouldn't have an issue with the resale.

 

glad to see your back steve. i look forward to more of your knowledge and your girls are getting big.

 

Thanks, but I kinda hope I do have trouble.

 

Thanks and I see you are running strong. I am glad to see you around here.

 

 

welcome back scalbert!

 

my friend also has an s4, running 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, 1/4 in 12.1 and 117

 

I've seen my buddies turn gray overnite!!
hahah...it's worth it though, atleast that's what they tell me!

 

you are using your S4 as a daily driver, yes?
no problems?

 

He is certainly not on the stock turbo's. His times are about what to expect with a K04 upgrade though. If/when my stock snails go I will seriously be contemplating this upgrade as well.

 

Thanks Darrin, staying out of trouble I hope.