[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Enjoy yourself in Dearborn.

??Have you been to Dearborn?? Oh, wait...you're writing from Ohio!

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Quattr09

Dearborn, Michigan.

BMW of Farmington Hills is a good servicing dealer. Ask for Jason as a Service Advisor.

For a good indy shop, MotorWerks in Commerce Township...right up I-275 to where the M5 extension ends.

Welcome to the SE Michigan tri-county roadway hellhole!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

??Have you been to Dearborn?

I haven't, but I figured that Country Club Estates and Cherry Hills Estates in West Dearborn would be at least two halfway decent neighborhoods in which to live while enjoying the city. What do you think - have I lost the plot entirely?

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Oh, wait...you're writing from Ohio!

I'm afraid you've lost me with that one - feel free to share the in-joke with the rest of us.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I haven't, but I figured that Country Club Estates and Cherry Hills Estates in West Dearborn would be at least two halfway decent neighborhoods in which to live while enjoying the city. What do you think - have I lost the plot entirely?


I'm afraid you've lost me with that one - feel free to share the in-joke with the rest of us.

Well, you may know about the long-standing "rivalry" of Michigan and Ohio, emanating from college football of UofM vs OSU. In a kidding/neighborly way, Michiganders and Ohioans frequently tease each other and it's extended beyond college sports. It's similar to New York versus New Jersey, although there Jersey is most often on the receiving end and it's far more than any sports could initiate!

Regarding SE Michigan, I'm about 30 minutes north of that area in the neighboring county, and don't know enough about specific neighborhoods, but even residents in that area would not claim the "hot spot" to live status of places such as Royal Oak or Ferndale or for more bucks, Birmingham. There are various websites which compare stats among cities. One other item to consider is that although not in great shape, the highway system is extensive in SE Moonchigan, and it is very common for people to live in a different city than where they work, as "cities" (really neighborhoods) are densely packed in the region. The goal is to pick an acceptable commute time, and starting with the work location, look in that range circle along the various highways in the area.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Well, you may know about the long-standing "rivalry" of Michigan and Ohio, emanating from college football of UofM vs OSU. In a kidding/neighborly way, Michiganders and Ohioans frequently tease each other and it's extended beyond college sports. It's similar to New York versus New Jersey, although there Jersey is most often on the receiving end and it's far more than any sports could initiate!

Thanks - I see now what I was missing. I'm new to southern Ohio and don't follow ball sports or anything having to do with colleges - that's probably why it passed right over my head.

[RotorOver]

Found out my BC Forged KL-12 wheels shipped today. Here is a pic prior to boxing.

[bimmer_girl89]

dropped the car off at the body shop to get the scratch/dent fixed left by some a**hole who did not leave a note!

On the bright side, rental company hooked me up with a brand new Porsche Cayenne so I got that going for me

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Sorry I just missed you with selling mine, but can't recommend highly enough a Subaru. I no longer spend winters here, but the Crosstrek on Bridgestone KO2 tires was a beast in the winters....took off on ice/snow like a scalded cat, all for low twenties new...may as well find a lightly used one. With the BMW safely waiting out winter in the garage, I drove and parked the Subaru anywhere and it handled the potholes/ruts with ease...lots of suspension travel. Got to the point where I drove it when it rained or to densely packed parking lots...the "no worries" car!

Unfortunately we didn’t like our Crosstrek at all, normally we would keep a vehicle between 6 and 8 years, but we sold the 2013 Crosstrek after less than 3 years. In the winter it would have trouble maintaining momentum in snow deeper than 15cm due to lack of torque. When fully loaded it would sometimes not be able to maintain the speed limit uphill in the mountains, if you had your foot hard down in 3rd gear the oil temperature would get dangerously high on long uphills, even in the winter. With winter tyres on it had lots of grip, but the stock all-season tyres used in the summer combined with the poor suspension geometry due to the raised ride height compared with the Impreza it is based on, gave low levels of grip.

It was also quite noisy compared with similar vehicles in class, had a flimsy interior and had some rust spots after 2 years due to rock chips, as it didn’t seem to have the level of steel protection that BMW or other European manufacturers use with the zinc-magnesium or similar treatment before the panels are painted.

It was average in reliability requiring a brake light switch change ($12 to fix, in 5 mins, but beware many owners have had ABS pumps replaced, due to the switch causing symptoms of complete ABS and stability control system failure), rear brake pads needing replacement at a low mileage and quite corroded suspension components at much lower mileage than expected.

The Golf R that replaced the Crosstrek for one-third higher list price we think is so much better in every area that is important for year around road use. It has as much traction in the winter (after Haldex configuration to enable more aggressive AWD engagement) and surprisingly virtually identical luggage capacity and interior space.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Unfortunately we didn’t like our Crosstrek at all, normally we would keep a vehicle between 6 and 8 years, but we sold the 2013 Crosstrek after less than 3 years. In the winter it would have trouble maintaining momentum in snow deeper than 15cm due to lack of torque. When fully loaded it would sometimes not be able to maintain the speed limit uphill in the mountains, if you had your foot hard down in 3rd gear the oil temperature would get dangerously high on long uphills, even in the winter. With winter tyres on it had lots of grip, but the stock all-season tyres used in the summer combined with the poor suspension geometry due to the raised ride height compared with the Impreza it is based on, gave low levels of grip.

It was also quite noisy compared with similar vehicles in class, had a flimsy interior and had some rust spots after 2 years due to rock chips, as it didn’t seem to have the level of steel protection that BMW or other European manufacturers use with the zinc-magnesium or similar treatment before the panels are painted.

It was average in reliability requiring a brake light switch change ($12 to fix, in 5 mins, but beware many owners have had ABS pumps replaced, due to the switch causing symptoms of complete ABS and stability control system failure), rear brake pads needing replacement at a low mileage and quite corroded suspension components at much lower mileage than expected.

The Golf R that replaced the Crosstrek for one-third higher list price we think is so much better in every area that is important for year around road use. It has as much traction in the winter (after Haldex configuration to enable more aggressive AWD engagement) and surprisingly virtually identical luggage capacity and interior space.

It's true that every manufacturer has its share of "problem cars" and unhappy customers. I cannot comment on some of your experiences as I never had the use cases you did...mountains, fully loaded, etc., although I did recognize the modest mid-range torque. However, for daily commuting and driving in urban/suburban areas, had no similar issues, and certainly had none of the quality problems in my 2015 model that you mention. I agree that it's overall design intent is not of BMW level, but I didn't buy it for that purpose, as explained above...it was the "knockaround" car.

Conversely (of course! ) we recently prematurely unloaded a 2016 Audi which we had purchased (and replaced it with a BMWAG product) after a very poor experience with performance, quality and dishonest customer support from the Audi of American division of the VWoA Group. Just didn't want to put up with it anymore. So, we are "never again" for anything from VW/Audi due to the product and the poor treatment.

And so it goes....

[Mosstradamus]

M Performance Diffuser Installed

[mikeyymonster]

Originally Posted by Mosstradamus

M Performance Diffuser Installed

Nice! Now extend those tips!

[Mosstradamus]

Originally Posted by Imalazeeass

Nice! Now extend those tips!

Yep, looking into some BMS tips. Hopefully they are long enough

[mikeyymonster]

Originally Posted by Mosstradamus

Yep, looking into some BMS tips. Hopefully they are long enough

**Edit - they don't fit http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1441133

[mikeyymonster]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

Found out my BC Forged KL-12 wheels shipped today. Here is a pic prior to boxing.

Very nice! What specs did you go with? Is that matte black?

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by Imalazeeass

Very nice! What specs did you go with? Is that matte black?

Thanks! 18x8 et40, 18x9 et50. Yes, matte black.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Imalazeeass

**Edit - they don't fit http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1441133

Some people have fit them successfully.

[Denk]

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

Agreed. But then again you bought a 2 series so the norm isn't you. People in Alaska drive Porsche's. You only live once. I'm from the PNW but retired in the south.

Haha, I lived in Cola and moved to the PNW 10 yrs ago.

[P2]

Just swapped out the grills for all black. Why did I wait almost 2 years? Foolish

Took out two clear coat scratches the deal installed, when in a moment of weakness with a salt covered car, I allowed them to run it through the brush wash. Actually, it probably was the broom brushes they "pre-washed" it with. Who does that? I have to come up with a better plan next winter.

[Hasser]

bit of engine bay dress up.

Can you spot it?

More to come soon too.

[mikeyymonster]

Ordered some lci taillights today!!

[Questofthetune]

Today i spent an hour attempting to seal my exploded charge pipe as best I could since I can’t get to the shop til Tuesday to put in my metal on. Also got a muffler delete on the way so guess I’ll think of selling my MPE

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

Found out my BC Forged KL-12 wheels shipped today. Here is a pic prior to boxing.

Installed with MPS4S 235/40ZR18 & 265/35ZR18 tires!
(More info on the Non-VMR Wheels thread)