2mAns Daily Driver Thread - who knows what it is today...

[2mAn]

Finally got the oil change done @ 241,600 so less than 5k miles since the last one and a little over 6 months.

[roguetoaster]

Dump that nasty VAG and DD the E30.

[2mAn]

Dump that nasty VAG and DD the E30.

No way!... second kid is now in Daycare, and while ONE kid will find her way into the E30, its not the car I am putting BOTH into...

[MrBurgundy]

I highly recommend not using 0w30

with that mileage and this climate we have out here.

5w40

Also, to echo my friend, rouge. dump that turd

har har har

[hasa]

No way!... second kid is now in Daycare, and while ONE kid will find her way into the E30, its not the car I am putting BOTH into...

Ah I remember times in early 2000's when my first kid was in day care and I tied her baby seat between roll gace tubes of my hobby car (not E30 but RWD german car with self baked turbo engine and 3.5" exhaust).

[mike.bmw]

No way!... second kid is now in Daycare, and while ONE kid will find her way into the E30, its not the car I am putting BOTH into...

I remember the years of two giant car seats in the the back seats of my two-door E30, and the subsequent back pain from trying to maneuver at least one of my kids into a rear-facing seat. And now one is a front-seat rider!

[2mAn]

Yea, none of those sounds like a good reason to DD an old E30 when I have a perfectly fine sh!tbox to DD... It has A/C, gets great mpg and doesnt look horrible. Why would I want my kids to trash the E30 when I dont need to?...

I mean, if it was a POS E39 I would probably prefer to DD the E30 also...

[MrBurgundy]

I mean, if it was a POS E39 I would probably prefer to DD the E30 also...

Shut your whore mouth

[roguetoaster]

Yea, none of those sounds like a good reason to DD an E30 when it has A/C, gets great mpg and doesnt look horrible. Why would I want my kids to enjoy the E30?...

I mean, if it was a POS E92 I would probably prefer to DD the E30 also...

[2mAn]

Cars been running great, approaching 2 years of ownership, which for me is a sign of how good this car is… i usually sell them around this time and I have no intention to… actually looking at adding some more goodies.


but first, I’m curious what are some weak points in the suspension. Well, I hit a pretty decent sized pot hole today with my front right wheel/tire and I’m suspicious that I may have bent a tie rod… or something. Car seems to pull harder to the left. Haven’t had a chance to check it out because it happened when it was dark and on my way home. Doesn’t appear to be a flat, but the wheel might have a bend in it now.Really hoping it’s not a bent wheel but who knows at this point.

[Northern]

i usually sell them around this time and I have no intention to… actually looking at adding some more goodies.

[2mAn]

Northern I was looking at some Mk7 GTI's but would rather do more dumb sh!t with this TDI instead....

So, minor crisis is averted though there was some damage.

After ignoring the car Friday, I pulled it into the driveway yesterday and immediately was able to see one of the problems, but wanted to confirm there wasn't more than just the one. Plan was to pull the front right wheel off and see what was going on. Removed it but found nothing other then this bubble on the sidewall and a gash.







The front was still holding air just fine, but the rear was another story. Removed it and through the spare on.






Took the car around the block and its back to its normal sh!tbox status, albeit more sh!tty with a steel wheel in the back.




Two Michelin Pilot Sports are on their way. I love this tire size because its the factory GR86/BRZ which means they pop up used from time to time, so I found two for a grand total of $140 shipped. They should line up with where the other 2 tires are at, tread wise and I can replace them around the same time.

[Northern]

Wheel has a bit of a bend? or just the picture?

That rear is shredded. Was it flat or rubbing?

[2mAn]

2 used Michelin Pilot Sports and the car is right back into daily abuse...

I was going back through this ENTIRE Daily Driver thread laughing at my intelligence.

I came across this on the last page and figured I should do another for Year #3 of ownership.

BTW Nobody anticipated this length of ownership. Some GOOOOOD VAG here friends...

As I am about to enter Year #2 of ownership, that means I can justify putting some more money into this car. Luckily it really has been trouble free so it doesn't need a whole lot. Usually Year #2 is when I get bored of a car and look to replace it, but so far this has been great and I cant picture a better Daily Driver for me. Its mostly things to just make the car feel less like a sh!tbox.

Heres my 2026 "wish list" feel free to share your input:

(1) Kerma Q-Pro tuner with a tune that I can remove during emissions time, which will roll around in late next year. How will this work while I have the zip-tie mod? ($500?)
Purchased the tuner, but need to send it to Kerma to put a BRM tune on it... maybe this year?

(2) Get a full size spare BBS CH wheel / refinish all the wheels to a proper finish, perhaps go bronze finish? Maybe have a better matching setup lol ($1000+?)
Was really thinking about doing this, once again... maybe this year??

(3) I found a 12" subwoofer box that fits in the trunk cubby location. ($300+?)
Still nothing here, though I did get my hands on a cheap bazooka lol

(4) Fix the back-up camera (No-cost, just fixing wiring)
Maybe this year!.. especially if I end up in the trunk to install the subwoofer

(5) Oil change at 240k (No-cost, already have it ready)
FINALLY SOMETHING ACTUALLY DONE!

(6) Polish up the paint, black wrap on roof since its roasted. ($$$?)
Nope, its worse and IDGAF

(7) Tint the windows ($$$?)
HEYYYY, I actually did this!

(8) Get a second key. ($165)
Maybe this year!...

So I basically changed the oil and tinted the windows... 2.5/8 is a fail!... but I also had to replace a water pump and do another timing belt so that ate up most of its allocated $$$.

So my 2026 list picks up where 2025 left off.
(1) Oil change ASAP, followed by a second oil change in the summer (Looks like ~$130 for this and the parts on #2)

(2) Minor cooling system issues addressed (Thermostat & Coolant flange replaced so maybe no more coolant leaks finally)

(3) Fix the back-up camera! (Free.99)

(4) Subwoofer??? I would love some bass back there.

(5) Second Key!? (Hopefully its still ~$165)

(6) Full Size spare? (~$300)