Found a new Beast

[jeffnhiscars]

This is such a different experience than e30s. I did a full brake job...4 new EBC rotors, OE Pagid pads and wear sensors. $353 landed but the front rotors vents are angled so there's a L&R and I got 2 lefts lol. I called ebc in Nevada and they are fedexing me a R without hesitation. Good company.

I had t replace the gas struts for the liftgate (interesting karma for a guy who makes gas struts). Since the rear glass raises by itself there are actually 2 struts on each side. One is a monster...550N plus a helper spring and it's a puzzles to maneiever it out. Worth it not to have the damn thing fall on your head.

Did the cabin & air filters plus an oil change and things were ok til yesterday when I till an ecu reset (key on, hold gas pedal 10 secs, key off) which exposed a bad shudder at 2k rpms. Went to advance, pulledmcodes showing cylinders 1&4 missing, found out VWs are famous for COP failure, hit the dealer for 3 (1 spare) and a set of NGK Iridium plugs at $13@.

Fingers crossed

[cory58]

Jeff,

Sweet Home Depot hauler! I've also ordered from Import Replacement Parts and had no problems.

Cory

[e30austin]

I'm in a similar boat. Needed a daily in a bad way (my back is shot) and felt really bad about driving my really nice schwarz car through winter. My friend called me one day and said his mom wanted to sell her '03 Range Rover after the transmission went tits up, come get it - cheap! Made the 150 mile drive up north and drove it home in 5th gear (limp mode) all the way home. Lots and lots of little quirky issues, which I'm slowly sorting out, and one used transmission later and it's back on the road. Love driving it, best money I've spent in quite some time.

Side note: 2003/2004 are identical to a 4.4 X5 in almost every way - same engine, trans, etc etc etc.

[jeffnhiscars]

Another nice HD hauler Austin.

When I pulled the coil packs they came up with chocolate milk at which point I recalled reading that you shouldn't pressure wash these. Now I know why lol. Half hour with electric cleaner and compressed air til I felt safe pulling the plugs. Hard to tell with these Iridium guys but I threw the new ones in anyway since they are a 40k item and it was the only maintenance step I hadn't done. She purrs like a kitten so I'll return the COPs and apply the credit to the $285 key fob :)

[Stanley Rockafella]

IIRC the RR's and LR's have actual Volvo front seats in them so they are probably the most comfortable seats you'll find!