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  #1  
Old 09-12-2013, 03:58 AM
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Why our cars get heavier?

I stumbled on a thread asking how to get an E70 glove box open if you had no power/broke..... Glove boxes.... unlatch..it drops down... no we need to complex motors/mechanisms to open up the glove box. Do we really need this much stuff for a glove box???? Does anybody actually use their glove box.

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e7...20Glovebox.pdf
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2013, 02:19 PM
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I agree about the over fancification of the glove box (along with other things).

I however, use my glove box. Daily.
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  #3  
Old 09-12-2013, 03:50 PM
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nevermind.......
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Old 09-12-2013, 03:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRV99 View Post
I stumbled on a thread asking how to get an E70 glove box open if you had no power/broke..... Glove boxes.... unlatch..it drops down... no we need to complex motors/mechanisms to open up the glove box. Do we really need this much stuff for a glove box???? Does anybody actually use their glove box.

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e7...20Glovebox.pdf
I agree that it is overly complicated. A few months after my '88 convertible roof started acting goofy, I took it to the dealer and learned that it was the shortcuts I was taking when operating the roof that threw it off. To fix the problem, they reset the "two computers" that operate the roof.

Now, I remember my uncle's brand new '64 Chevy Impala Convertible (it is still in his garage - a beautiful car.) It had a simple switch on the dashboard. Press one direction for up and the other direction for down. Simple.

But that doesn't fly anymore because the lawyers override the engineers and demand that the roof have multiple sensors in place to prevent fingers from getting pinched, little johnny's head from being crushed, and Joe Idiot from opening the roof while going 70 mph down the highway. All these features add weight.

It's a shame you cannot sign a waiver and pass on some more useless features in a simple car. But I do have to say that for my luxury cruiser, I like having it all.
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  #5  
Old 09-12-2013, 05:32 PM
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Its not just complexity, its cost. Got this email on GM. Thought what the heck will
use there build it on a Cadillac and a GMC.

?? CTS-V a twin turbo V6. $75,000. Sorry but no GM product is worth that.
$80 is picked some pkg. LOL. OK now a GMC SLT not a Denali. $54,000 after
some discount. A Cadillac Yukon $81,000........

Now granted I haven't worked in years. But willing to bet even upper middle lower
upper would find these prices hard to swallow. I know our X5 run in the
same price bracket but feel quality is a little better than GM (nowdays). Still
even $75,000 for a X5. Seems car are just getting out of range.

Hard to believe there is that many in a income bracket affording 60K cars and
in most cases two and something for the kids ???

Thinking at this rate, in 4 when warranty out on the x, better look at 80K

In High School you could get a Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am for 6K a
Vette not much more either.
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  #6  
Old 09-12-2013, 06:32 PM
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Texvette, me and a few others are the Geezer group on here, so we get to give lectures, opins and gripe,

I bought a '76 Trans Am, 400, 4 speed, 8" wide wheels, Silver, for less than $4Gs out the door...my '73 Chevelle 454 4 speed was ~$3300, but back on ramble:

The gizmos, electronics and other assorted 'stuff' on cars is increasingly complex, difficult to diagnose/repair, hugely expensive to fix out of warranty, etc. It is seemingly inexorable these days, as all the mfgers race to one up each other.

I am not a total Luddite, but some of this stuff, even couched as 'safety/accident prevention', seems to cater to that ever larger 'NAV'/computer screen on the dash, just begging to be an on the move laptop or dashtop... not helpful for the increasingly bad driver skills or lack of, I see most days.

Speaking of Vert tops: my '02 Vette Vert has a manual top. It takes all of 15 seconds to raise or lower it, even being careful not to pinch fingers. The C6 and now C7, all have electric tops, just like MB, et al. Not bad, just not fookin needed, but Biff & Buffy would look askance at a manual top. The E70 glove box is a very good example of overdone, and an answer to a question no one ever asked.

Other unusual stuff: the new 'security' armored F15 that Sunil put up the other day.
A so-so shooter can put rounds in tires in a NY min, and that car isn't going anywhere fast...

Just early eve ramblings here. Gonna have a glass of bueno vino tinto and some grilled pollo. I may even go down in the garage and give my '75 Shovelhead a couple of kicks to hear it start and rumble.
BR, mD
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Last edited by motordavid; 09-12-2013 at 07:09 PM.
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  #7  
Old 09-13-2013, 11:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motordavid View Post

The gizmos, electronics and other assorted 'stuff' on cars is increasingly complex, difficult to diagnose/repair, hugely expensive to fix out of warranty, etc. It is seemingly inexorable these days, as all the mfgers race to one up each other.

I
This.

We have only ourselves to blame.

As a group, we are stupid and easily captured by baubles, widgets and 'safety' features.... it is easy to say "its lawyers", but the truth is that a vanilla X5 with no "luxury" features, but 300 lbs less and the assurance of less sensors and troublesome electronics would be slaughtered in the market.

It is a feature arms race, fueled by the buyers, that drives this...
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Old 09-13-2013, 12:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ard View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by motordavid
The gizmos, electronics and other assorted 'stuff' on cars is increasingly complex, difficult to diagnose/repair, hugely expensive to fix out of warranty, etc. It is seemingly inexorable these days, as all the mfgers race to one up each other.
This.

We have only ourselves to blame.

As a group, we are stupid and easily captured by baubles, widgets and 'safety' features.... it is easy to say "its lawyers", but the truth is that a vanilla X5 with no "luxury" features, but 300 lbs less and the assurance of less sensors and troublesome electronics would be slaughtered in the market.

It is a feature arms race, fueled by the buyers, that drives this...
+2

But you realize, we are three old guys who remember a different era, and vehicle sales are driven by a different demographic. We are now driving a previous generation X3 over a current X5, because it is lighter, simpler, more reliable, and with better performance.

I remember buying a new Volvo wagon in the mid '80's. It happily towed 3000 pounds on camping trips through the Canadian Rockies (3500 lb tow rating with OE hitch). It had 114 hp, IIRC. I suspect that people would be incredulous today, as many people seem to look to diesels to tow similar weight trailers. Heated seats and air conditioning. 4 speed manual with an electric overdrive 5th. And a radio. That was it for options. We had it for 11 years, and I know I put a water pump and a battery in it in that time, apart from regular maintenance. That was it. I don't remember feeling hard done by.

/piningforthegoodolddays
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  #9  
Old 09-13-2013, 06:38 PM
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Got a good one here. Went to get the mail this afternoon in the X5d. Parked it, got
out was humming (like one of those small air pumps). So was standing there just
looking at it. This guy about my age went, What's it doing. Told him I have
no idea but a good bet when get back in will have a message for me. Told me his
car will not let him in unless approaches it just at the right angle.

We got to laughing about the days of putting a key in the door, than using it
to start and go. Now almost like star wars to just run and get the mail.

Oh on sound still no idea, it didn't leave me a message. Guess something it
wanted to do and no business of mine. The noise was off when came back to
the SUV.
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  #10  
Old 09-13-2013, 09:00 PM
ard ard is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by texvette View Post
Got a good one here. Went to get the mail this afternoon in the X5d. Parked it, got
out was humming (like one of those small air pumps). So was standing there just
looking at it. This guy about my age went, What's it doing. Told him I have
no idea but a good bet when get back in will have a message for me. Told me his
car will not let him in unless approaches it just at the right angle.

We got to laughing about the days of putting a key in the door, than using it
to start and go. Now almost like star wars to just run and get the mail.

Oh on sound still no idea, it didn't leave me a message. Guess something it
wanted to do and no business of mine. The noise was off when came back to
the SUV.
haha

Usually they make that noise right before they piddle.
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