[mobike008]

A funny incident to share.

Whenever I'm in a drive through (which we are a lot), I pay with whichever credit card comes to mind. No particular preference.

But, I noticed whenever I paid through this card. I get an amazing reaction from the server or cashier in window like :

"Is this for real?"

" I didn't know they make this card"

"This makes a lot of sense"

" Did BMW give you this card?"

"Same Pinch"





I love enjoying a meal in the car. LOL!

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Is this for real?

Two completely off topic observations:

1. Burger and the fries inside the car, that too a BMW, could seriously earn you an infraction from a certain 5 series owning mod. Beware .

2. Weren't you on a weight loss mission?

Be that as it may, your regular updates are a feast to my eyes. Thanks for taking us around; on a vicarious US tour, from the comforts of your and our BRs (Blau Rakete, Bed Room) .

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Two completely off topic observations:

1. Burger and the fries inside the car, that too a BMW, could seriously earn you an infraction from a certain 5 series owning mod. Beware

I was kind of aware of a possible infraction for this despicable act of mine.

Well, what can I say, I'm a risk taker.

Originally Posted by dailydriver

2. Weren't you on a weight loss mission?

I realize that mission is not meant for me as my love for good food supersedes those goals.

Here nobody makes comments on appearances like how they do in India which is the best part of living in this country..lol!

But, hell yeah, I continue with my feeble attempts to lose weight. Let's see when that happens.

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Be that as it may, your regular updates are a feast to my eyes. Thanks for taking us around; on a vicarious US tour, from the comforts of your and our BRs (Blau Rakete, Bed Room) .

Thanks a bunch for your nice comments. I have so many stories to share which happens almost on a daily basis but, I refrain from sharing here lest you guys think I'm spamming you all. Haha!

I need to find time to share a photoblog of my epic 3300 miles drive on the pacific coast. Let me try to put that together soon.

[rvracer88]

Originally Posted by fusionbang

That's weird, why they say it is on back order. They are based in Connecticut and also have a warehouse in Delaware. For my zip code, it says the tires are available in 2 days and can be delivered. May be they are not equipped to ship it all the way to west coast.

Thats strange. The warehouse for PNW is right outside SeaTac airport. If they can't ship or move products between their warehouse locations, then I am not sure how they will be able to scale their online business. I know supply chains are not that simple (given that I work in supply chain) but I am now used to having things delivered to me on demand. Blame Amazon??

Originally Posted by mobike008

Can you share the prices in detail? Original price from Tirerack vs. Les Schwab? Are the prices inclusive of changing tyres?

Also, is it mandatory to do alignment and balance when tyres are changed?

Btw, Costco has $150 off on 4 tyres from Michelin (Any model).

Thanks, Juanita Park is a great place for evening walks. Since it's 5-mins drive, I end up going there 3-4 times a week. Now where do you live?

Tirerack quotes about $908 for a set of 4 + $100 to $150 for installation based on who you choose in your area + 10% state tax for a grand total of ~$1100 give or take a few $$.

Les Schwab quotes about $1048 for a set of 4 plus installation and sales tax amounting to a grand total of $1270. BMW Bellevue also quoted the same price when I checked with them on phone.

Discount Tires (place I ended up ordering since Les Schwab also went in back order as I was travelling over the past few weeks ) quoted $908 for a set of 4 plus installation and sales tax for a grand total of $1,112.72. Have scheduled installation for next Friday. Will keep the group posted on my experience with the dealer and the new wheels.

I always thought balancing was needed. It is included as part of installation here along with TPMS. Wheel Alignment is optional here but I will get mine since it's been sometime since I got done it last time.

Costco keeps running offers on Michelin and Bridgestone through the year.

Moved to Redmond. Let's plan to catchup sometime!

[fusionbang]

Originally Posted by rvracer88

Thats strange. The warehouse for PNW is right outside SeaTac airport. If they can't ship or move products between their warehouse locations, then I am not sure how they will be able to scale their online business. I know supply chains are not that simple (given that I work in supply chain) but I am now used to having things delivered to me on demand. Blame Amazon??

May be I was checking the 20" staggered setup. I guess you were looking for the 19", which are back ordered.

Originally Posted by rvracer88

Discount Tires (place I ended up ordering since Les Schwab also went in back order as I was travelling over the past few weeks ) quoted $908 for a set of 4 plus installation and sales tax for a grand total of $1,112.72. Have scheduled installation for next Friday. Will keep the group posted on my experience with the dealer and the new wheels.

I always thought balancing was needed. It is included as part of installation here along with TPMS. Wheel Alignment is optional here but I will get mine since it's been sometime since I got done it last time.

If 19", I think this is the same price as Tire rack. But one advantage with Tire rack is you get 2 years free road hazard protection which might come handy. However, you have a good deal as well.

And balancing is needed every time the tire is taken out of the wheels and put back, which is included here in most of the installation costs. Alignment is something they charge extra everywhere in US and its quite expensive too. If it's a new car you don't really need the alignment to be done, if not it makes sense. Post some pictures once installed

[mobike008]

Last weekend, I organized the first Team-BHP Meet @Seattle

It was a fantastic drive and great to catch up with some new folks and hopefully we will make a strong Seattle Chapter.

What surprised me was Ashir and Croupier came with their car splattered with team-bhp stickers.

You can check the full meet report here :

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-...ml#post5255408 (Team-BHP Meets @ Seattle, Washington)

Well, the Blau Rakete shone through this beautiful, snowy 250+ miles drive.

P.S : Click for full resolution

[mobike008]

This arrived last week and as part of my slow journey of making my Blau Rakete customized, making it my own inimitable style.

I stuck 1/3 on the front dash in front of passenger. Now, I am scratching my head where to stick the other two pieces??












And, Blau Rakete crossed the 14,000 miles mark.

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by mobike008

I stuck 1/3 on the front dash in front of passenger. Now, I am scratching my head where to stick the other two pieces??

Please don't - these aliexpress badges have no place on a fine BMW such as what you have.

[navin]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Now, I am scratching my head where to stick the other two pieces??

I understand taste is subjective. What is ostentatious to some is sober to someone else. Personally, I like to leave my cars "looking" as close to stock as possible; even ensuring ICE installs are "stealth".

You have a nice looking car Mobike, leave it be. Don't "Bappi Lahri" it.

My 2 cents.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by navin

You have a nice looking car Mobike, leave it be. Don't "Bappi Lahri" it.

My 2 cents.

Intersting analogy, Navin. I love Bappi Lahri. I mean not for his farcical style of dressing or his ludicrous jewelry.

I love him for his unique voice and his wonderful talent for giving us some of the greatest music we got during the 80's. He is a legend. Just check this song out, it was way ahead of it's time.

https://youtu.be/PXc2wq4sQCM

Coming back to ornament relation. I never wore gold in my entire life and hate ornaments (including my marriage ring and chain which was promptly removed after the marriage day) as I was always uncomfortable with jewelry.

However, I want shower to my ride on stuff that I missed out.

All jokes aside, I respectfully take all this advice. Unsolicited, if I may add. But, I generally almost always do what I want.

[navin]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Intersting analogy, Navin. I love Bappi Lahri. I mean not for his farcical style of dressing or his ludicrous jewellery.

Many decades ago (in the early 90s) I was introduced to him. He is quite a nice bloke and gracious host (but an unapologetic plagiariser). He invited us to his home in Juhu (near Prithvi Theater). I got out of the elevator looked right, then left and there was a big board in orange with white letters that read "Bappi Lahri Lives Here" with an arrow pointing in the direction of his apartment door. It's etched forever in my memory. When I saw the sticker obviously stating what the car is, it reminded me of this board.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by navin

Many decades ago (in the early 90s) I was introduced to him. He is quite a nice bloke and gracious host (but an unapologetic plagiariser). He invited us to his home in Juhu (near Prithvi Theater). I got out of the elevator looked right, then left and there was a big board in orange with white letters that read "Bappi Lahri Lives Here" with an arrow pointing in the direction of his apartment door. It's etched forever in my memory. When I saw the sticker obviously stating what the car is, it reminded me of this board.

Hilarious anecdote of that signboard. Knowing you, i am surprised you remember Bappi Da, as you meet celebrities and don’t even remember them ( If I recall our historical convos)….Mark of a rich SoBo ( South Bombay) guy.

I reckon you can say, i am a bit like him. I took the trouble of announcing what the car it is. Lol!

Opps, sorry lets get back on topic of ownership and keep these funny ramblings offline.

[Jaggu]

Isn't putting hard objects on air bag area a bad idea from safety perspective? Last thing anyone would want is these plastics splintering up and hitting face/eye etc or worse delaying airbag activation, god forbid. Having these on exterior would be more apt. My 2 paise worth of unsolicited observation...

https://www.thedrive.com/news/40366/...-its-dangerous

[BlackPearl]

I had somehow missed this thread, but it is better late than never! Congratulations mobike008 on your BMW X3! Some of the pictures on the thread are lovely and wish you many many miles of happiness with the vehicle!

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

I had somehow missed this thread, but it is better late than never! Congratulations mobike008 on your BMW X3! Some of the pictures on the thread are lovely and wish you many many miles of happiness with the vehicle!

Thank you so much Blackpearl. Appreciate your lovely comments and best wishes. Here are a few more pictures from last few days, hope you'll like them.


It has become kind of a ritual to step out for a walk right before the sun sets to this place which is 2 miles drive or 5 mins away from home.

Sunsets used to be at 4:15pm a month ago and now it's an hour later at 5:15pm. Typically, we head out for a walk at 4:30pm and to be honest, more than a walk my primary interest to step out is to catch these glorious sunsets that PNW skies have to offer.

Each day the skies turn a different color (Orange, Blue, Pink and yesterday we were in completely in awe as skies turned a bloody red in color)

A small clip of the B-58 exhaust note that I shot yesterday. Well, sound in this video isn't loud as this was not a cold start. But, when it's cold, B-58 makes a beautiful loud sound with pops and crackles which is one of main USP of this car.

Headphones are recommended.

https://youtu.be/xz4vysTf-gs

Untouched/Unedited pics from the phone. Please click for full resolution















Well, I get to drive this amazing car to this beautiful location daily.

What else do you want in life???