bmw bearings made by Koyo

[lezonebay]

in case you were wondering what brand do they use ?
I cought a shipment of bearings heading to BMW Manufacturing plant in Spartanburg.

a week ago they had a large shipment of damaged fenders going back to mother-land for evaluation. plastic fenders !

<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=11820"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=11820" border="0"></a>

[Mark in SBA]

Looks like they're evalulation samples. Dollar dropping too fast against the DM?

[cruppelt]

[D-robert]

[Lane from s.c.]

Laszlo, the x6 uses plactic fenders. I met with the company that makes them in Greenville. Its a french company. Its a whole assy. with lights installed...I guess just pop it place. Looks kind of cheap to me.

Lane

[lezonebay]

and yes it does look a little cheap but light. The structure behind it is aluminium and the whole front structure is glued to the firewall. forget about pulling it in case of an accident. you will be pulling it off of the firewall !
there is a lawsuit against BMW right now because they have not made the technology available to independent body shops.
I read about it once a few years ago and the union of body shops or something similar made the claim that it should be available.

most newer cars plastic pieces are glued and more and more body panels are made of composite (carbon fiber, kevlar, etc.)
or plastic.
<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
2002 Astro Van AWD
1999 Astro Van 2WD
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (1/2)

[Mark in SBA]

Aston Martin DB9 with the red goop and piercing rivets:

<img src="http://www.astonmartins.com/factory/images/DSCN5750.jpg">

Here's the full tour: <a href="http://www.astonmartins.com/factory/db9_production.htm">DB9 Production Line</a>. Nice website.

[lezonebay]

[Mark in SBA]

Both AM and Jaguar benefitted greatly from Ford's design and fabrication expertise in aluminum. Truly great work with proprietary adhesives and rivets allowed both companies to move from the archaic 70s directly into the new millenium.

Lots of good technology and people (union and management) still left at the Big Three. Just got to provide them with a "near death experience" to get them out of their 40-year long sleep walk.