DaveP Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 This Veho Gumball 3000 Muvi HD 1080 micro DV Camcorder (1094922078192) | eBay was suggested to me by somebody who uses them. Apparently has a loop function. Also you can get all sorts of mounts for it. Apparently not as good picture quality as a GoPro HD, but good enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Since it's being sold for m/bikes I assummed that I'd be able to wire it in, hide it away and forget about it. Is that not acheivable ... and what Tipex needs?I take the 12V charger is a ciggy lighter fitment? I was hopeing that it'd be 12V and ready to run straight off the battery I've had a look at the website, and the extras you can buy, I think it does have the functionality we both require, but you need to buy two additional products. The enhanced wired remote, which is a slightly different version of the red button MrMe mentioned, but adds the automatic recording and loop function at £14.95 And the 12v hard wired regulator at £10, making the whole system £274.90 which isn't particularly cheap. Unless I've read it wrong, it also means you have the regulator, linked to the remote, linked to the handset, linked to the camera, which is just far too much stuff to hide away for me personally. The Dogcam bullet wide would be absolutely perfect, if it at least had the loop function, let alone the auto recording on starting the car, as it's all contained in the one small camera unit, with only a single cable for power that could be easily hidden if you don't want to be recharging it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 There's a function on this one I've got for auto-recording in car mode, in the set-up menu. I can't imagine my wanting to use it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Hmm, says in the spec you need the additional enhanced remote for that. odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Nope, you're right. It has the function on the unit but you're correct that you need the remote to make use of it. Just checked the book. Just as well I couldn't see myself using it then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Have to agree about the price. Nearly £300 isn't cheap. hmmm ponder ponder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 (edited) Back on topic - Yep, Mort and Scotty are on the money. The car drivers responsibility to overtake safely. 'L' Platers need more room, more time and more consideration. The car driver had prolly been waiting to get past and got frustrated. I'm not proud to say that I would have beaten him like a mutha-fugga but thats prolly exactly what I'd have dun :-/ You take my life in your hands and you can expect to hear about my displeasure! Edited March 8, 2012 by SneakyMcC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Shall we look forward to plenty of road rage vids then MrMe NSFW..... http://youtu.be/wHtpf9GeQsA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 The scooterist does seem to attract a awful lot of bad driving and near misses... It's often said you make your own luck, which is something I kind of apply to road users who continually find themselves having near misses and regular encounters with the plod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Well I'm afraid my first clip is very boring, just a short 2 min clip of the drive into work. I'm very impressed with the quality and stability though. Probably need to increase the default volume level up a bit. Even at full screen on YouTube the quality comes through. jjhhEClidec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Feck, some heavy road noise (although I suspect you already know that!). I'm amazed you don't talk to yourself when driving, doesn't everyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 I don't talk to myself driving when I've got a video camera running - let's put it that way. If you turn the volume right up, you get a more accurate representation of the noise. It's not a quiet car. The noise itself isn't something I have a problem with. It sounds lovely under full throttle. It's just the lack of any suspension that gets me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Great quality from that unit there MrMe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblanc Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Is that tyre/wind noise with the roof up? If so there is something wrong with your car, I get nothing like that amount of noise in mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 There's nothing whatsoever wrong with the car Doug (apart from the fact it's totally compromised, flawed and **** and the sooner I'm rid of it, the better), it's been in to the dealers twice for the suspension checked on my insistance. It is louder than stock because it has a different air intake system, but that's it. Road noise wise of course it's running on bigger wheels/tyres than yours too, with the 19"'s. I honestly don't know how you live with it, genuinely and I mean no offence with that. It's easily the most flawed car I have ever owned - yet it does so many things right. I've driven cars with the 18's and stock intakes on them too, and I still think they're appallingly flawed. I'm delighted you're happy with yours, but I honestly haven't ever driven a more flawed sports car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 I've taken a video this afternoon of me driving down a well known country lane in these parts. I can't show it all (for reasons that won't taken a genius to figure out) but I will show a 20 second clip when I get the time to edit it. Basically, I hit an area on the side of the road where the tarmac has gone, about 2cm of it. I've driven over it a million times before in other cars. Today, in the Z, you'll see what it feels like when I post the video. You won't miss it, that's for sure. The glove box flew open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 That's the big drawback with the GoPro - due to the casing the sound is none-existent when the camera is mounted in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 (edited) I should emphasise, noise isn't my issue. I think it sounds fabulous. Yes it has a different air intake system and that has upped power too, and yes it might have been tweaked a little on the ECU side by some people in Luton a few months back, but the ride issues have been there from the start. I simply had the modifications done to keep me interested in it. It does make a difference (power is about 372 bhp), so around 21% up on the standard model. The only problem I have with it in terms of power is the traction struggles into second (the lights were on for about 2 seconds in this click when changing from first to second) and it lights up into third under a heavy change too, but it has meant I get the odd smile instead of constant pain and frustration. Here it is under heavy acceleration to the national speed limit or thereabouts on a country road. I took this to test the stability of the camera and it is very secure indeed. I'm mightily impressed with the Dogcam system. FU-G7zXjOtk Edited March 9, 2012 by MrMe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblanc Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 I have no issues with the suspension on mine it's a million time better than on the A4 cab. It can get a little jittery on a very potholed road in sports+ but then so does my wives golf on the same road. I guess we all want/expect different things from a car but I honestly believe that given my experience nobody should be put of a Z4 due to the suspension. In fact one of my closest colleague bought one today after being in my car a million times so it can't be that bad. As for the glovebox opening when you hit a pothole I have never experienced any kind of shock wave in my car that would cause that and I drive on a lot of potholed country lanes at a fair lick. Is the suspension different between the 35i and the 35is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Nope, no suspension differences between the models at all. The wheels make a slight difference but that's it. As you say, different people expect different things out of cars though. I wouldn't feel so bad if it was my first sports car and I could put it down to not being used to this - but I've been in a 911 Turbo regularly that rides like silk by comparison and I am not exaggerating when I say it is easily the worst riding car I have ever been in. I've owned MX-5's, even an MG-F VVC, and god knows what else. I've also had plenty of time in previously owned M3's of course, included a hard riding cab - but this is on another planet. It's my fault though and I've learned from it. I also think it's tragic in my case, because the car is so good in every other respect. With the power increases it is very quick indeed and mid range acceleration is frankly stupid. It also sticks to the road like glue - but the road needs to be very, very, very smooth to get the most out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turrican Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Just found this snippet on evo which might be of interest about the z4 suspension. Don't know if it applies to yours. "The real culprit was finally revealed on the Mercedes SLK launch last month. Mercedes brought in a Z4 for evaluation during the SLK's development and had noticed the same strange chassis behaviour that we'd experienced. After putting the car on a chassis rig, the explanation seemed to be a noticeable change in rear toe angle when the Z4's rear suspension moved up and down, meaning it would start to 'steer' from the rear on undulations. Now, increased toe-in on compression is great on track as it tucks the car into the apex, killing understeer in the process, but pretty useless on our lumpy roads as the change in toe angle can cause the constant wandering we'd experienced as the rear wheels steered their own independent course to the fronts." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 That's interesting Turrican, very interesting indeed. That said, I can't say I notice a constant wandering from the rear wheels - but that could be because I'm just doing my damn best at all times steering around pot holes, pebbles and grains of sand to avoid my spine shattering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 (edited) going well off thread here but have you considered replacing the suspension with some decent units from koni or ohlins ? It sounds to me that the spring and damping rates on your car are all wrong otherwise its an awesome car. I did this years ago on a 944 Turbo I had and the it transformed the car. Importantly the konis springs were matched to the weight of the car and road use and the damping was adjustable so I could adjust it to suit. Working with a suspension specialist who would tailor the suspension package to what you want really works. There are many variable in spring rate, compression, rebound, high and low speed damping etc which can be tuned. I'd say the cost would far outweigh the trade in loss you might be considering and you'd get to make the most of a nice car.... Good quality on that camera by the way... Edited March 9, 2012 by Mort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted March 10, 2012 Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 It would be an option Mort but I'm at the point where I've just had enough now and the experience has sickened me of the car. I've also started doing a few more miles and a bit more cabin space would be nice as well as a more comfortable ride that any two seater sports car would undoubtedly struggle to give me. I don't really know what I'll change to. It could be another GT car, a 911 (which is an itch I feel I have to scratch at some point and I've now driven enough models to know the ride is more than comfortable enough for me), or go for something completely stupid and then buy a 4-5 year old diesel mile cruncher for daily use. I'm simply waiting until summer to get more cash at hand to buy something I really want and give myself time to really know what I want. The Z's stay is very much on countdown and even though the mods have made it a very entertaining point to point car it's not a long-termer for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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