When it rains...

Pilgrim · February 18, 2015, 08:13:58 PM

So...life is interesting this week.

Yesterday my wife was in Denver for a meeting - three blocks from the location she was hit by an elderly lady who ran a red light. All parties are OK, but her very nice 09 BMW was flat-bedded 70 miles to Fort Collins and is now at my favorite body shop awaiting a few thousand dollars of repair.

This AM she hopped a shuttle and flew to Seattle, to return Tuesday. That timing actually worked nicely, as we don't need a car for her until next Wednesday.

Today was my turn to play in my 2007 Nissan Murano. I knew that I had a blown boot on the right front CV axle, and I started hearing a noise this afternoon. It was rotational, not a click but more of a rub-rub-rub. I thought it was the CV joint, although turning different directions din't change the sound so that diagnosis didn't seem quite right. I called a shop and made an appointment to have the CV axle changed Friday.

Today on the way home, I turned a 90 degree corner and both heard and felt a substantial "bang" underneath...then a clunk-clunk-clunk. I KNEW that didn't sound right for a CV joint...not if the car was still moving. A CV joint coming apart might have made the noise, but it wouldn't have moved the car any longer.

I pulled into a friendly burger joint lot (and I am grateful for its placement!) and parked where a tow truck could get at me, then took a look and saw gear oil dribbling down, right next to the pre-cat converter under the right center of the car. In other words, the dribble was RIGHT in the place where the filler for the transfer case is. And before long there was a good pint or more of gear oil on the ground. You can't miss gear oil - it smells very distinctive.

The transfer case in the Muranos is a known weak spot, and it's expensive ($2500 or so) to repair because the sub-frame has to be dropped. It's a BIG job - far more than I have tools or time to do. So I called a tow company and had the Murano flat-bedded to my favorite shop, and called Enterprise for a rental car. Sigh.

I would be flat amazed if the transfer case didn't blow up. But I'll know tomorrow when the shop has a look at it. i think that Murano is about to leave me.

The good news is that two weeks ago I found a 2008 BMW 328iX sport wagon with a six-speed manual tranny and AWD that I loved - but my wife said it was too early to go after it. I called back while waiting for a rental car and it's still there. I might just buy it and have the Murano fixed, then sell it locally. I iwl be able to vouch for it and I'd still make at least $2000 more than I'd get trading it while it's disabled.

Still have to convince my lovely wife this is a good idea...but I'm really done with the Murano.

The BMW Wagon (fun, handling, and cargo room for bass stuff!!) http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/627866341/overview/

And it's even a dark Crimson, a real plus for any Coug.

Dave W · February 18, 2015, 08:32:40 PM

Definitely time to retire the Murano, and you already have its replacement lined up. Win-win.

Glad to hear your wife is okay.

Pilgrim · February 18, 2015, 09:01:09 PM

Thanks. My wife isn't happy, because she's only six months from having her car paid off and another bill paid - she's the financial brains. but I agree. I've had the feeling we should sell that Murano for a year, and it turns out I was right.

But I am going to pitch her this idea, which she already mentioned - we'll have the Murano repaired and sell it ourselves locally. It will be in good condition then, and even paying for the repairs, we'll be able to price it under the local market and still come out at least $2000 better than we would trading it while needing the transfer case repair. Fortunately we have the cash for a down payment that would be roughly equal to what we'll get from the Murano - so we can sell it and reimburse ourselves for the down payment.

Meanwhile, things are a bit up in the air.

TBird1958 · February 19, 2015, 08:50:49 AM

Al, definetly glad to hear your wife is ok!

Let me just say around here, car is spelled S-U-B-A-R-U

Highlander · February 19, 2015, 02:18:55 PM

A series of mixed blessings but all's well (Al's and co's well) that ends well, hopefully...

Pilgrim · February 19, 2015, 02:26:22 PM

All is on track now....I am making the final deal with the BMW place this afternoon; have financing set up; tomorrow, I should be on my way to Denver around 3:30 to close the deal and drive the car home.

The Murano will go up for sale when it exits the shop - with a replacement transfer case and a new right front CV axle. We'll get our repair money back from selling it...plus a bonus for selling it ourselves.

Thanks for your good wishes, folks!

Aussie Mark · February 19, 2015, 03:07:27 PM

I'm not sure I would be as excited as you are at the prospect of buying a 7 year old European car, unless someone in the family owns a parts import business.

Highlander · February 19, 2015, 05:44:50 PM

When it rains indeed...
I got the strangest feeling today with a bit of news about Bruce Dickinson having undergone treatment for cancer, and myself "dodging-a-bullet" back in '78 by turning down a chance of a gig... when offered the chance of the bass slot with Samson by the then temp bassist John McCoy... why dodged...? Paul Samson died of cancer... Chris Aylmer, Samson bassist, died of throat cancer... Clive Burr (also a drummer with Maiden for a while) died from MS... and now Dickinson with mouth cancer...

Pilgrim · February 19, 2015, 06:01:02 PM

Quote from: Aussie Mark on February 19, 2015, 03:07:27 PM
I'm not sure I would be as excited as you are at the prospect of buying a 7 year old European car, unless someone in the family owns a parts import business.

I've had three Audis and two BMWs, and all have been solid. I also understand them and I know the drivetrain in this straight-6 BMW is really strong. Just got a 300-point inspection done and they even measured the brake pad thickness. It passed with flying colors. I don't mind doing my own maintenance and repair, so i'm not as worried about repair, and especially labor cost, as many folks are.

godofthunder · February 20, 2015, 11:39:53 AM

Very glad to hear your wife is ok! Cars? Really they are just a box with wheels, a tool to do a job. My wife did just buy a new Subaru, Mark would approve!

Pilgrim · February 20, 2015, 01:31:56 PM

Quote from: godofthunder on February 20, 2015, 11:39:53 AM
Very glad to hear your wife is ok! Cars? Really they are just a box with wheels, a tool to do a job. My wife did just buy a new Subaru, Mark would approve!

Mark would be in Subaru heaven here in Colorado! I think this state keeps Subie in business by itself. They are kinda the State Car of Colorado.

People feel differently about cars. I know many people regard cars as appliances, like a toaster with wheels. That's cool, and it kept Chrysler in business with K-cars and minivans. I have no kick with those who buy practical, durable cars that are efficient and serve their desired purpose.

As a long-time car guy, I have more personality invested in the car I drive. The Murano has been an excellent vehicle and I could drive it longer after having it repaired, but I'm tired of driving an automatic and to me, there's fun in every corner. I practice apex lines and proper steering wheel hand transfer on every corner - there's fun in it for me.

Story: a few years ago my wife and I flew into Spokane for a WSU event. We got keys to a rental, walked out to the parking lot, and I pushed the buttons on the remote to see what we had. The lights flashed on a Dodge Caravan. I heard a bag hit the ground - I turned around and my wife had stopped in her tracks and dropped her bag. She said "I won't drive that. I won't even be SEEN in that!"

I could only say with admiration "I love you!"

We went back to the rental counter, paid a bit more and got a red (Cougar color) Mustang convertible. When we left the airport parking lot, we were all grins!

And that's the difference, I guess.

I'll have the keys to that BMW in hand in less than five hours.

Pilgrim · February 20, 2015, 02:51:55 PM

Heading out to get it in a few minutes...hopefully ahead of a two-foot snowstorm slated for Denver starting late this evening.

drbassman · February 20, 2015, 03:20:49 PM

Very cool! Your wife's OK and you are getting a really sweet ride. Enjoy!

Pilgrim · February 20, 2015, 09:20:37 PM

Got it home - through a night with snow spitting, rain falling, stop and go 5:00 traffic...it was a long 70 miles. Here it is just before I tackled the paperwork - that setting sunlight really washed out my face...but there's a smile in there.

It drives beautifully! What a nicely poised, driver's car BMW makes. And it got 27 MPG on the way home even though the first 15 miles was stop-and-go, and the rest was at speeds from 60 to 80. That BMW straight six is one sweet engine.

Dave W · February 20, 2015, 10:11:17 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on February 20, 2015, 01:31:56 PM

People feel differently about cars. I know many people regard cars as appliances, like a toaster with wheels. That's cool, and it kept Chrysler in business with K-cars and minivans. I have no kick with those who buy practical, durable cars that are efficient and serve their desired purpose.

As a long-time car guy, I have more personality invested in the car I drive....

You're probably old enough to remember how George Romney was sure that Americans would embrace Ramblers because they were "sensible." And where is American Motors today?

Beautiful ride. Enjoy it!