Received an note regarding resale value, so I did a quick search on KellyBlueBook.com on my car, which came out to $36,050 in good condition, and $38,200 in excellent condition.

Sadly, my car is now outperforming what's left of my portfolio.

Check your 330cic value by clicking here.

Went to LA for Sunset Junction, visiting old friends and lovers, and to celebrate my birthday.

As usual, I must bitch about my rental car.

First, AVIS mistakenly gave me a Suzuki Vitara, which I should have taken. Apologizing for their error, they "upgraded" me to a Buick Century, the most frightening car I've ever driven—huge, wobbly steering wheel, no brakes, touchy accelerator. I turned back around after driving ten blocks. I ended up with a 4-door Grand Am, which handled a tiny bit better and had a decent stereo and A/C.

NOTE: When renting a car from AVIS at the Burbank Airport, check to see if the maintenance crew screwed your oil cap back on before driving long distances at high speeds to avoid pulling up to your hotel in a cloud of smelly, white smoke.

Took the car into Steven Creek yesterday. Rental car was a 2-door Grand Am with ridiculously overboosted steering at low speeds which felt like driving in a windstorm, almost impossible to keep the car going straight.

Apparently, BMW has been warning the dealers not to do scheduled maintenance until the countdown meter reaches "0." With 50 miles to go, my service rep. had to get his manager's okay. This counters what I was told by a different service rep. at the same dealership, which was that anytime within 1,000 miles was fine.

Usual maintenance check and replace: oil, windshield cleaner fluid, oil filter, microfilter.

They ordered new seatposts for the rear headrests, since mine had begun to rust ("I've never seen anything like that," said the service rep). Delivery date is undetermined.

They replaced the "bottom dust cover" which solved the vibration problem I was having above 80 mph. If anyone knows exactly what that part is, I'd be interested in knowing (part 51-71-8-268-344). I found an article on shaky steering going over bumps, although I'm not sure if it's related.

The service rep (Neil Simon, a nice guy) also mentioned that my warranty will expire in about 4,000 miles. An extension will cost $700. Still thinking about that one.

But...the car is sounding good and is vibration-free all the way up to 90. And the weather these past few days has been perfect.