Epcot at night

Posted on by Ian C.

We just gave Disney about $2,500(!) to have annual passes again, and our first visit was to Epcot getting there at about 5:30pm already nearly dark – our first stop was the Chinese restaurant Nine Dragons, always a favorite of mine!

We did the Spaceship Earth ride, which is always better at night because our eyes aren’t swamped with sunlight before going in! My iPhone 18 Pro did a good job of taking photos (even without night mode which is useless on a moving ride):

We also got to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Ride which was “temporarily closed” but apparently opened just before we went to check it, and we got in with a less than 20 minute wait! The ride has changed since we last rode it – you don’t wear 3D glasses any more, and it makes photos better because there’s no longer the dual image blurring effect (compare with this photo from two years ago):

We finished our evening watching the fireworks, enhanced by being across the lake and getting reflections!

To finish, here’s some video of the fireworks:

Drivetrain malfunction

Posted on by Ian C.

When I got in my X6 last night to go out for dinner, the car refused to run and displayed this concerning message!

I tried starting it a couple of times, but no go.

This morning however, the car started fine and has done a few trips without any hint of problems … it just leaves me worried now whether I can trust it on future journeys! I’m going to take it to the dealership next week to see if they can explain anything …

UPDATE: I took my X6 to Fields BMW on November 24th, and left it with them to try and diagnose what had happened – after first being told by the service writer that “this sort of thing [Drivetrain Malfunction] just happens, and it’s probably a waste of time for them to look at it! That attitude is pretty poor I think.

Admitted it was Thanksgiving week but even so, I did not get my X6 back until December 2nd … they apparently determined that the “PCU48” had to be replaced, and had to get the part – I assume that is part of the hybrid system (and it’s a bit of a shame that the car can’t operate in some sort of “limp” mode without the hybrid, it does after all still have a huge gasoline engine!)

Anyway, I can understand that sometimes parts fail in a new vehicle, and I can understand that not everything is in stock at a dealership – but I am very unimpressed by the horrendous lack of communication from the dealership! After a message November 25th saying “we are still putting some drive cycles in the car the minute it is done I will let you know” there was total silence. Late afternoon on November 28 I finally got a call telling me that a part replacement was needed, which they needed to order, and I would hear more, but no surprise I did not! I had to chase and complain to get any sort of information, and I do now at least have my car back home again …

(and you might notice there’s been a change to Margaret’s vehicle – she looked at new BMW convertibles when we were at the dealership, but wasn’t impressed by them … and then found this very nice looking 2026 Mercedes instead)