Oh the upgrades
Otto - my volvo 240 DL sedan - since I haven't posted in a while, has gotten the first of several suspension upgrades. I've finally decided it's time to start, so I've started collecting the parts to perform this - culminating in new 
16" VOXX MG's (which is a 2 inch upsize) and Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge (which is a stiffer sidewall, wider tire upgrade) to match my already running 25MM IPD Anti-sway bars and freshly installed Koni Sport (lowest stiffness setting) rear shocks and soon-to-be Bilstein HD front struts. B&G 1.6" lowering springs (red) are on order which would go on at the same time that I get the bilsteins. It would be nice to get it all at once, but budget and availability issues (mostly availability) make me wait at least 7 days after I buy any components to have them. 
But patience is a small price for ride quality - which I will say might end up being a little more harsh but I definitely will have better control over rough Houston roads - considering that the car is so narrow and bouncy from the factory (if right now with fresh rear koni yellow shocks and ipd sway bar kit already feels great). It already handles like a sports car for the most part, since the front shocks which are only a year and a half old (KYB standard) and new bushings and mounts up front so I can only imagine what it will feel like when it's all done - Houston roads, Otto will be nearly rally ready.
i need a man-purse
It seems I've finally given in to the iPod, after years of resistance. Lately I've been going crazy on the small gadget purchases, having been spurred by the purchase of the Olympus Stylus 770SW, and subsequently the rewiring of the car, which led me to want a new head unit for the stereo system... 
I bought the JVC KD-DV5300 unit for its DVD playing ability - my reasoning being, I can put ALL my most frequently listened to music onto 4 - 6 DVDs and just switch from those, of importance is the ability to browse folders with the remote and later add a screen and watch movies. I was very tempted... Very Very tempted to buy a JVC EXAD unit but for the price, I'd rather just get a computer to put in the car... AND, the blue color of the controls doesn't match my theme.
I purchased the DV5300 from Frys, went home, installed it. Played the first cd, which is one of the ones I've been listening to... there was a HORRIBLE noise, as if you can hear the laser head tracking up and down and focusing - confirmed this by changing cds and turning up and down the volume - at 0, no sound following a loud pop when going back and forth between 1 / 0, at 1, no audible music because of the low volume, but a definite loud whir as noise on the speakers. Very disappointed with this $260 purchase, I removed the stereo (which actually is only the newer version of mine), and reinstalled my trusty old JVC KD-S52 which in any case fits more aesthetically with the car's dash and red lighting (the face is smoother and cleaner looking).
badum badum
i'm tttiiiirrreeeddd! boy... 8 hours of sleep for the past three days... BUT I did get OTTO mostly all buttoned up... though I'm having an issue with the windows and the DRL... I think I may have missed a ground (accidentally cut it on purpose). I really hope that's all it is.
I was elated when the car started forthwith, with no complaint, considering it's been sitting for almost 2 weeks with no coolant or transmission fluid, or wiring... (but a full tank of premium). and the wiring is all spliced and reconfigured... I guess I know how to pick my battles, because it was more of an automation upgrade all around, which required my pulling the whole wire harness out to separate and sort... partly to learn what runs through my car, partly to move things around and better integrate my previous installs, and partly to make future installations much easier. *cough* mac mini.
After driving devin's egg butt Bimmer for the week, my car definitely feels alot lighter... and slower - BUT, it does serve to calm me down... I have my music back hehe... and ultimately, isn't that all that matters?
oh my nose
allergies... allergies... oh my allergies...
at least my voice sounds cool when my sinuses are all... disrupted.
well I am 85% done with my car. The wire harness has been completely modified, and funny thing is that something about how I re-wrapped/packed it, it fits in the car better than before... though I've been using ALOT of 3M electrical tape... probably about $15 worth of tape - I have learned the hard way not to try to save on cheaper, stiffer, electrical tape.
The DRL module, using the original light switch and an added toggle make the headlights work. The fog lights are now on a relay, and remote start wiring has been integrated into the harness much better (to the correct wires, even) which makes upgrading the module much much easier in the future.
I/P lighting has been re-wired to make it easy to integrate LEDs all around the car, replacing the original 5 watt lights. for the most part, rewiring the headlight system was the biggest challenge, because of the DRL inclusion and the special way I want everything including the fog lights to function, both when in use and with the remote starter's headlight activation.