[Steve Carlton]

I think there's some doubt about the true origin of the roundel, with the propeller story being the predominant one.

I agree with you, Trex, on the Mercedes marque going downhill quality-wise. Their prices have become much more affordable, and the quality isn't there like it used to be. I hope the same isn't happening to BMW motorcycles. Were the older ones prone to such catastrophic failures as input shafts and ABS modules? I don't expect a BMW to be perfect, but it sure would be nice if the factory would stand behind failures that shouldn't take place, like Mercedes did with their turbodiesels with soot trap oxidizers.

Speaking of aircraft quality manufacturing; that's what I've heard about MV Agustas, with their history as an aircraft manufacturer, to this day with Agusta making helicopters.