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Hey @Jun and welcome to BimmerSport I'm based here in Welly and have only had my E60 M5 for just under 2 years. It's an epic vehicle and I have one as it is a 'bucket list' item for me. In terms of MBI, if you look at Autosure (DPL/Turners) an M5 fits into Category D (Executive) and the thresholds for claims are: Gold policy - max age 12 years, max KMs 160,000, excess $500, max claim value $5000 Platinum policy - max age 10 years, max KMs 100,000, excess $500, max claim value $10,000 This is based on the latest rate cards I have - so don't take this as gospel. Gold example is below. So you'll have trouble attaching a MBI to most E60 M5s as they're just too old. In the last year I've seen 1 2009 M5 come up and most are 2005-2007. So if you want a performance 5-series with your risk covered, you're best to go for an E60 LCI or F10 550i MSport (Category C) where you can get affordable cover for longer for less money, or step up to a F10 M5, with prices starting around $55K. My M5 is on ~143KMs now and has had clutch done, along with one actuator - but not the rod bearings yet as my MBI expires in a few weeks. Rod bearings is on my to-do list for next year and I'll get prices from a couple of places before doing it (e.g. Winger, Page). I've had my regular garage (Driscoll Motors) service my 545i (Richard's now), my E53 X5 and my M5 and they've been good - but recently I've had Winger look after the M5 (service, actuator replacement) as I just wanted M-car specific knowledge. I love the vehicle and it puts a grin on my face every time I drive it (windows down of course!) Happy to catch up and have a yak. Presumably you've driven one already? FYI this one in Welly is being sold by one of the techs at Winger: https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1822874372.htm Pete

And we all know BMW's cooling systems are bulletproof!

E70 X5 can have 3.5tonne towing rating if it has the factory fitted tow-bar option (3AC) plus the Increased Towing Capacity option (233), local fit tow-bars are only 2.5t. I would say that the E70 3-ltr diesel is a great tow wagon, lots of grunt, still drives nice and enough weight up-front that it doesn't get pushed about by the load. Still pretty economical when towing (and not slowly either..). Look for those options, were very popular for NZ New vehicles to be fitted with them.

Hi guys! I’m keen on doing an engine swap in my 1998 318ti estoril blue. Looking to do an n55+dct thing. Any advise or post I can read at? (I’ll be searching as well but if someone can take in the right direction will save me some time). thanks! oh, boring stuff, from Auckland, also into boating, the biggest mistake I’ve done so far was to buy a Mercedes Benz...

You might like this article: https://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-features/m5-e39-vs-m5-e60-vs-m5-f90/39295 And if you are buying a vehicle and getting an MBI, please do join the Club and you'll get a great deal on an Autosure policy that you can attach to a privately purchased vehicle, provided you have had a PPI from an Autosure-approved garage or inspector. However you buy the vehicle, pre-existing faults that came up at the inspection or that appear immediately won't be covered by an MBI.

It's just the crank pulley so everything is slightly under driven, less than 10 %, i can't see it being enough to actually damage anything considering the rev range of the S85 anyway. My main concern would be the water pump being under driven, but it doesn't have a temp gauge so it can't overheat can it!

I ran it in for about 600 Km, then did an oil and filter change. I haven't noticed any difference in power, but we are talking about the difference between 507 and a few more than 507 so i'm not sure if it would be noticeable, and to be honest when you are using all the powers there are more important things to concentrate on!!

That one for sale in Wellington looks pretty good to me.

If it helps we tow a 10m three axle with two to three side by sides with both an e53 and e70, with a combined milage of around 300,000km and have yet to rip a draw bar out or run out of brakes

My 2c... Depends when fully cured if it remains a lower density on the inside whilst keeping a higher density “skin” then it’s more like a foam, if it’s density is high through out then it’s more an epoxy.... Think of 2 part epoxy glue when cured... high density throughout when fully cured...Suspect it’s the latter as if it were to remain ‘soft’ on the inside whilst ‘hard skinned’ when injected in between the plates it would still allow them to deflect which in turn does nothing to prevent the spot welds from failing causing the cracks. The term structural foam i think was derrived from poorly translated German to English and made popular by American E46’ers.

Two down, how many more to go...?

Nice and not too expensive either! Don't apologise for calling it foam, many people, BMW included, called it "structural foam" when it was first made available... and they're not mutually exclusive anyway. Enjoy the driving. ?

Sorry I think we are having a slight misunderstanding here. What I mean about "Less Probable" is: I buy a private sale M5. I get a MBI either through agent or direct. The insurance company does a lot of checks, it turns out there are defects that the PPI (Pre Purchase Inspection) didn't pickup. Now I end a private sale M5 w/o MBI. As opposed to going to a dealer, telling them include the MBI as part of the purchase, I drive with the M5 from a dealer with MBI. This is what I meant "Less Probable" for me in getting a MBI on a private sale. I hope I understood you correctly. What is great about your answer, my initial thinking was the probability was 0 chance. Because I have read the policy of a few MBI, someone via word of mouth didn't get a M5 because they couldn't obtain a MBI. Since I wasn't sure, hence I asked the question. I hope to removes any confusion, and also thank your initial answer as it changed my assumption for MBI on a private sale. Thank you for the list of shops you listed. Seems Page European have come up a few times, good to hear. Yes I am also aware of the nuances about the care, that is why I used 2 indy shops for our cars currently. 1 for the Skyline and Land Cruiser and another shop for the Cayenne. So I think if I do get a M5, I need to figure out which shops to try. Thank you for putting a list of shops I can use in Wellington.

@TermiPeteNZ

I ended up spending about 7 Including a power steering hose that was leaking, Earnst at Bavarian motors did the work.

Continental BMW quoted me about 5k for rod bearing replacement, I doubt you could get it done properly for less than that. I spent about 7k but did other stuff at the same time. Mine had 150km on it and it was bordering on damaging the crank, I certainly wouldnt buy one with that sort of mileage that hadnt had them done.

Even if it needed work, which it no doubt will, it’s a bloody good deal for a bloody cool car

Hmmmm - will be in the BoP from next weekend for a couple of weeks... a day trip to Rotorua may be on the cards haha

Aaannnnnddddd she's legal. Few minor issues to sort but she's all legal. And clean. And registered. And ready for it's first outing tomorrow ?. Though having the "check engine light" come on at random intervals. I keep checking, the engine is still there and running.... not sure what's up with that lol. Oil is good and clean, all fluids topped up. New wiper blades and a couple other things. Starts and runs first time, the slight misfire at idle is getting better, so I think a good cruise on Christmas Day to Dunedin and back, change the oil, go right over it then start looking at what needs replaced.

we have soft water in Wellington, so if it's not enough to move here for the AWESOME weather, there's the water too! ?

Whatever works man, ain't no judging here. Just as long as it will be replaced and isn't a permanent fix lol.

You can still epoxy the plates on if you ever want to add them.

It's ALIVE!! Picked up this afternoon, just in time to run it in before the fuel tax hits! Total bill was about $6.3K, that included a Turner motorsports power pulley kit, a power steering hose that had shat itself, a new belt tensioner, and a bit of extra labour un-siezing the lower control arm bolts so the wheel alignment could be done! Haven't taken it for a decent run yet, but will bring it to the meet on Sunday. Also discovered it needs a new pair of rear tyres, decent cut on the inner shoulder of one. Will have to put it back on a dyno after running in and see what (if any) difference the pulley makes.