Olaf

you've answered your own question - why bother asking? I think you're better playing alone.

I'd respectfully suggest there is a difference, and you may be doing business with the wrong shop. Warranty on the repair? I had a window regulator replaced. "Hey my window's stopped working. I'll bring it in tomorrow." "your regulator's shot. We'll replace it." "thanks!" pays bill. Six months later, "hey, window's gone down. Won't go up. Yes the one you replaced six months ago. It's raining, can I bring it straight in?" "sure thing we'll replace it. sorry bout that".

thanks @M3AN and @E30 325i Rag-Top, appreciate your consideration. I'll get some more info and come back.

The blunt view - and understandable - is frequently "do you take your steak to a restaurant to get them to cook it?". It's a minefield for the business too - they get your car up on the hoist, the part you supplied is wrong. Now what - the hoist is tied up with a job that's stopped.... and for what, labour-only charge? It's not worth it. Or, you pay for the job, they install your part. Part craps out. You obtain a replacement and pay for them to change it out. Now you've paid labour twice - if you'd just had the workshop do the job, make their small margin on the part, it becomes their problem - you go back and say 'love the work you've done, it's crapped out - can you take care of it with your supplier please?' and leave the car with them, For want of a small margin on parts, it's a pretty good deal. I think there's an obligation under some consumer act or another that makes this difficult to opt out of. Put yourself in the position of your chef; would you want to stake the reputation of your restaurant on a punter bringing in his own steak?

there's a place for REPCO in the world. Who's open and providing quite possibly the only thing standing between you and getting your daily off jack stands on Sunday night to drive to work in the morning? They're certainly not my first choice, though I do appreciate that they're there when we need em. Edit: Not to mention they're often open on public holidays. Not to be overlooked or underestimated.

Scant info. I know the general line is "Don't". Enquiry from a good friend - hi friend has installed "aftermarket headlights" in his 2011 F20 118i. It's bleating, throwing codes about them. I guess they're making unhappy noises into the CANBUS. What would you folks suggest?? Can it be coded out? Do you need more info about the part? Thanks for your consideration. We have an opportunity to save a non-BMW person from avoiding the Marque forever. Yes I know the PFL F20 was hit with the ugly stick at birth... cheers Olaf

thanks, had heard about this, will watch later.

mate that's not a bad thing!

Yesterday I took my F25 X3 3.0D Msport for a WoF - it flew through. Interestingly they said 5mm on all the tyres. I measured less than that on the rears two months ago. Go figure. Today I gave my e46 Touring a quick bath - it was filthy, hadn't washed it for months. I think it really needs (deserves) a good clay bar, polish, wax. I won't have time for that until September. 😐 At least it's sparkling with Auto Glym Shampoo. Oh, and I thought my wheels were looking nearly black - Auto Glym Clean Wheels and my Auto Glym Wheel Brush took care of that. The kerbing? That's another sad tale.

I wasn't referring to the scaffolding poles on the roof! 😎

I spy with my little eye, something that hemorrhages money:”scaffolding”

Labouring? Ha! You should try life with an M54B25 🤣

Coupe/vert, or sedan/wagon ?

it's a diesel thing dude. I washed my X3 in early feb; got to it again a couple of weeks ago. Not usually my MO - just life got in the way. It cleaned up beautifully, I'm sure yours will do the same. (You think the Hippo might be dirtying it up?)

my pic - manfield a few haircuts ago. Nikon D3

ewwwwwwww

welcome back

Aye, those first couple or five or more years are a tough time - no spare finances - though ultimately rewarding. The Ti will find its way - maybe the BMW universe will smile on you benevelently for your work keeping others alive! Our kids have become adult flatmates - not something we intended - and they still amaze me. Even M54B25 these things go very well - look for thread by @TIM325i (The Incredible Machine) he took a standard 316Ti or 318Ti and worked out all the parts to retrofit and make it a 325Ti Msport, it was very well-sorted and went very nicely.

how're you getting on with this? I know you've had Barbara to keep on developing, and your Tractor too...

Welcome back Cameron @#E91FUN looks like a tidy e63, well done. Best workshop is Jon Begley (Auto 38) now in Marton. In Wellington talk to Peter at All European Service. Get it into absolute peak order in all areas before you start with the modifications. All of the trouble spots the S85 is known for need to be resolved to ensure you get a great driving and ownership experience. To be fair the downsides of modifying an already expensive and potentially troublesome drivetrain - that will not suffer neglect - , are a low sell price when you're ready to quit it - folks just don't want to take the risk. PS - it's your car, so you do you!

Ahhh, memories. Back in 1990 I needed a stereo for my Datsun wagon. Paul Money Car Stereo advertised in the Herald, I think I bought with a couple of phone calls, a fax and a cheque, and they sent to Wellington. Purchasing is so much easier these days with the web! I chose a Sanyo compact digital radio cassette that fit into the dasboard (twin spindles - volume and tuning) and something like 25 watts per channel, along with two way Alpine 6 inch speakers that were destined for the front doors. When it all arrived they'd sent me Alpine 6x9" 3-ways, so the plan changed and they went into the tailgate on a 10mm particle board baffle that I knocked-up. I ran decent power and earth cables to the unit, it sounded really good for what it was. I couldn't find anything to fit my constraints (the dashboard moulding) in Wellington (other than low-fi models), and nobody down here was doing the stack it high, sell it cheap model like Paul Money did.

IM'd you, thanks

Stay in touch Josh, tell us what BMW you pick up when you get settled... will you be within the ULEZ in Londinium and moonlighting taking out cameras, or somewhere more civilised? All different adventures in UK. Might as well get something fun that you want to bring back with you when it's time to return... look into those 'bringing it back as part of your household' rules to check out. As you'll probably remember... the winters aren't *that* bad - it's those three months that turns many UK residents bloody miserable that's the challenge.

Pretty sure I was served an excellent Negroni in here... just can't remember where, and the lighting was easier on the eyes...

Bon Voyage! Are you returning, or does Blighty have the shackles on you? Did you find a buyer for your e53?