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Olaf

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Everything posted by Olaf

  1. A diesel generator, or a very large excavator then 😄
  2. Lossless audio? Disc space is now very cheap, stick with uncompressed WAV - still the best sounding file format (and - coincidentally - lowest processing overhead) for people that listen to music!
  3. Interesting question, @Kiwi_BMW. I think it's worth every cent of $10k, given what it is and how well it's been maintained. Though given the current state of the market, I'd list for $6k and take strong offers. $5k5 for Bimmersport and BMW Club members. Pay the asking price, and I'll top up the tank with Waitomo 95, and include a set of monoblock rims and a couple of oil filters I have in the cupboard. I'll pick up from the Ferry, Airport, or bus. Are you keen? I think eventually faithful e39 drivers will get to try a well-maintained e60 with active steering and dynamic drive, and realise that the all the years of development those clever German engineers put into the e60, utilising swathes more aluminium and acheiving a 50:50 weight distribution, the 333hp N62B44 V8, the e60 is a superior drive. They'll be very pleased to have purchased before the classic aspect drives e60 up.
  4. Next items list: Replacement diff (e46 medium case) 3.46 (including the two small bushes, input and output seals, fill and drain bungs, oil, rear cover sealant) Replacement starter motor PCV system service (it's been a good 9 years or so since last done - do it while the starter motor is replaced Accessory drive service (pulleys, tensioners, serp belts) ARB bushes front and rear, rear shells (they're rusting) Endlinks front and rear Clean and rust paint the surface rust on rear subframe Replacement rear muffler, including hardware new sunroof seal new speakers in front Maybe install that Msport steering wheel with the stereo integration - need post-Takata airbag. keeping it well-maintained.
  5. LIDAR is pretty much instant-on. The interesting thing is that while the officer is scoping something they're looking in a scope with a narrow view. If they're expecting speed they'll train it on the outside lane, and blip the button on a plate if it looks as though it's going fast. Make of that what you will. Around Wellington I haven't encountered as much LIDAR as in Auckland. So I'd be more concerned about Ka and mobile Camera radar. WAZE will alert you to Fixed Camera if you're driving urban and don't know it well. Overall - and your use-case may be different - I've previously used the STI for daily commute of around 85km for a couple of years, no tickets and good warning. Buying today I'd go for an R7 or R8 with custom firmware. Ka range most important, anti-falsing, good warning for mobile camera radar, and laser - in that order of priority. Open road driving Ka is my number one priority. YMMV. HTH
  6. Theres a guy in NZ that does custom firmware for a few of the Unidens, they beat pretty much everything. I've been meaning to sort one, awaiting the dismal state of the NZD to improve. So I've been waiting about FOUR YEARS. Meanwhile my BEL STI still works very well on Ka. It tells me about X, though for the ones that matter - only when I'm about on top of them. Will I reassign the STi to vert and 45 degree mount when I get a Uniden? I doubt it. EDIT: Instant-on has been around since forever, it's not a recent development. You're essentially relying on Ka being operated a few kms down the road either stationary or oncoming, and you're picking that up. If there's nobody moving rapidly a kilometre or so ahead of you, you could be pinged. It comes down to your technique/caution with coupling road conditions, traffic, and your own speed. If there's not a lot of traffic around and you insist at cruising 20-30-40 kms above the limit you're ripe for being pinged. Yesterday I was driving on a deserted country road in the middle of nowhere, very surprised to get a Ka ping must have been about 2km (1 km clear in front of me, and a km around the next corner), I had a moment to check my speed (95) ... then around the corner as I was half way up the straight was line of five cars oncoming with a police car following and noisily straffing all vehicles in front. My old detector still works. Had I been doing 120, I'd still have had time to hit the picks and check my speed. If they'd have been instant-on, I might have been pinged - doing 95 as I was, but no warning.
  7. " I just assume they do it in high risk areas, and it's hard to envisage any high risk on such a straight and flat road." It is clear that most droids making decisions on roading (such as city councils) don't take a risk management or actuarial or even a staistical approach. It was a largekly straight flat road. It was easy to execute safe overtakes. Used appropriately, a decent RADAR detector should reduce the liklihood of you contributing to the consolidated fund, or a police officer's quota.
  8. all depends on your use case, and how much you're willing to forgive Wolfsberg for intentionally misleading and gassing humans... 😎 They're both a nice drive. Your $6k discount is directly attributable to Dieselgate!
  9. 09 Dec 2023. 187879kms I'd dusted off the e60 about a month ago, took it for a run to north wellington to give her a quick bath, and charge the battery. Certainly sparkled up, though wasn't so happy running (I am wondering if that was the fuel stabiliser it was taking exception to?). I knew we had a remaining code to address - for the variable intake manifold. The actuator is at the back of the manifold, and up against the firewall. New intake manifold gaskets, and a replacement Intake actuator were the order of the day. 1. Intake Manifold Actuator Replaced Begley Motor Works performed their magic, replacing the intake manifold actuator, 90km road test, it was running beautifully. I collected the car and had a very smooth trip back to Wellington. Man this car is good on the open road! I wondered what to do with it next? Didn't take long to figure that one out - I took it on a BMW Car Club run over to Cape Paliser and back. It ran beautifully there and back... after lunch it threw a CEL, and had some minor misfire. The CEL cleared itself next day, and car running brilliantly. I've checked the codes and cleared them (one thousand thank yous mate - you know who you are)... and the car is fabulous. A wash tomorrow and it's up for sale. Sad to see it go, though weighing up the cost of the garage I rent for it, and the use it gets, it'll be seeking a new loving home.
  10. Date: 11-13 Dec 2023 Distance: 209359 kms 1. Headlamp Lens Replacement My lenses were looking pretty average. I scored some from @Autoglym ex pick-a-part (thanks man!) with very nice lenses. I cleaned them up and got new seals. Jon did the rest - made one great out of two, where wiring was aging or plastic fatigued from years in the sun. Fig 1: at 21.5 years old and a number of polishes/restoration wipes, better to replace. Surprisingly still passing VTNZ WoF. Impaired vision, IMHO. Fig 2: 21.5 year old Xenon choke wiring. Beware! Fig 3: After. Much better night vision. Oooh as I said vision, twice... how about a musical interlude? 2. Brakes New flexi-hoses front and rear. Front calipers sandblasted and painted, new pistons, seals, slider pins, boots. Full brake fluid flush. The old pistons were pitted. It's stopping much more nicely now, I think more of the stopping was acheived from the back! Fig 4: a dirty ol' front e46 325i caliper Fig 5: Sandblasted, painted, ready to re-kit with new pistons and seals. 3. Diff Diff service. Turns out the diff is a little tired (crownwheel and pinion) so looking for replacement 3.46 e46 medium case. Cleaned, replaced output seals (pinion seal okay), reassembled with new drain/fill plugs, BMW sealant, and Diff Oil. New main bush. Remember folks, you'll want front header-to-exhaust manifold gaskets (2), four exhaust bolts, and four exhaust nuts for this job, as you need to drop the exhaust. Fig 6: Genuine BMW rear cover sealant, Input and output seals, Diff Mount Bushing, Fill and Drain plugs, Exhaust Bolt, Nuts, Gaskets. Fig 7: Before Fig 8: "Good Bush" Fig 9: Ahh, on it's way back together. Jon also drilled out a broken bolt, helicoiled and found a replacement bolt for Diff Heatshield. 4. Transmission Oil Pan Bolt Replaced a quick fix bolt with a genuine ZF bolt, so now all ship-shape and Bristol fashion. During Trans service back in January, we’d spotted a couple of dodgy ones left behind by a previous Te Aro workshop that will not be named… Exceptional Service at Begley Motor Works, Marton. Service photo credits: Jon Begley (many thanks for the re-use mate). We've had this e46 11 years 9 months, and she's humming. I have a list of items for preventative maintenance that we'll tackle in the new year. Looking at the diff photos, it's time I spent a little time beneath it with PPE, wire brush, rust converter and epoxy rust-seal paint, before those scabs of surface rust around the subframe get out of hand.
  11. Date: 30 Nov 2023 Distance: 208,yyy kms 1. Wheel Alignment Got in for a wheel alignment, bonus where times are getting busy as Xmas creeps up on us. A near zero-toe alignment (around -0.6 each wheel) front and rear, it’s a dream to drive. Flows beautifully through the curves, easy to bring off-centre… suits my driving style. Ahhhhh. 2. Photo in traffic cost $150 hmmmm. On my way home from the alignment, more traffic disruption in Welly. Stopped in the traffic buildup, I thought I’d document the scene, with our Police managing a difficult situation where what looked like a gang member had abandoned their car at a traffic light. Summoned to the side of the road by the officers, I was ticketed $150 for “using a phone”. To my mind I was using a camera - I put the car into park before using it. Oh well lesson learned, avoid contributing to the consolidated fund - and Police quotas - at all costs. Wearing my seatbelt, car warranted, registered, insured, well-maintained. A discussion and a warning would have been more appropriate; we had a most cordial exchange nonetheless.
  12. Olaf

    The Barbara Chronicles

    Fuel Pump & DME relay. They're ~20 years old and who knows how many cycles. Don't bother with used - just send it.
  13. Olaf

    The Barbara Chronicles

    no-crank: I know you've already replaced the fuel pump. Have you done the fuel pump relay? Also the DME relay.
  14. Date: 22 Nov 2023 Distance: 208,921 kms 1. Rack boots & Oil Service Replaced both rack boots with Febi kits (32131096910). A shitty job made easier on a rack, somewhat easier when the Repco balljoint splitter is used. Oil service (because why not, and largely short running since January) with a Mann Oil Filter (11427512300) and Penrite HPR 5 (5W-40 Synthetic). My thanks to @Autoglym for working through the job with me. Thanks also to Jon for the "More(y) Orange than Donald Trump super-sticky grease recommendation. Brilliant stuff. Fig 1: A Nice Rack, yesterday 2. WoF re-check and WoF Secured WoF for the next 12 months. Now it needs a bloody good clean.
  15. It has a purple tag rack. They're standard on all LCI e46.
  16. Date: 20 Nov 2023 Distance: 208,853 kms 1. WoF She sailed through a WoF with one exception - a torn RH steering rack boot. Fortunately I have rack boots in my parts stash for the e30, ready for when it gets a purple-tag rack. I've picked up a 20 litre pack of Penrite HPR 5 5W40 synthetic, may as well do an oil change while it's in the air, and give it a wash afterwards.
  17. Wow! I didn’t bother bidding I was sure it’d go for more. Good buying and not far from me.
  18. Full rack of 1/4” six-point metric, built from sale table boxes at tool shops for spare change. I have another rack with Torx sockets, another with deep dish. The Craftsman ratchet I bought in North America in the 90’s, it’s a keeper.
  19. Well-used assortment of quality 3/8” drive extensions filling a gap in my 3/8 set. 1970’s Stahlwille, Koken, Snap-On. Estate sale.
  20. No, I’m saying keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground. If you move out to the suburbs you can get to know your neighbours. When we were gathered at my folks house after my Mum passed, one of the neighbours from down the street enquired, said he’d heard about my Mum, offered his condolences, and then asked what we were doing with the commodore. I was about to advertise it having discussed it with my fellow executors, it was on the very large list of things we had to attend to. His timing was perfect. Test drive, offer, accepted. Showed up that night with his 18 year old Son, freshly licensed, eyes shining, and a wedge he’d been working hard to save in his holiday jobs. The son had his eyes on the car since he was five years old, a family of Holden enthusiasts. Everyone happy, reasonable price and going to locals who knew the car and would cherish it. Something ticked off the list; we had a whole house to clear, probate to reach and an estate to settle. It’s a job, and if you think that sounds cold, I hope you don’t need to learn it too soon! 😳 If you see a forensic cleaning or house clearance van in the driveway, nothing wrong with a quiet word. It’s all part of the cycle of life.
  21. Olaf

    Quick rant thread.

    quit whining, buy sheepskin seat covers, sorted.
  22. Olaf

    F11 v E61

    I certainly haven't argued they drive like a car - and yes getting into my e60 V8 reaveals the unique compriomises of the X3. You've carefully not revealed the SUV you hate so much. Try a BMW SAV - I'd not be caught dead in a Hyundai SUV etc, would rather drive a Camry. FWIW we started family with a small 5dr hatch, first triip away the car was chock full with baby stuff - we look back and laugh at our inability to judge what was needed. We added a Maxima when kiddo #2 arrived 21 months later - did family trips away including side-by-side buggy in the boot. With the benefit of hindsight the key advantage of an X3 or X5 would be not having to bend down into a car when strapping in a capsule or car seat from another vehicle, or strapping the bundle of joy in (still happening when they're five years old), or loading a pram into the back. In summary, you're suffering from n00b parent syndrome, and unless you're starting a rugby team soon you don't need a 5er wagon - that's an over-reaction.
  23. Don't feed the troll lads. Everyone knows N46 is good money after bad, best put out with the recycling.
  24. Olaf

    The Barbara Chronicles

    H&R also do OE Sport - in the USA - providing that increased rate - progressive, at OE ride height. I'm running H&R Sport with KoniSport on my e30.It's firm but supple, the pairing works well. I'd have been happy with H&R OE Sport, 318iS height, but exch rate and freight favoured sourcing from Germany at the time, so not an option. The rate is excellent, the lower c of g helps, though I don't need the low.Handles well, is firm, though not jarring.
  25. Olaf

    The Barbara Chronicles

    The USA site. It lists models separately though all lead to the same part number that I quoted above.
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