Olaf

since last update, it went for the WoF. It failed on a broken fog lamp, which turned out to be a bit of a hassle... I ended up sourcing one brand new from ebay from USA for USA40. And it needed left hand LCA bushings. That's why it had been pulling to the left under braking! For the last TWO YEARS. Nice one VTNZ, you were on your 'a game' for the last three WoF's, eh?! More on the LCA's - I'd replaced them five or six years ago (so only about 25k kms at most) with Meyle HD parts. Odd that they'd died already. Anyway, my partner in volvo crime had a set of genuine volvo bushes in his parts stash, so we had those fitted. Job done. It's now had a coat of wax, and is going up FOR SALE. It's looking spiffy, running well.

Hiya Gaz, sorry I'd not seen your question earlier. 2005+ - should be a comfortable, safe swedish battle tank! Your family is much better off in that than a Mazda MPV. You'll find it a little different to work on than BMW, though not particularly difficult. Plenty of support via forums in the US and UK. I'm pretty sure the running gear is essentially the same basic kit as the P80 (850/V70) and later P2 platform. P3 platform is shared with Mondeo etc. Congratulations on your impending fatherhood. Nothing will ever be the same again! Though, in a good way.

Bimmersport is one forum, all parts of BMW, throughout the country. Many participants are also members of the BMW Car Club NZ. The club is largely Auckland, though there's a Waikato/BOP, Wellington, and Christchurch. Each of these have their own Facebook pages. You should find plenty of info and experience about the 335i - on Bimmersport, or from BMW Car Club NZ. HTH Loving the Le Mans Blue!

replace.

welcome! Nice looking e90, which blue is that? good to see Christchurch continuing to grow, hopefully there'll be some meetups happening soon too...

my 2002 e46 325i trans was fully rebuilt, they refilled it with Penrite full synthetic (it as 8L for a full fill from dry) ATF F5. It's still running nicely - and shifting really smoothly - since Jan 2013, around 60k kms... oh, nearly time for a precautionary change! You should be able to source it in 20L barrel or enviro-box... as you're doing two, may pay off in bulk-buy saving. http://penriteoil.com.au/products/atf-fs-full-syn You might consider doing a drain and fill, running it for 500-1000kms, then doing the full drain, pan clean, filter replacement etc, and refill... there are pros and cons, and plenty of opinions. Other option (which I did for my Volvo: the home driveway 'power change' ... draining 1.9L each time via the outlet pipe from the trans into the cooler, shutting off, replenishing with fresh fluid, re-starting, running through the gears, then draining out another 1.9L, rinse and repeat until nice raspberry coloured fluid came out again (14L DEXIII in total). Worked well. HTH. EDIT - I see REPCO advertising Oil Bonanza (50% off) this weekend. Let them buy your business! Read the fine print - it's probably *not* restricted to store stock.

the e46 does not have this problem; completely different cabin filter and shroud design. this is an e60 "design feature"

1561kms later (trip to Auckland and back), it’s running rather well ?

w00t! loos great, Dave. good score.

163945km: Oil and Filter. Hengst again, and Penrite HPR5 5W40. What came out was more like very brown coffee, rather than black dirty oil. It had only been in 5,511kms/6-odd months. Filter looked good, doing it's job, no filings evident. e60/e61 owners please note: I also vacuumed out the housings around the wiper cowling, ended up removing the covers and cabin filters. WOW - that was an electrical issue waiting to happen, with the amount of leaves and debris that had built up since I replaced the filters. If you're running an e60/e61, and it spends any time parked outdoors (particularly near trees), please DO check this regularly.

today I washed and waxed it, using Auto Glym products. 3 days, 3 cars. (Volvo, then e46, now e60). Neighbour said "they look like they've just been bought! What are you using?". @Barryn you can expect another call... Tomorrow, interior detail, then later on, oil and filter change.

If you choose that route, please, ensure the space saver spare is strapped down. Imagine the mass of that item airborne in your cabin in event of a rollover; this is why the WoF guys check that the spare is secured.

clocked the interwebs!

PS: Oil Leaks that make my Volvo 850 look oil-tight.

your optimism is breezy and encouraging. I take issue with your characterisation of the contributions here as "negative". Please, take a read of the tales of woe as regards e46 with N42 and N46 on this forum. They're well known - deservedly - as the BMW engine to avoid. From plastics failures, timing chains jumping teeth, and the costly repair/replacement and re-synching of the valtronic kit, it's generally a question of when rather than if on these particular motors. It's fact, not negativity. Don't expect a "there there you can do anything" optimism where the N42 and N46 are concerned. The kind of drugs required to maintain that view cut deep into the racing/repair/acquisition budgets! If @zero's experiences - relayed in detail here don't convince you to tread carefully, crack on! You should - on the whole - find this a supportive and informative forum. Welcome, by the way.

You clearly have a different MBI to mine**. Under my policy, leaving diff fluids and auto trans fluids when they're in need of replacement are covered under the second and seventh bullet points below. That is, in the event I haven't had those items checked for level and condition - and have that detailed in the invoice - I have little to rely upon for a future claim, and am likely to be declined. I think you're being a little disingenuous is suggesting there is "incentive *not* to do that". You'd need clauses along the lines of "thou shalt not service your vehicle outside of basic annual or 10,000km servicing; if you do so without checking with us first your cover will be voided" to really suggest there's an active disincentive. There's a clear incentive to maintain your vehicle; the avoidance of unplanned downtime and associated costs, and minimising wear on other systems. Your justification for not doing so will be based more on your personal values, than interpretation of drafting in a policy preventing you from doing so! ** here's the basics on servicing from my MBI: the vehicle must be kept serviced to ensure the cover remains in place. It says you 'may have your vehicle serviced at any recognised service facility'. Petrol-powered vehicles every 15,000kms or 12 months. "The following must be checked and attended to as required: Change Engine Oil and Oil Filter; All Fluid Levels and Conditions; Air Filter; All Belts. Replace as necessary. Please note cambelts must be replacedas specified by the vehicle manufacturer; Cooling System including inhibitor and hoses; Turbo Oil Feed; Automatic Transmission; Braking System including Brake Fluid Condition Air Conditioning Steering and Suspension systems. Once a service is completed, you must make sure your service facility completes and checks the service check history at the time of service. This information will be required in the event of a claim. Please retain all of these invoices for future reference,"

I'd like to read the clauses that 'incentivise you not to' change your fluids 'in diff and transfer case etc' in your MBI. Which policy do you have? I know the MBI I have seeks to ensure the vehicle is regularly maintained. Which mine is.

and please, don't cut off your cat. think of your family, your neighbours, your friends. Belching out carcinogens that are treated by a catalytic converter just isn't reasonable. Find your power gains elsewhere. It's not a track only car, right?

does the first one feature broken chain guides? Or are you talking about the M62 in general?

UPDATE: yes, I was wrong. because that cool one that we saw on here a few months back, is now FOR SALE! https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1437664883.htm?rsqid=0d8fdbbf5cda4842984cf45c25cb43ac

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1512806063.htm?rsqid=31059e065698405daad1fb6f7d035165 @_ethrty-Andy_ some ideas for yours in there? camo, nudge bar, and black tiger claws. Though, surprisingly, still looking a bit MILD.

boinnnng. bumping up...

fixed that for ya! Can generally skip the e36 and head straight to GO, collect an e46 (better again I'm sure you'd agree) for less money than today's e30.

LOL! strapped on the Beer Goggles, and somehow whisked home on the Beer Scooter.

so you missed out on his pearl "that was easier than picking up a drunk fat girl at the bar", then.