Olaf

although Hunter do produce that kind of machine, I've not seen one in NZ.

161xxxkms - another go on the Hunter 4 wheel alignment. it's much nicer now, all square and ship-shape. drove out to the hutt valley and enjoyed the feel on the motorway. Damned potholes! Good to have it running sweetly. Next step: replacement NZ-spec number plates. Filling in the forms today.

I saw a blue one in Wellington last night, didn’t have time to stop and photograph it. It wasn’t a patch on this one. From your photos, Brent, it looks like it deserves a description of “pristine”.

yeah I nearly leaped at it.

fascinating logic, Kyu. We all acknowledge something for sale is only worth what someone else is willing to pay. You wouldn't pay the $9k you say it's worth; though in fact it's only value is the sum that you *would* pay!

it'a beauty, clearly cherished and well cared for. how many owners, one? I reckon it'd have to be at least six k all day long, seven for the right buyer, and if you had a bidding war eight.

NINE. Thousand. Dollars. For an e36 Wagon? "Hey, big spender". Not if it's my hard-earned! Looking forward to seeing the pics. They're a nice wagon for sure, and there's not so many of them rocking around niu zild... but would you price one at more than a nice 330i wagon?

161785kms. Adaptor cables fitted along with the new IBS cable; battery fully recharged and tested okay, vehicle monitored for 6 hrs okay. Result. I’m driving it today. Need to get an alignment as I hit a pothole on SH1 south of Picton. Vacuum pump under investigation.

Agreed - the sticky ring scenario is a bit tenuous. And hell, why would anyone use other than oil conforming to BMW LL01 5W30 unless it’s used on a race track? Assuming no leaks, Misfire due to coil breakdown is more likely. After my PCV System was done, I was getting occasional misfire codes. I replaced all the coils, it’s been sweet since then. If your coils are the later clip-in (not bolt-in) style, and don’t want to go to the expense of a full set, there’s three for sale in the ‘For Sale’ room, it’ll be a good few pages back now. HTH

nahhhh. someone will recognise the genius in your revisions and remediations.

yep, I got the recall notice from BMW NZ for my 2002 e46 last week. will be visiting the website soon. it's already had front passenger bag replaced under recall, I guess now it's time for the driver.

I've rebuilt my DISA with a kit - with a kit from i7 automotive https://www.i6automotive.co.uk/vehicle-parts/bmw/bmw-disa-valve-intake-adjuster-unit-aluminium-repair-kit-2-2-2-5.html Improved throttle response and midrange to a small degree... nothing to do with misfires. i6 Automotive quality kit, arrived quickly from UK, I think I bought via eBay (easy!) and it was less expensive than German Auto Solutions. Took me less than an hour, including dropping a couple of bolts. First: a good scan of the car. Then, if it's air leaks (lean codes), PCV system (all those hoses etc), intake boot etc are likely culprits. If you're getting misfire codes on specific cylinders, probably your coils. Replace all six at once, might as well do your plugs while you're in there. HTH

Wow, that's comprehensive work. It'll be time to sell it, when you've finished!

the V12 will give you better fuel economy!

Buying: @zero - purchased e46 parts. Would trade again! @TermiPeteNZ - would I buy a used car from this man? I did, and have no regrets! @Barryn - Autoglym... can't beat this! @Lewis91 - straightforward, great comms, a number of transactions. @Family Wagon - Hagen is superb to deal with, exceptional communications, accommodating, patient. @Rob HB1 - brilliant to deal with @modz - outstanding. great comms, item as described, easy to do business with. @Mikan - accommodating, great communications, a gent.

Since I last updated, I had annual service check and WoF done. Ahead of the WoF I had the seat ocvupancy Mat replaced (the light had come up on the dashboard, and was diagnosed). The intelligent battery sensor cable that I sourced isn’t a direct replacement (it’s an updated part), so install was deferred. And, significantly, the PCV diaphragms were replaced (there’s one for each bank in the N62), which seems to have reduced smoking at idle. I’ve been away down south, and the car ran beautifully. On the weekend, this happened: Batty was as flat as a totally flattened thing. Couldn't get it idling after a jumpstart. Flat-decked to workshop (thanks AA!) yesterday. Now it's getting batty recharged, investigation, update to the new Intelligent Battery Sensor, and battery fully tested. Also checking to see any recalcitrant items not shutting down correctly.

not at all! the 850 is *all curves*, cleverly designed to look like it's boxy, carrying on the familial identity. with a cD of 0.32, it's gotta be curvaceous!

PS: what's the point of waiting for "the right one" to dip your toe in the water? Get your ass behind the wheel of a 550i, and a 550i motorsport. If you like it, you can then do your sums, and find the perfect white one to buy. And also drive an e90 330i. I think the complexity and associated costs of a 335i will really scare you off.

I'm pretty sure you're already spending more than $2k per year already on your Subaru. If you're not, it's just another Subaru WRX waiting to hand-grenade at 180k kms, surely? Is an estimate of $2k-2k5 concerning you because you don't currently have a clear understanding of what it costs to run a car year to year? Tax department says around 73c per km this year; I don't have the current AA costs though on previous history they'll be higher (fuel, rego, insurance, maintenance, depreciation). Yes, at 73c/km that's $7,300 a year based on 10,000 kms running, and most people say "what, how'd they get that?", 'cos they just pay rego, insurance and fuel without thinking about it, suck in their teeth when they get a repair bill, and never think about the cost of depreciation. I think you'll find the BMW isn't a lot different to a high performance Subaru needing servicing, diff oils etc, and what about that cabbelt service and sparkplug replacement? They're costly on Subaru due to access issues. Suggest you price the parts for an e60 550i: Retail on Air filter, oil filter, 2x cabin filters, 8 litres of longlife synthetic oil, a couple of hours labour. There's your annual service covered. Now add rego and insurance. Tyres are $1000-$1200 over two years (unless you've got staggered 19's). Add a $350 excess for one unexpected repair covered under MBI. $60 for an alignment, annually. And then add a margin for a service item or two with a couple of hours labour; perhaps it's your suspension end links, or a couple of coils and a set of plugs; these are once-in-100kms items. Might be the year you do the cooing system service, or the brake fluid replacement; each of these is every two years (it's smoother if they are staggered alternate years), they're not drastically expensive but they must be done. Seriously, if that seems expensive, just make "The Sony decision" and buy the appropriate Toyota. That is, in the same way that buying a Sony product will generally get you a reasonable level of reliability and performance in any consumer electronics segment without needing to compare against anything else in the market, you're basically sorted with a Toyota. As my mate says, in any given field: "if you play, you pay". Hope that helps.

yeah mate, on the previous page

today on my 855-T5, I replaced an H1 dipped beam bulb, and a sidelight bulb. Under $8 incl GST, sweet. Took about 7 mins, no tools needed. Ready for a new WoF next week. It's done 195,700 kms now. Pretty good for a 20 year old car. Happy days.

cool car, man. and indeed, rare as rockinghorse sh*t. keep at it.

$2k5+ per year would be my guideline. that covers an annual service (about a grand), tyres every couple of years, and some claims excesses on your MBI. Pretty good for a car that was over $150k when new. It's not a factory hotted-up japanese shopping trolley! Sounds like your mileage isn't high if it's weekend fun only... be prepared to travel out of town more, though; it makes long-distance travel very accessable and enjoyable.

I can't work out what's "rare" (referring to the advert). An e30 coupe? The Toyota V8? I'll get my coat...

yeah, there's something about the stance and tyres with the protection version as well.