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wow! http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/e30/auction-668305146.htm

I think you need a bit of a reality check to be honest (if I am blunt) but try it in real life mate .. .see how far you get with someone that you've paid $15/h on a job versus someone that charges legitimately and fairly with a proper invoice that pays the IRD and see the difference in treatment you get afterwards. Then take it to the tribunal if you think it's worth while getting back your $15 ... Respect flows both ways ... if you are forever searching for the best bargain rather than the best service, you'll soon build up a reputation as the person that just wants everything for next to nothing. Build up a good relationship with a good shop and you might find that sometimes they'll just help you out without even charging you $15. And before you think I am talking out of my arse ... I won't even bother going into how wrong your maths is with your estimates on workshop costs ... I have multiple friends that run some of the largest dealership workshops in Auckland and they would laugh at your claims and figures on costs. I do agree that cars are now made harder and harder to be worked on by backyard mechanics and joe blogs ... but that's probably as a result of people willing to charge $15/h to compete with factory trained technicians, so manufacturers are now in need of making it harder for that to happen to protect dealership profit margins. Think about that.

I'll back everything Glenn said there.................that exactly hits the nail on the head, specially the comment bout brakes - I thought same when I first read what had been said........ditto too what Hotwire came out with - good stuff! Dave has also raised some valid points at times though too, in fairness......... I'm self-employed, doing something with vehicles the majority of the time, & I too get 1-off phone-calls from 'price-shoppers', & ya can tell by the questions they ask, & how they ask...... Much like Glenn, I'd sooner drink coffee, than do a job for cost, or have it costing me money - I've seen others do that & its a great way to go broke quick....... In terms of whats a high risk / low risk 'job' on a motor vehicle - that's different things to different people depending on skill levels etc. From my perspective - it has absolutely amazed me watching the mechanical knowledge on motor vehicles, by drivers, decline rapidly & steadily over time, especially over the last 10 years. Basic skills, like checking oil, knowing how to change a tyre, etc etc, are no longer there in the majority of cases where drivers are 35 yrs old or younger.........and - its not a 'gender specific' thing either, like it may have once been......

The 5 series e39 has taken a large hit in price and good units can be had for a reasonable price look for the 2003 /04 models as they being near the end of the line had all the items as standard if the budget can stretch the e60's have dropped to. As for the suitablity of a 5'r re your description you will find it a bit heavy on the pocket IMO they are not a light vehicle and the v8 is some 80kgs heavier and they are built for the open highway. The 530/540 debate will always rage on it depends on you and what you want your situation for me presonnal I went 530 as it suited my situation and in over five years ownership it wasn't to bad of a vehicle. Best of luck in your search.

I'd rent until you get to know Auckland. You'll stay in a much nicer house in the mean-time. + You could be hunting for a long time if you want to buy. My GF's parent sold over 8 months ago and have been renting while they look for a new place, wealthy oversea's buyers snatch up anything decent, it was happening when I bought over a year ago and its a lot worse now. 600k won't buy you anything decent in central auckland anymore. You'll need at least 800k to find a decent free-standing home around Ellerslie/Greenlane.

Well, my autistic concern is there's no HID. Doesn't float everyone's boat, but does for me in that range.

^^^^ With respect. To start throwing numbers around & arguing/justifying them & then admitting to using them only as an example doesn't wash. I do seriously take issue with a lot of what you have said. I am only on wages in a small Auto Sparky business but I am fully aware of the costs that are involved in running the business. I am on realitively good money (I wouldn't get out of bed for $15 an hour, even 20 & barely for 25) It would have been 15 or more years ago when I was on $15 an hour We charge out @ $72 + (par for the course here) & we need every $$ we can get to make it work. Business costs - lease, rates, phone, insurances, wages etc etc... Equipment costs Then factoring in down time (& there ALWAYS is), quiet times, holidays etc & there needs to be a substantial margin between wages & charge out. It is really no different for a decent mechanic either - they cannot now get away without up to date equipment. Gone of the days of a mechanic being any good without electrical knowledge/diagnosing ability, & the tools to practice with. Infact I maintain an Auto Sparky with a sound mechanical aptitude is better off than a mechanic that knows a little electrical. The bridge between between electrical & mechanical now is very murky at best. There is no real place now for a "basic" mechanic. This nullifies somewhat your statement of only basic tools etc. I have been in the game for a long time & seen substantial changes in this time, it is getting harder & harder to make a buck in the trade - there are no, or very few, "cream" jobs as there used to be 20 + years ago. Repairs are much more labour intensive due to component access & even overhaul times so there are not the same "swings & roundabouts" there used to be. There are now plenty of curved balls that "cost" time! So, I do not agree that there should be a lesser charge for fitting brake pads - it still comes down to the competency of the technician as to the time they take & then charge. And, from a business point of view - this could be deemed one of those "cream" jobs. Yes I agree you should have a good business model, but the "real" world is different to the "ideal" world. Agree the market will dictate, but when all in the area are on the same page, & offering similar service, productivity will be dictated by the climate at that time. We are not always busy, but then again - nor is our competition at the corresponding moment in time.

Jeeze I thought you liked Auto's Ron? I've had an E90, have an E46 320d manual now, but the E46 F/L in NZ or UK spec have to be still one of the better looking cars, built better than an E90 anyways.

on board from the 2.8L E30 posted earlier in the thread

Am I ready this right??? $15 an hour is $31200p.a. Anybody being paid $15 and hour is NEVER EVER going to touch my car. A decent trained mechanic is making a LOT more than $15. The business owner also has to pay holidays and sick leave, plus public holidays. It all adds up. If you want to get really serious about charge out rates - When I was 19 (16 years ago) I was being charged out at $90 to $135 per hour for a technical repair type job, I got got a car and crap pay! Now I don't get charged out at all, and make a lot more

Went and had a look at this car on Sat. The Racing Dynamics kit looks awesome - very tidy - looks like it could have been an OEM item the fit/appearance is so good. The slight curves on it look a bit more modern than the standard/m-sport e36 body/kit. The black m3 wheels looked better in person than in the photos too. Body was very straight & tidy, no rust anywhere I could find. White paint seems to age well as it looked pretty good to me. The RD exhaust sounded awesome too - not at all droney or annoying or loud. Nice and quiet when cruising along, and great sound under full throttle. Drove really well, suspension was good - firm, well controlled, not at all harsh. I've only owned Japanese turbo cars before, so I don't really have much by way of comparison points for how fast it was, but it revved cleanly and seemed to go well (tank was empty though so I didn't take it very far!)

You'll also need to learn 5 more different languages, and all the special Auckland road laws ie: Mercedes with flashing L/H indicators means they are turning right. A red light means you can still proceed for another 30 seconds. It'll take a while to get used to though.

I wish there were more European kits available, because most of the good kits come from Japan its 80% Japanese cars. Must have spent tens of thousands on them over the years, paints and tools alone were not cheap. Not a kit, but this RC car come in a million pieces and was fully mechanical, was even 4WD, built it when I was a kid, still have it somewhere, unfortunately it will most likely be the only E30 M3 I own in my life.

I think it's great to get the kids making things rather than just buying nasty expensive toys. Good work!