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OK. Not a BMW. Not a TradeMe listing. But it is a McLaren, and that has to count for something in NZ! I want. I want so very much. http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/mclaren/unspecified/1865527.html

Well hopefully the issue is now sorted. The second fault after the primary fix was made to the active control unit was due to my car not having BMW correct program installed. Seems the program was changed in Japan. Car had to be sent to BMW dealership to have the correct program for the model installed. When that was done the re-install of the Active control program then took and the fault is now sorted. Picked up my car this avo. Additional good news is that the replacement ACU is covered for 4 years so if something in the future should go wrong I am covered. End cost to me was $600 which isn't so bad. The bad was the frustration and the eight week fault diagnostics. Additional benefit I now know a lot more about Active Steering in BMWs both how it works and what can go wrong and why it can go wrong. Hopefully this helps others and they go to a certified expert.

use 95 if not 98. doesnt cost much more than 91 and you probably will get better fuel economy anyway so it pays for itself

Hello everyone! As of yesterday, I'm the proud owner of a 2007 E60 550i LCI. It's an amazing car, and so far, having driven from Auckland to my home (Bay of Islands), I love it. However, I do have a few questions I'd like to ask of anyone with experience in these matters: I stepped out of a 2.0 VW Scirocco TSi. Great handling, nippy, etc, straight into the 5 series. So I was a little taken aback when, taking corners that would have not even elicited a second thought in the VW, the BMW panics and the loss of traction light comes on. It won't even let me use cruise control at 80kph on the Dome valley as the bends are too sharp for it. Is this to be expected? The car is not an M-sport model, so it's got 18" wheels and run-flat dunlops. I know it's a much softer car than the M-sport, but this seems a little poorer handling than I anticipated. I've driven other BMWs (728i E38, 730i E65, 530i E39) and all of them seemed much more driveable than this. Road testing in Auckland and the motorway didn't hint at this issue. What do you think?

New Whip, tricky to find run out E39 540i. Sold out of the 996 and I get a quad bike for the lifestyle block.

Hey team, new to the forum- have just acquired a 94 325i coupe in manual. plan is to track the car but at same time remain road legal, full strip has been done, pmc short shift is about the only real mod so far. Looking for a nice set of M wheels for this and also front and rear M sport bumpers, if anyone could help that would be awesome! looking forward to using this site more. cheers

Hi guys recently came over from the UK and bringing my baby with me, apparently quite rare here I have read. The car is a 2007 interlagos Z4m coupe. How many others own one on here? The car has had a few mods done to it, Bilstein shocks with Eibach springs, BMW OEM strut, Eventuri air intake and OEM 219 E9X m3 wheels

bought a 2006 525i wagon a couple of weeks ago and i have been so glad that i did! its such a nice drive!

Some cool vids - he is still on fire

Z ... the old Shell has 95

Shuffled all 4 5's around in the driveway (one by pushing into the shed...). Got a bit pissed off with all the bloody plants the wife has in front of the garage making the whole exercise a series 25 point turns so did a burnout, much to the enjoyment of our 4 year old..... Started my new E34 project too.

I wouldn't have thought the NZ sites would list it as an option. Won't it just be for what stock they have or have coming? Best option for you would be to order direct and pick it up from the factory in Germany. Tour Europe and the UK before they implode. Ship it home afterwards. You will pay much less over the counter but get shafted by GST when you bring it back.

If its such a concern for you Ron, im sure when you go into your local dealer with the money to purchase your new BMW, you will be able to pick the manual option you so dearly want. Not all options will be online or in the brochure. Until then, why bother with this uselessly boring, repetitive rant?

American octane ratings are not the same as NZ , use 98, it should get better mileage on it too.

Nice work.

Wicked, well done Ben! Looking forward to seeing it in person.

Now with these wheels:

put doggy treats all around the lip. ez

I think clicking on the star or spot next to the post detail in the unread list takes you to the first unread post.

Put new expansion tank and throttle body gasket in this weekend.

you've got to forgive Michael, the Lexus ad on TV with the guy pressing his nose against the glass perving at the Lexus... that's him. We all love cars, it's a given. But who seriously prefers cars over getting 'executive relief'? I don't drink coffee. Damn.

Hey peoples, Just picked up a 2008 BMW 135i 6MT (and yes, am waiting for that water pump to go). All very stock standard currently, in titanium silver. Runs the n54 straight six twin turbo. Time to investigate what modifications I can do without voiding the autosure extreme warranty... anyone have any knowledge or experience around that? Also, anyone here have any good contacts for updating the frequency region on the radio for the CCC idrive? It's in english, country code set correctly, but japanese frequencies on the radio still. Quoted $900 or so from a couple places to update it - have a nav maps dvd and not that bothered about sorting the maps anyway, just the radio. One other question - anyone got any recommendations around a reasonable priced place to get walnut blasting done? Probably could use it. Will take some pics when I get a moment, here's one exactly the same as mine. Thanks! Allan

Good stuff! I moved back to NZ recently and bought a 135i last week. New to the forums here too.

I consider rotors a consumable item - I usually need to fit (because of min thickness) new rotors every two pad changes. I rather like my brakes to work...

Bit more driving and trouble-shooting. Had the driveshaft out multiple times trying to work out the driveline vibration issue. Rebalanced (was pretty much fine). Turns out the angle of the engine->guibo was a little too severe. Down to compression of the new OEM rubber mounts I suspect. Shimmed the transmission mounts slightly, worked a treat. Shimmed the engine mounts slightly too as the sump was resting on the steering rack. Better again. Just been driving it around a bit. Awesome thing - so much torque immediately on hand. Diff might be a tiny bit short, but not as bad as I thought it would be. It is pretty fond of the one wheel peel though with an open diff. Gratuitous engine bay photo: Still to do: Windscreen washers Some electrical stuff Thermostat controlled electric fan Cert (& driveshaft loops) New sporty muffler Battery relocation