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She wasn't the flashest car on here but it was mine and I loved her. Only the 523i but the fella who bought it new put M Sport wheels, steering wheel, door entry trim stuff, black leather, may have been lowered etc felt real nice to drive and surprising how well an older 2.5ltr can go. Better than any 1996 sh*t box Commodore or Falcon still knocking about.

Washed, and fitted some fog lights I got the other day, also took some photos.... These fogs are temporary until my other yellow fog lights get sent up along with my M3 mirrors and one other supprise that is coming.... Watch this space next week all going well!!!!

Finishing filling, sanding and priming wheels for the E39. Ready for paint tomorrow. Also a much needed oil/filter change for e39. Removed steering rack and degreased + started rubbing back E30 engine bay last night too, busy busy!

Merry Christmas to me... After 2 visits to view car, I made the offer and it is mine... a 3rd trip on the buses and trains to Auckland to drive it south.. I'm essentially the 3rd private owner, last owner 10 years, with a pile of receipts... So far it's had a damn good clean (wasn't even vacuumed), 2 oils leaks fixed (filler cap and sump drain plug), the lights sanded and polished, the interior mirror glass replaced, and more parts on the way... and more and more cleaning and detailing.... Drives good... mostly everything works... but got a big list of things to do.... wheels, emblems, windscreen trim, fan clutch, filters etc etc.

See link http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1350255

If you keep an eye out you'll likely find a manual E36 fairly cheap. I got mine for a steal, although it needed work it hasn't cost me bugger all in total. Its all just a waiting game.

Right it's clean (ish), now how do I get it sounding like a V8, just a nice rumble, nothing over the top. And can anyone blue tooth their phone to these these days and is it worth getting the phone in the car up and running? I doubt it as it looks like the battery is bulging!!

It's a strange place. Nearly ran over a squirrel that did the old left right left right dodge on me. Ended up locking the brakes across the front lawn of the naval observatory (where the VP lives). Later that night after a bit of a session at the embassy bar I walked into a deer (whilst txting) that was grazing on the lawn of the Brit embassy which is next door to ours. We both got a fright. And many times I get held up buy the VP's motorcade or his helicopter landing. But his chopper is actually Airforce 2 not Marine 1 sorry. Got chased off the track in the park behind the embassy by a big ass stag the other week too. It's illegal to hunt in DC. So the deer are everywhere.

used to daily my old 86 e28 m535i 3.5L m30 when it was stock from papakura to mt eden daily stock tall gearing 3.07 diff and torquey motor and lightish body would get 11.5L per 100km and on a trip 8L per 100km my old e36 and e46 328ci 5spd doesn't get any better really

looks sweet. bet itll smoke those tyres good too.

I like it. Great color and I'm thinking those wheels would look nice on a E38..lol

Such an awesome build dude. I would love to take a few snaps of it!

^^^^ An E30 is much much more simplistic than an E39 so no where near as many traps to fall into. That said, as Jon alludes to - this car has been seriously dicked with & possibly/likely not well done - judged on it's condition. I would add - I think it is severely over priced too. I recently got for my son a NZ new, near mint condition, totally original/un molested, high specced, 1990 325i at just over 5k & with a substantial service history. Admittedly auto (about to convert with a correct G 260 kit that i have) & no M tech 2 (bugger) but is a far superior car to this one.

As someone who just went through the process of looking at ~12 cars and finally choosing to get one inspected and bought. I highly recommend you get it inspected at a BMW garage. The seller of my 530i from here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1249166182 Is awesome and got his own inspection done at his local garage which are ostensibly European car specialists. They missed quite a few BMW specific things (broken sensors and such...) Now, like I said, I looked at 11 other cars before even deciding to get one of them inspected, I used the method from this video: and used the checklist as my personal pre-purchase check. Only one of the 12 made it to the point I took it to Bellars and whilst the inspection itself cost ~$220, I managed to knock off a lot more than that off the cost. Take it for what you will, but I can't recommend that inspection service enough.

In all honesty, from looking at the photos and reading the description this car is a potential nightmare. If you are good with mechanics or have friends that can do things mates rates, then negotiate hard on the price and go for it, if not steer clear especially for a daily I see unreliability everywhere. Too many signs that the car has been fiddled about with, and then not maintained / sorted thoroughly. A ticking time bomb for any new owner.

0 to 100 vid

8-10k, 10-15mins, clear across town. Life's too short for a long commute.

Also replaced the broken tail light and gasket

E39 with the BBS RK's

towed a boat with the X5

made an impromptu decision to trade it in for a 7 seat SUV over the weekend... lol.... thanks to all of you for your input and sharing of knowledge. it helped me get the most out of the old girl for the last 2 years. one day i might come back to a BMW but needed the people mover and the x5 is just to far beyond my budget. good luck all e90 owners.

So picked this up from Dunedin and drove back to Morrinsville over a couple of days. Wow what a drive, 1500 kms with a mixture of boring straights, amazing scenery, mad hairpins, wicked roads, mental tourists and flickering traction control lights Special thanks to Mason in Dunedin for checking it out for me, LEGEND! Replacing the E500 as the daily driver. Will use this as a bit of a record of works etc. as they come up. So to the details: M62TUB44 540i, Steptronic box Production date 26.07.1999 , Jap export version, first registered NZ 2008 Colour: Biarritzblau Metallic (363) M-Sport Package, sports suspension II, told M5 rear bumper/ Mirrors and M5 exhaust (pic for ref) happy to be told otherwise. Be interested to know. Purrs real nice ! Mileage :152000 km's Summary: Well maintained engine, drivetrain, mechanicals. Stored outside for 3 years but cared for. Works completed by PO: Valve cover gaskets, PCV Valve, all cooling hoses, Valve covers blasted and powder coated, Various engine gaskets, battery replaced, plugs replaced, glass headlight fronts replaced, had three and half years did 20000kms. Avoided metal roads like the plague! Works to do: Aircon doesn't work, apparently not need in DUN (?). been to Hamilton Cool Air and searching for leaks, nothing apparent - refilled and returning for die testing in a fortnight. Clay bar paint surface. Polish and wax. Detail interior. Detail Exterior. Rear window regulator broke on the way down with putting the windows down all the time with no AC, lol. Replacement ordered arriving tomorrow. May put NZ 4:3 or 16:9 radio with RDS in as currently just Business Jap version with band expander, works really well though. Other then that looks OK. Just given it its first wash to remove 1500kms of grime, muck and bugs.

Just got the 545i restored back to stock exhaust but with butterfly valve sprung open. Aside from being sane and pleasant to ride in the car again, there's a little more volume when you're not giving it welly. The horrible 1500-2000RPM drone is history!!!! If life was about winning with the most stupid points, I'd have moved up a few ranks with the muffler delete