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I only buy online from supercheap. I met a local staff member one time, and decided online was the best option. The other shops aren't any better though. A Repco staff member told me my E39 would need thicker oil, if it's done over 100K. ...Then proceeded to tell me that 10W-40 was thicker, and would be better than 0W-40 for a "worn" engine. P.S. If anyone replies telling me that 10W-40 is thicker than 0W-40, I'll shoot you, then tell you why you're wrong. It's only thicker cold... when you DON'T want it to be thicker.

Many repairers are too, instead of happy discussions its quite often eulogies

Hey fellow M5ers Thinking (just thinking) about letting my e39 go for something older maybe an e28 or e34. I don't really want to list on Trademe (already been Mufan'd) and would want it to go to a fellow enthusiast. It is 1999 NZ new (Jerry Claytons) 190k and super clean. All maintenance and preventative maintenance done. Do you guys know of anyone who is looking for a good one? Will want $25-$26k.

A smoke tester is used to find vacuum leaks. I decided to make my own from stuff I had lying around. I got an old steamed pudding pot, but any pot and lid will do. I then drilled two holes in the lid with a step drill. Use a long bolt to connect the base of the pot to the lid and tighten it so its airtight. I used some rtv here to be sure. Then I got some old hose and I connected it from one hole in the pot to the brake booster vacuum pipe. The vacuum pipe just pulls straight out of the brake booster on the e46. I got a second shorter piece of hose and connected it to the nozzle on my vacuum cleaner (I just used duct tape so no air would escape) and set the vacuum cleaner to the 'blow' function. Now we need to block the inlet on the engine so we get a proper airtight seal. I removed the airbox and maf and put a rubber glove over the inlet pipe wrapped with a rubber band. Then its just a case of dropping something inside the pot that will smoke, turning on the vacuum cleaner and putting the vacuum cleaner hose in the second hole of the pot. If you don't have a vacuum cleaner with a blow function you can just blow into the hose with your mouth. I tried many different things as a source for smoke, from tightly balled newspaper coated in citronella, to engine oil, to transmission oil. In the end the thing that worked best was incense sticks. I bought a whole box from the dairy for $1 (which was also the total cost of this project). Then just start looking for where the smoke escapes from. I found it easier to see with the pollen filter compartment removed (just 4 torx screws), but with real tough to find leaks you might want to take off a few more covers. This homemade smoke tester setup discovered the vacuum leaks on both my cars - neither of which I knew for sure had vacuum leaks. I hope this is useful for the community

Hey Guys, Finally the old girl got out of the shed and had a fresh walk round the driveway and house. Got a few problems with the accelerator cable and in search of a new air filter for the Holley carburetor apart from that she is running well and got the finishing touches before she is off for a WoF and Rego Pretty close to the end of this build and looking forward to driving the BM around once the accelerator cable is fixed. Need some rear lowering springs too. Doesn't look quite right with the massive rake. A few photos below that turned out nicely.

Hey dudes, Wondering if anyone know what paint colour (or similar paint colour) I can use to touch up the dark grey on 19" OEM e46 m3 wheels like below? Close enough would be OK for the chips I have. (PS I have a full set I will be listing soon - PM me if you are interested). Thanks in advance N

I can't find a definitive answer, but BMW Ferric Grey looks close. How bad are the chips? I recently had my Style 67's refurbished by Wheelfixit. They diamond cut the face, and re-cleared the inserts. I thought the inserts needed repainting, however once stripped back and re-cleared they look like new.

Have you tried talking to Kayne Barrie Motorsport?

Very rare something(s) like these happen, not one but two "choice" moments in one long week-end. Firstly fitting new appliances in the kitchen I was very happy to find that the previous installer had done the jobs properly and everything was up to scratch and above-board, not dodgy lash-ups that needed to be removed and start again. Plus all the connections lined up exactly from the old units to the new, so install was a very simple remove and replace. Second thing, bought a Johnny Cash LP in the JB Hifi sale, one of six in the "American Records" series, when I activated the digital download code I not only got a copy of the albumn I had bought, but also the other five in the series, an excellent piece of luck. Lots of new listening to be done.

Personally I think this is good as it puts the established sports/performance car makers on notice. It will of course struggle to erode the brand cachet that European manufacturers have. However the good thing about the Euro manufacturers is the emergence of more affordable performance cars, M2, CLA and RS3. I think we are in such a great time for affordably quick cars especially in NZ as we can get second hand 335is for $20K, Nissan GTRS for 70k and 996 911's for less than 40k.

The american cars have come a long way in the handling stakes in the last few years.

Is the situation really that bad with 'newer' BMWs? What counts as newer in this context? E60s? Newer than E46/E39s all rubbish? Is any of this related to BMWs getting more complicated and repairers not keeping up with evolving technologies?

at the risk of making myself unpopuar some of the things i hear about more modern BMW scare me silly. I had my E34 for a long time.It was a 12 yr old car and 1bout 150 k when i bought it.In that time it failed to start ONCE.I gave up in disgust ,when i returned later it started and i drove home.MUch much later i suffered a blown head gasket,Not uncommon on the M30 with a long skinny ally head on an iron block.Apart from that all i ever did was put in petrol and feed it tyres and service it as per the service indicator lights.I sometimes had to top up the oil between services. opposite my work is a aquantance with a "garage: and he is also a auto electrician with some experience and an auto logic ? "franchise".He has a constat stream of BMWs and some of the stories are sobering.One was a relatively new 3 series with an ebox fullof water.resulting in no start issues..Many recoding and new(some used) modules later it runs.To be fair i have never seen an e60 there...But i am truly afraid of "new" BMWs

I hear ya

Nice. Reminded me of this one on trademe http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedesbenz/auction-1335628584.htm Pelican are quite good at sourcing old parts

While lap times will vary day to day it is still useful to judge where cars sit in the big scheme of things. Also you will see that some cars were tested in the same year that means they were tested at the same time as this is based on an annual event.

It's an amazing track. The vehicles that turn up there for standard track days are jaw dropping. The International part of its name would be due to the quality of the facility. It is of a very high standard. Hosts some very big races here. Lots of international names.

I just buy Samson 20W-50 from the Warehouse. All oil is the same, its a scam and marketing that says otherwise Kidding. I love Repco employees, they make me feel clever.

Here we go found the link of the guy I got it from. Looks well made and like I said - haven't fitted it yet as the engine is still sitting in my donor car, but seems well made. https://squaredmotorwerks.com/products/m50-tps-adapter

Standing in SCA looking for a fuel filter for a genset and heard staff say to customer "they're all the same, just different brands". He was talking about engine oil.

Bought the world's most expensive cupholder for one of the E39's. The cost of the new cupholder was enough to have Customs pick up this latest package for GST etc- added $150 to the cost of the package- package duly arrives with a left hand drive cupholder inside So will have to pay return shipping to FCP Euro- then buy the correct one! Rookie mistake

This clip is just epic. That sound is the old heart and soul of what made BMW great.

PM'd. Good home guaranteed.

Same applies to all the other Euros, including BMW. The A4 is on par with an E90 and a C180/C200 in the lower end range of those models

Shitty Genuine BMW batteries... E39 was dead this morning - Mrs W had to drive my '72 Beetle... for the first time! Battery was only 13 years and 9 days old too!