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I did it... I bought it... And im in love. What a car... ?

The magical oil that go at least twice the distance and time but only when BMW is paying for it.

It's OK, the car will already be in the workshop when service is due by time, so they can do it at the same time.

Petrol cars have become much more efficient in the last decade and RUC has increased, which has narrowed the gap. My 535i can do 8.5/100 outside of Auckland making it about 20.5c per km. It averages about 10/100 in Auckland. Can't be arsed paying for RUC and the N55 is plenty grunty. Diesel would still the go for big rigs and towing though.

So much E39 msport availability these days. No better luxury sport sedan on the planet for the price, nothing comes even close.

Surprisingly reasonably priced, good photos, GLWS!

Update: replaced the plastic inner wheel arches and undertray with near new ones, replaced a fuel line which was cracked, replaced the fuel cap and bought the following parts: -Purple tag steering rack -Staggered DS2s -Ruff gearbox mounts -Powerflex RTABs and LCABs -OMP WRC sterring wheel and bosskit Pics below. Edit: I should really get some decent photos together. They seem to be getting progressively worse..

You forgot key part of lesson, dont buy 4 pot bmws

I'll pull it out and check if there's any visible damage to cables. I have no idea how long it's been rattling around there so maybe something simple. Do you know if they are the same across all years? I used this stuff for the tray:

West side of Taupo after Desert road at Turangi, over the Whakamaru dam and down Old Taupo road

This is a genuine motorsport 540i in Titan Silver. It is currently at 189,300 kms. Black leather interior in good condition (no rips, but some wear on the driver’s seat) with the wood trim. Its engine runs very smoothly and pulls hard. Suspension feels very tight and smooth. It has the rear blind (working), sunroof, front + rear PDC, the 16:9 screen, auto wipers/lights + carphone. I have both keys (one of them replaced in the last 2 years – perfect condition) and service history from the last 2 owners. Doesn’t burn any oil. It is completely factory apart from a Parrot handsfree unit and tinted windows. WOF expires Dec 2020 and rego Feb 2021. I’ve owned for 12 months and have completed the following work: · Refreshed all fluids (including transmission service) + filters · New spark plugs · Rocker cover gaskets, RH timing cover gasket · Numerous coolant hoses changed preventatively · 4 new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres + alignment · Timing chain tensioner replaced preventatively · Bosch battery · All new ATE pads + rotors + rear brake hoses · Replaced guibo flex disc · PCV system overhaul · Injectors refreshed · Vanos solenoids replaced · Thermostat · Tinted windows As a result of all this, the car runs and drives very smoothly. It is a real pleasure to drive. I love this car, but another BMW-related opportunity has presented itself so I must move it on. I’m hoping it will go to someone who loves it as much as I do. $6,500.00 PM me if interested.

try these guys https://www.classiccover.co.nz/

I think IAT and KTMP have an influence on spark ignition timing. If the engine feels sluggish after crawling traffic or on hot summer days it's probably a good thing (so long as it feels better with cooler air, and there are no other engine faults) The dme is protecting the engine from likely damage as a result of pinging. You really want a dyno when playing around with this kind of thing imo.

i would vote for SH1 to Bulls, then to Whanganui, National Park, Te Awamutu, rejoin SHI at Ngaruwahia Nice roads, less traffic... Or SH2 to Napier, then to Taupo, SH1 North...

To be fair anyone with a clue would of told you that

Thanks all that gives me some googling material. If it was going to cost real money I'd rather go aftermarket which would set me up with a more modern base to work from but I'm guessing that's asking for trouble. In the meantime I've ordered a bluetooth adapter so I can at least stop relying on my CD collection from my teenage years ? I forgot to look in the boot tonight but my aliexpress kidney's turned up so threw those in. I need to get this thing clean and out in the sun for some better photos!

34216780217 & 34216780218 - Right and Left Rear rotors were the hardest bits to find at sane prices, since AFAIK they only fit 130s with the BBK. I got the fancy pants brembo ones off german ebay for like $300NZD

Yeah new ones, came pre trimmed. Ill look up p/n later, think was FCPeuro, will be from realoem.com though. HEL lines here too, they came from the UK via amazon, the NZ sourced ones at the time were all funky colours

I bought new front plates for mine, but not rears. I was lazy though and paid some blokes to do it for me so not sure exactly what they did to fit the rears, but pretty sure they just did the trimming as per the instructions? I bought braided lines locally, they were HEL Performance ones I bought from NZAD

Yup, changed the fronts too, apparently you can bash em into fitting, but for a couple of bucks I just bought the right ones. Be aware, the ass end ones require disassembling the wheel bearing to replace... but a bit of work with an angle grinder to cut a slot solves that issue.

The radio modules varied across the years and probably the markets, but a good working BM53 or BM54 from 2001 up to (I don't know) should do the trick I think they are a "world tuner" also so can be configured for the MHz range...

Pretty much ready to go, new cores, comp housings, 14 T billet wheel, 9 blade turbine, new wastegate flapper valves, actuators. Am told spool times with this setup is on par with ball bearing units, should be good. Got silicone inlets, outlet mod to OEM squashed tube section, downpipes. Like the sound of a catted exhaust, mellow and deep, have a couple of narrow 200 cell metal core units, will try and fit directly to down pipe exit flanges behind trans tail shaft.

No, I don't need another V8 ?! GLWS!

Jeez I need a job... GLWS Boz ?

i used this on mine also, its the sh*t

Are you really up sh*t creek? I see two scenarios here: 1. The current mbi has been transferred from the previous owner to you, after you paying a fee and the insurer ‘accepting/approving’ the transfer. If this is the case, and the previous owner has not kept up with the servicing requirements, then you maybe up the creek under this policy (although having a conversation with the insurer for accepting the transfer if cover is something you could do to try and get them to honour the cover for the remaining period) 2. You take out a new mbi policy, choosing the cover period and cost. Cover usually starts from the time and kms you took it out. Fyi i bout an autosure mbi from an agent after i purchased my car, which required me paying the premium and having the vehicle serviced within the next 5k kms, then every 15k kms or annually thereafter (check the policy wording for exact requirements), which ever occurs first. This way previous service history is generally not taken into consideration - basically you have a ‘fresh start’. hopefully this helps

I watched one of his M3 "reviews" a couple of years back and only stopped yawning last month. Might give this one a miss.

That’s a reasonable budget for a hobby welder I would suggest! Should be able to get a pretty good piece of kit for that price I would suggest. I am more than happy with my little Supercheap Auto MiG that I got for just over $300 when it was on special.

Have a read through this thread. https://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58949-welder-buying-spam/ If anyone knows a good welder, it's a forum of guys that have no option but to keep metal gluing their cars together.

The actual radio module is probably at fault with reception. It's the silver box to the left in above photo, the loose one? I found a BM54 module out of a 2007 X5 that plugs straight in. Nice looking rear tray as well, what product did you use?

Not even close here in Masterton and over in Wellington. Closest was $100 more and he said that was at their cost so they weren't keen. Couldn't find anyone willing to match. Happy to offer me a worse brand to match the price though.. That was on some 4wd tyres a few months back. I was calling around because I needed them same day. In my experience even if the sale is bullshit at Hyper the price is still better. They also would often match the Toyo wholesale price for R888's for me which was good.

she's lurking the forums, mate.

Technically, this post inspired me to START smoking? I just vac packed about 4kg last night! Well done though - 10 years!

Done! Ended up doing the C pillar covers as well as they had a bit of fade. I also took the opportunity to reglue some of the material back on the pillar covers with F2 spray. All up this was probably a 4hr job but I'm very happy with the results. Used 2 cans of spray. 6000k LED's for the angel eyes also turned up so threw them in. I think my next project is to track down why the radio reception is so bad. It tunes fine but the sound quality is noticeably worse than when playing CD's. I checked the connections when I had the C pillars covers off and there was nothing obviously wrong. I'm not sure what's what in the boot so will look into that more. One unit is sitting loosely in there but I can't see how it would fix to the bracket unless that bracket has been bent.

Well - it's back!!! Just feels so different after the driving the F30 and X5 for so long... got snarled up in blimmin traffic driving it through town and on the motorway - meh. just love the engine sound and I do think it is a great-looking vehicle not fussed about not having super dark windows - and my left wing mirror works properly - bit of a novelty there's a bit of a resonance when stopped/going slowly - theory is this may be the new hard engine mounts Jon noted a bit of a tick in the steering - found a bit of minor corrosion on the rack and has cleaned it down thoroughly and used a super-thick grease. Check this out - my gift-boxed bearings as evidence it has been done! Nice touch indeed

Update... Since the dash was off, asked Jon to look at heater issue (sometimes blows hot at the driver when set to cool - slightly frustrating!) - decided to replace the heater control valve Charcoal filter failed when installing the replacement fuel tank. Ordered both parts from Turner in the USA Parts arrived this week from Turner, dropped off and should be fitted soon... Nearly there! ?

The Wairarapa is far nicer than SH1. SH1 is now a half finished heavily patrolled highway. The Wind farm on the hill before you hit Palmy is a great look out point. And from the top of vinegar hill you can see Ruapehu and Taranaki on a clear day. Its about the scenery out this way. SH2 can provide some great views of the Tararuas (Mountain Range splitting East and West Coast). Snow on them at the moment. I always turn off at Turangi and take 31 then 42 through to Tokoroa. It's usually deserted and surrounded by pine forests. Also a dam to take a look at. Then turn off at Tirau and head through to Matamata.

congrats, Dan!

Last night the 335i had to be towed home, my wife was in the tow car and assured me she had done it before. Well it was 25 mins of harrowing terror! The lacks of steering and brakes were hard enough but when she went through a roundabout and obviously forgot I was there I saw my life flash before my eyes. Now time to replace that coolant pump.

Hi all. I've been a Bimmersport member for a while but until now I've kept my head down learning a lot from the posts of knowledgeable forum members. I have an e46 330i and a 2005 X3, and now a 130i as I bought Baby Blue off Dave. Be assured Dave that she will continue to receive love and attention and only be fed 98! She drives better than she looks as she has a few blemishes but nevertheless I've given her a wash and polish this weekend to make her look her best.

Well I’ve read and researched a lot about them while building my replica. Does that make me a specialist idk, enthusiastic yes. It’s an interesting arrangement. Ex-factory B3’s used Alpina parts of course (spoilers, wheels, their mod engines, seat coverings etc). Sytner (UK) did conversions and I believe you could order any base vehicle and add the Alpina parts you and your budget wanted. So there is precedence. However my benchmark would be in order to call it an Alpina B3 2.7 It would have the factory build plate and be on the factory registry. It appears to have non of these. An OE engine transplant and a few Alpina parts a B3 does not make imho. Having said all that it looks like a lovely car despite the high mileage but $59k wow!

Quick update on the M5... All put back together Has been on a ~100KM run - all good The tints have been removed and *thankfully* the rear demister is still working - always a risk when tints are removed. I had a look at the standard glass on another E60 M5 and thought 'that will do' - so I haven't bothered getting new tints added back on. new LH wing mirror glass is in - much better it has a shiny new bonnet badge - the old one was, well a bit old and sad looking I asked Jon to replace the LHS fuel sender to try and deal to the occasional stalls I had - so that's going in next, along with... a replacement fuel tank! Jon noted the significant suction when taking the gas cap off to refuel - and knew straight away that there's a problem with the tank. He found a crack and it is deformed around the LHS sender. Fortunately, he was able to source a 2nd hand tank. So had hoped to get it back this week but looks to be early next week instead. Oh well