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Come on guys. back in the mid-80's when an Alpine Cassette head unit was king, they were running around NZD750 before you added a graphic and an amp or two. A Nakamichi was more like a grand or $1200 - and god did they sound good. Here's a 7273 from 1985 - if you had this, some amps and decent speakers you were - worried every time you parked your car! (stolen without permission - tried to link. Thanks to http://magnitola.org/attachments/golovnye-ustroistva/1272233d1553761180-Magnitola-Avtozvuk-img_0086.jpg ... And in '89/90 and a good CD deck was a grand - yes A Thousand Dollars with an amp, installed... and it skipped on bumps on the way to the mountain, needed an external amp just like yer Nak tape deck did. The TD1200 - OMG. $900 for a Blaupunkt in today's dollars? Not a lot, really. The phone in your pocket is probably worth more than two grand. Then there's the KMM-BT408. The Kenwood mechless decks actually sounds good if you feed em WAV files. Cost buttons, really, to boot. Just a thought @deedub - those guys doing bluetooth conversions on old gear probably charge more than you're expecting because they need to make sure it works for you for a good while.

The purchase ended up happening pretty quickly although the journey took a while. M2's first caught my attention early last year and only the OG M2 was in reach then, and I was thinking I'd need to sell the M3. In the end I couldn't exchange an S engined M for an N engined one, it's an emotional thing. So I forgot about them until early this year and then kept a casual eye on the market, looked at a couple but never pulled the trigger. I checked out a few other cars to validate, or challenge, my preference for what was by now the M2C. F82 M4 - I really had to try this before I could eliminate it despite my biased preconceptions. But they were right, this car is enormous and it doesn't feel any smaller when you're sitting inside. But it doesn't feel heavy to drive and that surprised me the most. It's a monster, a real monster, and an unruly one at that, it'll step out at the slightest provocation, which can be quite fun if you're ready for it. I drove a pre-LCI and the tech has dated a bit, the LCI is quite a step up but man, it's got a lovely interior and the extended leather is so much nicer than the M2's plastics. Oh well. But too big, not for me. G42 M240ix - Holy crap, this is quite an incredible combination of electronics and machinery, but it's a messy, incoherent combination, clumsy even. It's a bit ugly, it's a bit big, it feels hefty when changing direction but it's an absolute weapon in terms of power delivery, only really being left behind by a proper M above about 5k rpm. Sticks like sh*t to a blanket as well. But my lord, the cabin is a chaotic combination of switches, buttons, and touch interfaces and just yells "VERSION 1.0", it's a visual and ergonomic fail, wait for the LCI. G87 M2 - Can't afford it, don't like how it looks, don't want it. But seriously dealers can be annoying and I capitulated. Don't like the digital dash at all but that's only a future software update away. Drives fine, can't really use the power, doesn't feel as heavy as I expected it to and does not have the same hefty feeling of the G42, tricky suspension. Still, couldn't own it even if I had all the money in the world, it's just as fugly in person as in the pics. So, a new journey starts...

I picked it up in March and am loving it, so why the picture of the mint 635CSI? Because you've got to buy the seller right? The 6er has had a full strip, rebuild, and restoration inside and out, it's magnificent. The M2, now minus the decals and with custom plates in hand to be fitted, is pretty epic to be honest. NZ new so great spec, inc adaptive LED's and oversized brakes, full main dealer service history, last service at Auckland City BMW in November last year, $4500 and no outstanding advisories, carbon splitter, side bits, and spoiler, Pilot Sport 4 S's, roof and mirror caps are wrapped in matte black which I'm really liking at the moment. Very clean inside and out, little wear and I got under it the other day and she's perfect, including all underside trim and fixings. Very happy.

GM has a silver metal pan. Zf has a black plastic pan.

M2 looks great with the M decals.Welcome to s55 ownership! Neither thought you’d replace the e36!

Second mod... I struggle with standard issue plates, made this one up myself and I wasn't drunk this time so it's actually good (IMHO).

First mod... just a sticker/decal, I like it and it's actually a closer match to the rest of the black in the engine bay than the camera lets on.

I realised I never really updated on the bracket for the SMG reservoir. Since I installed the CSL airbox I've been running a prototype version of the bracket. Given it's a rainy Thursday here I thought since I'd proved the concept that I'd design up a more final version of the bracket. This is still a development version and you'll note there's a few things that need to be tidied up, but didn't want to go to too much effort until I've confirmed fitment of this latest version. I started by using my previous prototype to confirm the location of the bracket itself and mark where I wanted it with some blue masking tape. I then scanned the strut tower and loaded the (fairly untidy) mesh into Fusion to help with placing reference planes, etc. Because the tower is an irregular shape the bracket needs to account for this: Note that the final unit will have rubber stand offs on the back to help it sit well on the tower and not rub. The mounting point where it's attached to the stud on the strut tower also has a raised, angled boss as the stud is not perpendicular to the strut and this needs to be accounted for so that the nut clamps the mounting point properly. I'll get this version printed up and do another round of test fitting and any final adjustments before I tidy up the rough edges. Given my goal of not wanting to drill holes in my strut tower I think that this should be a pretty tidy end result.

That is the correct part number I think, installed exactly the same on my e39. The strut is the same for Msport and non MSport but maybe not for all the 530 model years ? https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-strut-assembly-front-e39-w-m-technic-suspension-556-834#fitment

Wiring is completely different for models with monitors so not plug and play. Bluebus is great for audio but it doesnt really offer OBD type features. You'd have to go android with i-bus option to get those sort of things.

As it's an 07 you will likely have the GM gearbox. Which is well known for it's shudders. Usually caused by the torque converter wearing. It's been discussed on the forum a number of times. To solve my GM shudder I changed the fluid and filter (which is not built into the pan on the GM box) and added Lubeguard Shudder Fix (aka Dr Tranny's Shudder Fix in the USA). I did all this at around 120,000kms. It has never shuddered once in 70,000kms since. This GM box and its variants is used in many different US vehicles. Google GM torque converter shudder. Common problem. Lubegaurd does work and you can get it from Repco.