Leaderboard

One of my regrets was not buying one new. Three cheers to the guys who purchased new, and drove for free for 10 years. Heck, seeming to continuing to do so. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/5329879033?utm_source=tmm-savedsearch&utm_medium=email&bof=8Har5zGj Very nice

I had a bit of a think about whether I would do this job for someone else and came around to “yes, but”. Before I say more I’m not a qualified mechanic, I just enjoy working on cars at home. I’ve done the job on my own car using the AGA tool method, and I recall someone saying that if you’ve done the valve covers then you can do the valve stem seals too. I agree with that statement. To do it yourself with the most limited stripping of the engine you’ll need the AGA tool, plus some other things like a leak down tester or some rope to stop the valves dropping into the cylinder, and a week of your time. There are other options (e.g. cheaper tools) out there besides the AGA method if you don’t mind removing the camshafts and retiming the engine. I also recommend doing a valve cover gasket job at the same time (it’s coming off, so you may as well replace all the gaskets while it’s off), and I’d encourage you to consider replacing the spark plugs if they aren't newish as they have to come out, and it’s so easy to install new spark plugs with the valve cover off compared to when its on. Beware though, other unrelated parts in the car may break during disassembly or reassembly as with age and heat some materials such as plastic and rubber become brittle. You may be up for extra parts (and $$$) to replace those also. Here's a parts list I put together in case it helps you. I suspect it will be the same for your X5 as it was for my E61 but maybe double check just in case. Description Part Number Quantity Valve Stem Seal Kit 11340029751 2 Valve Cover Gasket Kit 1-4 11127513194 1 Valve Cover Gasket Kit 5-8 11127513195 1 Spark Plug Domes 11127570219 8 Upper Timing Cover Gasket 1-4 11147506424 1 Upper Timing Cover Gasket 5-8 11147506425 1 Valvetronic Actuator Seal 7119903596 2 Camshaft Position Sensor O-Ring 12141748398 4 Eccentric Shaft Sensor Gasket 11127518420 2 Vanos Solenoid Seal (large) 11367513222 4 Vanos Solenoid Seal (small) 11367546379 4 Vacuum Pump Seal (small) 11667509080 1 In my notes I wrote down the Febi Spark Plug Domes I used didn't fit as well as the genuine ones so I would use genuine Spark Plug Domes next time. Genuine ones are quite pricey though (e.g. $100 ish each). As much as I enjoy working on cars, this isn’t a couple of hours on a weekend helping someone out job, it’s a take a week off work to do it job. Because of that If I was going to do this work for someone else I think I’d be looking to quote somewhere around $3k depending on current parts prices. That's a lot of money so swapping hats for a minute if I was looking at $3k for some random guy who isn't a mechanic vs $5k for a proper mechanic that comes with all the guarantees etc I'd be seriously considering the proper mechanic option. Hopefully that helps.

Some more progress over the last week or so. Stripped all the suspension out, arms, struts, steering rack, front and rear subframe a, diff handbrake cables etc have all been removed. Masked up the engine bay and have begun painting the underside. Just using black Epoxy paint, any spots where there was minor surface rust wire wheeled back to clean metal. Will go over any seams with seam sealer and then do another coat of black epoxy. Very time consuming and messy process but will be worthwhile. Have done the first coat on the front wheel arches and underside of engine bay so far, lots more painting to do. also made up a new Clevis pin to adapt the e30 brake booster bracket thing that the pedal pull rod actuates to the e90 booster.

The most random mesage I've seen so far on this forum...

https://becarparts.co.nz/0067094-11-headlamp-l-h-electric-non-bulb-shield-to-suit-bmw-1s-e87-2007-2011-f-lift/

Epic cars, it's an interesting proposition. A garage queen with low miles will hold value but, if you're going to drive it, like this one is intended, then you surely have to consider an OG M2 for ~$20k less, or a M2C for similar money (or less) right? And as driver's cars that's going to be a tight, and probably subjective, call. None came up (that I could afford) whilst looking for my M2C so unfortunately I didn't have the option. Had this been available I would have 100% considered it. But also, I agree with @Neil McCauley, these are not rare, the e46 CSL is my benchmark for "obtainable" "rare", BMW's. I can't see the 1M reaching those levels.

Awesome cars, if slightly overpriced for what they are imho. There seems to be a perception of rarity when the reality is that there’s probably almost 40 of them in NZ alone. With that being said, they’ve not depreciated in any meaningful way since they were new, which is unheard of really - consider an E9x M3 could have been had for low 20’s at their bottom. It’s always the same cars up for sale though, the garage queens don’t seem to come up for sale. There’s been a couple of sub 10K km cars go for around $90k which I think is probably where the market actually is.

A friend got some done from injectortech.co.nz (auckland based) and said it was a good service, was hoping there was something closer to Wellington though.

I'd say that a very fair price. He's also done the maintenance so hopefully a well sorted car.

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.

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...