Leaderboard

Let's collate the info here into one post and make it a sticky. We can link to the original threads on other forums too. We can include VM settings and OS ideas too. For the USB cables for example, you can run them all under windows 7/8/10 in 64 bit just fine, you just need to install the right drivers and those don't come with the programs that use the cables. I'm on my phone now, can start a document later tonight or tomorrow.

Huh good timing with all the info guys. I had just decided to start looking at getting a tool for my fleet of E39s

Sale of car and any associated parts on hold. I had another look over the car on the weekend and am struggling to come to terms with parting it. There's just so much good stuff on, and off it which have taken so long to collect. I need time to decide what I do next.

Yep, still going strong. Here's a pic of it's last real outing with the Wellington guys when we did the trip over the Gentle Annie to Napier. It get's a weekly drive just to keep everything moving. I haven't done a lot to it recently as all my efforts have been going into getting my 4x4 van ready for the summer.

As per the "wanted to buy" thread; I picked up a 330i Touring in Akl. Drove it back yesterday - seems pretty good; NZ new, 170kms, reasonable service history. No fault codes showing. Spec wise it's low on fruit - but everything works and is in reasonable condition. First point of business is to address a very slightly and occasionally wobbly rear - possibly a buggered bush... but first off will get a wheel alignment done. Following that; a second key (any suggestions on sourcing appreciated)... and then I may look at adding a bluetooth module - though I'm not sure I'll even bother. We'll see... may also do something about the tyres - it's got Michelin Pilots on the back which are 2/3rds worn, and bingbonglingdings on the front which are barely worn (wish it was the other way around). As a DD it'll certainly do the job, and make the daily schlep over SH58 much more enjoyable than it was in the Euro!

Q motors one might have been blue as well.....

Hi All I brought a Japanese import Alpina B5 December last year. So much power 368kw and torque 700nm, yet handles well, is flexible around town, understated. Had 130k's on the clock but a full service history (albeit in Japanese). To date and touch wood, no problems other a parking light failure and upgrading halos to LED. Back in the day I owned' and sometimes raced' a 2002Tii. I got a lot of enjoyment out of maintaining and rebuilding the engine some 25 years ago and would like to find me a pre-1990 project car. Looking forward to reading the forums following what's been done, tips and tricks. cheers Vincent

Found some VRM wheels - look kinda similar, but still cool! http://www.velocitymotoring.com/wheels/v703/

That is a sweet looking hose, Simple but nicely executed. Custom hoses rock.

I was thinking something like these guys have. To start with, anyway! Like @Olaf, I'm not looking to set the world on fire- fault codes and maybe some options fiddling (auto-up windows while door open etc) This assumes the Interwebs is right, and there's no kind of US specific nonsense around this issue for us in NZ! This 5h1t is starting to hurt my brain

Why no love for the poor 520... From BimmerFest, "Note that E39s (built from 1998 onward), do NOT use the ADS interface"

On my 2001 I haven't found something yet I couldn't break by playing around with the computer. ? All via obd2.

Thanks. Now I get it. ? This shouldn't apply at all to the e60/e90 crowd all of whom can get USB cables with obd2 connectors. Of the commenters here, it's only YoungTrashDriver who might need that if his e39s are older than 2001.

E39's (edit: pre ~1998) will require ADS @Young Thrash Driver so start perhaps your research there. Look up "TinyADS" on eBay. Then INPA and DIS - the drivers work on 32bit Windows only. @Olaf - What @Gabe79 said. He bet me to it. I'd try and grab his VM's if you can, would reduce the frustration manyfold!

Welcome aboard & Very Nice Car!!

USD$5 postage to get it to the youshop agent, NZD$17.50 to get it home, took about 5 business days. All up a little over $50 landed in NZ, still cheaper than FMW given the less favourable euro - NZD conversion rates.

I never said anything about shitty, or old in my laptop description. I have my previous gen Carbon X1 dedicated to software now. Previously I was using my current laptop, which itself runs Fedora and had a virt for the software. That setup works perfectly btw, no reason you can't use the same under OSX. I was using virtualbox. I find VMWare for local virts overkill. This is not correct. The general readers of which you speak can do just find for reading codes and such, but to actually code the car, pins need to be soldered differently than the standard OBDII interface calls for. Now, there is no reason why someone can't do that to a bluetooth enabled dongle, but I haven't found one yet that does this. Plus, you'd also then have to code the software itself for the new interface, unless there is already a shim of somekind... anyway, too much effort. That's basically what I have too. Works fine with PA Soft 1.4 Use Virtualbox, I can even share my VM if you'd like. I have all the key coding software in mine as well. https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=561237 That is the thread for you. I believe the same interface cable we're discussing here will work for your e60, depends on model year it seems.

Have one of these [blue and silver], works well on windows 10, software easy to install. http://www.bcables.com/#xl_HeadingAnchor:58iGanY

There is a white one in Auckland and Q Motors had one a while back which took a long time to register because Land Transport didn't recognise Alpina as a manufacturer. Will try and dig out a picture of the white one.......turned up at Coffee and Classics and it looked very cool - lots of road presence!

You'll notice both those vehicles have added reflectors on the rear panel, you can use these lights as long as you put reflectors on the rear of the vehicles as the factory lights already have a reflector in them. Have just been through this process with the cert guy.

Looking the business bro. Will have to come out and have a look next time im up bring the v8 out haha

Hi have a look here should clear it up for you no pun intended https://www.google.co.nz/search?site=&source=hp&q=nzta+tinted+rear+tail+lights&oq=nzta+tinted+rear+tail+lights&gs_l=psy-ab.3...7914.25231.0.25567.29.28.0.0.0.0.433.5321.2-23j0j1.24.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..5.20.4482.0..0j0i131k1j0i22i30k1j33i21k1j33i160k1.zjAeqeXlpgQ http://www.aa.co.nz/cars/ask-an-expert/legal-advice/show/168/

After saying I'd never ever move to Auckland, I'm actually looking forward to it at the end of this year

You understand the need to render those unsafe DarkThunderDragon tires unuseable to anybody else, right? Skids

First longish drive for about 5/6 years when I had the first of two big ops... was a wee bit nervous as to how it'd affect me but I needn't have worried... bluddy awesome! Looking forward to a few more roadies in the coming years

Let's get this thread back on topic and help Nathan (remorse) with his questions. If I offended anyone, it wasn't intentional just my opinion and how I see it. I'll keep further comments and opinions to myself. Go and talk with Ross at BM Workshop Botany, Guido at BM Workshop Grey Lynn or Ken at Bellars on the Shore. Don't ring, go and talk to them about your intentions of what you want to do and what you would like to achieve.

Yep, fair enough, valid points. I'd probably be the same in your shoes...but different.

I do agree with this. I bring my own parts to my mechanic on occasion. As I travel for work I stock up on filters via US suppliers when I'm there. One time I bought a Continental belt for a car of mine and they installed it for me. The bloody thing seems to have been defective from the factory and noisy. So I had to go back, pay again for labour and a new belt. They're good sports and I've been going there for a while so they cut me a break on some of the labour. Imagine if the belt had snapped or something? I assume that would be on me. But that's because I'm a reasonable person. Likewise, some people complain about shops adding margin to parts. If the guy has to spend time ringing around and ordering stuff rather than me then he should be able to cover that with some margin.

Thank you... and the clientele that I work for and enjoy working for is probably not the same as the people who are commenting here. My reasons are for the first thread I posted on this subject. I don't work for labour only and I don't discount my labour, I don't fit parts supplied unless by agreement with a client, I don't get told what or how much I will charge. I choose who I do work for and what I will work on. I don't need the stress or exposure to risk and I really enjoy doing what I do using quality parts that I have control over and being able to do my work to a high standard that has a quality back up of 1.5 million dollars of public liability which I have only had to use twice since 1986. I'm also supported by by network of suppliers who guarantee their products. If I offended anyone with my blunt statement... tuff. I can take it and get insulted at least once a week by 21 year olds that tell me how to repair there pieces of sh*t , what I will charge and how to do it, which I refuse to work on anyway. I will also add that I am not insinuating that any of the people commenting on here own pieces of sh*t, I just didn't put it across appropriately in a post up there ^^^^^ Using this scenario: Go to your local special restaurant... take cheap cut of meat and an imported crayfish with you. Put it on the table and tell the chef how much you will pay him to cook it to the same standard you had there a month ago ? Do you think he might be slightly insulted ? I'm only interested in dealing with people who want a quality repair done to a high standard at a reasonable price with guarantees, and my costs are always able to be negotiated... I have a phone number

Unfortunately the day I leave my phone at home (so no photo)... spotted a white i8 travelling south on SH1, heading into the Terrace tunnel. Friggin heck! what a beautiful machine!