NZ BMW

Are Mercedes in Japan built to a lower quality than NZ market ones? I always laugh when people talk about shoddy Japanese imports when a car that has lived its life in New Zealand can just as easily be subjected to abuse. What service history do you have for the electrical components? With regards to service bills I imagine you're talking about things like the brakes and suspension components being more expensive? I think that's to be expected with any performance house car - same with the M's or Audi RS cars.

Notice that it has mph speedo too, manual climate looks like it's easier to use whilst driving than auto. I always find myself looking down, to set the tep just so...

I would go with the cl500 seems to be a better compromise overall. Even then the first gen of the cls is getting pretty cheap now.

Hmmm it does 0-100 in 4.8 sec and the M5 is 4.7 to 100. According to Wikipedia. So I guess it would be down to what each driver had for lunch.

I think the CL65 might beat the E60 M5 in a straight line. The facelifted ones of these are not too bad (from what I hear). But the pre 2003 non turbo coupes and saloons are a debacle when it comes to the air suspension and some significant oil leaks on the V12.

Agree, tyres last longer than 5 months. Take them back with proof of purchase (bank statement will do). Don't. take no for an answer if you have been driving normally with correct pressure.

I know how I treat rental cars. So I vote no.

I guess I'm the odd one out here. I think they look a bit rank and the interior is average to me as well. These were superseded by the one based on the Jag XK based one right? I would rather a XKR from the late 1990's and the spare cash.

No, but they will pay tax on that income depending on how they have arranged their affairs.

Residential tenancies DON'T have GST

This is similar to what I get in rush hour commuting in Auckland, is this not normal? I get good milage on the open road Auckland to Whangarei on less than a 1\4 of a tank.

Setting the value low will not always work, also the fines for falsely marking commercial goods as gifts if they decide to punish you will erode any savings you're making. GST is the most fair tax we have, because everyone pays the same. Just pay your tax and stop trying to cheat the system.

Thanks guys, I'll head over to parts master tomorrow. They're close to where I live. I was worried it was going to be a dealer only option. I still recall going to the MB dealer and being told that I could not purchase inserts for my car, only full arms/blades @ $400 plus GST for the set!

Hi Team, Where is a good place to get wiper blades? I purchased some from Repco which I had to cut down to size and they didn't really fit that well. They do the job but they have not really lasted overly well. Are there any over the counter options for the E39 to use those one piece wipers which lots of modern cards are spec'd with? Thanks,

Pretty much, it was sold as a documentary style show about young Maori living and "making it" in Australia. In reality what they should have done would have been to present a single page of A3 written in crayon "iZ to makes a sweetazzzz show like da jersy shore" That would have been more accurate.

That mesh is for extractor fans in commercial kitchens; not cars.

Who can unlock this feature? Dealer via their OBD system or can my mechanic do it with their generic Bosch system?

Great Wall?

Agree, all it does is send the brand down market. Still I guess that strategy has worked for VW in China, they've been there for years selling de-spec'd cars and have done quite well. Sadly for BMW they might be johnny come lately to the party.

wooooah, does this thing come from the Death Star?

It'd be relatively easy for them to write the software to pick up the various fonts. You forget that the software will also have to account for various screws, dents and chips which are on all the plates out there. I don't think there will be anywhere to hide

Seems reasonable. Obviously they're the agent for BMW AG so they're going to administer any defects or recalls and then bill BMW AG for it. However they don't want to be left holding the can as the last man standing when someone has an issue with a grey market car which is imported via a private dealer.

Haha, I actually like them, makes the car a bit interesting. The back ones have "Individual" on them: There is a few of them on the market at the moment looks like some kind of special order BMW Japan made in 2001: Type 530I (EUR) Dev. series E39 () Line 5 Body type LIM Steering RL Door count 4 Engine M54 Cubical capacity 3.00 Power 170 Transmision HECK Gearbox AUT Colour TITANSILBER METALLIC (354) Upholstery SONDERPOLSTERUNG (Z1XX) Prod. date 2001-05-29 Order options No. Description 204 DRIVE VERSION EXPORT 249 MULTI-FUNCTION FOR STEERING WHEEL 261 SIDE AIRBAG FOR REAR PASSENGERS 354 GREEN STRIPE WINDSCREEN 360 LT/ALY WHEELS/STAR SPOKE 81 401 SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC 415 SUNBLIND FOR REAR WINDOW 423 FLOOR MATS, VELOUR 428 WARNING TRIANGLE 430 INT/EXT RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-DAZZLE 438 WOOD TRIM 441 SMOKERS PACKAGE 459 SEAT ADJUSTM., ELECTR. W. MEMORY 473 ARMREST, FRONT 494 SEAT HEATING F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER 500 HEADLIGHT WASHER SYS/INTENSIVE CLEANING 522 XENON LIGHT 534 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING 548 SPEEDOMETER WITH KILOMETER READING 602 ON-BOARD MONITOR WITH TV 640 CAR TELEPHONE PREPARATION 676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM 694 PREPARATION FOR CD CHANGER 807 JAPAN VERSION 818 MAIN BATTERY SWITCH 823 HOT CLIMATE VERSION 845 ACOUSTIC BELT WARNING 875 INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL 925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE 938 CONTROL ZS INDIVIDUAL SERIES 940 SPECIAL REQUEST EQUIPMENT Series options No. Description 202 STEPTRONIC 520 FOGLIGHTS 853 LANGUAGE VERSION ENGLISH Information No. Description 431 INTERIOR RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-D 555 ON-BOARD COMPUTER Individual data Processing Individual Sign "BMW individual" Special Series E39-Japan-D-1, KA88 Variante 3 Z1XX Upholstery Upholstery leather Montana black (nb. 8 171 304) plus door handle, center console, front arm rest and handbrake gaiter Sewing thread black (1 905 499), code 0020 as standard Quilting yarn black (1 963 800), code 0020. Rear panel of front seat backs in plastic black Plastic parts of seats in black Seam of front and rear seats according to standard option leather Montana Remainder of spec. as standard leather Montana black (code N6SW) 0940 Sonderwunschausstattung Special door sills with "BMW Japan 20th Anniversary" logo.

Thought I might as well add mine in here - with all the other E39's in Auckland...

Guess it shows there is no wear on the buttons which is consistent with the age and mileage, along with the car being in good condition. Generally my initial impression of a car (or any item) with lots of photos on Trademe is that it must be well looked after. A person who takes the time to document something fully is better than the person who puts up one or two photos and writes; "in good condition".