jeffbebe

Very nice! Good to have another E39 owner (particularly a 96 528i!!). Incidentally, I've got a set of brand new tailored black mats with beige leatherette trim that I never got round to using in my E39. They'd look great in there instead of those rubber mats. Would be keen to get rid of them for a good price if you're interested (I paid around $125 for them).

Sorry Jon, I've been guilty of lumping BMW NZ in with their dealers. I appreciate that the two arms of the business are separate. I think what Tom's been getting at is that communication between the two has not been very effective in his case. If I was a BMW dealer I'd be trawling these sites... While there may not be many people that can afford a brand new bimmer, you'd think that members of a BMW forum would be pre-disposed to purchasing if they have the available finances (or credit!!).

Interesting, what did it cost, if you don't mind me asking (excluding the cost of the car itself)?

Most auto trimmers will do it or have a good contact but it starts getting pricey (probably the best part of $1K to fully recolour). These guys - http://www.docstotalpackage.net/product/K-LEATHER-REPAIR-KIT - are really helpful and do a good kit for recolour for around NZ$250 shipped. Email Lee at [email protected], he's really helpful. I didn't actually go ahead and do it in the end (money/time/etc got in the way) but they seemed to provide the best advice, etc from all of the places I researched. Also they use standard BMW colours so it'll look authentic too.

Doesn't look too bad in white IMO, though agree the dash and wheel would like better in black. It looks like that section of the wheel is plastic not leather so that will be hard to recolour - you'd need a new wheel. The dash trim could be vinyl wrapped effectively but may not match perfectly the other trim so probably best to hunt one down from a wreckers or eBay (plenty of wood and aluminium but can't see any plain black - ebay - and plenty of carbon fibre style wrap kits). Seats and door cards can be recovered for about $2K. With $1-2K at your disposal I'd buy a secondhand ali dash trim set, a new black leather gear lever cover and a secondhand black steering wheel (you only need the outer and could swap the airbag unit so should be pretty cheap). I think the white seats and handbrake boot would look great then. Recolouring white seats should be pretty easy if the colour doesn't do it for you and would be a lot cheaper than recovering.

+1. Controversial.

Presumably if his tyre shop is successful then he could be in the market for a bimmer. If they relied solely on selling new cars to people that already like/own one they wouldn't do too well. My understanding is that these driver days are outsourced anyway, so they guys running it also want to make a buck or two. I think the issue Tom's expressing is less about the programme itself and more how BMW sales utilise it to retain and acquire customers.

I actually enjoy cleaning my car but not as much as this guy... http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt...70#post24579970

Pretty useful... Could easily mistake it for a Suzuki. Well worth the money. Personally I'm going to stick with my plate - IMANOB.

Done. You can show me your new Porsche! I'm sure Tom would have appreciated a call from either!

I think we have a different opinion of Barkers suits. Just p*ss all over my parade, Tom! haha. Kidding. Say what you like, this is a forum after all. You never know, someone from BMW NZ's after sales team might be reading!!

Agreed. You've got to get it dirty so you can spend hours cleaning it again!!

Pretty certain it's Lachie's one http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....=43030&st=0 He said in another post he might consider selling when he went overseas.

Not sure I'll ever own an M car... But I'd like to learn how to drive one properly just in case!!

I can't compare to the 1M, I'm afraid, as I've never driven it but the M135i was great. It reminded me of the first time I drove a Mk II Golf GTI some 15-20 odd years ago. Surprisingly solid handling for a small car but still light and manoeuvrable, very very quick. Completely different feeling to the M5. Most of the other people there I spoke to all loved the M3 and the M135i, I think because they found them - particularly the M135i - to be more like driving the road cars they were used to but on steroids. The M5 was something different and in my mind, very special. First off, I absolutely love how unassuming it looks - especially compared the M3 Pure Edition. The classic sleeper. Then you get in it and it's like you're enveloped in luxury and it's a big heavy car. The M135i doesn't even have electric seats so despite the insane performance it could be any other car inside. The M5 is a Saville Row suit, the M3 is Armani and the M135i is a Barker's suit (with an All Black inside it). I'm biased because I've dreamt about M5s for the last 30 odd years but it was everything I hoped for!! When I floored it for the 0-100 sprint the feeling of getting pressed into those comfortable leather seats was brilliant!! I thought it would be terrifying driving something so powerful but it's that good a novice like me felt completely at ease with it.

Is that you're existing one, Tom? If so, I'm thinking it wouldn't be too hard to refurbish, would it?

I was invited by someone they sponsor not by BMW NZ. I don't think they have a huge amount of interest in me as a potential customer but I am massively grateful to my friend for the opportunity. My understanding is that these driver days are outsourced to a commercial company so they are normally paid for events (I believe someone said it's about $800 for a full day session). Would be a killer marketing tool for prospective buyers like yourself, Tom!

Maybe it's karma as me n' my better half have had a rough 12 months but we've lucked in a couple of times recently. Firstly, my wife won the keys to a brand new F31 320i for a month in March and then at short notice, I got invited today to a BMW Ultimate Drive Day at Hampton Downs by a good friend who works with BMW. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that it was absolutely frickin' sensational! It wasn't a full on track day, it was an opportunity for the good folks at BMW to show us a few party tricks from the current range, such as x-drive, as well as let us drive a host of different vehicles on the road, off road and on the track over the course of three or four hours. On road I drove a 650 gran coupe (amazing!), 530d, 116i and an X1. The X1 was probably the only car all day I didn't particularly car for. Off road I drove an X6 40d but it was on the track that the fun really began. I missed out on driving this but am assured it was outrageous: But I did get to drive the new M135i which was incredible. So quick, great handling and so fun. It was like a go kart on steroids. I was behind the M3 and had no problem keeping pace with it (we were behind a pace car so it wasn't racing but the M135i's acceleration and handling was comparable). I had a blast in an X6 M50d which was very cool. Not my favourite looking car but it was deceptively quick. After the M135i it felt like a tank but every now and again you'd glance at the HUD and notice you were doing 140-150kms/h when you felt like you were doing 60! Brilliant handling too for a big car. All of these paled into comparison against the F10 M5 though. Pity it was the first one I drove so I was a bit nervous (I've never driven on a track before) but it was absolutely incredible. I won't be able to drive another car again without feeling mildly disappointed. Gut-wrenching acceleration and amazing handling in a car that is so comfortable inside you feel like you're at home in your arm chair. I am in love (don't tell my wife). Funnily enough the car smelled a bit of vomit. I quizzed the instructor and apparently a punter in an earlier session had driven so insanely in it he'd made himself sick... Looks like there'll be a bargain M5 up for grabs soon... If you don't mind the smell of old bile. Best day I've had in a very long time. Still smiling (and shaking a little). Really want to find the $$$s to do their full driver training day! That might be a bit of puddle of wee next to it. It was VERY fast.

Guess there's a fair bit of money oweing then!

Don't worry, a bit of pedantry now and again is necessary. Definitely enjoyed the prize, would love to have enjoyed it for longer!

Sadly a prize is just something given... Not necessarily something kept. Wish it was!!

Didn't go for $22K and he's relisted: http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.asp?id=583818484 So this has been on TM a few times. Obviously the person selling now bought it from the previous owner who said it was brought from South Africa, from memory. It stuck out because it had some sort of chiller in the rear centre console. Wondering if anyone has looked at it (either this seller or previous) and has any insight into why a) it's so cheap (and even cheaper when this guy got it) and why the current seller wants rid of it so soon after buying? It's passed a recent WOF but that doesn't mean a whole lot.

+1

Sorry F31. It doesn't have the model number on any of the information with the car by the way... So we have to guess from the info Google provides. Have edited my posts.

The F31 was far more than a nice distraction. I'd own one in a heartbeat if my financial situation allowed for it. That said I don't think I'd give up my E39 but they're not like for like really. The car is comparable in size and usage to our Mazda 6 wagon but there's really no comparison in quality. The Mazda never goes wrong but has very little personality and style. I love the F31, I love my E39 more (probably because of the time, etc I've put into it) but if money was no object the F30 would be a fantastic daily driver. That said, I love a project, so if money really was no object, I'd probably try and build an E39 M5 wagon!