jeffbebe

Quite a few similar threads on other websites say the same thing but I can't help feeling that, while it might be common for the M52B28 engine, it can't be normal... I mean they didn't stink of petrol on cold starts when they were brand new surely? Gotta be a seal or something somewhere. Going to see if I can locate it but I'm no expert unfortunately.

Good luck, Brian. Been dealing with cancer in our family over the last 12 months and beaten it, so I've got good faith in our medical care and having your attitude is the right way to go. All the best mate.

Screensaver? Awesome and awe-inspiring work, Ray!

Exactly there... If it was black it was probably mine.

http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....st&p=476306

Great job. I'm currently refurbing and recolouring my leather (from black to cinnamon) so a bit of a major. The leather in mine was in good nick but the a few scratches, etc but will be very happy if it comes up as good as yours when I'm finished.

Any ideas on how to locate the source of a fuel leak on cold start ups in my E39? The smells pretty bad but only lasts a minute or two until the engine warms up so I'm assuming it's a seal somewhere that leaks until it's warmed up. Recently had the injectors cleaned and seals replaced, it's possible I suppose that one of the seals is bad but I thought those seals were to stop air getting in rather than fuel getting out. If it was the fuel pump seal under the back seat wouldn't it smell inside the car? Anyway, I'm sure it's not a major but I don't really know where to look or what to look for...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-552284301.htm Tidy yes, but best looking in NZ? Hmmmnnn... And $20K seems an awful lot even for a relatively low mileage example.

Pretty certain I drove past the E39 530i that Tristan's selling - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-558431342.htm - today at the Auckland Domain. Looked very tidy though I wasn't that keen on the black wheels, still they're plastidipped so easy to revert back to original!

Most likely, not a very well thought out one though... Makes the seller sound like a mercenary SOB.

It is very nice... Bit rough on his mate though. "Thanks for the offer, bro, now I'll see if I can milk a bit extra out of the general public on TM, failing that she's all yours."

Nice wheels. ACS kit's are quite common on 520s from Singapore where tax on bigger engines is high.

As Allan recommends, green painters' tape will do the job perfectly. Just make sure you do it out of the sun. If the adhesive on the tape gets hot it'll leave more residue. It'll still come off but will need a bit of elbow grease or a cut n polish. You'll need to prep the racks first too with some fine sandpaper and degreaser before painting I reckon. I'd mask it up before you sand if you're not taking the racks out, just to make sure you don't scuff the body paint.

With a (hold your breath) BRAND NEW VTNZ WOF.... That's good for a whole year now isn't it under the new rules? Oh wait, that was before I learned it is not a 2003 320i but a 1999 328i.... Whoa!?

An awful lot of what you say is like a foreign language to me but what little I understand sounds like a lot of fun!!

I see someone picked this up for $22K. A bargain if it's in as good condition as it looks. Hope it's someone on here.

Fortunately, my office is 2 mins from home so I walk, otherwise I would be a very angry individual.

'Fraid my limited knowledge of not-very-much-at-all has now been exhausted. Sounds like you need new pads but I'd probably get it looked at by a pro to make sure it's not something else.

I'm an Aucklander and quite prepared to admit that on the whole, driving here is amongst the worst in the western world... Worse than Belgium even, and that's saying something! Apparently, we're so self-asbsorbed that we refuse to let other drivers merge on the motorway (it doesn't help that many Auckland drivers seem to think that motorway slip roads are give way!) and as a result we've had to put traffic lights on slip roads... Really?!!! It's the inconsiderateness of many drivers (and I hate to generalise, but young (18-25) women seem to be the worst culprits) that really bugs me. Are you in such a rush that you can't wait 30 seconds while someone reverse parks, it's not hard to indicate when you're turning (or randomly slowing to a halt on a busy road), t's not hard to say thanks when someone lets you out into traffic, it's not hard to let someone out into traffic - in the city or merging the motorway - and you're really f*cking dumb if you think not doing so gets you anywhere quicker. It is hard to drive and text/do your make up, read a map - so put your f*cking phone/lipstick/map down or pull the f*ck over - you'd also find it a lot easier to use your indicator if you had both hands free!! Rant over and sorry to hijack the thread. I agree with Old_Skool_BMW about the pros and cons of the new WOF rules!

Saw too many to remember driving up to Doubtless Bay and back over the long weekend (a mint black E39 M5 just north of Auckland did stick though but didn't notice the plate). Sadly I was driving undercover in our Mazda 6 wagon (child, dog, surfboard make my E39 impossible for family trips!).

+1. I don't profess to be the world's best driver but there is some seriously sh*t driving in NZ (particularly Auckland). Can they build driver etiquette into the tests? How hard is it to be considerate to other drivers??!

I've got OEM brake pads now and they're pretty noisy and very dirty. Going to be fitting some new ceramic street pads designed to cut noise and dust (jury's out on how good they'll be but I'll report back). The ones I've got now squeal a bit at low speed gentle braking but the sound you're describing could mean you've got some grit or a stone chip trapped in there. How long it's been going on?

I'd be happy with that, though I must say the driver of the Megane looks to be driving a far better line than the Porsche driver. I think the Porsche would have left it behind with a better driver at the wheel.

I don't think the colour of your car will make you nearly as happy as a 3L engine. EDIT: and if it does... get a 318 but don't spend $13K on it!

Not sure I'd pay 13 grand for a 318 with 122,000 kms on it. I've never owned one but a lot of the feedback on these forums I've read is that the 318s are fairly gutless. For similar (or less) money I think you can find one with similar kms, similar condition, leather interior and a bigger engine. e.g. this for less money, fewer kms and 2.8L engine so it will go like the clappers: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-553293327.htm You can even get a mint 330 with fewer kms for just a few grand more: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-554532648.htm