lemusa

This was not a quick wash

I'm a bad owner. I drove it 20km to the new place in May. No WoF or Reg but I did the math and I've driven almost that exact route over 2000 times without incident, so it seemed like a low risk endevour. She's still in limp mode but otherwise ran great once on the highway. Started first crank even after sitting for probably six months. Rego was put on hold until November...I have a feeling that will be extended. Life's been busy and I have a huge amount of landscaping to do before I'm allowed any garage time.

Despite my neglectful behaviour though, I have been thinking. I really want a manual one and seeing a couple come up recently has only encouraged this. But I've also been looking at LS conversions...I know but hear me out. I figure that I've got to put at least $15k into this. Manual conversion $10k, chain guides + the other "may as well" items $5k. By my quick math I could do an LS3 conversion for approx $20k, doing most of the labour myself. Not sure about costs of driveshaft and I'm sure there is other things that would blow this out but I think it's a reasonable guesstimate. Yes I'd lose the purity but I would gain 100hp+ and have a more reliable platform.

I'm not too concerned about resale value as either way I'd have a version of what I want, but I wonder what the generally feeling about conversions are? I know in aussie and the US they're favoured but I'm not aware of any in NZ.  

Am I a fool?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3707830190?bof=XXFac6g1

Can't imagine this would be fun to register but would be a fun drive. I wonder what it weighs

On 1/9/2022 at 12:28 PM, Michael. said:

What kind of shortages have you bee experiencing? 

Frame and truss were slow to get to site. Aluminium joinery took about a 3 weeks longer than scheduled to arrive and then they came in 3 lots over a couple of weeks. Bricks have been on site for over 2 months but big shortage of bricklayers apparently. Hopefully they get started this week. No date on insulation and gib supposedly arriving in Feb.

The builder reckons that once the walls are gibbed everything should be ok so I guess there isn't too many issues with hardware.

I haven't touched the car since my last post! I got the rego reminder today and I think I'll just put it on hold and deal with it once we're at the new house. Build is taking forever due to the material shortages so won't have garage space until May at this stage.

I'm still on holiday this week so I'm planning to tackle the drivers side seat twist. Might go battery shopping as well and see if I can clear the trans fail prog. And should probably give it a wash as it's home to many insects now. Definitely feel like I'm bringing shame to the BMW community but that will change eventually...

Nothing to update other than trans is in limp mode. I haven't driven it for a while and intermittently chuck the battery on trickle charge. Last time I drove it was in limp mode from cold start and I haven't been able to clear it by disconnecting battery. It was driving fine before this so I assume it's a battery issue as I've been pretty bad to it. WOF also expired in August and I know it will need new park brake shoes to pass. Considering just putting reg on hold and leaving it until we're at our new place but summer is also here so don't know what to do!

In my opinion $4.5k North Island $5.5k South Island. Stock springs and front bumper sorted out then maybe $6k

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3321084329?bof=BVxMiuW4

How does a car with these ks get to this state? Such a nice colour as well

Aside from the obvious "clean the car more" is there anything I can do to prevent moss growing on the edges of the window seals of my e39? It just keeps coming back. The car is parked up on the south side of the house and doesn't get much sun but the other vehicles never get any. I don't want to go rubbing weed spray or anything on the seals just in case it reacts...

21 hours ago, gjm said:

I've been an IT (Information Technology, Information Systems, Information Management) Manager for longer than I really care to recall.

Biggest issue is that we want to buy property, and need a mortgage for that. And that typically requires a permanent job, or at least a fairly extensive history of maintaining income.

Good news that you're in a big industry (nothing niche!). For what it's worth I've had two reasonably new employees get lending with the aid of a letter from us stating their remuneration package, start date and our company performance. That seems to alleviate the banks concerns about inconsistent income prior to their start.

I may have missed what you do but is temping an option? Good opportunity to network while keeping the credit card in your pocket.

Since my last post I've had little time to show her any love. We completed a heap of reno work on the house and sold at auction in May. We did really well out of it but I'm just happy to have my life back!

We're in a rental until around Christmas which is a townhouse so parking is limited. The garage is jammed full of stuff so luckily, because we're at the back of the block, I can park it in this little extra area.

The new parking spot now requires moving two cars out of the way to get to it so chances of driving it are even slimmer. I'm still on the same tank of fuel from my earlier post 😏

I've had it out once since we shifted so of course when I went to start it the battery was dead. It's a new battery as well so hopefully I haven't shortened it's life too much. My charger wasn't big enough for it so got a new one that will also take care of maintenance. Just got to figure out a non intrusive way to run an extension lead.

Today I finally got around to swapping in the new chain tensioner. Easy job and it has quietened the engine a tiny bit so I feel pretty good about it. Here's the one that came out. It's in good shape but at least now I know.

Went for a spirited drive around the back of the airport and all is well. I really need to drive it more. She might not be particular quick but with windows down and sunroof open it's easy to forget all of lifes problems.

Maybe alternator? I dunno if these are smart enough to kick off when the cars in park or not though...

Wasn't loved but interior looked clean. Seller only wanted $800 for it so you couldn't go too wrong

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3007974358?bof=uBxMJJas

Someone save it

Nothing to report other than she's been kicked out on to the street while we finish up painting the house. Does anyone else find that if they have to move the kids car seats in order to go out they just don't drive their weekend cars?

In this case I'd suggest getting a written reference rather than just listing their details on your CV. It gives them less options to screw you over as you have a written version of what they think of you. If they contradict that later over the phone and cost you a job then they are opening themselves up for a PG. If asking in person is too uncomfortable then asking over email is perfectly reasonable in my opinion.

Also remember a reference doesn't just have to come from a direct supervisor to be useful. You can make use of colleagues or higher levels of management if you have those relationships.

Definitely go through Arthurs Pass and hope it's raining when you do (it probably will be!) for maximum scenic feels.

Things I haven't seen mentioned: 

Benmoore Dam, a little out of the way but worth a look as are many of the smaller hydro setups dotted around.

Bluff is worth a drive out to get the required "sign photo" but there is literally nothing else of interest there. 

Do a helicopter glacier tour if budget allows, otherwise you could walk it but yeah nah. It's hard to believe it's the same planet up there...

SH1 between Christchurch and Oamaru is the most boring bit of road on the island. Try and avoid that stretch and you can't go too wrong.

Bring a jacket. Sometimes the south forgets it's summer.

Overthinking is the hardest part to manage for sure. The "issue" takes over and takes the shine off everything else that's good in life. I've only really experienced it over a longer period when I was dealing with a particularly sensitive situation/sh*t staff member and it really ruined my life for that few months. Alcohol intake went up and I was a shitty husband/father.

If you feel like you're being managed out there could be an opportunity to get ahead of it. Ask if there is any voluntry redundancies coming up - how you approach that would depend on size of company of course. Chin up, Christmas is almost here so make plans with the family/friends and the rest will come out in the wash.

Good ol BMW "improvements". I kinda miss the relative simplicity of my 1998 540i haha

Bit of a change! Looks clean and no doubt in a couple of years it will be one of the cleanest in NZ

32 minutes ago, Olaf said:

BMW owner starts forum thread rather than telephoning local service department. ?

Yes I'm a mad man. Posting a general discussion thread about a BMW recall, in a general discussion board, on a BMW orientated forum ? Dealer isn't open at 8pm... 

Wow that's not the response I was expecting. I assumed BMW service would be top notch.

The Ranger had a recall on an undertray not long after I got it and Team Hutchison Ford contacted me within days of receiving the letter to let me know that parts were still being manufactured and they would call me once available. A while after they rang me to book it in and offered me a range of dates which varied from a few days to a few weeks out depending on whether I needed a courtesy car or not. In the end I chose a date that coincided with the service window and killed two birds. Couldn't of been easier.

I'm trying to book in for the airbag recall. I believe it's been sorted by previous owner however I got a letter. Anyway I can't get past the service selection page on the website. It just sits there loading in a frozen like state. I've tried multiple browsers. Anyone else had this issue? Guess I'll have to call them...

How about we post what we took it with as well? For me, Samsung S9 ? F30 is in the company fleet. Unfortunately I only get it when the boss is overseas.