MattA

Awesome! Handicap spaces for handicap faces.....

E34 540, 6 speed E39 540 Msport E60 535d Msport

No maintenance or improvements, but spent the weekend driving the 540 (occasionally in anger) around the Matakana, Leigh, Omaha area. Every time I drive it I'm reminded just what a great car the E34 is.

Pm'd

Would you rather: AGE vs KMS Depends entirely on the woman..........

Na, don't think I'm up for any thing newer than the E61, but an E28 M5.........

Stunning stable mate! Quietest M62 I've ever heard, zero valve train or cam chain noise. Now to sell the Surf, oh yay tardme retard time...... let the wife deal with that.

Touch-less washes are only any good at keeping a clean car clean, and your right if the chem dosing or cycle duration's get out of spec you'll eat your paint. Red is the most susceptible leaving a cloudy/chalky appearance. Most of the water reclaim systems wind up being bypassed as they require significant upkeep, or you get oils and road film being reapplied with the first rinse. If the system is operating correctly the recycled water is only used for the initial wash down. Generally speaking I'd avoid any machine car wash (touch-less or roll-over brush) if you want you paint finish to remain intact.

Hey Greg, Its not in the garage but may be at a mates place in Whanagamata, I've left him a message will let you know when I hear back. cheers Matt

Think I've got one in the garage. Will check and let you know. If not I know a mate that has one that he was going to fit in his E61.

Fitted clear indicators. Makes such a difference to the over all look, (a decent wash and wax would probably do the same.........).

Its Kayne Barries rally car. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCvG8SRDGyg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25PV2QgE6kU

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-1039098334.htm

Had staggered M-Par's on it but it never drove well. 255? on the rear 225 fronts or something like that. I was doing a lot of Whangamata to Taupo and Akl on them, the 17's were about the best handling improvement I've made, subjective I know. Given the state of most of our "driving" roads big rims & low profiles are only cosmetic. The 535d is a much better handling car on the factory 18" but it looks cooler with the 19's.

appealing idea, but.... I'm working out what my long term plan for the 540 is now that I'm keeping it. It needs some love, so new bushes through the front end and maybe steering linkages as there's a small amount of play there. I'm a growing a list of other bits and pieces, some mechanical and a few cosmetic.

Took the 540 for a bit of a blast yesterday, forgot how much fun a 20 year old can be! Thought I'd get a pick of the pair of 5's.

Parked at Smales Farm, given condition I'm picking wasn't genuine

Late night runs over the Kopu - Hikuai, windows down, revs up. Stomping on it in the diesel station wagon in uphill passing lanes and watching other less torquey beings wondering why... even better when its loaded with kids gear and surf boards.

Bought the 535d for the same reason, averaging 700km/week I sure feel like I'm saving.

I don't mind, enjoyed the read and I'm not the slightest offended. As I tell my kids everyone is entitled to an opinion just understand mine is always correct P.S. I'm joking re my opinion, I was incorrect once and according to my wife all the time!

Thanks Ron

I'd hazard some of your experience has been sallied by the ass hats that often drive them.... I'd suggested a Subaru Outback or Forester, which she didn't like the look of but they have ok load capacity and ground clearance. She's test driven an Outback and was totally unimpressed said may as well keep the old Surf. While she's not likely to be "off road" in any real sense most of the MotoX she rides are in cut maze paddocks and the like so a station wagon (like the 353d) isn't going to cut it.

True, but a W201 variant would be tits!

AMG Hammer 6.0

Performance (mostly the torque) in the 535d is phenomenal, I'd imagine in an X5 would be great. It wouldn't be doing any great km's so the economy of the diesel isn't really a benefit once you factor in the higher Reg and RUC's Aaron, 15ltr/100km is bloody good towing a boat!