Kodachrome

Updated photos, getting as much interest from Oz as NZ. Would be nicer (and far easier) to sell locally though.

Cash hopefully! Thinking about moving abroad for work and dont want to subject it to international shipping again (technically the 3rd time in its life!).

Ive had both and the SEC really felt like an old car when driving and also has a myriad of vacuum hose problems. It did get a ton of compliments tho. The other gotcha on the SEC is the rust.. its got cavities prone to rust in the best of climates but in the UK or Ireland, its horrific. The E31 drives like a new car (ie you dont feel like you are floating at speed, its got better everything in the normal car sense) and is nicely rust proof. It doesnt have the insane vacuum hose problems but does have electrical oddities. On the flip side, 2 of everything means you have redundancy (the other engine bank will run, becomes a 6 cylinder) if fault detected. On the technology and service side; Servicing a CSi isnt bad at all (though I would do most myself).. its bad rep came when it was launched as a technical tour de force in the 1990's. Its tech is very humble and simple by 2016 standards, a new Honda Accord (as a random example) is 10x more complicated. Really, we are talking semi-sequential injection, copper spark plugs, distributor caps (!!), narrow band O2, low PSI fuel pumps (with 2 for good measure) built upon an low compression engine originally made in the 70s! Its complex but revolutionary Z-link rear suspension became standard in (all?) BMWs after it. Technology wise, its little more complicated than a M60 engined E34 (which I loved, had 2) and far behind an M62 E39. I also have a Magnesium engined N52 530i E60 LCI, that thing is !! in complexity, but an amazing engine.

Thanks for the feedback, its my CSI up for sale. Surprised by some of the comments about the rims. I really like them and they usually get rave feedback.. and they really are rare period correct rims! They are nice and wide which really complements the CSi's fat ass shape. I previously had Style 5 and Style 32's on it.. I've had this car for quite a while! PS: Here is is beside my 560SEC back in Ireland.

Let us know how you get on. I'm considering an M6, same engine, same problems! Ive never used 3rd party warranties but hear lots of horror stories.. any recommendations?

Real Wheel steering. Touch wood the only prob I had with mine is some rusty piping that needed replacement. Sadly "no one in NZ" seems to be able to handle metric /DIN high pressure fittings and pipework so had to buy BMW parts.

FYI I have a version of these and they look great painted (plastidip), just FYI for potential buyers!

Damn pity about the wheels... you got anywhere that can get them fixed? The two passenger side are well gouged, slammed into kerb sideways?

Nice. Is that the stock exhaust tip, meaty looking!?

Ill have to double check what ones are on mine as I thought the bank specific-ness was just the rubber hose parts bend, not the valve itself. I have a bunch of spares already thanks though!

Yeah you are correct, this can cause it too but I swapped the PCVs then replaced one just to be sure and the same bank does the same thing. I had new PCVs in it anyhow.

Sorry that was misleading of me, its grey smoke, one bank only and changes smell and colour with different motor oils (I tried a "smokeless oil" which confirmed it right away), its definitely oil being sucked through after letting off throttle after hard acceleration, which is a tell tale oil seal leak due to vacuum. Also smells like burning oil and not petrol. Its also "using" more oil than it should. That aside, Im looking for someone to do the job, I have all the parts already and actually most of the tools, I stripped it down myself and found the one tool I didnt have was a spring compressor that would play nice with the camshaft. The M70/S70 engine is actually quite easy for this job, you just put some rope in the spark plug holes to stop the valve dropping when the springs are removed. Head doesnt need to be removed. I would prefer a pro to do it though as its somewhat annoying work.

Finally think I should get this fixed so I can drive in the summer without gassing myself with black smoke. I was told of a good guy in Porirua (thought name was something like Mark Wallace but I cant find him)... has to be someone good with older BM's. Any suggestions?

Great but virtually all the E60 M5s up on TM at the moment have lower mileage than the E39 M5 in this thread. One of them only has 64k on it! They arent "cheap", they are worth $38 to 40k, thats it. Which put pressure on the E39 M5.. which is the problem the seller is seeing.

At $39k asking vs $30k asking, there is no longer that much in them to make that statement true, unless you think inherently the E60 M5 is not enthusiasm worthy?

Your pricing is inline/good compared to other E39 M5s, but when a E60 M5 (along with its newer engine, chassis, lower mileage and wear etc) is only $9k more you have to consider maybe all the E39 M5s are overpriced and none are really shifting.

The Mobil 1 Motorsport 10w60 is a better oil in the same metrics than the Castrol 10w60 TWS (data available online, its about high temp shear resistance). Also the Castrol 10w60 Edge (not Edge Sport) is the same oil BMW sell as the M oil.

NZ Customs are the ones asking for the value (indirectly) though I did already state to the shipper surely customs would provide a valuation if they wanted one. Was told they will only do so if they dont think the value you give them is accurate. The Consignee/Shipper is just using whatever value I give them, which doesnt really have any standing. Thanks Peter. The valuer I used will give me a free Insurance friendly quote when its complied so I should be able to head that problem off! Put me on the E31 register indeed!

That was what I did straight away however Sneddons the importer said it wont be acceptable. I did find http://www.carvaluation.co.nz/ who will do a Valuation for $75 which they claim will be acceptable for Customs...

After 10wks at sea my 1993 850CSi will arrive here on the 10th. The import company says I need to provide: "We have reviewed your documents and need either Purchase Document or Registered Valuation for the car from a New Zealand entity." Problem is I dont have a Purchase invoice as I bought it from a private seller 5 years ago, receipt was hand written (and I cant find it, it was just half an A4 page). I tried AA Valuations, Redbook etc and none of them list the 850CSi.. anyone got a recommendation? Can I just hand-write another Receipt? Or recommend some "entity" who I will just pay for a piece of paper? Need to get this sorted ASAP!

Its on my bucket list anyhow!

What exact;y are the Rims on the car vs what you can sell, ie model and size?

Any interest in selling the wheels separately?

Missing the 850CSi but has the M8 prototype... which is pointless as it was never even driven on a road. http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=11

Still available?