camera doctor

Like any trade, you still need the skills, but this will cetainly help with training - I couldn't see the point of using it for every job - but certainly the first time you have to do a particular job, it will save time and unnecessary extra work!

Glenn - I hope your new PC is a fast one! See this ! Augmented Reality Click on the video below the 'Related Topics' Heading. This is NOT science fiction - there is a place in Christchurch working on this technology, apparently they have working system at Science Alive in CHCH. No more training needed - just download the new software!! WOW

What about the fact the Govt changed the rules, and it is really not economical to bring used Japanese cars in now!

Jochen, Thanks for your help thus far - I have the Harmon Karden Drive + Play all wired up and working. I decided to use the tape deck wiring for the sound input, but as others have mentioned, it is quiet! After browsing USA E39 forums, it seems I have two options - a 'Headphone Amp' or a line driver - what are your thoughts? For the Headphone amp, options include DIY CMoy type or something like FiiO For line driver, it seems the Phoenix Gold TLD22 is the choice ( although cannot find for sale in NZ ) Line Driver Your thoughts would be appreciated, I wondered if the headphone amp would not be powerful enough and maybe the line driver would be too powerful? Thanks Greg

Thanks for your work, just joined pages up in photoshop and printed out. Excellent work!

Sorry if you have seen this before, but I thought it was rather good Understanding Engineers - One Two engineering students were walking across a university campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?" The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday,minding my own business, when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want." The first engineer nodded approvingly and said, "Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn't have fitted you anyway." Understanding Engineers - Two To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. Understanding Engineers - Three A priest, a doctor, and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, "What's with those guys? We must have been waiting for fifteen minutes!" The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such inept golf!" The priest said, "Here comes the green-keeper. Let's have a word with him." He said, "Hello George, what's wrong with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?" The green-keeper replied, "Oh, yes. That's a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime." The group fell silent for a moment. The priest said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight." The doctor said, "Good idea. I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist colleague and see if there's anything he can do for them." The engineer said, "Why can't they play at night?" Understanding Engineers - Four What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers? Mechanical engineers build weapons and civil engineers build targets. Understanding Engineers - Five The graduate with a science degree asks," Why does it work?" The graduate with an engineering degree asks, "How does it work?" The graduate with an accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?" The graduate with an arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?" Understanding Engineers - Six Three engineering students were gathered together discussing who must have designed the human body. One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints." Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections." The last one said, "No, actually it had to have been a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?" Understanding Engineers - Seven Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet. Understanding Engineers - Eight An engineer was crossing a road one day, when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me I'll turn back into a beautiful princess and stay with you for one week." The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket. The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you for one week and do ANYTHING you want." Again, the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess and that I'll stay with you for one week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?" The engineer said, "Look, I'm an engineer. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool."

No, not me Must be confusing me with someone else. If you have that diagram handy, it would be appreciated! TIA

OK, I have my 1996 Ex Japan 540i in bits at the moment, in the process of installing a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play iPod kit. I have the centre console ( gearstick area ) dismantled and he 4:3 screen Headunit etc out. ( Gee these cars are well put together - pulled lots of Jappa's apart, and this thing is built WAY better! - Harder to get apart though! ) I need +12 V Constant + 12v ACC Ground Was hoping to get these from the 'Head Unit' wiring, as it seems the HK control unit will fit behind the display assy, but with the BMW connectors, it is really hard to trace with a multimeter, and after a couple of hours on the Net, getting nowhere - here I am! So, can some body help me out, an let me know where an easy source of those are, preferably in the areas I already have apart! --- The unit has a2 Amp fuse, so current will not be too high. TIA

Based on replacement of a 599 at $550k, it this sells for the guide price, the depreciation works out at about $15 per km !! Ouch !

In that case, the price is pretty decent, XP Pro lifts the cost by $200 Cheers Greg

Glenn, You do not mention Display or Operating system - are you not buying those? Also, do you NEED a separate Video Card - if just for business use, would onboard suffice? The E4600 is basically the lowest spec Core 2, but again fine for business use. Price seems high if no operating system, but would depend on Case/PSU spec etc etc.

Hotwire - at the risk of 'stealing' this thread, any clues and hints to doing that job - I ned to do it as mine has stopped too! Due for a WOF next week, not sure if it is a requirement, but I noticed it is listed on thw WOF sheet - got past last time cause the light washers sprayed water onto screen! How much was the pump? Cheers

Welcome fellow 540i owner! Can't beat the feeling and rumble of that V8 eh! Have had mine for 12 months now, it comes out in the weekend only, the On Board Computer tells me I have averaged 14 Litres per 100km, which is better than some sixes I could think of ( SUV's! ) Towed a car transporter trailer yesterday with a mates 1987 Merc 300TE wagon ( Read HEAVY ) on it, reset consumption reading, and it told me it did 18l/100km, so made not a lot of difference - that's the torque for ya! -- in comparison, the owner of the Merc towed the trailer empty on his 2007 2 litre Focus, and it's OBC was telling him 20l/100km ! Poor thing must have been working hard! The other thing I like about the 'old' Bemmer is the way everything still feels tight and all doors & interior hatches etc close with a real solidity. Welcome to the club, enjoy it! Edit for Spelling!

Thanks, this is probably the easiest route - where do I find the antenna connector - boot or dash? I have read on USA forums that 'hot wiring' through the tape input gives poor quality sound, and if I go the CD input I guess I would loose the function of the current CD changer? Thanks for your help. Greg

Maybe Jochen or Hotwire can help me here..... I have a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play to install to my 1997 E39 540i. The options are FM Wireless ( Rather not ) RCA Input Wired FM Modulator So, my choices really are 'AV' Input or the FM wired Modulator, that plugs inot 'standard' type aerial socket. I have the bits Jochen sent me to hookup the AV input, but am I right in remembering that it only is Mono? If I go with the FM wired system, where do I find the Aerial socket - I'm guessing in the boot? If so, is the plug a 'standard' car stereo type, or am I going to need a special BMW plug/socket combo? TIA

Having just came back from KL ( Maylasia ) I can vouch for that ... similar thing over there, LOTS of Cars, and even more crazy scooter drivers - funny to watch them when the lights go Red, all the scooters go thru the traffic to the front, I do not know how they don't scratch cras or break off rear view mirrors!

The wifey is looking for a Motorised Treadmill - if you have one collecting dust, or being used as a clothes rack, let me know! Thanks

Just a point on defense of the guys who charge for scanning - you have to remember that the machine they hook your car up to cost big $$$$ and usually extra $$$ for upgrades and connectors etc for new models. Certainly from my industry ( Camera Repair ) we recently priced up some camera interface tools ( just for one BRAND of camera ) and the total was going to be over $ 60 K !!! Would take a lot of $70 chargeouts to recover that! Only so much can be 'included' in the labour rates - especially with Four weeks holiday, Kiwisaver, ACC etc etc etc { Rant ends! } :) Editted for spelling mistakes!

Anything but factory genuine replacements may cause WOF failure Landtransport Rules I think also that the comment re washers is correct, I seem to remeber reading somewhere on the LTNZ site that HID units MUST have washers.

+1 .... spotted that in the manual too. My 540i runs shite when it is cold, but the manual says not to let it warm up in the garage

My one is http://www.protecta.co.nz/MainMenu Found them to be good

Wikipedia 14 Million sold!! Noticed the Indian made version had the Nissan A12 engine - that one would be reliable!

Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be a smart arse, but maybe your experiences will help others. I guess if the car was NZ new with 30k, it would have been repaired under new car warranty? But as it is ex Japan, not so. I also guess that since it was ex Japan, it was a LOT cheaper than a NZ new car? Therefore, I am a strong believer in ALWAYS getting a three year mechanical warranty with ex Japan cars. My last car needed a tranny overhaul - cost the warranty copmany $4500, but only cost me the $250 excess.

For those interested in oil burners : NZ Herald Article

I could find the 25K, it is the first 100K I would have trouble with!! Yummy!! Trademe Link