nath

Looks great in red, but is it an NZ SE? SE's here got SE cloth (no vinyl on sides, E34 cloth), faux leather handbrake boot, shadowline etc. pre-edit: I see it isnt NZ new, SE must be different in UK

I have a full page advert in an old nz Autocar mag for them from about 1997 or 8. It shows a green one (in a luscious mid flat green that I have never seen) beside the touring car.

Have to agree on that one that while pretty uninspiring in most ways the E39 is a more acceptable looking car than the E60, then the new Fxx 5 is great again

I saw them filming an advert for it at Westhaven at the end of summer, it was certainly less staunch than the current model, and with a fatter luggage compartment sort of like a CRV. It looked good in brown

I would pipe up in defence of merc owners being tough, as ive had 3 of them... but then remembered, I'm gay

Hey cheers for that, seems to be solved, I've had both doors apart before doing the cable-tie regulator fix and saw no damp patches or other evidence

Fingers crossed problem fixed, 2 top corners of windscreen outer seal have foam corners which were disintegrating or damaged and certainly letting water in. Lifted edge of rubber seal and filled void left by foam once removed, with silicone sealant. No damp smells in the lasts periods of rain. I should add that both A pillar furry coatings are a bit wavy and peeling, I had thought bad quality but may have been water.

Looking good, May I ask what the windshield trim costed you and where from?

Fantastic! pity its a dumb colour. Was for sale a few years back for about 7 (or was it 9?) thousand

507 m325i I and II FL E46 330i msport 2 and 4 door in any colour but black

Are you just curious, or is this for university or the like? Remember there are rules for official surveys, asking you to state how the info will be used, what it is for, who you are and what institution/ business etc...

That actually sounds like a story that the ODT would see fit to publish! "Letterbox smashed, found broken"

Avantgarde models have more gloss black trim inside and out, and also cardon fibre trim. They have lower stiffer suspension, maybe sportier seats? Tend not to be faked, merc owners dont wank the same way as bmw ones.

My old man has had one of these since new. Watch out for seals around the boot clogging up with dirt and water flowing nicely into the spare wheel well and surrounding area. The air conditioning bearing(s) seem to be pretty shot now and it makes a horrible whine. The horn stopped working with nothing coming up when scanned, earlier this year (unsure if fixed yet). All of this and it lives in an orchard shed unused most of the time. Oh and #1 worst quality part is the heater coolant changeover unit/valve. Luckily a bit of internet searching (RHD fix is much harder than LHD but still do-able) I found the likely culprit of NO HOT AIR and got a discounted new unit for around $90 and fitted it by myself. It was to be a much more expensive job at the dealer. It is however a fantastic drive (elegence spec, not avantgarde or AMG), uses very little fuel on long trips and has good torque.

That could be a beautiful car with some love! I'm not sure how well death threats go down here, but if it doesn't stay Daytonaviolet.... well. Black has got to be THE most uninspiring, unoriginal, and brainless colour available, have some style. I am surprised that it has been treated so poorly yet with so few k's on the clock. Treat a car badly, sure- but in such a short mileage?

Cant help but think that the Upland Rd house may be cross- lease. The apartment is tasteless, the house not far behind.

I have an E46 sedan, and the day after rain, the interior stinks of wet carpet (the carpet doesn't feel wet, but you know the smell). Internet searching indicates that my pretty stuffed lower windscreen/ wiper arm cowl is to blame for leaks. Is such a 'bottom level' piece of trim really given the task of stopping water from getting inside the car and rotting? I have cleaned up/out obvious channels for water around the cowl. Any other suggestions, or is the cowl indeed to blame? Cheers

Good call, crappy non- functioning ASAP by the looks.

535i Some people may be interested in this if it goes cheap, electric sport leather seats dished alpina wheels alpina gearknob manual alpina air dam

I thought, aside from the silly write-up that this Trademe E30 looked neat so for the heck of it I searched it's factory spec. The cars registration says 325iaD 'RME' seems to be a form of biodiesel. Does anyone know what the deal could be here? Wrong record? I'm sure the trademe car must run on petrol, also another option, 'rear bench seat in fabric' is incorrect as it is in actual fact leather.

Very tasteful.

I would avoid the e90 until you want to pay for a perhaps second hand f30, I still prefer the look of an e46 to the e90, and they drive so so similarly

The only experience I have had was a 120i with 16" Continental runflats. Tracked really well not too harsh a ride with the runflats, then when replaced with conventional tyres it felt like it wandered a bit more on the road.

McLaren MP4-12C today near Kerikeri

Provided it is an M20, and provided the pads on top of the valves have no indentation, a good valve adjustment fixes valvetrain noise. Properly adjusted valves still clearly have a noise, but it is a satisfying, efficient tappety tap. On a high km engine the rocker shafts could be worn.