elmarco

Its a far out heater for your 100 sq m music. Isn't it? And don't forget it's on castors and stylish solid wood design. At one of my former companies we had a saying - just because you can, doesn't mean you should. And I think that applies here - if I could identify what the hell it actually is...

My experience is with the mk5 Golf, and the Recaro capsule with ISOFIX base. In saying I have to drive, I can actually get in the front, although I wouldn't want to do it for a long trip. Ours has leather so I make sure the back of the front seat isn't rubbing on the capsule - someone less caring would probably have no problems.... BUT it is better than my 320 - I can't really get in the passenger seat with it in there. I don't find it too bad - the normal service is comparable to a BMW or even our previous Honda (unless something breaks!). They have similar issues to modern BMW's with respect to cooling system plastic parts, and of course they have cam belts. I do know that they can get eye watering if you start talking about DSG repairs - but is it worse than a major E90 trans problem? I dunno.... Not sure I would say they are like for like with a Corolla - similar sizes and that's about it. They are more complex (especially engine/trans) - and I guess VW do play off that in NZ. Ours has all the electronics that my E46 and E90 have so I kind of expect similar part prices. And of course, VW make a lot more of their own parts than some of the other manufacturers so they can set the pricing where they want it. It would be interesting to see the price of similar repairs between VW & Toyota or Honda dealers (like a cam belt or front rotors & pads) for a 5 year old car.

Fuel filter or crap in the bottom of the tank?

Oh and on the runflat thing - my 320 E90 doesn't even have room for a spare which makes me very, very nervous. I've had to get a mobility kit (compressor + goo) just in case as the runflats were removed by the previous owner because they tramlined all over the place. I reckon thats a major flaw in NZ (or Australia for that matter) and I suspect the 1 series is the same. In fact, mine doesn't have a jack, wheel brace or even a lock nut for the wheel - so even if I couldn't fix it with goo & compressor, I couldnt just take the wheel off & get a lift to the tyre shop. It's going to be a tow truck or walking... Will have to sort something out soon. No such problems with the Golf. I really should have got another one instead of the E90....

So I went through this exact scenario over the last 18 months... For my wife, we got a mk5 Golf 2.0 FSi petrol 18 months back because she was pregnant. For 110kw it really gets up and boogies - I find I really need to keep an eye on speed (much more so than the beamers) when I drive it as it does fly off the mark. The 6spd auto (not DSG) really made a humungous difference over the 4spd 307 we were pretty close to taking. It also gets around 8.5l/100km average which is pretty good for a 2l petrol, and more like 6-7l/100km on the open road. Pleasant to drive for me & my wife loves it, good stereo (much better than the E90 and I suspect the 1 series has an identical stereo), loads of cupholders, leather heated seats, dual zone climate control, loads of tie down points in the boot, sh*t loads of airbags & intrusion bars and plenty of room in the boot for pushchairs. Don't underestimate how much stuff you'll need to take with you when they are really small. The ISOFIX mounts were a must have and make life so much easier - you can get a quick fit base for some capsules (we still have our Recaro one) which uses no seat belts and is a life saver when you have a bub - really fast to clip them in. Keep in mind that you'll need to move the front seat forward when the carseat/capsule is rear facing. I have to drive when we are out as a family as I can't get into the front seat (I'm 6ft 2in) with the baby seat behind it. That will change when we change it to front facing, but you should plan on around 18 months (depending on who you listen to) rear facing. So the reason I say I've been doing this for 18 months is that I just got myself an E90 2l diesel as the 330ci was too difficult to get the seat in and out of (I finally caved - the E46 330ci is such a good car, and I think much better than the E90). While the diesel is economical at the pump (800km per 60l tank around town), there are the rego and RUC as others have said but I don't see a large difference between it and the petrol Golf (at least 600km per 50l tank around town). Personally, I reckon the Golf was a masterstroke - I think it is a much better family car than the 320. Similar economy, and much more user friendly (with the exception of the cruise control). Volkswagen really understand their market and did a sensational job with the mk5. Good luck with the new arrival - and brace yourself for being at least 3rd in the pecking order with zero decision making authority!

On road costs of $350 for a NZ New car??? Sounds suspicious to me - only time I have come across this is an insurance write off. And with no plates, you can't check on CarJam...

12 pints and some smart arsed comments in the roughest pub you can find. Course you may also get a nose job and a kidney replacement for the same price...

Wouldn't be a concern to who? Films do nothing but cut the brighness out of the centre of the lamp's beam, which if I'm not mistaken is what you use to see where you're going at night. I still struggle to understand why people mess with lighting. It's piss poor on 20+ year old cars at the best of times without giving yourself another handicap. Lamps that are factory tinted are certified with that specific colour, and the light output still meets the legal requirements - they have a traceable E mark for this. Any WoF inspector that sees your film should fail the vehicle.

I'm picking you will find out in September... Tinting or applying a film to lights that aren't decorative is illegal. http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/get-your...ghts-right.html

Yep, I agree. I refused to let them put non-OEM windscreen in mine for precisely the reasons you have found out the hard way, but did compromise on who did the work (Novus vs Team McMillan). I argued that they charge me a premium based on it being a more expensive car (the premium isn't the same as a Toyota Corolla), so were fully aware of the costs for this kind of thing when they entered the contract. That and if the other supplier (XYG from memory) were actually a comparable product to the OEM's like Pilkington or Saint Gobain/Sekurit with the same quality controls & specifications then they would actually be OEM suppliers and likely be the same price. The reason they are cheap is they are an inferior product. Personally, I would fully accept a well known OEM supplier that didn't have the BMW badge on it (like the 3x above) but they only seemed interested in the S&S XYG vs BMW NZ supplied - so they paid in the end... They have to warrant the work they have done, so just take it back and tell them to fix it.

Righto...

PM sent

Less than $5k over the E46's I was looking at...

I actually went through a similar search recently (well, technically it was more like a long painful search). I really like my 330ci but needed more doors for the baby seat, so naturally liked the idea of an E46 facelift msport 330i for around $15k. Sadly, there were very few that came close to my requirements - NZ New, leather, sport seats, multi function wheel, 100kms or less, 02 onwards with ISOFIX etc. I had a look at a few on trademe and found a couple of horrors that looked great until you looked closer... One that appeared to stack up really well needed at least $2k spent immediately (past due rego, 2x keys, oil level sensor, battery, tyres, window regulator etc) and needed a door repainting - and this was the best one I found (think it is still on there for $15k now). In the end I gave up and landed an NZ new E90 diesel for another couple of $k which I am pretty happy with (apart from the piss poor factory stereo). I was under the impression that all the coupes had msport suspension (regardless of them being an msport version or not)?

Bump - new link. Price reduced to $13,750.

CarJam

You mean like mine? Linky. No mission - just give me a call and come over to take a look.... End shameless plug.

+1. Paint that you can't touch - what a f**king stupid idea for a street car... It's either urban legend or a complete clusterf**k at the design office.

As others have said - they can be more expensive in some circumstances. I've not found them (or VW's for that matter) any more expensive to maintain than my wife's old Honda on like for like parts. For example, new brake rotors and pads were more expensive for the Honda than the 330ci. However, where they get expensive is when something breaks - but I'm not sure if they are worse for the big ticket items over a Jappa or not. Be aware that they tend to be more integrated electronically than the Toyotas or Hondas etc so can cost more in replacement parts - but this is the cost of the creature comforts that you are buying it for in the first place. A like for like Lexus would likely be similar in this respect. They aren't the enigma they used to be, and there are plenty of places to get good service and spares. There is also plenty of experience on here with where to look, and what to do. If you get a good one to start with, you have already won half the battle.

I personally don't like the Panasonic heat pumps. My parents have one and have a similar complaint with it having to go into a defrost cycle when you first start it in the morning (and this is in Auckland...) - they say it is expensive to run ($40/$50 per month on top of the normal) and their house is already a particularly warm house. I also had one at my last job where the fan & motor were replaced once, and were on the way out a second time within 18 months. I have had a Daikin at home for the last 7 years. It's been brilliant, but is now getting noisy bearings in the fan/motor. No problems with it going into a defrost when you need it most. I found the major problem was getting a highwall unit that isn't offensive to look at. I see Daikin no longer make my one (which was the only one in their range I liked). Think if I had to put another one in I would most likely go with a Mitsubishi - the performance is right there with the Daikins, and they look quite sharp.

Linky

Remember it well! Fisher&Paykel ran second and was chasing hard the whole way. Pretty epic to get on a delivery trip on such a beast of a boat. Wonder what happened to the original Steinlager trimaran?

I just went through this same process for a 3 series. In the end I decided that an E90 was worth the extra $5k over an E46 in the long run and actually managed to get an NZ new 320 diesel in excellent shape with low kms.

Last time I got one in Frankfurt it was from Sixt and was a 320i. Normally Avis just have the usual rental pigs that nobody wants to buy (Focus, Punto, Astra etc, etc) although I did just miss out on getting my hands on a Hummer from LAX a couple of years back... It's worth having nav with traffic updates - the traffic jams can be mental.

Linky Sadly I have to sell my coupe as I need 4 doors for the baby seat.... I've owned this great car for nearly 5 years and am sad to see it go. Features: - 170kW 6 cyl motor with full service history - 5 speed tiptronic transmission with manual mode - Factory fog lights - Factory motorsport 17" alloys (the real deal not replicas) - Hella tyre pressure monitoring system (with an alarm for flat tyres) - Full black leather interior - Electric sport seats with memory function - Multi-function steering wheel with cruise control and stereo controls (inlcuding ipod) - Auto dimming rear mirror - Heated electric side mirrors - In-dash CD player with RDS (excellent sound) - 6 disc changer in the boot with ipod connection - 6x airbags - ABS brakes - Traction control - Rear parking sensors - Electric windows - Climate control air conditioning - Factory alarm and immobiliser - Factory towbar with removable tongue & wiring (only ever used for bike rack) - 2x remote keys, and 1x valet key The car was first registered in late November 2000 and has a full service history with BMW experts which is important. The front brake rotors & pads were replaced at 101 km's, and the rear rotors & pads at 120 km's. It is super smooth, quiet & extremely comfortable with plenty of power for effortless overtaking on the open road. The stereo has full ipod connection with song names displayed on the screen and can be controlled from the steering wheel. Asking for $15k, but reasonable offers considered.