elmarco

Same with the 3series - no boot space for a spare either. You can get a compressor + goo kit (which i have) but it still makes me nervous. I also have an AA membership just in case. Edit: its not just jap imports - my E90 is nz new.... Genius idea in NZ.

Shot glass full of vanilla essence. As in leave it sitting in the car in the shot glass, lock it up for a few days with the windows closed & then chuck it out when done. My cousin swaers by it for cars that have been smoked in.

http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/48821-2005-120d-6-spd-manual/?hl=120d

I think the general recommendation is that the 4cyl petrol motors arent BMW's best work. The 6cyl will he much smoother. Does Paul still have his 120D for sale? It would be revolutionary if you think the 525 fuel economy is a bit heavy... Edit: or just listen to Glenn....

Really? Mine was great - bit lazy in the engine dept & thirsty (swapping the an E46 330 auto was refreshingly economical as well as much more power) but pretty good apart from that. The mk3 diesel i had was a pretty good car too until the A/C compressor lunched itself...

How much do you want to spend? You really cant go too far wrong with a Subie. Outback is a bit higher which can be handy in QT etc if you like skiing, mountain biking etc. And it will be easy to sell down there (Outbacks are so popular that they hold their value well) - but you might actually be best buying one in Auckland & driving it down.

Are they a hydraulic clutch in E30's? If so, check the slave cylinder isnt leaking fluid. The first giveaway for this would be no clutch (as in the pedal goes straight to the floor) or brake fluid leaking under the bellhousing.

How do you define if they are safe to use? Theres a reason why the ECE regs require the carmaker to have washer systems & auto levelling for HID headlamps - to make sure you aren't blinding other drivers when you put your 2x 120kg mates in the back....

And the fine for blinding another driver & causing an accodent where someone gets hurt? It's illegal for a reason - its dangerous for other people on the road.

Nothing in the owners manual?

To be honest, youre probably better sticking with the E39 if you are trying to save money - unless there is a compelling reason to ditch it. Any savings in fuel economy are going to be minimal compared to the additional capital outlay to step up for a newer car or a diesel. The E39 is a much larger car than the Mazda / Subie / Golf. Not a fault per se, but worth noting if you need a large car. Of all the options mentionned, my personal suggestion would be the mk5 or mk6 golf. They are a very well thought out car - much more so than any BMW Ive owned. They drive really well, are really zippy in traffic and have plenty of safety features - but can be $$$ to get into.

New lenses are the only real way to stop it. You can delay it but the fundamental problem s that polycarbonate yellows with UV exposure. The lighting manufacturers put a coating on the lamps which gets damaged - and exposes the PC.... Ive heard of kits with a spray on coating but its never going to be the same finish as the original one. You also need to be wary of cheap nasty halogen bulbs or HID retrofits as they can both have much higher UV content & do the same thing from the inside out. If it was me, i would try to find some new lamps (or just lenses if they are clip on). If thats too diffcult or mucho dinero, then try a kit with a sealer.

Are the E92 m3's unlike the E46 in the they were quite different to the std car?

Looks like a nice car. Good luck

Its quite complex around the sealing of the cylinders. The prototype they had running offered awesome power to weight - much better than conventional engines. I personally lke the opposed piston 2 stroke diesels like the Deltic. That seems to be a simple way to get high power. The trap with all of them is that they need lots & lots of r&d dollars to get to the economy, cost, reliability & refinement of the conventional engines. Great ideas, but the road is long, hard & lonley without mahoosive backing.

Please insert visa card? Great spotting!

Guess you'll ind out shortly....

Damn things are like weeds once they get established. I have a couple that are 6m+ high with half metre diameter stumps that Im not looking forward to removing....

MillAnd are good. Not sure about such model specific items like window rubbers though. You could also try HellBM or BMWorld for good used ones.

Yes, definitely, maybe. Could be a midget with a hammer under there too. Shocks do go bad & i have had knocking from them before when they are knackered. You'll need to take a close look underneath to make sure all is done up & there arent any worn bushes first.

Buying a car at 300,000 km leaves you what when you want to move it on? Either its going to be a problem to sell, or worth nothing. Like i said, nay f**kin way.

Maybe if you hit the switch on the bat signal he'll come to you?

Nay f**kin way....

I think that has to be near the top for quote of the year....

That was my initial reaction as well...