bmwownage

Left this topic for a while. On the radio issue, aren't all newer cars equipped with a system which you can change your region for? It looks to be an easy job on Youtube? People are even able to do NZ nav by installing NZ maps themselves ... Also what's with the extreme low mileage of these things? I mean there are 2009 vehicles with like 20,000km, there are 2012 vehicles that has done like 15,000 kms...

thanks for all the inputs~

well i had a E46 330i it was a dream and sounds like music, but i wouldn't say the fuel consumption is great, i was averaging maybe 11L/100km, driving pretty unaggressively, quite a bit of highway cruises but of course, two days a week getting stuck on the motorway kills it all. wasn't expecting so much negativity on the N46 (and N43 even though they probably didn't sell them in NZ at all) given there are heaps of 320i's around... i was trying to avoid the F20 turbo (engine N16?) given it's arguably the first generation of turbo engines and that usually means less reliability..

are they really that bad? getting 4 pots for lower fuel consumption.. how about the F20's then? would these first gen 4cyclinder turbos be problematic?

So after my post a while ago about Jap imports, I have been looking at Jap imports. I have been looking at cars like the later E87's 120i, 118i LCI, and E90 320i LCI. One of the things I noticed was that the E87's NZ new (only 118 after LCI) is that they only come with the N46 engine up to the end of the model; and even the E90 320i LCI, i was able to find a 2011 NZ new one on trademe and found out that it was also on the N46 115kW engine. Cars imported from Japan with mfg date in 2010, came with the N43 engine whether it's a E87 or E90. The N43 engine is better on paper withthe 120i and 320i rated 125kW. Is there something with the N43 engine that doesn't work in NZ? I have read about problems with the N43 but then there are also issues with the N46. I also noticed some other countries that do not sell N43 engines from their own dealerships and kept the N46 all the way. Thanks for any insights.

Thanks for those comments. Well in terms of specs, it’s safe to say that for the same money, you get more with Jap imports. The main things or risks I thought of was: - Fake mileage (whereas NZ cars have an official record) - Radiated cars from Fukushima blow - Cars that were flooded from the tsunami - Where the car came from – bringing a car that was used in heavy snow conditions to a place like NZ might be a problem? - Damaged vehicles rebuilt - Corrosion from shipping a used piece of metal by sea? But I guess some of these are just risks that the buyer needs to take regardless. Another point is refraining to buy relatively new models – I learn that in manufacturer recalls, they won’t do it for non-NZ new cars…well I’m sure they would for a hefty price tag.

I haven't had experience in owning one so very much a newbie when it comes to this. How are the Jap import bimmers that some of you own doing? I'm looking at cars like the E87, generally lower mileage than NZ new ones, better specs and quite a bit cheaper at the same time! Some imported F20's are looking pretty attractive too. I notice these imported cars takes quite a while to sell compared with NZ new cars. Of course I'm sure this doesn't apply to BMWs only, all cars are like that. Is there anything in particular to look out when buying a Jap import? Or anything in particular that should be cautioned specifically for BMWs? Thanks~

I have a set of factory springs and shocks, all in good and working condition but the rear shocks are leaky, just that the bumps feel a little bouncy, otherwise all good. what price you looking at?

For sale: H&R 29485-1 4 door E46 316 318 320 323 325 328 330 Less than 2000kms done on them. Will work with standard shocks without damaging. Approx. 35mm lowering over standard suspension. Please pm for more info. Looking for around $400. These are really very new, fitted about a month ago. Box and certificate included.

For sale: H&R 29485-1 4 door E46 316 318 320 323 325 328 330 Less than 2000kms done on them. Will work with standard shocks without damaging. Approx. 35mm lowering over standard suspension. Please pm for more info. Looking for around $400. These are really very new, fitted about a month ago. Box and certificate included.

For factory E46 (prefacelift) shocks, does the 330i and 330ci have identical shocks?

I have been experiencing, probably minor problems (at the moment) with the car when I brake from speed to very low speed or to a halt, just before it stops, sometimes it makes a slight shake and rev drops a tad below the 500rpm line. It seems to be worse when the engine is warmed up, presumably because of the higher idling rev (~1000rpm) with a cold engine. I have googled this problem and found out, indeed, lots of M54 325i and 330i have this problem, their cars even stalled, auto tranny! It happens in the manual too, just differently, but let's just talk about the auto here. Suggested reasons were software related, faulty sensors of all sorts, faulty vanos and the list continues, and the real cause of the problem is unknown. The only thing unusual that I have done, which is not unusual at all, was that I put some water in for the coolant quite a while ago, which looked empty. Thinking back I am not sure whether it started as a result of this, but I mean, putting water in as coolant shouldn't be an issue in Auckland right? Quite weird, my friend has an exact same 330i which has done over 75000kms, while mine is a bit over 31000kms. Does anybody, or do Botany Motorworx have any idea how to fix this? I don't think my vehicle is going to stall, but it sounds like it will one day, and i want to get it fixed before that happens.

Does anyone know where I can go (in Auckland) to install angel eyes? Those kits look difficult to wire and I have no prior experience...

I have been experiencing some 'worn clutch' kinda feeling with the car.. ie when I brake to a stop, there is a little vibration felt just before the car halts (when it virtually applies the clutch?) What can be done to fix, or what is the problem so I know what to fix? Thanks.