1rotty

The key on one of my e39's is really unreliable when I use the remote to lock or unlock the car.The key battery is fine.Also I'm not convinced the alarm sets as the mirror light doesnt activate. Anybody had a similar problem ( my 740 was the same). Would be really grateful for your suggestions.

If you're that sure I'm happy to up the bet - $100 ?

I have done two Hastings-Auckland runs in different 540's in the last few weeks.One averaged 10.2l/100,the 2nd including a late nite stomp over taupo-napier road 9.8l/100 so around 28mpg average. Rarely use around town so I cant help there.

I,m sure there will but I'll bet you $50 he gets charged.

Way to go !! Something we'd all like to do but don't have the balls.Sadly our legal system will probably make sure it costs him plenty.

I'm jealous-hope it checks out for you!!

Yep there is.

You're right-my 740 handled like a beached whale unless it was on !!!

Yes-I read a thread somewhere the other night $1675 NZ per shock From what I've read it seems the EDC was intro'd on the 98 models. Total BMW mag - is it online or a bookstore mag?

Maybe-if you take your banker & then you just have to hope it will start !!!

Hey, its cosmosshwartz metallic.Dont know about the wheels - as i said they were on the 98 when I bought it-they do have bmw centre caps if that helps!!PS-they're 17's-have seen an identical set of 18's on trademe recently.I am going to put 40mm lowering springs on it so with the difference in price between 17's & 18's I think I'll stick with the 17's.!!!!maybe go 245 on the back if the rims are up to it.

The handling is awesome(even with marginal tyres)-got to give it a good stomp at night over napier/taupo road last week-feels at least as good if not better than the 98 in "sport" setting!!!

Yes they are -they were on my 98 but look better on this one so I swapped them-only prob now I've got a brake shimmy at around 80k's-tyres are pretty worn so hoping new ones will fix it!!! heres hoping.

Yes you're right but this car doesnt have it,my 98 does as does my now sold 740il-I'm wondering what the significance of not having it is.

As promised some pics of my 97 540,the 98 is still at paint shop so pix still to come. While I'm here-this car has no EDC button-can anyone tell me the significance of this.

You might be making an unfair assumption re mileage.If 0n May 7 07 odo was 254k's the cars average daily mileage shot up from between 40 & 60k's over the last couple of years to 587(over 12mths) !!-Possible but not very likely. Further,if you ignore the 254 read & take readings @ Nov 06 to Dec 07(which is before & after the 254 read) the daily average is 47.5 . Certainly something you'd ask about if buying but much more likely to be human error-office girls are quite good at this. By the way I have no vested interest in this but we need to be a bit careful about casting dispersions however innocently.

Used to have Fairmont that had the same symptons as first 3 above-replacing thermostat did the trick-could be worth a look.

See Scooter at Dent Panelbeaters in Omahu Rd,Hastings-really good !!!

I'd like to get my 98 540 sounding a bit gruntier.Any suggestions for a relatively inexpensive mod would be appreciated.Are there any pitfalls.I'd really like to bring twin pipes out both sides.The existing system is in excellent nick.

Will do in next couple of days-have to take some!!

Hi,I'm Mark & live in Hastings & I'm looking forward to exchanging info & tips with other beemer freaks. My history with BMW ;I had a 323 & then later a 325 while living in Oz in the 80's.Until recently I had a 98 740il (coolest car I've ever owned) but my brother loved it so much he persuaded me to sell it to him so I thought it was time I tried something to help regain my lost youth so I now have a 97 & a 98 540 one of which will have to go at some stage I guess.The 97 is a very cool color coded black which I would like to have sounding a bit hornier so any suggestions would be much appreciated !!