cainchapman

I'd always recommend the 5. 3pedals has an E39 and can get 3 child restraints across the back seat. As far as luxury goes, a high spec'd 5 is not a lot different from a 7. The services would be similar too I expect as they share most components. I would like a 7 series too, but the 5 series has plenty of room also. Deb uses the 540 as her daily driver and baby carriage and loves it.

It is a Limo, hence the double glazed windows. Do the exhaust on it. Beemn had one, he can offer advice. EDC is the suspension. Great car keep it.

Congratulations Allan The bonus of not buying it near home, meant that you got a nice drive back to Wellington. Looks very nice.

An Inspection 1 is not just resetting the lights. It is actually a service. $430 doesn't seem unreasonable. Have a look in your service manual and see what it covers.

Physics is the best! I love it.

E39 523i then

The Electronics in the E31 CSi anyway, are no different to my car. So I'd happily recommend it. The Diff and rear end is an absolute trick piece of work though. In addition, all Euro-spec cars are fitted with Active Rear-Axle Kinematics (known by its German abbreviation AHK for Aktive Hinterachs-Kinematik). The system works by turning the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts in order to facilitate change of direction and weight shift in a corner. The hydraulically-controlled AHK system activates at speeds above approximately 60 kph (37 mph) and can turn the rear wheels up to 2.5 degrees depending on the angle of the front wheels.

I'm pretty sure this qualifies as a V12. And you are incorrect, unique components are pistons, conrods, valves, heads, etc...So unless the FIT of each component is lower in the V12 by more than 33% then it can not be more reliable. If all the components have the same life expectancy (FIT) and there are more of them i.e. 12 conrods versus 8, then there is a greater likelihood that a V12 one will break. QED. I'm not bagging the V12 per se. Having looked at the engine specs and I'd happily have the S72 powered 850CSi as it has significantly more power. All I am saying is that the V8 has far lower risk associated with it. I'm trying to own/drive every configuration made and would agree that a V12 is a great thing to own, Once.

martyyn. I think you misunderstand me, you are talking about reliability, not failures. Calculated MTBF If a product contains n unique components, qi is the quantity of the ith component, and ri is its FIT Rate, then Calculated MTBF of the product is MTBF= 1x10 9/Sum of n times (qi/ri) So more components means more failures. Because I'm positive that the internal components of the V12 are not designed to a better standard than those in the V8. Maybe in an S designated engine versus M designated comparison you could draw that long bow. Milan, are you sure? I can't remember Gerry's have red and black seats. However, I've been wrong before. If it is his, then it's the 8 series to own.

That is quite a nice looking 840. Never seen it before. Gerry's 840CSi would be the best example of 8 series IMO. Why run them down, no panels from any other car. A V12 one. Why? More components, more failures (statistical truth), for no more power or torque over the V8. Personally, I love them. But would I be silly enough to own one...A bit like using a Lancia Delta Integrale HF as a daily driver and part-time track car.

E39 525i, no idea, but it looks nice.

Happy Birthday Brent. Can't call you old man as you are still younger than me. I hope you have a great day.

Number plate surrounds are easy to remove. So, I remove them and replace them with what? And you appear to be comparing an average service provider with a dreadful service provider. This doesn't make either one satisfactory. I always buy my parts from BMW and will continue to do so. You are incorrect in saying that "I" need a good relationship with them. For a business to suceed, they need to generate a good relationship that is mutually beneficial. And goodwill is a major component of this. What is the benefit to me of changing my number plate surrounds? Please answer that.

I'm not blaming the Groomer. What gives them the right to change anything on my car without my permission? Why didn't they re-programme the radio for BOP stations while they were at it? Is it a BMW Corporate policy or do dealers just take it upon themselves to do it. Believe me, the next time I see Mark Gilbert, he'll get an ear full.

So you don't mind the sound of a 2 stroke motorbike? The key thing to note is that while a boxer-4 does alternate firing fore and aft cylinders, it does not evenly alternate firing between its left and right cylinder banks. It cannot due to the 180 degree orientation of crankshaft pins selected for balance. So instead it must fire twice on one side and then twice on the other. And unlike an inline-4, a boxer-4 must have two separate exhaust manifolds. One manifold exhausts [fire, fire, wait, wait] while the other side exhausts [wait, wait, fire, fire] So in addition to the evenly spaced firing of each cylinder (just as from an inline-4) the boxer-4 has exhaust pulses exiting the left and right manifolds at half that frequency. This cadence is perceived as a half-pitch "rumble".

McMillans & Jerry Claytons both import Jap BMW. Turners Auctions too.

A 718i. An iL would be even funnier.

Yes, if you can find a specialist for them. I was happily taking the car to Dean at Motorscience after Glenn left McMillans. However, Dean has now gone to the "darkside". An E30 is also a lot easier to find someone to work on. They have next to no electronics in them. In CHC, I'd take it to DCH Motorsport. But then again, that won't surprise you now will it. I'll give BMWorkshop in East Tamaki a go. At least Ross has a 540, so it's a start.

I'm not complaining about their work. I was very happy with Team McMillans as a service provider. And Deb said that the Service Manager at Coombes Johnson was very helpful and they looked after her. I am pissed off about the fact that they modify my car as it suits them, without consulting me. If I did things like this to my customers, they'd look elsewhere. And quite rightly.

Ah, I remember. One of my best trips ever. The Ferrari factory is the best. Watching all those cars being built and watching them bench testing motors. Stand out in front of the gate and watch a finished car get flogged by an Italian test pilot. Galleria Ferrari is my favourite museum too. And don't they sound great too.

OK, this is a mild rant. Having just had the car into Coombes Johnson in the Mount for a warrant. They decided to change the number plate surrounds to theirs. What the F*ck! As the car doesn't reside down there, why? So, they changed the wipers, fitted an exhaust mount and adjusted the fog lights. Does that give them a claim to it? McMillans were no better, the first service, they did exactly the same. I was more than happy with the Blackwoods surround that the car came with. Plus slapping stickers over the high level brake light (why, surely that is unsafe). OK, I think I'm done.

Changing your rotors will not reduce brake fade. Hawk HP Pads? What the f*ck are they? Buy a decent brand. Brake fade caused by the water content in your brake fluid heating to a point that it becomes a gas (and hence compressible). They are very nice looking rotors though. They don't look vented though. Are they?

Nice photo, Have Brooke in them next time. Much more photogenic! Looks like level 9 to me. Tamaki ward on 10 has a better view.

We're with the AA for the 540 $22k agreed value, $700 premium, $250 excess. I think it's in Deb's name as primary driver, so a 32yo in Auckland.

Awesome! I'll pay the money to see them on the track!