RvT

I think you made the right decision on that car. It was not the tidiest example and looked like it was quite tired for the mileage etc. The wear on the body looked like something that had done 300,000km. In the end fate has dealt its hand and you can definitely do better. Happy to help a fellow member With all the hills starts in Welly, you should consider the auto ...... Ron

Haven't done it yet in my beast so waiting for my firs track day and no one around According to some of the M5board, you can do about 25 - 50 Launch Controls without too many issues. No one has put an accurate figure on the number of times officially. US cars are governed to 1500 RPM but Euro & JP cars are allowed to launch at 4000 RPM. The US dealers set it lower as it chews up the SMG boxes and they had a lot come back needing new clutches under warranty. Clutches are about $8k to replace apparently. In case anyone is curious, it is a sequence of moves on the SMG and gear lever to activate it ... 1. Warm up the car or it wont do it 2. S6 w/ DSC off 3. Hold center shifter forward (towards engine) 4. Push and hold gas 5. Let go of center shifter. This is what it sounds like on uTube. Note the Chirp on the 5th gear change !!!

Resale on these cars in 12 months is dependant on the Japan auction price at the time. From my experience of importing about 12+ Japan cars over the last few years, that black one I showed in Japan which sold for $NZ24,500 with 32km, would sell for around $25k in a years time privately with say 45km on the clock. Don't forget that Black has a $3 to 4k premium over silver in Japan at auctions but not sure if that is the case in NZ yards. A silver example of the above would be cheaper.

Just had a search online for the Japan auction pricing and found this recent sale over there ... 2000 FA Black Ｉ ï¼“ï¼“ï¼ ï¼­ Sports AC 32,000km Grade 4.5 1,475,000 Yen This would be a mint example with the M Sport. Landed price on the road would be $NZ 24,500. Black has a premium price in Japan. Another one in silver was ... 2001 FA Silver Ｉ 330C M Sports SR AC 53,000km Grade 4.0 1,145,000 Yen This one would be $NZ 20,200 on road here.

I am not in the insurance industry nor profess to know exactly why they did this but my take on the scenario from your comments would be ... The assessor is a person who is paid by the insurance company or is an employee of the insurance company to assess the damage and make sure the person nominated to repair the work, is correct in their estimate to repair the car. Their job is to make sure the cost to repair the work is accurate and to make sure there is no fraud between the repairer and the claimant. If they agree with the repairer on the quotation to repair, then they can give the green light to repair. The insurance company, on the other hand, is the person paying the bill. If they think there is a possible fraud, then they will launch an investigation to make sure there is no improprieties or fraudulent claim before they do the final payout to the customer. Without wanting to be the moderator here, if a client who is claiming on a job within 3 days of taking out insurance policy, would raise some co-incidence and concerns IMO. They are just trying to be sure in their own mind, that the claim is true. Insurance fraud is common and affects all our premiums. They would be remiss in not investigating thoroughly before paying out given you are claiming a large $ so soon after taking out a policy. Out of curiosity, did you just buy the car 3 days before the claim or had you had the car for some time before insuring it ?

Hi Brian Thanks for the interesting read which makes a lot of sense. Your industry is definately having a shake down and unforetuneatly puts a lot of people under pressure financially at work and at home. Hope you can weather the situation.

I have decided not to go black in the end as it was too dark IMO. Looking now at tinted lens and options. Were yours tinted and did you get them from the BMW dealer or from Hella direct?

It seems that the oil consumption is all over the place for the M5. I spend most of my idle time "learning" about my beast on the M5board.com as there are so many posts about it. Some guys quote a liter every 1500miles while others hardly need a drop. They use more in the break in period and as the car wears in, uses less. Some M5s have had a very stable run in especially in the first 1500 miles and don't need oil. Others say the usage is related to how hard the car is pushed at 8,000RPM. In my beast, I have now done about 4,000 km and has been used for a lot of spirited driving as most of my friends want a passenger drive and it is hard not to let them feel the hp without sitting at 7-8,000 RMP. After that is is a matter of toilet paper clean up Back to the oil usage ... mine hasn't needed a refil so I am just lucky I guess. The electronic level says I have used .2 or a litre so that is fine by me. One last comment, the M5 is a highly strung motor with obviously some complexity in the design. I am glad I can enjoy the beast while it is still young and nothing aged on it. I think about the owners of the same car in 5 or 10 years time when the car has dropped in value and becomes "affordable". Most drivers of the M5s are buying it now for the sheer acceleration and excitement, not to be driven quietly. These cars are going to be a nightmare when the kms are up to 100k say and the SMG gearbox gives the driver a Red Cog of Death. The gearboxes aren't very repairable now and cost megabucks to replace. Would you pay $20k for a gearbox ? On the otherhand, I can not get over how much power this beast has.

That is the same identical interior colour called "Sand" which I had in mine. I did import my 540 from the UK so I think it was a UK colour option rather than individual. I sold it to someone in Akl so there is one of them floating around NZ. The colour combo was stunning and everyone who hopped in it, loved it. e39 540 - fantastic car if you ever get the chance to buy one.

Where do I start .... Bought this Radar off eBay 1 week ago. Latest model with the Blue screen rather than red. Just released in the US so not for sale here yet. Is the top of the range model with GPS, gives you the speed you are travelling at when radar locks on and host of other toys. Do the research and you will know this is the gun Escort to buy. After being advised that the Escort 9500i will work in my car, I imported, plugged it in and found the reception was low and GPS wouldn't lock in. Tried it in the Audi and it was perfect. It now turns out my beast has the Climate Control Glass (Option 356) which means no radar will work in it at all. I now have to buy another radar that is mounted remotely. I am not impressed. So after exactly 2 tests and no other use apart from writing the serial number in the manual (in case it got stolen), I am selling to Bimmersport members first at cost. Cost me $US482 landed here which is $NZ 630. Should get more than this from TMe but offering here at cost. $630 Firm plus $18 courier if required NZ wide. PM me if interested.

You must have been motoring as I was passing a few cars Having some radar issues at the moment as have just found out that my windows have option "356 - Climate Controll Windows". Basically radar and GPS radars get a munted reception. Has suddenly changed my driving style till I regroup and rethink my options .... WTF ... this Sunday I was taking some kids (billets from Oz) to Hamner for a swim. Didn't know about the BMW CC event ??? I had better not overtake them or they might be pissed ....

Saw those but he wants $375 + 40 shipping. Found some on fleabay for $US150 + ship so was thinking about them. The blacked out ones in the 1st post are $US200 and S/Hand. Penry ... How did they look in smoke, like the Hella ones? The Hella looks nice but at $500+ not sure if the cheaper ones will have the same effect ???

Yip ... this what I was thinking too. They look classy against the Sapphire Black without drawing attention from the people who don't appreciate BMWs. Thanks everyone for your imput Riley, as per usual I was late for the game so sorry I couldn't take you for a spin. Will make some time so you can experience the ride and then focus on your next mark ... a Beast

lol Didn't realise you knew me that well !!! I am in 2 minds now and the "credibility" comment was a good point. They look Ok but they do a less tint version (25%) which I may hang out for. Want the car to look good but not to draw attention to the point where it may be singled out and coined by some jealous git. Stealth is good.

Looking at buying this set of tails ex US but not sure what the regs are for WOF etc. Will they fail a warrant ? Lights are OEM but have had a tint professionally applied. Quick thoughts please as they may sell quickly over there

I had a 99 e39 540 for 3 years before current beast so know a bit about the cars I am in Chc on Wed for a meeting till 3pm so free after that if it suited owner. Is it at a yard or private ? PM me if you want me to have a look

There is another reason why BP is best .... The Caramel Slice they sell in the Wild Bean Cafes thru out NZ and why would I say this ??? ..... Cause I made it (Sorry, couldn't resist the commerical plug)

Hi ShowaGreeting from New Zealand Good to see you have used the search part of the forum You may want to do a search on the m5board.com to get additional info. Malaysia has the same issues as well as EU cars ending up in US. I found someone on that site you gave me the following assistance ... " It is a very simple procedure that requires the use of a BMW engineering called "NCS-Expert tool" This tool is part of a package called EDIABAS / INPA. You can do this yourself at home using a adapter cable called KKL VAGCOM that can be purchased from Ebay and by finding the needed software off the internet. If you are interested in doing it yourself I can walk you thru it.. but, you have to have a working version of this stuff. You need a windows pc with serial port COM1 that is not in use and the understanding that this is a engineering tool that can cause damage to the car quickly! Don't ask your local dealer about this tool. They don't have it!" I did PM this guy and send him some links on eBay to make sure I was going to buy the right gear but he never replied. I ended up putting in a band expander as no one in my region can reprogram but someone in Auckland can. Hope this helps.

BMW have done this for logical reasons on the Park Distance Controller (PDC). Not sure if all but some have PDC sensors on front bumper as well as rear. When you park a car in a car park on the street, you usually back in (which starts the PDC) then go forward. If you have PDC on the front, the system stays live so you can go forward until the alarm goes off again to show you how close you are. It usually shuts off after 10 secs. As 318Touring states, you can turn off the PDC at the touch of a button

At least it went to a good home . Riley I may take you up on that offer as it is difficult to hear the exhaust. I listened to a lot on Utube before settling for this one. Still waiting for a reply ex US. Yuen This exhaust was a demo one so had been used. I have attached a couple of images for the Carbon Fibre exhaust as I hadn't seen one before either and was the main reason I went with it. Others might find it of interest too.

Well the jury is out .... I exercised the exhaust in the weekend and it is hard to tell from the inside, what it sounds like on the outside. It is a step up from OEM definitely.Meiterschaft come in 3 styles ... Sport (OEM style), Touring - Med 95dB and Race - 107dB. I was expecting a louder exhaust that would stand out at 4k RPM onwards but it seems a little quiet so far. When inside the car, the motor always founds fantastic but outside is a different story. The engraving spec says "Special Edition" which I assume refers to the fact that it has Carbon Fibre Tip. I have emailed the US Eisenmann to find out what I ended up with in reference to the loudness factor. I may throw some more $ at it to get a better sound yet .... Next focus, however, is some RPI air intakes and front CF Lip. After that is rubber & rims.

Hi Mike Yeah I sold the 540 to someone in Akl for $22k from memory about a year ago. It was a great car with no issues. I had to go 6 months without a car waiting patiently for a blanck M5 in RHD. Someone earlier in the thread made a comment about not seeing many Black M5s. In JP, black is a premium colour in the resale market and quite sought after. There were a few of silver ones that came up but no black ones for 5 months till this one. For the record, you generally pay about 15% more for a black car in JP.

Saw the TMe plate at the time but the O was crossed out which was not perfect IMO. Found this one by chance on Personalised Plates site and offered a low ball price (TMe seller wanted too much from memory). PP seller accepted.

True. The HUD is the BEST and well worth it. The reality is that I would never use the Sat Nav as Chc is only sooo big therefore having the instructions on screen is not a necessity. Hi Jochen. The TV in the JP e60 picks up all channels and while phone option is OK, the bluetooth option is more practical these days with BMWs but it only came effective on 2006 models onwards. The phone systems only work with some older selected models and in time, it will be a waste of time unless you keep your old phones and don't update. Talking about bluetooth and BMWs, if you have a Nokia phone, they do not work or link up with the BMW bluetooths very well if at all. Other brands are OK but BMW and Nokia must have had a fall out as there are huge compatability issues and even now they the latest 08 models still won't talk to each other or the latest n... phones.

Riley Checked under my bonnet and someone has removed my motor and put a V8 in. Have you seen a V10 anywhere in your travels ? I only went there to put the exhaust on.... Maybe Ben misunderstood my instructions ....