RvT

I am importing 20ft containers out of EU every 2 months basis and the usual price is around 2800 Euros for the transport component. For a car, you will need to add about $NZ600 for port charges and probably $1000 for compliance etc plus GST on the purchase price of the car. Shipping out of JPN is cheaper as they use a Roll on Roll off ferry so is around $1800 +- . To those reading this and thinking about importing parts or shipping home some gear but can't fill a container, try Mainfreight International as I use them a lot getting the old pallet out of China, France or UK. You will be surprised how cost effective it is and how well organised Mainfreight are. Hope this helps ...

Saw this car at the lights in Christchurch a couple of weeks ago and thought it was an M5 clone at the time. Initial thoughts were YUCK and the front LED lights were on in full daylight which I thought was tacky. (Obviously they wanted an new model Audi) Now I see it is a real M5 and wonder WHY would someone waste their $ on those mods when the exhaust and rims are the first mods you spend money on to improve the car normally. Only nice mod so far is the splitter on the front ... wonder if he wants to part it off ...

Agree totally. I remember when the e60 came out and everyone thought it was ugly. Now we are used to it and it is accepted. The noise on the M5 forums is that no one likes the proposed TT V8 for the M5 but they will get over it in time.

Haven owned a e39 540 + driven ane39 M5 they are a great machines but they are nothing in comparison to the e60. The sound in the cabin of the V10 + the ride comfort is so smooth. When you start to feel bored, you touch the M button on the steering wheel and everything changes and the steroids kick in. The heads up display is the best toy in the car. If you see me at a track day, just ask for a ride and you will understand the feeling. It is the first car I have owned that puts a smile on my face every time I jump out and can't wait till the next time I jump in. Looking forward to the next model though to see what has improved ....

Friend did exactly what you are suggesting ... updated from an e38 to the e65. He was really happy with the updated version. I remember him saying that there is switches for doing everything and heaps of electric motors all over the car. He did have some issue with some electrics in the car not working but managed to soirt them out through warranty. Just checked out Japan auctions and they are selling in Japan at the same price as the one you are looking at without the cost of transport, compliance and GST in consideration so on paper, this is a good deal. Issue will be trying to sell it in the future as the 7 series are not the quickest of sellers given the model popularity. BUT they are a fantastic cruzing car

Mine broke there too on both seats. Easy fix from memory, 4 years ago - just have to remove the back of the seat (unclips I think) and then work from there.

Anything big or heavy US to NZ ... Mainfreight / Kiwishipping (same company). I use them for machinery, tyres, mufflers etc and price is cheapest. I would be guessing $NZ300 for your diff but they can quote you. I get the eBayer to send the goods to CA and they take care of the rest. Brilliant service run by kiwis for kiwis !!! Only issue is that it comes by sea so 6 to 8 week delay. http://www.kiwishipping.co.nz/kiwi-shipping/contact.asp

Very tempted but the week before Xmas is the busiest of the year in bakeries so I can't even be tempted

Just had the M5 Beast reshoed at Chc BMW ... Disk Pads $1,033.82 each + GST Disk Pads $554.40 set + GST Total Job $2,871 + GST Smile on my face when hitting the brakes at 215km/hr on back straight of Raupuna - Priceless

Hi Robyn Having had a Z3 in my past purchases, I would respectfully suggest the 2.2 or the 2.8l motor as when I drove a 1.9, the power was fairly understated. Just went online in Japan just now and the 2002 2.2l Z3 with 50,000km are selling for around 600,000 Yen which means you can land on the road here $NZ 13,500 Just something to consider Regards Ron

This is the bench mark for the M5 V10 Beast sound to aspire to

UK imports are fine unless they are over 15 years old. They throw salt on the roads there so just check for surface rust underneath but highly unlikely to find any. Generally they are higher speced than NZ new vehicles.

Was there an 07 911 Turbo at the auction and if so, did it sell or what was the last bid price ?? Cheers

Having had 2 All Roads and an e39, I would rate the All Road higher than an e39 wagon. They are 4WD always but they are more safe on the road especially if your wife and child are driving or using it as a shopping basket. If she is driving and looses traction, the All Road will be safer. As for the maintenance, I would contest that my e39 cost me more to maintain than the All Road by 2 to 1. They are both German made so parts are going to be a premium on either marque. At least drive an All Road. My wife prefers them over a BMW and she likes the fact you sit a touch higher in traffic plus you can drop the ride height with a touch of a button.

Cheers Jono and 3 Pedals for the referral to the Pirelli P6s. I might take your advise and look around for a spare wheel from the wreckers or similar and set the wife up with a set of the P6s non RFTs and a spare. Really appreciate you keeping things simple for me and helping me sort out which tire I should get. Now to find a spare rim. The mags are the late model look so may be tricky to find. Saw someone selling the 2004 rim design for $800 on TMe ... edit. Q. What is the difference between the P6 94W and the P6 99H they are showing on Buytyresonline.co.nz (apart from the $150 difference) ?

Thanks again Jono The Allroad is a Jap import and as they are current model, I am assuming that they are just now starting to look at reshoeing. Ordering a spare thru Audi is possibly an option although they know how to rape you. I am interested in the mousse concept. Have you had positive experiences with the products that you would recommend to others ? Importing is a 8 week leadtime as I found with my M tyres but when no one in NZ stocks your size in PS2s you have little option. I keep an old tyre in the garage for emergencies and was proposing to do the same for the Audi. Given you are in the trade without a bias (hopefully) what brand/model would you recommend for the non RFT in 225/55/R17 ?

The 2001 - 2004 model has the self inflating spare. The new version with the new front fender doesn't. Looks like I might be importing some again ex US ...

Thanks Jono I assume by your comments that we can't buy RFT 225/55/R17 in the marketplace here and I have to have non RFTs ? Had a look at US and the only tyre there is the Bridgestone Turanza EL 42 RFT These tires are hated everywhere due to noise after 15,000km. There seems to be some better options in RFT 235/55/R17 in the US but can't find any in NZ web searches. How do you know if they will fit - can't find any www sites to help me.

I transitioned from an e34 535 to the e39 540 and thought that was a huge jump at the time. After 3 years I made the change from e39 to e60. I wouldn't call myself a BMW only person, what what I do like about the brand is that the cars drive very similar in road feel and comfort and you almost feel at one with the car. I would be seriously suggesting the e60 545 as a progressive step, if liked the e39s

Thanks all for the feedback. The car doesn't come with a spare so RFT and a bottle of goo is the best option for us. As I don't get to do "spirited" driving in the wife's car (she is protective over her baby ...), the Dunlops seem a smooth ride. I am tempted to try the Bridgestones only for the sake of change. 30km out of the Dunlops seems a little light in value / km for just shopping basket miles ??? Zenetti, thanks for the validation of price as being "cheap". One question though ... the car was fitted with 225/55/R17 profile ex factory but not available in NZ and only 1 option on Tirerack for that profile. I assume that dropping to a set of 225/50/R17 will be negilible difference to drive ???

Wife's Allroad needs new feet but has to be Runflats RFT. Size is 225/50/R17. Only 2 choices appear cost effective ... Bridgestone Potenza RE050 RFT $360 each Dunlop SP Sport 01 $381 each Tire Rack US rate the Bridgestone higher in opinions but currently has Dunlops on it. Performance is not critical as she doesn't track the car nor does it go past 110km on open road. Fairly sure the Dunlops are original as the car has 30km on the clock and tyres are due for replacement. Ride and value for money are the decision makers.A lot of tyre dealers are supporting their brand due to "manufactors incentives" so interested in anyones independant thoughts ...

You should have pawned the wife ... anything other than an M5 beast is a compromise ...

We are using a Dell 10 Mini as a Laptop for when we are travelling around NZ abroad and want email and connections but don't want to take a boat anchor. It has a built in wireless so I just park up inside a McDs overseas and I am online. Very impressed with the unit and speed considering its size. At work we have about 20+ Dells running 24/7 and only one has ever played up and that was a power supply. Having been through most brands in the 90s, we won't move away from Dells due to reliability. Some of these machines have been switched on for 10 years now and no hardware maintenance !!!

Thanks for the link Bravo :cheers:

Congrates !!! Great price as that would be the cheapest I am aware of was $92k in Akl. They are a superb car but would recommend not using as a daily drive. There is sooooooo much to learn about them so suggest you spend some hours/weeks on http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60-m5-e6...ing-discussion/ Other advise is to have a spare set of tires in the garage as there was a 2 week delay for that size in NZ when I needed one. You MUST come up to Chc when the next track day is on with Paul and have some fun in M mode on Ruapuna. This is the only car I have driven that you smile when you get out of it and get homesick to get back into it. It will be your last car for a while as there is not much better until the F10 comes out ...