318Touring

Why would you want iDrive? BTW, is this the new or old iDrive? New one is good, old one is annoying.

Your brake pads warning light should be illuminated. That if the previous owner didn't scrimp on buying the sensors!!

Gosh, never really trust advice from call centre staff! Went to State's office in Willis St, and they said it's OK as long as the driver is over 25 with a suitable IDP type. I'll need to thoroughly brief our visitor with driving through a roundabout especially when there are cars waiting at all sides, and nobody dares to make the first move.

Thanks all. I'll have a more 'earnest' discussion with State with emphasis on the amount of business I have with them. There is virtually no difference between driving here and where my visitor's from. Except for our give-way to the right rule.

That's the whole point that unless the driver has the correct license type State won't want to know (NZ license). Obviously an overseas visitor will only have International Driving Permit from the country of origin, which State won't recognise.

We've family coming over in a few days from overseas for a quick visit. Naturally we'd want them to lend them the Compact to get around while they're here (2 weeks). However my insurance company, State, refused to cover overseas visitor. Anyone has similar situation? Any resolution? Can I get separate insurance cover from another company?

If it's a player and not a changer, then it's a straight out with the old and in with the new. Unless you have the 4:3 screen Nav which means that you have t replace the whole screen.

We should have a "meet 'n wash" day before Xmas ensuring everyone's cars are shiny and clean for the long hot summer.

Arrghhh!!! My eyes! My eyes!

I've been a lot of seeing leggy, really 'tatty', BMWs in TM now. There is a '96 528 which looks like a recent import with 220,000kms on it, missing a 'few' things etc. etc. for $3k. Are people actually importing these kind of things to the country? What kind of person would buy something like that? Presumably you'll have to spend another few $ to fix (all) the problems and most of all maintain it? Or will it end up being 'slammed' with a big pipe at the back?

It's either gonna be up or down.

I'm with AA, and their requirement is either every 15000kms(?) or in accordance to manufacturer's specification. For my E60 it means 25000kms or every two years. This is why I chose the AA as Protecta requires servicing every 10 or 15 thousand kms. I'd tend to believe recommendations from BMW engineers and not some warranty guy/gal in NZ.

I've had good experience with Blair Wright.

FYI, in early 2007 I was offered an '02 735 ex Sing, 5xxxx kms for $53,900!!! Needless to say I didn't buy that one :-)

With the same amount of body weight, the 735 will be a better choice? 730 will be the most basic (cheap) 7 series available for sale in Asia, will be like buying a 520. So specs wise, will it be affected?

Following this historic partnership of BMW-Honda, BMW dealers around the world are now giving away Honda Type R badge to BMW owners at no cost. Installation will be done by BMW technicians, who have undergone extensive training at Japan, also at no cost to BMW owners. BMW owners are welcome to drop by their local BMW dealers to have the Type R badge installed at their vehicles upon sighting of ownership papers. Due to worldwide shortage of such badge, BMW dealers will only supply one badge per BMW vehicle. Self installation of the Type R badge or installing non-original Type R badge will void vehicle warranty. (Not by) BMW AG (Not the) Customer Relations

Next generation 3 series spotted without any disguise. Obviously these economic hard times have affected BMW without exception as well. Rumours have been going round for sometime now that BMW is keen to work with Honda for platform sharing of a new car development, mainly to save costs. BMW has been said to be quite impressed with Honda's work, and it's quite evident from this spy shot that the two are now working together.

+1 I've clayed my E60, now smooth as, using Mothers. For wax I use Meguiars NXT, with Cleaner Wax then ScratchX beforehand. Just been to SuperCheap they have a Meguiars clay bar set for $40.

Ooops?

$39.5k for negotiation but getting very, very close. The auctioneer was very frustrated that I didn't click the 'Bid' button. BTW, I was bidding on Live Auction from Wellington! I suspect another $2-$3k would be enough to secure it.

I was bidding for the Maserati until it hit $39k. Stopped because it is a 9 yo Italian super car ...... If I continued I would've gotten it. I was bidding the RS4 as well :-) The 535 and 635 were very tempting, but again, couldn't be bothered maintaining either one. One Cayenne went for $63k!!

RS4 man, what do you think of this? A bit OT from BMW but still a fast car. The price is about $30k below dealer's!! 07 RS4

For E60 iPod retrofit costs around $600 Aux in around $400. Those include software updates.

LOL, click the link and read the article. Don't you wish you tried harder at (Olympic accepted) sports when you were little? Sex and the Olympics

$65/hr? BMW dealer charges around $80 (or is it $90) per hr.