318Touring

Hmm, sounds rather hard work ....My son freaked out when the NAV started saying 'turn right 800m' etc. The PDC went crazy after the car's parked, showing red on all 4 sides.

Cool, thanks for the replies, keep 'em coming :-) Yeah I agree re the diesel E60 unfortunately it's not easy to find one within what I want to send. Jochen: what's involved in getting TV, the sat-nav will work in NZ just need to get the CD. Martyyn: I think there's about 10 cm and 20 cm spare space front & back respectively when the E65 was in my garage. And my garage is 1980's not the ridiculously small 1960s Wellington garages. E60: Active steering takes some time to get used to. I somehow constantly found that the A pillar gets in the way while trying to see my 2 o'clock. My son can't sit in the middle rear seat as his head hits the mechanism to open the rear hand rest. I can't get visual PDC while it should have come with that option. No BMW warranty. E65: I can't test drive the car as it is in another town so I went out in a $200+k 750. Hmmm, I felt like driving a house... Seriously it was so smooth making the E60 felt like an uncultured school boy. This is a BMW vetted car so everything should have been fixed before it goes on sale. Comes with BMW Premium Selection which is a 2 yr warranty and service plan. More photos of the E65:

Right so it's that time of the period again where I trawl the car yard looking for the replacement of the E39. I'd like to get opinions from those who have experience or heard about their reliability on these cars that I'm looking to get, primarily to avoid getting nasty surprises. Remember that both cars are from the first year of production of its model. I won't be disclosing any prices as they are similar and the least of my concern at the moment. 1st car 2003 E60 530iSE Metallic Brown 36000km NZ new active steering the headlight thingy (I don't remember what it was called) 1 NZ owner FSH no NAV or TV iDrive 18 inch wheels no warranty no Xenons 2nd car 2002 E65 735 Titanium Silver 70000km Singapore import but brought in and vetted by BMW NZ, has gone through the 100 points check basically BMW NZ imported soft close doors rear blinds NAV no TV iDrive loaded with the usual stuff 18 inch wheels BMW Premium Selection warranty with service plan for 2 years no Xenons After thoughts: - will be fun to see an E65 on gymkhana or driver raining day - hard to put in the garage or any parking place for that matter - thirsty? These engines are gettingbetter and better unless you're going crazy on the pedal - Cool Factor???? PS: the missus is very keen on the 7 .... Although at the end of the day there is nothing wrong with the E39 ......

A TV program about how dangerous 4x4 is. Will focus on the ones without any active safety features apart from ABS. As we know all 4x4 will be categorised into one basket, without mentioning that '00 X5 has more safety features than '07 Holden while they cost around the same. Hopefully will be able to see the self-proclaimed car expert (Clive Matthew-Wilson) telling everyone to buy Toyotas, because BMWs are for yuppies. See here for an article from Stuff. I've uploaded a number scans about X5 from BMWCar, click here here to download. Keep me posted, as we're on the same path (maybe :-)). Go X5!!!!

From a British magazine, enjoy. x5001.pdf x5002.pdf x5003.pdf x5004.pdf x5005.pdf x5006.pdf x5007.pdf x5008.pdf x5009.pdf x5010.pdf

Isn't there a $250 pair in TM at the moment, with clear corners.

Good on you mate. Petrol 3.0's fuel consumption somehow is close to the 4.4. Unless you're doing lots of ks you'd be better of with the 4.4 compared to the 3.0d as it depreciates more due to the perception people have with the big engine. Wide screen TV is available from 4.4 2001 onwards, very rare for a 3.0 or 3.0d to have TV unless it's a Jap imports. Diesel arrived in NZ on 2002. I think the best time to buy will be when the new model has been in NZ for a few months as there'll be more and more people trading up (unless you're getting the new model). Have looked at ML270 CDIs? No as highly spec'ed as X5 but 7-seater....

Exactly as I thought. As a precaution, keep your NZ produced plates at ALL times in the car, just in case.....

The good folks at LTNZ, which says that The Transport Act 1986 indicates that only authorised registration plates can be affixed to a vehicle, and to use items that can be mistaken for an authorised plate is an offense. What is interesting is the answer to question to what is an authorised registration plate as the Act doesn't describe the manner of how an authorised plate is to be produced.

Yeah, somehow got this on the mail: "It has been brought to our attention that you may currently have 'euro style plates' not purchased from Personalised Rip-off (mine) Ltd attached to your ....." Hmmmm....

Oh yeah, M5 touring with HUD ..... I'd compare this with E63 or RS4? More power!!!! Seriously though, there's a '01 E39 540 touring, NZ new, with TV, $50k. If I don't already have E39 I'd be very tempted by this one.

To fit two car seats and still have room in the middle, E38 will be a better choice than E39. More room in the boot will be available in an X5 or M class. Or E39 touring. Or an E46 touring maybe ....... Money no object, E60 touring, new X5 or E class estate, even an R or GL class :-)

Since we are talking about dealers, Shelly BMW has been bought by Jeff Gray. So here's to looking forward for a better relationship with the only BMW dealer in town (fingers crossed).

I definitely qualify as well. E39, no mods, State, happy as still the cheapest, $433/yr. Looked at AA last year, still more expensive (considerably) compared to State on all policies. At the moment with State for all the cars, houses and content. Gonna go down to its downtown office and ask on why I can't get any discount for insuring my investment properties. Those thieving b*****!

Allan, I've got a NZ New '98 528 SE, and I find it to be the best car I've ever owned. Probably the only thing I'm yearning for is the Nav/TV setup that it doesn't have. The perfect E39 for me will be a 528/530 with Nav/TV (widescreen will be better), leather, electrics (523 usually doesn't have electric seats) and motorsport trimmings. In fact at the moment I looking to replace it but can't find one that can surpass the E39 without forking out somewhere north of $80k. As for NZ New/Jap-Sing import choice my personal preference always be the NZ New due to the certainty of previous servicing it'd have had.

Must be still in good condition 5mm and will pass WOF. Need 2 and have to be shipped to Wellington.

So m325i, which warranty did you buy at the end?

Sorry Mike, what is CAB? My Compact's steering wheel also wobbles when braking at about 80kph. Nothing at lower speed. Must be a very similar symptom as Gangee's. My Rover's 216 had wrapped rotor, and the steering wheel wobbled when braking at any speed.

Another E39 owner's here. However count me out for the group buy as the car is not used that much so doesn't make any difference what filter type it has (and I might part exchange it anyway).

On my E39 can I use mix my 225/55/16 with 235/60/R16? Put the wider ones at the rear, and the 225 at the front on standard E39 alloys of turbine pattern. Same brand and pattern.

Yep, second that (germanplates). With shipping cost me approx. $100 for a pair. Both of my bimmers have germanplates produced plates.

Try to get a discount as well when ordering or packaged up with the frames.

You can unplug the speaker that produces the annoying beep quite easily. Just find out where it's coming from. On my compact it was from the underside of the steering wheel. One for seatbelt and one for reversing.

How does one get to buy Autosure warranty? Sent them an email once, and nothing .....

Year 2000 4.4l at 90000-100000 kms will set you back in the region of $50,000-$55,000. One plus mark for this car is that is covered by BMW Premium Selection, however from 31st Dec this year cars that are more than 5 yo or has > 100k on the clock will not be eligible Premium Selection anymore. shadowninja, you still got your beautiful blue 3er?