318Touring

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?

Yeah I'll pass on this one. As the colour is very similar to the E39 it's just like driving my E39 on a higher platform. If it's black with privacy glass option might be a different story....

Hmmm...maybe not. I'll take the Compact to something like that.

Took a 4.4. for a test drive this afternoon. Well, 4.4 is more than enough for me. I beat everything at the lights, without even trying hard, that thing is crazy! Don't really like the colour though as it looks exactly the same as my E39.

Nice, c'mon give us the specs! You might want to lose the ACS emblem stuck on the lower front bumper.

As fuel consumption go, anything at aroung 14-15l/100km is fine, long as not 20l/100km!! Diesel's still very expensive at the moment especially keeping in mind that there is a new shape coming. Eh, where did you read about this? Quite concerning that 60% were that bad.