318Touring

Yep,that's right. The black X5's plate is COLCAN or something. I thought it was the cafe's or Chinese restaurant's.

Oh hang on, does the M3 has euro plate, and is it black? I can see an M3 vert from my building parked behind Sports cafe. Damn, I probably should find work there then

Martyn, try to get the orginal rear lights w/ clear corners from the wreckers over there, and sell them here. At the moment an original BMW rear clear lights cost approx. $350. Lots of people selling the altezza style lights (brand new) for $250-$300 at Trademe.

Hey, are any of you guys planning to get a radar detector? Especially with the lifting of speed camera signs from next month(?).

shadow... which building is your wife's workplace. My building is 20 m away from Shelly on Tory St.

The GS300 is a real nice car ....

What's caught my attention is the bullet-proof reliability of Toyota/Lexus built vehicle. Also at least I didn't feel like sitting on a Toyota, which I can't say when sitting on an IS200. I could see some parts that were lifted straight from my Corolla.

However for big-engined/fast Euro/BMW cars check these two out:

740i

or this:

B3 Alpina

A friend has just bought a E39 540i ...

Aro Motor had one before this current one with lower ks. I'm always wary about cars without FSH. Especially on big monsters like E39/E38s/GS300.

... got caught up Brooklyn Hill-69kmh

Yeah that's a nice speed trap down there. A friend also got ticketed at 9 am doing 61kph.

..  might take the Makara way

Never actually go that way. Always late trying to get somewhere in time. Some friends actually did routine lunchtime bike ride from J'ville to town via Makara!!

...  Mt Victoria to Roseneath (where I live)

You live in Roseneath and work in J'ville? Traffic jam isn't an issue for you then ...

I haven't seen the 6-series ...

The 6er a bit of a waste when you can only do 100kph, and 40kph around Ngaio/Khandallah!!! Saw a silver one this am at Courtney/Tory intersection, overheard pedestrians discussing the front of the car. They should wait until they saw its back!!!!

new thread

Well here's the new thread.

I know that road very well, used to drive it at least twice a day for years (used to live up on Jubilee Rd)

I use that road quite often. My son goes to St Benedict's so at school pick-up time I always race up Onslow Rd because I am ALWAYS late! Always use that road to test drive cars. Also when I got really bored, going back to J'ville from town.

Got any favorite roads for test driving? The road between Churton Park to Tawa is also my favorite. Switchbacks, sharp corners, uneven road surface, Oh yeah!!!

same engine as the 645i.

Seen the new 6 yet? Shelly's has a black one at the showroom. Went in and sat the other day, didn't feel like a $200k car. Maybe it has to be driven on the autobahn to appreciate the car.

Nice!!!

Clear corners, clear corners!!

Your neighbours' cars ruined the nice pics. Next time tell them to move their cars or get more exciting ones

Weird... whereabouts in Khandallah & I'll try it with my wheels

It's Onslow Rd going up from Old Hutt Rd. Excellent for a test drive, and chirping tyres. Slow down near the top as there are building sites and schools. And try not to get stuck behind slow traffic.

The upper level Lexus models sure are decked out with impressive gear on paper.

There's only one level offered for sale here in NZ, while BMW would have from 525 up to 540. I don't think GS430 is offered here? Colour digital camera, oh yeah ....

Here's what it looks like:

Chirping the VSC may have something to do with the fact that the GS300 has about 160-170kW instead of the 90-odd that you currently drive!

yeah I know, although I'd taken a E320 through there without too much drama.

seemed more sterile than the BMW. Although it had more power it wasn't as engaging to drive.

it sure is sterile and I bet a 5 er will be much better to drive. Equipment list blows away a standard 5 er.

I checked out a few cars at the Team Euro yard by the motorway onramp, including a very nice RS4 (only $120k)

Did Pat Connely recognise you there?

I once took a ride on the new S4 Avant of a real estate agent. Nice Recaros, very good stereo, very luxurious drool.

shadowninja, I was just going through Tory (I work 200m away from them), when the sales guy said "Would you like a test drive?". How could I refuse??

It has 54000 kms, '98 model, loaded for $40k which is expensive as I've seen comparable ones in Akl going for $35k. I don't know whether I want it or not though. Very, very nice ride, although I managed to chirp the wheel/VSC went off several times going through Khandallah, which I never managed in my s/w. Don't know why.

Are you talking about the M sport package that is coming on May '04 (in the BMW Mag)?

Not to hijack the thread ... shadowninja, I saw you driving pass the J'ville train station at about 1.15 pm today. I was in black Lexus GS300 (number plate SYW). If you saw me, what do you think of the Lexus???

What about the new 1 series that's supposed to be in by the end of the year?

Otherwise you could get 2nd hand 325ti w/ < 10,0000 kms on the clock for less than $60k?

There's an article in one of the UK BMW mags about restoring paint work. They used the 3 steps method and products from either Mother's or Meguiar's. Can't remember.

Ouch $120k!! A 2003 M3 at Team BMW is sold for $140k! My bad, I thought M3s were at $90k.

Keep us updated on your car situation, but let me tell you that you look good on that 330Ci

shadowninja

Dang, I thought I saw you. That's a really nice one, but talking about M3, isn't the retail for 2nd hand E46 is about $90k? Will it be much better than 330Ci?

BTW I alway oggle BMWs .....

How much do you want for the 318?

Well, a 98 318 (import) once went for $27k and change at a Mitsi dealer. No, it's only done 60000 kms, that was really good deal!! Trying getting another wagon is like very difficult as they are very rare.

ouch, that's gonna hurt. Might as well sell it and get e46 making suret hat insp 2 is a few yrs away. The six plus programme from BMW NZ is supposedly will reduce servicing cost?

Has anyone got inspection 2 done on the e36? I'd like to get a feel in terms of dealer's and independent shop's costs.