Grant

This year, it seems very much status quo. There are still two teams that are head and shoulders above the rest (Ferrari and McLaren), a team that is clearly the third best, and won't be challenged for that position (BMW Sauber), and then a bunch of teams that will fight for 4th - 8th'ish (Williams, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Honda, Renault et al), and then the three teams who are just there to make up the numbers (Torro Rosso, The Indian team, and the Super Aguri Team). I don't think that we can get too excited about BMW Sauber being ahead of Ferrari at this stage of the season, as the Australian Grand Prix, to me, is always a farce, and can in no way be viewed as a preview of to expect. I will enjoy the first amongst Ferrari and McLaren though, and think that Hamilton and Raikkonen, especially will have a great battle all season. I also think that the battle within BMW Sauber will be interesting as both Heidfeld and Kubica are very good drivers, with Kubica going on to be a great driver in the future (I think possibly a World Champion one day). Anyway, these are my thoughts, and I'll probably be proved completely wrong as the year progresses, but hey, I've put my stake in the ground. Cheers Grant

Saw it on telly last night, awesome. Lets hope it goes to a great home. Cheers Grant

I have seen the yellow one, and have met the owner a couple of times. Very very nice car, and very well looked after - which is reflected in the price but IMO still a good price for the condition, just more than I want to spend.Cheers Grant

Great to have you back Kerry. We need more of the old (no pun intended) crew around, to balance things out. Cheers Grant

CamBHave you bought the 4 door Byzanz M3 on Trade Me? I was pretty keen to buy that, and according to trade me it is still for sale (and within 15% of its reserve), was just going to wait till the last minute to place my bid (however I change my mind every day, and am also considering an E39 540 so maybe you have donw me a favour). Cheers Grant Grant

Happy Birthday Martyn Have a great day and I hope the family spoiled you suitably. Cheers Grant

I might go and have a sneaky look, my son's daycare centre is right next door to Haslers - he always has nice cars being straightened out in there. Cheers Grant

A key without the keyess entry for an E36 will cost you about $100, with the keyless entry about $450. You need to get it from a dealer (I rung around trying to get one elsewhere, but got the same answer from everyone - "go to the dealer". You will also need proof of ownership of the car, and also the last 7 digits of your VIN. Cheers Grant

Cheers Jared. I wasn't worried, I just wanted to know if they had been ordered.

Far out that post is hard to read, English....it's a language we all use, please try it.

I was wondering the same thing.Jared - can you please confirm that these have been ordered? Cheers Grant

STi Guy - I am very impressed with your attitude. I read this thread thinking that it was going to turn into a nasty shitfight, but was pleasently surprised that it hasn't, mainly due to your non-aggresive replies (being in the camp of the enemy so to speak...I'm sure you get whay I mean).Good luck with whatever you end up with (the STi or the M3), both good performance cars. Cheers Grant

Wow - nice car. Cheers Grant

I actually think that you are wrong. Most people on here really want a safe, good performing (in all facets) car, the trouble is that the guys who seem happy to make their cars unsafe, all for a look, form a very vocal minority (even if 90% of their posts are pure dribble...but hey, it ups their post count!!).Cheers Grant

+3 - I'm getting bloody sick of it as well. The site/forum seems to have attracted a core bunch of idiots who not only put their life at risk every time they drive, but also every other road user around them. It seems to happen every year or two, thankfully these guys don't last and either move on from BMW's or get sick of the constant harassment and find a site/forum more suited to their perception of what makes a good car. Cheers Grant

I'm sure you will hear this from elsewhere, but you should get it scanned at a dealer or decent independent (like Botanymotorworx), then you will know exactly what is wrong, rather than guessing, as it could be a lot of things. In my car it was the Cam Position Sensor (found when the car was scanned), causing the bad idle. Cheers Grant

I agree with Carl and Martyn. Just write a polite, reasonable letter to them explaining that it wasn't you, and why, and I'm sure that will be the end of it. After all, it is most likely a pure mistake, and people are prone to make these from time to time. Cheers Grant

Hi All To be honest, I am getting a bit sick of the "War on Strat1". Although I think the guy is a complete tool, and I wouldn't trade with him in a million years, I think that the constant bagging of him, and the wanting to start a war with him is going a bit far, especially when other legitimate auctions are being brought into it (i.e. the reshelled M5). Surely it is up to the powers that be on Trademe to sort him out should he cross the line, not a bunch of vigilante BMW forum members. You probably think that the questions are making him angry, or pissing him off, however my experience with a$$holes such as this guy is that they thrive on being wound up, and love every minute of it, rather than having the desired effect of making him pull his head in. Anyway, if nothing else, his auctions make for funny reading. Cheers Grant

Nice - good effort.

Just go ahead and order the ones for the 7 of us that have paid. Forget the rest of the useless pricks. Cheers Grant

Shhh - you will really get the white trash red-necks worried and spouting off their ill informed opinions, if you spread rumours like that.Cheers Grant

What gets me is that we don't buy petrol because we want too, it is a requirement of running a car, therefore the oil companies aren't too concerned about this as it just means that their sales will just increase for the couple of days prior to, and after this and all will be happy again in the world. There is an easy solution if you are unhappy about petrol prices, and that it to dust off the 10 speed or walk, as there is sweet stuff all you (or I) can do about them.

How do you know? They may be 3rd or 4th generation New Zealanders - much like yourself, I bet. I know plenty of New Zealanders with "foreign names" who have been here for many generations.Really it is not surprising for new immigrants, as they are probably less up to date with taxation rules etc here than long term New Zealanders and therefore the chances that they are owed money are higher (and visa-versa). Cheers Grant

Yup bloody good. Not a bad beer either.

Happy Birthday mate. Hope that Debbie and Elise have both spoilt you rotten today. Cheers Grant