Phil-540i

Thread dig again (because 540IS cars are such an interesting subject lately), & 'bump' - do you happen to still own this gem Ray or what became of it?? Opps - my bad................

I can understand that, although I guess once kms get up they'll be due another start to a round of work & $$$ too I suppose.........

Aww, I dunno - I'd debate its a better deal - its certainly cheaper but its done 70,000km extra too...............hard one to call really. (Upon reflection, Yea ok, given extra set of rims & PP with your one, I'd probably lean that way).......

Nice car!! Very koool! Just remember you'll need the 'reflectorized sunnies' to go with car & brick phone to get the total 90's look', ummm 20 years later......... Oh, & your FAVOURITE music tapes from the 90's....... (Actually, that's not a pi$$ take - most of it's still GREAT music...........!!)

Ditto - mines same while its 'self checking' or showing a fault or whatever - does yours not 'clear' after 30 secs or so, leaving OBC free for clock readings etc?? Took me ages before I learnt that OBC display can be replicated & shown in dash area itself too.......

I get same, spasmodically depending on how she is feeling at the time. Like you Roo, all bulbs are fine, so I'm not going to chase it too much at this stage. When lights get turned on, its like it sorta does a 'self-check' on the system (note to self - must get around to reading owner's manual one day!!) In terms of fault codes relating to lighting coming up on the OBC - my research seems to indicate if bulbs are ok, then highly likely 'fault code' is being tripped due to earthing gremlins within that circuitry....... Mine passes wofs no hassles re lights, so its just another of her 'quirks' I reckon........

Yank ones were 'Friday cars' - assembled somewhat differently with lots of things in wrong place, like, I dunno, steering wheel......

Its sitting there waiting for you Andy - right colour, (tick), NZ new (tick), right number of cylinders for ya (tick), etc etc......... http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-646536718.htm

At 15, I'd saved enough that I brought a 400cc trail bike, so started with that on-road. (Picture me as 'Southland farm-boy at the time, living rural, lots of gravel roads....) so first car was @ 16, as apprentice mechanic. There was a place called 'Overbridge Motors in Invercargill, that used to sell the most trashed pieces of $hit that could still move under their own power - hence I got a 1972 4.1 auto XA Falcon. Now, this thing had had a harrrd life before I got it, think of it as mother-in-law ugly (it was already covered in 'crash paint / primer), & emitted more smoke than a Bob Marley jam session - I had a rare 2 stroke Falcon!! But, in its favour, it came on 8 inch Tridents, 235/60R14 Firestone Wide Ovals that still held air, & the coup-de-grace - was already fitted with a set of Dukes of Hazzard air horns........ Motor got replaced in 2nd week of ownership - (stripped it down to find 4 of 6 pistons cracked.......), & was sold about 8 months later tracking a bit funny in the rear due to it having an argument with a stump in a paddock....... Replaced with a 'tweaked' 120Y SSS ex circuit / rally car........that had been rolled before I got it - $120 to get it back on the road, & probably still remains as most fun vehicle I've owned.... Sample Falcon pic....

That's very very koooool!! Not really my sort of thing, but easy to appreciate it for what it is. You seem to have a knack for finding all the special stuff...............

Thanks Kelvin - that's exactly the point I've been trying to make really............irrespective of the trans / seats/ options swap between the 2 vehicles, its illegal to swap tags & plates........ I dont know if the plates and tags have been swapped from the iS onto the iA body as this thread hasnt made this clear, but if they have the above would confirm it is illegal unless done by an authorised person. From what Steve has said, this bit here is exactly what he has done - IMO the VIN for the vehicle (its unique 17 digit ID number, is NOT necessarily whats on the ID plate - I think you will find it IS actually (on a E34) what the number is that's stamped on the firewall between the wiper arm mounts. (This is there so people like Steve can't just do whatever they think they can). At the moment, the ID tag, & rego plates do not match up with that number, which means its illegal to currently operate that 540 on NZ roads..... Steve tried to cut some corners IMO - its well documented (even within this site) as to how many 540is cars were sold NZ new, & what their colours & chassis numbers are / were. IMO, I think it'll be found that this particular vehicle can only be known / registered as a 540ia both now & in the future in NZ, which means it's original plates & ID will have to be refitted to it. Bar getting pulled up in the vehicle & getting a roadside inspection finding faults with the vehicle's identity, probably the other way it can go further backwards for Steve from this point is if the vehicle is involved in a crash (likely to be no insurance claim excepted), or if he has already 'cancelled' the 540ia registration & handed its rego plates in - VTNZ will likely want the vehicle recompiled from scratch. I hope it's noted that I didn't say anything on the auction, or even in this thread until after Steve himself had wandered in (having a cry) saying the things he did, whilst trying to justify & quantify what he had done.... For future reference - this number will probably end up out of the system - Vin # WBAHE52070BK35074

I was saying that very tongue in cheek...........I well know rust doesn't turn into a hole in 2 weeks, even if the vehicle gets used as deck cargo on a submarine......did you have a go at the issuer?? I would've on something like that......

Ahhh, bummer. Gotta remember though that a wof is only inspection for road worthiness 'at the inspection time' & you'd be surprised just how quick some rust can develope....... Of course, there's always the odd wof inspector around that appears to go to work without their guide-dog - much like you I've been caught out in the past too......(turns me on no end - NOT!!!) Many years ago in Southland, there used to be an outfit that would post your wof out to ya with the reminder.........

I changed a ute from petrol to diesel years ago, & once certed, new cc was shown on rego details, plus new motive power type, as per above VW with Subie motor..... Discretion is good in cases like this, but also bear in mind it 'could' be operating under 'declaration of mods' paperwork, which pre-dates the LVVC process. Given the age of the vehicle, & how gutless they were even when new with the mis-fire 1900cc motor, this is fairly likely. Unless its in a system somewhere for having been modded, theres no way it would have got WOFs till now......

Pics made me smile - specially the VW stickers..........bet ya had fun bigtime!!

Lols, yea, but a real one will gain in value, this probably won't much.......it would be worth paying the extra interest needed for borrowed money maybe in terms of getting a genuine one I believe...... I had been wondering what it 'started' life as too - I figured best case it was maybe a SLE V8........ Everyone has a limit on time & patience, & if ya reckon he's just gonna be too hard to deal with, personally I'd just walk away.......not as if its the last V8 Commy left in the world..... Poverty pack 1900cc base model, with a V8 dropped in it, nice paint job, rims etc etc. But its still a replica........

Feel free to keep me in the loop on it via PM or whatever, as I might be interested in buying with ya - my research so far seems to indicate Vogtland maybe offers best compromise on drop (60mm in front??) & ride. Much as I want to 'fix' mine, I'd rather leave it as it is than have it riding like a brick....... Edit - I'm struggling to find a NZ importer though.......

I like this logic!! Every car is a bit different, depends on use etc as well, but it doesn't take long to do a basic quick check on things, & the longer you own it the more you'll get a better idea on how / when to do pre-checks.... I'm fairly pedantic on wanting things to be right with vehicles, & my own main vehicle gets checked regulary, due to doing long distance / hard runs at times. My partner's Mazda 6 goes in & out of town everyday (we live rural), so I check that first Sunday of each month - works fine for it.

Hmm - just had a look @ your website - no wonder your shots look sooo koool!! What are you thinking of using for springs etc.......?? Front gap on guards on mine 'annoys me' everytime I look at it.......

Fair enough - I'm not aware of previous listings etc on it, & true what you are saying about should have listed it as a classified. You've talked with him on phone though, so I guess gut feelings on it are also taken from that too.... The 'legally bound' bit - it can still be subject to whatever you've said prior to auction end IMO - no different from a house sale being subject to finance or a builder's report or whatever. For myself, I won't hand over money on something that's not as advertised / represented / expected, even outside trade-me. He is stipulating on what terms he's prepared to 'sell it' - in fairness you can also say 'my bid is subject to.........'and in my view (both as a seller & buyer), there's nothing wrong with that......

I think it looks great on it's current wheels. I could probably force myself to take those type 3's off your hands if the price is right........

Steve, maybe I need to clarify some things, from my perspective. Firstly, & with no reservations - I like your car, simple as that. It looks tidy, & 'its a bit different', with being a manual, & with some of the other bits it's got. Morally, I have 'issues' with what you are maybe portraying it to be though. Maybe we have different morals & standards - I'm fine with that. For me, I think Juggy's post (#26) sums it up. Or are you saying its had the manual motor put in the auto 'shell' as well, etc etc?? Legally, I think you'll find there may be some issues with what you have done........and I'm confident that in it's current state I'm not the only one that will have that opinion on your 540....... Just because I don't agree with your take on things doesn't mean 'I'm bent out of shape' or a 'hater'....... Given you're now a member, & are gonna keep the car, here's looking forward to seeing a proper story & more pics of it....

My thoughts too - that's one of the things (theres a few!!) that I really like about this car - its tweaked, modded etc, but its also refined & subtle without being 'in your face'......its really classy & koooooooooool as it is!!

Na Nah - means ya can do whatever the fu%k ya like so long as ya don't get caught and / or ya already have the money in the bank from what you've sold...... Does'nt even have to be the same, or even a similar colour.......that's got nada to do with ' incorporating all of the unique parts and the original Cars identifiers' either..... Anyway, must go - thinking of starting a wee production line on turning 'poverty pack 3 on the tree XA Falcons' into 351 GT versions once I get some relevant VINs.....so long as I can get some crashed GT's, I should be right ae.......

I've been down this road with a vehicle that needed its VIN reissued, due to it being 'missing / unreadable / damaged'. VTNZ had to re-issue the VIN, & apply it to the vehicle, NZTA had to first authorise it happening (in writing), & there was also involvement from NZ Police before NZTA would authorise it...... Its maybe not as simple as just changing the plates & tags over......