RobD

These are also an incredibly easy car to extract big power and torque from. The OP is right. Buy a Cobb Accessport V3 for US$900 and you have an immediate 380 bhp machine with 520 Nm of flywheel torque on tap with no loss in driveability. It is an immense powerplant! Not that I am biased.....

I'll second that. The Japanese imports are usually SE spec with shameful aftermarket wheels or the lower spec M Sport wheels. They often also have horrid interior combinations, will have been smoked in, and have sat in endless hours of traffic during their 40/60/ 80,000 km. They are also all automatic.

It'd be a very smooth engine but relatively underpowered by today's standards.

 

Google

That really just brings up Nav NZ, which I think may have been the subject of a bit of an online stoush from memory.

Hi guys,

Does anyone know whether you can get hold of a used NZ satnav DVD (doesn't need to be the latest) for an E90? BMW is charging $600 for a DVD ex Germany but there must be a cheaper way. Not into anything illegal but could I for instance buy one from a wrecker or copy on to a new DVD?

Experience and self preservation usually tend to come with age unfortunately. Scientifically proven that the electrical connections in the brain that create associations of consequences with acts are not developed in young males.

Think of it this way: buying the 4 cylinder version will quite possibly cost you in repairs. Spend that money on the difference in fuel consumption. You'll get a far nicer, smoother and more suitable engine without the issues of the 4 cylinder. The E90 is not a light car and a 4 cylinder is a bit low rent for the size and weight of the car.

+1

I like the lady there She was very helpful with my gazillion questions on engine mods etc

She is a really nice lady! I remember having a lot of questions too and nothing was ever a problem.

Coventry Motors in Porana Road, North Shore is an option though it means crossing the bridge. Only 20 minutes from your area.

Natural selection at its finest. However, sadly the chances are if this moron is in an accident he'll end up killing someone and ruining a family. Two brain cells to rub together? I doubt it.

the point is with items like that people dont shop around. Is he better t sell 8 pairs at 700 or 10 pairs a 350.

There are many items i work with on razor slim 5% margins but also many with literally up to a 3000% mark up. Cant go into more really but its amazing what some items cost to build.

Essentially he is targeting people who don't know any better. It isn't about margins, because in this case I know that there is already enough of a margin for a popular High Street retailer to sell them at £140. So by effectively selling his at the equivalent of £350 he is nothing more than a rip off merchant. The other aspect is that British business shoes are perceived as higher quality (usually they are) so he will be basing his inflated prices on that. More power to him if he sells enough to make a living but I bet he'd still sell more and make more net profit of they were cheaper.

Well this is just it. I resent the idea that local outfits are just adding on huge margins for the sake of it and penalising their customer base. It's not 1987 anymore and thanks to the internet and cheap(ish) shipping we simply aren't slaves to distance and huge duties like we used to be. Suppliers here need to realise that otherwise in time everyone is just going to buy everything online. There is a shop on Customs St West in Auckland City that sells men's business shoes - the exact same brand and style I (and about 90% of guys there) used to wear to work in London. Over there, they cost me around 140 quid. Here, the guy is charing $700. Now, you can order those exact shoes direct from various stores in London and only be subject to exchange rate and 25 quid shipping, meaning if I wanted to I could land them for about $320. The guy is living in the past.

^ Bridgestone RE070.

Was looking at them on an R35 yesterday, they look wicked.

They only seem to be available in a couple of sizes, but definitely a good looking tyre. I'm waiting on a price from Discount Tyres in Grey Lynn for the Pilots so that should be interesting.

 

PSS - I was reluctant due to the cost, but all I can say is believe the hype. The ride is so much better, wet grip is great, noise is waaay less and from reviews wear sounds excellent (300).

Plus they are best looking tyre IMO. (Love that 'rounded' profile)

 

Factor this in for cost - Shipping ~$300USD, GST is on cost + shipping, $50 customs fee. (+fitting and balancing)

 

(Edit; comparing to RE050A)

Basically USD 814 is NZD 990. Shipping quote (including both US and NZ charges) is NZD 330. Add GST on cost and freight and it becomes NZD 1,500 in round figures. That's still over a $1,200 cheaper than Hyperdrive were charging even for PS2, which was superseded by the PSS. Besides, they only bad the size for the front tyres available locally in PSS. All in all, if you're prepared to go through the hassle and wait, it makes so much more sense to import privately. From everything I've heard the PSS is basically the best commercially available road tyre you can buy, but then again it's all subjective and everyone. Will have their own opinions as ever.

Insanity. Full set of PSS for US$814. Even adding shipping and GST that is half the price of buying locally.

I've got Potenza RE002s on 3 cars in the family now. I just love them. Great compromise on performance, durability and price. Can't speak for the ride as I only daily them on my e30 with 205/55/15s.

 

I've recommended them to a few friends who have also had positive experiences.

Thanks a lot for the input. They definitely look like a good compromise and at a pretty good price to boot. Kind of silly but I like the tread pattern too.

Evening ladies and germs. Need to re shoe the 335i and was wondering about the Falken Azenis FK453 and the Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline RE02. Does anyone have experience with either of these two? Would love to hear thoughts and opinions. Sizes are 255/35/18 and 225/40/18. Cannot wait to get rid of the Michelin Pilot run flats in spite of awesome grip! The ride is not great on our roads!

Nice thanks.

Out of interest where did you get the springs from and who fitted them?

And not had a wife or girlfriend at the time

This is true. Though it's more a point about the amount of car you can now obtain in that price bracket. Everyone on here understands that new engine or otherwise, it is still a 12 year old 540. It isn't a special car, and it isn't worth $30K. If he was asking a $5K premium over market value then that would be more realistic.

E60 M5s are coming down in value to the $40K mark. Doesn't make a $30K E39 sound so credible, new engine or not.

Delusional.

I just love my car as a weekender. No, it isn't an M3, but it still feels like a bit of an event every time I start it up. I love everything about it. I love that it's a sedan and is practical, but also that it has a twin turbo 300hp straight 6 under the bonnet with a 6 speed manual between me and the rear wheels. Sapphire black exterior with lemon Dakota interior and full M Sport spec from the factory. It looks so well proportioned and with the type 193 alloys and shadow line trim it looks purposeful without any nasty add-ons. It isn't the best at any one thing in particular, but it sure is pretty good at a lot. Like accelerating faster in 5th than many so called performance cars do in 3rd. My perfect weekend toy.

A slightly odd $400k + Turbo S with a standard Turbo wing and Carrera S badging.

That one is just a Carrera S.