gjm

Typically, this (too). Bear in mind also the benefits of shopping locally for the support you get, and the ability to pick up the phone and speak to someone without having to calculate which of many time zones you're calling.

@qube - Kyu, you must have something to help here?

Agreed.

Just placed an order with FCP for an ignition kit for the 500SE - Bosch dizzy cap, rotor arm, and plugs, and some other leads. US$268 including shipping. Should sneak through under the $60 of charges threshold.

Entirely agreed. The two weeks is a ridiculous amount of time, especially when the seller/sender has used an 'express' method to ship. Having found a helpful contact in Customs (he stayed late to sort paperwork for me), I'll liaise with him to see if there is a way to expedite this sort of thing and avoid future delays. I'm keen not to hassle him or waste his time though. Hopefully NZ UPS is better than UK UPS! They made NZPost look like a shining beacon of efficiency! An advantage of using Pelican Parts is that they offer aftermarket and tuning parts as well as OEM quality parts. (I've not checked FCP or Schmiedmann to see if the same is true there.) PP are useful for me as I can order Merc and BMW parts in one shipment.

How did you get the GST payment sorted so quickly? It took NZPost 4 days to send me a letter saying that something had arrived and fees were due, but they forgot to calculate how much so I couldn't pay online. I spent 30 minutes on the phone to NZ Customs in Tauranga (who were very helpful) and then it took NZPost another 3 days to get the parcel out for delivery.

Have a chat with Chris at Suspension Tech - 09 273 1232 / 027 214 5325

I can imagine. I'd like to think I'd not do that under any circumstances, but it's quite possible my avoiding 'pushing' is also due to my brother being a HGV driver in the UK, and knowing people like you. It means I better appreciate what you do, and the problems you experience.

Pelican Parts can sometimes be cheaper. Check with local supplier - forum sponsors, MillAnd, etc - too.

Very keen. I'll drop you a line.

We were so very, very nearly involved in what could have been a horrendous high speed accident, one where speed would have been the primary cause (leaving aside monumental driver stupidity). A silver 2012 Audi A6 3.0TDi Quattro saloon, rego GGP*** (I have the numbers) forced it's way passed us on the southbound SH1 as the dual carriageway narrows to one lane just north of Te Kauwhata. We'd been in the left lane, travelling at a solid 100km/h, and had passed the last of the lane dividing dotted lines when the Audi, which I had seen to be several hundred metres back only a few seconds before, came barreling past us at very high speed. To make up the ground that he did, more than likely a long way into license losing territory. Having passed us he had to brake VERY hard to avoid running into the back of the car which had been in front of us. I was forced to swerve hard left to avoid contact. My wife screamed, and our daughter looked terrified. Fortunately there is just a hatched area of road surface to the left - anything solid and we would have hit it. (Or maybe I wouldn't have taken evasive action.) I sounded the horn and the Audi driver lifted his left hand from the steering wheel to perform the likely action of a teenage boy with his first gentleman's magazine. Had I not made that one final check before completing the merge into one lane, the Audi would have been squashed between us and the centre rope divider. No accident. I was quite shaken (and I've seen some seriously crap driving!) and my daughter was close to tears. I'm still furious that someone could have so little regard for the safety of others - if he wants to kill himself, that's his problem. The police will not prosecute based on a *555, but will - I think - write to the registered keeper of the vehicle. Is it worth it?

Regulators and glass are out - I have a pair of coupe door shells to play with. Useful t know I need to look into new glass as well as the winding gear.

Had that this evening. Right hand lane from Papakura through to just short of Hampton Downs. An eejit hoon and his mate in a white Hilux was riding his bumper with main beam on from Island Block Road - still took 6km for the f^ckw!t to pull over.

Looking for the winding handles and inside-door mechanism. Have electric kit if someone is keen on an exchange. Anyone know if the glass is common to the electric and manual window versions? I think it is...

RG-Rs in a 17x8 are 7.7kg each; I think the RG is around 8.4kg.

Ex-pen-sive. Probably doesn't really want to sell it.

More outside lane hogging. This time an airport shuttle minibus (from Super Shuttle) and trailer. Came out of Island Block Road heading north, was still in the right hand lane at Pukekohe, 15km later. Might have passed a dozen vehicles in the meantime, but probably less. Of course, it's not illegal, and the driver was doing a solid 100km/h+, but what happened to lane discipline, especially among what should be regarded as professional drivers?

Notifications seem to have returned. Bizarrely, I'm a mod on another forum running the same software, and they had the same thing happen, at about the same time. Email notifications just... Stopped.

Common problems? Many, sadly, on the N42. As Nathan said, the early E46 got the M43 TU engine. That one is a good 'un - not so exciting to drive, but reliable, simple to work on, and very economical.

I was trying to filter on to SH1 southbound from the Redoubt Rd sliproad - filter like a zip. A broken zip, in this case. There was a space, but Mr Skyline driver decided I wasn't going to be occupying it. I, too, see it all the time. It's just another symptom of the appalling quality of so much driving at the moment.

So long as they (and you) had a good day, that's what counts. Thanks for helping.

Fabulous! I was wondering earlier if anything came of this... Glad it worked out. I trust you were the epitome of care and restraint and had your special wooden block under the accelerator pedal?

Exact same thing happened to me yesterday. Bloody Skyline drivers. Let two cars and a lorry in after that, though. Obviously a case of badge envy.

Windscreen trim strips for the E30 and E28... The windscreen rubber has an insert, normally chrome. So does the E28. Does anyone know if the profile of the insert is the same? Part numbers don't help as the parts appear to be supplied cut to size and shape, and that would mean they are different between models. I'm looking at buying the trim on a roll.

Someone buy these bits! It'll mean Nathan can get the car out of the garden, and that will mean Mrs Nathan is very happy. Which means Nathan will be happy, too.