gjm

On Sunday I saw an (the?) i8, arriving at Hampton Downs (under it's own power, not on a trailer). Looked as though there was going to be a BMW event at HD yesterday - as I was leaving a team of people were wiping dust off a small fleet of new BMWs parked near the pavilion.

I've not had any problems editing (fortunately!) but a little breathing space after posting when an edit could be made without incurring the orange banner would be nice. I don't know about IP.Board, but some forum software has a configurable option for this. Edit: There is, or can be, something in IP.Board called 'Edit grace period.' Not knowing the commercial model of IP.Board, I don't know if this is a (part of a) module, or part of the base implementation. Regardless, it is a 'nice to have' and certainly not a major functional issue!

I would like agents, being paid to sell a property, to put a price on it. As a potential buyer it is enormously frustrating but I can see some reason behind it... They want to achieve the best sale price possible and in a volatile (although upwards moving) market that could be difficult to quantify. (There is self-interest on the part of the agent here too as they'll make more commission from a higher sale price.) But to be unable to offer a seller (see Jon's post above) a valuation... Staggering. Curious that they would ask for the RV as we've so often been told the council valuations have no bearing on the market value of a property. We were told this before the revaluations ("new council values will be much higher and we're marketing the property accordingly") and since revaluation, that's been maintained ("the property was undervalued by the council"). When a value has been indicated at all, of course. Not all agents make a lot of money. And not all agents are as bad as perhaps I painted them earlier: we have met some good ones, including a few who have refused to represent a sale as the owner was unrealistic. My frustrations at property prices and selling/buying are my (our) own, and based on our circumstances. Sometimes I let those issues get to me: in particular, having owned a house for 20 years, being told I now need to buy a 'nice little starter home' doesn't sit well. In other bad news for buyers, Auckland average asking price rose to a new high of $789,581 in April. The wider New Zealand property market saw average prices rise to $521,729, an increase of 1.4% on the previous month and just over 9x the average NZ wage. (I suspect NZ-wide prices are slewed by prices and increases in Auckland.)

Real estate agents have become much worse recently. PBN, Tender, Auction are now the preferred method of pricing, with the motto 'let the market decide' being trotted out every time anyone asks why. The truth is, they either don't know, or can't be bothered. A less professional group of people I have rarely met - well-presented, but often incapable. The money they can make is quite frightening too.

The police (or at least the infringement bureau) have access to software that can probably clean that picture up and reveal the number plate. (They managed to read the plate on the 320d from an acute angle in fog when I couldn't make out any letters in the picture!)

Ta.

There's a house I pass on my way to drop Miss M at school - sold about two years ago for $2.2m. On the market again now, for $4.2m. Fantastic profit... If you had $2.2m to start with. (Land value increased in the last valuation from $1.475m to $3.575m. )

The first one appears to be from a 3-series E46 2.0 diesel.

It's something that has contributed to Mrs M considering the idea of driving a Skoda...

Any idea if they can swap? I've never had to look.

E30 PFL vs FL front lip What's the difference? Given they are specifically referred to, I guess either there is no interchangeability, or perhaps one model didn't have a front lip at all?

Highway 2 up the side of the harbour was closed yesterday afternoon - friends living in Upper Hutt (who would normally take the train - not running) stood on a bus for 4 hours during a scenic tour of Porirua, Paramata and the beauty of H58.

I think there was some lithium/air battery tech involved, too?

The Turkish-built Verso 1.6 D4-D has had a BMW engine for a couple of years, the same engine as used in the Mini Cooper. The rumours of a 4-cylinder diesel in the HIlux started in late 2013, but there have been plenty of others including a tie-up with Cummins.

If we're serious about this, it'd be nice if it can be done locally, especially if there are savings to be had too.

Don't think it is, but that may have changed. Last I saw it wasn't M5x compatible, or even 16v. It was originally designed for M20s but plans were to expand on that.

I know of a 318 manual coupe for sale - I've sent you a PM.

Ours very rarely cut out, but fuel starvation (pump) turned out to be the main issue. After a few 0000kms, throttle body cleaning, fuel filter replacement and so on all improved things, but didn't address the underlying issue. Great car now! (Although having fixed it, we sold it...)

Cascade Autofinish in Pakuranga. http://www.showpaint.co.nz/

Keen to hear how you get on. I'll be swapping back to the Style 73s with a zillion spokes, so anything that makes cleaning them easier is welcomed.

Already is. A 2012 Phantom Drophead (Rolls don't do convertibles, y'know) is well under $500k. Can't really live in it, and the fuel will be even more than Auckland rates, but it is tempting... Now, can I get a mortgage on a 'mobile palace'?

Something else Mercedes are good at... Go back to the 80s and Mercs were revered as luxury German engineering. These days everyone has one. I'm saving for a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe. Let's see the neighbours turn up in one of those!

Let me know how you get on? Considering a Yeti for Mrs M. Considering the 4x4 with the DSG 'box - can't have a manual, sadly.

Bright yellow E30 road/track car on SH1 heading south, left the highway at Hampton Downs. Roll bars visible through the rear window. Couldn't read all the signwriting, just number 31. Miss M very much approves!