gjm

Sorry - still nothing to report. Get in, drive, stop... Y'know, like all good cars should. I do have the turbo and all the other bits and pieces now. I had planned to do that work over Christmas, but NZ Post managed to take from December 14th to January 8th to transfer a vital item from Auckland airport to home. I had enquired about it and was categorically told it wasn't in the country. This information arrived in my inbox about 10 minutes after it was delivered... In the meantime we've cleared 263000 miles. Something around 421000km.

A rather lovely-looking red 1990 E30 M3 on SH1 this morning. Those arches really do set the shape off beautifully. I know it was a 1990 model. The number plate said so.

Next week! It's Wednesday! Have you got something on...? ;-) Seriously - I really feel for you. I've no doubt you get a lot of people telling you how important it is that their car is fixed - now.

Does the E39 have a dipstick? I know our E46 doesn't, which makes things much more difficult.

^ This. Almost definitely.

That's been my perception in the BMW vs Merc debate. BMW is typically sportier, Merc more comfortable. Pick your weapon.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. :-) I quite dislike the CLS, and pretty much all the later models with Mercedes' interpretation of a flared wheelarch. I'm sure they're lovely inside, but... Nope. Not for me. I do very much like the 60s/70s/80s and early 90s models. It's a problem I have learned to accept and deal with.

A cheap Mercedes certainly does exist, but that's not really what we're talking about here. Cheap to buy when compared to the new purchase price, but so are 750iL BMWs and their like. Something that makes upwards of 300hp (base figure for the early W211 E500), with the potential for a LOT more, is never going to be cheap, and certainly not when you factor in all the other bits and pieces. Inappropriate use of cheap plastic parts aside, these cars commanded high prices when new, and the running costs won't have changed significantly. The only difference is that as they get older, people find ways around the costs associated with main dealer servicing and spares. For E55 DIY costs, have a look here: http://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/427836-55-cost-ownership-majority-diy.html Cheap Merc running costs? Get something built before 1995.

Nice car for the money, but not worth much (if any) more. As said, could be had for less.

What's wrong with so many drivers on Kiwi roads? Inconsideration - already covered - and a complete and utter lack of awareness of anything going on around them. Despite efforts of media and police, there's a huge number of people driving around with a phone either glued to their ear (and often, making notes while talking and driving), or with their phone held alongside the steering wheel so they can text and (apparently) watch the road at the same time. And... Naah. That'll do for now.

I've not looked to hard, but I'm unsurprised. Just a matter of getting the right software!

http://www.ivini-apps.com/apps_detail_bmwhat_android.html Looks to ship from Germany.

I keep thinking of getting something like this for the 320d. Reading codes is probably all I'm looking for - not looking to write anything back (at this stage...) I'd got as far as looking on TM for readers but hadn't come across Torque, and hadn't really considered using a phone for it. (Bloody WindozePhone anyway.) I have an older rooted and hacked HTC Desire which might just suit, though.

I'd not considered that. The service indicator on the 320d suggests over 13000 miles between services. Not a chance - I'd never have it go that long. Maybe half that but no more (bearing in mind most of the use is on the motorway), and then only because I use good oil.

'Murray' - whoever that may be - seems to think so. I'm not sure. But I'm not in the market for a mint E30.

Ordering up some bits'n'pieces for a seasonal service. Oil filters (I'm considering buying in bulk), trans filter and gasket, and considering another airfilter - it's been 12 months and nearly 40000 miles (60000km) since the last one. It won't hurt, and I want to get in and check exactly what was done when the swirl flaps were removed. At present, I don't know if they were blanked off - not blanking means a slight reduction in bottom end power, but that's all. Not removing the swirl flaps means bits of metal could be ingested by the turbo and inlet... I'm hoping I'll have a shiny new turbo, proper de-cat downpipe and EGR bypass kit to fit, too. I can drop the exhaust before working on the tranny which will save the possibility of the burning ATF smell I had last time this was done. I'll check the engine and gearbox mounts while I'm at it. Need to check if I have replaced the fuel filter.

The E34. I would have, but for other things that have happened.

To be perfectly honest, the 3-series Touring boot space isn't great. Good enough for us (and I've even carried a 2400x800mm table in ours!) but I can see how one or two more bulky items could quickly take up most of the useful space. I've toyed with the idea of a 5-series on several occasions, but just can't justify changing at the moment.

I don't suppose the 318i Touring has a towbar?

Looks fun.

These need a new home. Make me an offer?

"As is where is" is presented differently in the UK. The majority of sellers will use the phrase "sold as seen" to mean the same thing.

Looks cheap compared to this one...

Anywhere that begins with 'O'...? I quite like Onehunga, actuially. We're scratching our heads a little because while we'd like to be able to walk to the shops, cafes, etc, we also want the quiet and tranquility that comes from living somewhere significantly more rural. Mutually exclusive requirements, really. Right now we're digging in, sucking up the commute, and trying to get a viable plan together. We've been through some tough times - less than 18 months ago we were literally penniless - and there's no sense in making life any more difficult for ourselves than is really necessary. I've a new job, Carol's looking for work, Bex is doing well at school... It's coming together.

JPS BMW 325i GrpA There's a thread about dreaming. Could easily apply to me, when I saw this...