gjm

Same experience here. Used to be great and could provide/arrange one-offs of some stuff. These days they seem to be a mailorder discount car bits kind of operation, staffed by drones rather than anyone with an interest in motoring or motorsport.

Great work. I was thinking while reading that the RB30 might be a bit tall, but you've covered that nicely too. Looking forward to more pics and progress news as and when you have time.

Happy to help.

I'm a frustrated researcher. Your X5, registered 10/11, was built 08/11. BMW call it the E70N X5 30dX SUV N57, prod code ZW42. (From RealOEM.) The N57 has a number of variants: N57D30Ox has 1800 bar pressure, while N57D30Tx has 2000 bar pressure. N57D30Ox uses single turbocharger, while N57D30Tx uses 2 turbochargers, and N57S uses 3 turbochargers of varying size. Applications: N57D30U02010-2011 BMW 5 Series F10/F11 525d[3] 2010- BMW 3 Series E90/E91/E92/E93 325d N57D30O02008- BMW 3 Series E90/E91/E92/E93 330d/330xd 2010-2011 BMW 5 Series F10/F11 530d 2009- BMW 5 Series GT F07 530d GT/530d xDrive GT 2008-2012 BMW 7 Series F01/F02 730d/730Ld 2010- BMW X5 E70 xDrive30d 2010- BMW X6 E71 xDrive30d N57D30O12011- BMW 5 Series F10/F11 530d 2011- BMW X3 F25 X3 xDrive30d 2012- BMW 3-Series F30/F31 330d 2012- BMW 7 Series F01/F02 730d/730Ld N57D30T02010-2011 BMW 5 Series F10/F11 535d 2009- BMW 5 Series GT F07 535d GT/535d xDrive GT 2009- BMW 7 Series F01 740d/740d xDrive 2010- BMW X5 E70 xDrive40d 2010- BMW X6 E71 xDrive40d N57D30T12011- BMW 5 Series F10/F11 535d 2011- BMW 6 Series F12/F13 640d 2011- BMW X3 F25 X3 xDrive35d 2013- BMW 3 Series F30/F31 335d N57S2012- BMW M550d xDrive 2012- BMW 750d xDrive 2012- BMW 750Ld xDrive 2012- BMW X5 M50d 2012- BMW X6 M50d Hopefully that helps, just a little?

It's a dealer... Like real estate agents, they exist to drive prices up. I'd not be interested in a LHD model (and can't see that being a good basis for investment in NZ), but I'll confess to very much liking the colour.

Yup. I'm not sure the seller is man enough to stand up to Mrs gjm, though... (I don't stand up to her - I get out of the way!)

Unfortunately I'm in the same position as so many others - I guess the vehicle we want is just more expensive (at present) than we can afford. It needs to be multi-functional and while suitable for loading bales of hay in the back, should be presentable enough for Mrs gjm to collect folk (and family) from the airport. The query re LPG came about from a discussion on a Australian forum: don't buy a noisy and smelly diesel - get a V8! If you want lower running costs, get a V8 converted to run on LPG. Well, that's the gist of it, anyway. Over here, with RUC charges, a less-than-economical diesel just doesn't make sense, so I thought I'd ask if anyone has any comparative experience )in terms of running costs) of diesel and LPG. It's inspired some lively debate, that's for sure. Ultimately, it may just make sense to buy something already converted if it can be bought at an appropriate price. That's the issue with these conversions (for the private individual paying for them) - they aren't cheap to do, and they don't add value at sale time. I wasn't aware of the work that had been done by Australian car companies in developing factory-fitted LPG conversions. Some half-hearted effort had been made in Europe, but typically it was a nod towards doing something for fleet users and the like, and used an 'economic', and often less than efficient, solution. Most diesel SUVs of the size we've been considering won't do much better than 30mpg, or 10(ish) km per litre. There's plenty of petrol options that will approach that and potentially present more economic ownership. The petrol engines probably won't have the same low-down torque but may be better to drive on a highway at 90-100km/h. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed. It has, for me, been very useful in highlighting benefits and options, and also some of my misconceptions.

Read the piece on bmwforums, checked my stack of service history, and spoken to Fabian at BMW in Hamilton. I'll have some rebuild stuff tomorrow. The rebuild may not be absolutely essential, but it seems a sensible servicing thing to do regardless, and could easily fix the problem.

Yup - Brent's car has 500+ under it's wheels. I know thread mentioned, but don't recall what it was called.

Ta. I wasn't being lazy, really... I just had a few minutes between getting home and going back out again and being at a loose end, though I'd post a quick update. I'll check for the clips.

This looks likely to be due to a binding left front brake. Beyond that, not sure at present... Anyone have any experience of rebuilding E46 calipers? May as well make a go of doing at least both fronts, and maybe all of them.

We're around 430000km and adding around 1000 a week at the moment.

Zorst - fixed. The middle pipe had split, and quite bady, in two places. Someone has at some point had a similar problem and tried to MIG repair it - that really doesn't work on stainless, but we've had the car for nearly 12 months and it'd not been a problem until very recently. The vibration looks likely to be due to an occasionally binding near side front brake. Possibly a piston not releasing properly, or sticking.

I'll do that.

I think Turners will deliver anywhere, but they'll charge you. Probably even for an inter-branch transfer. It's just over an hour from Sylvia Park. If you do see it and decide to buy, I can probably arrange to get it halfway - I'm working in Hamilton and living in Te Kauwhata.

Hopefully I'll be there on Sunday to tell the tale!

Locally and quickly, probably not easy. There may be a genuine BMW part on a shelf in a warehouse, but equally likely is that it would be ex-Germany. Pattern parts for the 320d are a bit thin on the ground in NZ - not actually a problem providing you remember this, and plan a little in advance. The part is available from Europe (and probably elsewhere) Unfortunately, when an exhaust splits (as this has) then it's time. Now, kinda thing. And it's not really practical to wait 'til something arrives from overseas. On this occasion it's as much a price thing as anything else. Genuine BMW exhaust parts are more than likely very expensive (I saw EUR 300+ ex-Europe), so this seems a sensible approach on this occasion. Cheapest pattern part readily available from Europe is around EUR 125 plus shipping; Geddes quoted about $150 for something made to order.

You've not missed it - it's perhaps an oversight on my part. This started as a comparison of the relative fuel-related costs for a vehicle using LPG and other fuels. However, I've realised that unless I can spend fairly big and get something with a full multi-point LPG system which uses some method to amend the EMS and alter timing accordingly, then it is probably either a waste of time, or potentially more trouble than it's worth. Fortunately it's not imperative we do something now, but this has (for me) been very useful in focusing my thoughts. Thanks to everyone for that! It'll also be invaluable when the time does come to acquire something a little bigger.

OK, so the custom exhaust idea, while an option, isn't an option. Timeframes just don't fit. He's stacked out with race work (in fairness - he'll make a lot more money from that than he ever will from me and I completely understand) and while he may be able to fit me in towards the end of next week, it's much more likely to be the week after. The racket this is making, I really don't want to wait that long. It is part number 2 on the diagram below. And that is - quite literally - more than the price of a complete (well, downpipe back) custom exhaust system. So I've spoken to Geddes Automotive in Onehunga and will take the car in there first thing in the morning. They've been around a while and hopefully longevity is some indication of decent work. I'm not looking for a complete system, just a replacement for that part. The problem? It looks as though there has been an issue with that section of the exhaust in the past as there are signs of welding in two places (behind the cat, and at the bend), and those welds are breaking up. While it sounds like loose pieces of metal, it's just that type of blow on the exhaust. I've packed under the bracket to support the pipe as a very temporary measure and this has quietened things down considerably. Hopefully for long enough to get it sorted. This feels a little like a bodge fix, which I really don't like, but it's a 'good' bodge. I'm taking bad and broken stuff off the car and replacing with something good.

So the exhaust is making a lot of rattling noises. No blow or unusual roar, just the sound of pieces of metal banging around. Could be a loose heat shield, could be the cat falling apart, could be baffles. Hopefully find out later. Spoke to someone today and was quoted "700 or 800 bucks" for a custom-made, tig-welded stainless system with mandrel bends. That's food for thought. Just buying a back box in from Germany would cost more than that.

Kinda liked the idea of a Fairmont EB2, but I guess the 5.0 V8 isn't going to be quite so economical? I'm unsure where the conception came from that LRs and RRs are so expensive to maintain, or so unreliable. 20 years living and working with, and on, them in the UK suggests otherwise, but they are 12000 miles from home over here. Maybe they're pining for the muddy lanes of Blighty? We've found several properties that we really like, and all are on unsealed roads. In one case, calling the road unsealed is a kindness... To be fair, it's probably as much a reflection on where we're looking as anything else. We did take the 320d over one such road: Klondyke Road, Onewhero - Port Waikato. Didn't realise it was quite like that... Mrs M assures me we won't do that again in anything less than a 'proper' 4x4! It wasn't really a problem, but there are certainly better vehicles for that trip.

I've missed charcoal BBQs ever since we got here! Gas barbies are kinda like moving your kitchen outside, and then having yer Missus tell you what you're doing wrong... You're a bad person. I'm telling my daughter. Lol. But for those who have suggested it - the idea of borrowing a float when needed had occurred to me. I'm trying to take a more 'proactive' approach by not getting a horse in the first place!

Lol I have a potential plan, but I'm going to let the idea settle for a day or two.

We're in the $000s bracket, and sadly not the $0000s range! If I had that sort of money available there's an AMG C55 I'd quite like...

Towing duties will be varied. Lifestyle block type stuff, or car trailer. Something smaller won't worry about those, but Miss and Mrs M seem to have their sights set on a horse. Of course, owning a horse doesn't mean a float is needed, just simpler. Frankly that sounds like an expense we just don't need at the moment. (Or ever!) I've held off looking closely at Holdens and Fords. Perhaps it is now time.