gjm

That's the same regardless of where you work or what you do. The squeaky wheel will always get the most attention, and the more it gets, the more it squeaks, until it becomes the pre-eminent issue. Aply the same analogy to anyone who can search Google...

P/n 311274 or 311275 from Repco.

It's a translation. :-) UK import car - has a genuine mileometer, and not a kilometer... err... ometer. Current reading is 242511 miles, up from 224000 miles. 18500 miles in 6 months, so not quite 32000km. Closer to 30000km. Should see 400000km (~248500 miles) around the end of June.

It was something 224000+... I don't recall exactly. It'll be in the paperwork. 6 months later and knocking on 244000. Call it 32000km in 6 months. Increase has perhaps backed off very slightly to 'only' 1000km per week.

I've seen some which present a jigsaw-type picture. Arrange the pieces correctly to complete the 'challenge'; no need to be too precise, either. Certainly better than trying to decipher the random scribblings of a dyslexic spider walking through multicoloured paint.

^ Like. Thanks. As I said, I would have needed to check the A/B/C criteria. Well, maybe not now.

Well through 390,000km. Planning the 400,000km party - probably in the next couple of weeks. Just flew through the WoF with two minor advisories - slight leak from the transmission (didn't leak at all before Marshalls replaced the filter - new genuine BMW sump gasket provided... Hmm) and a rear half-shaft seal has a weep. Time to do some research and get that sorted. And another oil change, of course. General use has changed very slightly from the 115km each way trip to work, to 2 47km each way trips each day. Since we moved, it's been more sensible for Miss M to be ferried to school, up over the Bombays, by German Touring taxi than in a little hatchback. Which reminds me - I must get the Mercedes sorted. Driving the Polo to work is OK, but more than a little uninspiring!

I'm using Penrite Enviro+ 5W-40. LL04, ACEA C3/C4. Engine is a diesel, but it is Need to check the ACEA qualifications (again). Offhand, I couldn't say if C3/C4 is 'better' or 'worse' than A3/B4, but I think it is. (I'll check later and advise, unless someone else knows?) It works, and works well. I was a little wary as it almost seems a general purpose oil, being many things to many people. Penrite say it can be used anywhere 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 is specified. And it is typically a fraction cheaper than some other similar oils. Not that that should really be a consideration - a few bucks per 5L of oil is a lot cheaper than an engine rebuild!

Or http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/48690-fs-4x-bmw-style-73s-with-bridgestone-tyres/ ;-)

Sad, indeed. Still, Schnitzel will doubtless appreciate your undivided attention.

It's been pulled... Miss Bm - did you sweet talk the seller?

I need to get our E46 Touring sorted (aligned) too - it's showing some wear that can be attributed to incorrect camber. I was thinking of using Autolign in Hamilton (because I work there), but I think they can be found nationwide.

'tis pretty. A-L - I think it might just suit you more than me!

Thanks Alex. Great to meet you yesterday.

Looks sweet. Hmm... A few days to think about it.

My 320d has (had) two cats. One is in the downpipe, the second in the middle section of the exhaust. Had? It now has just one cat - the one in the downpipe has been removed and replaced with a straight-through piece of pipe. It's a bit of a faff to do as there are heat shields and suchlike in the way, but it does mean that a cursory visual inspection won't notice there's anything different. However, some exhaust systems have sensors and the like in them, reporting to ECUs. Removing a cat can cause the signals reaching the ECUs to cause them to function in ways you don't want, leading to more problems - nothing that can't be sorted, but it is something to be aware of. I don't know what facilities there are here in NZ, but in the UK companies that sell aftermarket exhaust systems will often be able to provide a re-flash of an ECU, or a piggyback, so that the car continues to run properly. I'd expect something similar to be possible here... Isn't there someone in East Tamaki who does stuff like this? It's worth a look. Removing the cat will change the note of the exhaust but it tends to be subtle. A good free-flowing cat won't affect performance, either. It's only when you have a 350,000km+ sooty and smokey diesel that has clogged the cat that removing it really brings benefits!

Call Mike at Sinco in Hamilton.

Ffffff....lippin' 'eck! Oh well. I write that one off my list of cars to have! I'll stick to looking for a E28 535i. They do exist. Even if the only one on TM lately has been chopped about to take a Lexus engine...

And (presumably) the grey one I saw in Huntly a few weeks ago.

Nice car, good condition, provenance, 'sensible' upgrades that can be undone again if desired... But, yes. $77k? Prices in Europe are definitely on the up. When I looked a few years ago (and was put off by the first 5 cars I saw having bodged repairs to that tricky inner wing area) you could pick up an E9 3.0 for well under GBP 10k. Now good ones start at GBP 20-25, and the best are advertised at over GBP 50k. If this one is as good as it is claimed to be (check that inner wing box section!) then maybe the price is about right, by Euro standards.

Happy Easter Brent. And everyone else, of course. This weekend I swap the wheels (again) and change the engine oil. Hopefully that'll not need anything to effect any repairs...

I wish. The diesels use a canister and insert arrangement; the petrol engines typically have a screw-on type. I've been looking for a decent older MB diesel for a while and there aren't so many about. Those that do have them, don't sell. And I know - MB diesels of that era don't tend to get a good rep. For shits and giggles, check out Black Smoke Racing...

Heresy! Not sure it's worth the asking, but they are nice cars. (Perhaps for those of us who are a 'little' older!)

Bump? Well, roll actually, but you know what I mean.

I'd love to take it on as a whole car. I even have space! Just a teensy bit short of what Brent would want in order to part with it, I suspect.