gjm

No engine or gearbox does that to a car. If it was even on this island I'd have it and drop a 5-speed manual, and a LSx in it.

I really don't 'get' why this is still for sale. It's a really good example of a desirable car. Unless everyone else is in the same situation as me - moving house in less than 3 weeks, why is it still for sale? Although I can see the sense in the cover it up, keep it warm approach... I suspect that might be a perfect solution, but I'm not sure that's as immediately practical or desirable to Blue at this time. It's a great car, loads of history, excellent condition, at a bargain price. What's not to like? :-)

IMO, the 356 isn't a patch on the 912 which is cheaper than both the 356 and the 911. It's scary how crap old cars that didn't go or handle when new are now worth so much money!

Lots of BMW race cars - notably several E30s - heading north on SH1 from Huntly. Sadly all were on trailers... There was another pale blue BMW with race decals being driven up the road too; much more modern, but I didn't quite catch the model.

Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!

Not just torque... The 330d can be readily tuned for over 300bhp.

Or a 320d...

The car on TradeMe has passed the point where I can consider it as an accomplice in the driveway for the Touring we have... :-( Still, it means there is space for something else. If only I can find the money to buy that something...

380,000km.

Oh, I wish... Is there such a thing as an E34 540i Touring with a manual 'box? If there is, I had best start saving!

If you're selling the car and/or not so concerned with a perfect finish or long-lasting result, use toothpaste. Seriously. It's a far from perfect result, but it makes an enormous difference for very little outlay and using materials you already have. For a longer term solution, the 3M kit (plus appropriate finishing sealant) works well. Can't comment n the Rain-X as I've not tried it.

'tis a 318iS, but built in South Africa. Perhaps a combination unique to the Rosslyn plant?

No thanks. BTDT, and not going back. I can think of many much more deserving ways to spend my money, and there's a lot less of it than would be needed for either of those cars!

Was it Andy who is looking for an M60?

Same owner, but he does have two Shulz-converted E28 Tourings...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/850ia/auction-694620811.htm She'll do.

Schulz made about 80 of them, but most are now pretty rusty. I suspect they'll mostly, if not all, be left hand drive, too. Europe would be the best place to look.

I think it is an advertising tactic that has been picked up elsewhere, too. I'm sure I saw this in London, or somewhere. Great stuff. I really hope Audi take it as a challenge and come back with something similar.

I'd need to check, but I think the back end is steel, by Schulz Tuning. The BMW factory produced a couple of prototypes, but Schulz did quite a few E28 Tourings. Having done some digging, the turbo project (not the white car above) looks to have been finished some time ago. There's a page on Stanceworks about it.

Not much info yet, other than that it is in Norway, but judging from the size of the turbo I'd guess this to be 600bhp minimum. Apparently the M88 is good for at least 1000, something I wasn't aware of.

I was doing some research into the 540i for someone in the UK. The person in question wants something unique, special, different, and isn't afraid to spend money, either on buying or modifying/keeping the car. Anyway, I found a 1999 BMW 540i Alpina in Techno Violet for sale. 112,000 miles, or 180,000km. 10km more than the one in the TradeMe ad. OK, this one has an auto box, and it is an E39 instead of an E34. But the price... TradeMe at $20k, or UK at 20% of that price. Yup - you could have the E39 for the equivalent of $4000. Sadly that is representative of supply and demand in NZ. A rough giide to the costs involved in shipping from the UK to NZ (excluding any tax): about £1,350–1,400 shipping (call it $2800), £100–300 marine insurance ($500), NZ$2,250–2,750 in New Zealand to include port and unpacking charges, customs and MAF fees and entry certification and registration. Total: $6000(ish). Cars are zero rated for tax, but subject (I think) to 15% GST. So, if you'd like the E39, it'd cost under $11000 delivered.

I saw an E60 545i Touring on SH1 this morning. (I spend enough time driving up and down there, I'll see most things eventually.) As I was travelling at aroun 100.0000000001km/h and he was driving at 100 (speedo error, officer - more accurate in the newer car) I overtook him. But from the back, it just looks unfinished, a little like the Chrysler Voyager. There's what appears to be an awkward slab of metal across the back - plain and featureless. From the side it's marginally better, but the swoops and creases just don't, for me, combine into an attractive-looking vehicle. And the front looks awkward because there's too much going on. Great car, no doubt. Enormously complicated though, and really not my thing.

Sounds like the default BMW servicing interval - my 320D reckons I should do 12-14k miles between services, so that's about 20000km. You don't have to obey the service intervals. I change oil and filter at least every 5k miles, normally more often. 'Normal' petrol engined cars I change the oil every 6-7.5k miles, or more often. (These are upper limits, set by me for our cars.) Oil needs changing more often if the car spends a lot of time sitting in traffic.

Is there a 'hierarchy' of preferred aftermarket EMS solutions? I've heard of Alpha-N, but don't know anyone who has used it. I was looking at Link for another (non-BMW) project.

I had to look it up, but yes... The 118d uses the M47TU-series engine, too. My surprise around the 318TDi comment was based on RealOEM where the car is listed as a 320d.