gjm

Took advantage (as many have) of a TradeMe freebie day and listed the Baur (and the 500SL). Over 1000 views between the two in under 12 hours. Not one question, comment...

Thanks Dave. Still a bit of a PITA job with no room to swing a ratchet - constantly fouling on one or another bit of car - and necessitated use of a very slim 18mm spanner I fortunately have. Jacked up car, removed wheel, positioned axle sand under hub flange, gently lowered car on to axle stand sufficient to unload the link, struggle with the nuts but once released, came apart very easily. All done. Just need to polish the headlights and go get a WoF retest.

The E60 M5 is known for its high-revving 500hp V10 engine but not everyone knows where else it was used: 2005–2010 E60/E61 M5 2005–2010 E63/E64 M6 2009–2010 Wiesmann GT MF5 2011 Wiesmann Roadster MF5 V10 daHLer Schwaben Folia Black Bat, upgraded to 600hp 2005–2007 Fisker Latigo CS V10: 1 prototype and one production car, upgraded to 650 hp 2009–2013 Vermot Veritas RS III: 30 cars built, upgraded to 600hp Aside from these uses, the BMW M team decided they'd get involved too, and built the E60 M5 CSL. The colour scheme was chosen to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the M5, and it was the first M5 to have a carbon fiber roof. The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10 was tuned to produce 630 PS (621 horsepower) at 8,750 rpm and the M5 CSL was the first BMW to use the Getrag seven-speed DCT which was later used in the E92 M3 and other M cars.

E46 ant-roll bar links. Swaybar links... Working with the front wheels driven on to a raised platform so the car is sitting on the wheels, not jacked clear of the ground. I'm told this is the correct way to do this. Replacing the links. Never found something so easy to see but so tricky to sensibly get tools to! Bottom nut off. I was told to use 15mm and 16mm spanners/sockets - needed an 18mm on the ball side of the lower mount, and 16mm on the nut. Now the fun starts. How do I get to the top nut? It sits inboard of the tyre so is inaccessible from the outside, going between the tyre and the wheelarch. And lying on the ground, I can't reach with both hands to get a spanner on either side of the mount on the shock. Is the answer to get the wheel off and work from there? It certainly seems it'd be a lot easier!

Theoretically, none. The EMS should sense and detune accordingly.

Never mind the nudity! BT52? Here's one feeling angry. ❤️

I have a reasonably above-average income. We have a 20% deposit for a below-average-price house. We cannot get a mortgage to cover the difference because my income is "insufficient to maintain the loan."

I don't now recall whether it's Novus or another mainstream installer, but they state on their ads that they "recalibrate your vehicle's safety features'. Sounds to me like the fitter has not been able to perform whatever calibration is required. They had the job, they will have known the HUD was a part of the job - if they are unable to complete the job to your satisfaction, they don't get paid. At all. I appreciate that is an insurance matter, but it really shouldn't be up to you to make all the arrangements to get your car back in the condition it was pre-screen replacement.

The E46 318i failed it's WoF today. 😢 Both front "anti-roll bar links". Somehow I missed this when checking; there's not been any noises or similar, and they looked OK from my 'lying on back on the driveway' perspective. So that'll be part number 5 on the diagram. Which (Colin - @Young Thrash Driver - will be unsurprised to hear) I have spares of...

Oh, to be this cool! 283081498_135435725748715_652270795745089994_n.mp4

Hydrogen, either as fuel for ICE or for fuel cells, for the win! Of course, the power companies in NZ aren't in any hurry to see that happen. Work may start on a hydrogen plant in HB in 2035...

They're a very, very good, very capable yet not difficult-to-ride bike. They remind me of the branching out BMW did when they introduced the K1 - a bike that although limited (at the factory) to 100bhp, and unusual or striking - depending on perspective - looks, also proved to be extremely capable and reliable.

Been twice. Once - the 'real' way. On a bike, living in a garage while there. Road in before the races, road the mountain (slowly and carefully!), parked the bike and gave the keys to the landlady. Sobered up a few days later. Second was the poseurs way. Flew in, stayed in a hotel. To be honest, both are fantastic ways to visit.

Normal for clearance via NZPost at Auckland Airport. They are useless. Recent 'reason' is Covid, but it's been like this for as long as I can remember. Other couriers/carriers don't seem to have this problem.

Choose beans carefully - keep them in the freezer. Grind slowly. I use a hand grinder. Use a stove top coffee pot, a percolator, or a drip system. Enjoy. No need for fancy kit! As for Hazy IPAs... I'm sure they only exist because of poor brewing practice! It's a great way to sell beer which didn't work out as expected.

1990 Baur 325 in Dolphin Grey (as far as I know, the *only* Dolphin Grey Baur in NZ.) For sale is Mrs M's 1990 Baur 325 in Dolphin Grey with black roof. Literally just sailed through another WoF with no advisories. Only being sold because of health issues - Mrs M needs something 'taller' that she doesn't have to climb up out of. The Mercedes 500SL I bought her will also have to go. For anyone unaware, the Baur is one of the rarest E30s and combines the best of the coupe and the convertible. They were built under license from BMW (in Germany and South Africa), initially because BMW didn't have a convertible option available. The roof offers several positions from fully closed to partially open to removed, and the design retains the structural integrity of the coupe. All body panels are in common with the coupe, so no hunting for expensive convertible-specific parts, the rear seat space is retained (it’s significantly reduced in the E30 convertible), and the roof is watertight - we've driven in torrential rain with no issues of any sort. The conversions were expensive. To buy a Baur, you first went to a BMW dealer and bought your E30. The car was then sent from the factory to Baur where it was converted, at significant extra cost. Because of this, many Baurs are fairly low spec and have cloth seats, a heater (no aircon), no OBC, and so on. Our car is very different as it is a high spec car with many options. This car has never wanted for anything in the 4.5 years we've owned it. We flew from Auckland to Dunedin to collect it, driving back to North Waikato. The engine – M20B25 – starts first time, every time and quickly settles initially to a fast idle, then a smooth tickover. It’s one of the quietest and smoothest M20B25s I’ve heard in over 30 years of BMW ownership. Engine bay is really clean. Serviced by me every 4-5000km, and if something stopped working it's been sorted. Odo stopped working, as is common on these, but the gears have now been replaced. The *only* thing I can immediately think of that can be improved is the grey leather interior which at 30 years old is showing signs of it's age. There’s one split in the passenger seat inside bolster, and two splits in the top of the rear seat due to sun damage. We had the driver side seatback outside bolster panel replaced when that had an issue. The carpet on the rear parcel shelf has faded but could be dyed back to original colour. The dash does have cracks which are hidden by a dash mat; we have an uncracked dash that will be offered to the buyer. Everything is original: no mods or swaps (unless you include the towbar or the radio. 🙂 ) So no loud exhaust, no ultralow springs or coilover suspension, no huge rims, no aftermarket bodykit. Body work is very good to excellent. Signs of having been used, but no dents, bends or buckles, and NO RUST. It *has* had some attention to keep it looking good. The Baur roof is watertight and does not leak (unlike many convertibles 😉 ) ad includes the leather cover for when the rear window is folded down. The rear window is clear, uncracked and not faded or obscured. Windows are all etched with the Baur VIN. Options: 13 button OBC full leather interior air conditioning cruise control front foglights electrically adjustable wing mirrors 14" BBS basketweave rims (including spare, with very good, Goodyear tyres - no cheap Chinese rubber) front foglights Recent work completed (in addition to regular servicing, fluids, etc): distributor cap and rotor arm replaced with new parts all 4 shocks were replaced at SuspensionTech (https://www.facebook.com/stech.co.nz) about 2 years ago engine mounts replaced gearbox mounts replaced propshaft 'donut' replaced engine sump gasket replaced rocker cover gasket replaced We took her to Pete at Peak Valet in Havelock North for a professional clean inside and out, and a polish and paint protection. This has revealed some imperfections in the paint, the result of use on Kiwi roads, but also shows how good the bodywork is. Not perfect, but very good. There are spare parts that will be offered to the buyer including a set of used Koni shocks, Kolbenschmidt oil filters, replacement genuine BMW decals for the hub caps, a couple of good tyres, the uncracked dash, a complete pair of electrically adjustable wing mirrors and... I'll have a look. Drives beautifully, turns heads with the roof up or down. Sadly, been used very little in the last few months (most of summer) but always starts first turn of the key. Very happy to answer any questions. Really want this to go to a good home - offers will be considered. Car is in beautiful Hawke's Bay. Come on over, and drive it home. $22,000.

'Officially' listed Mrs M's Baur for sale. 😢 Not a happy day, but a necessary one.