Matth5

I really like that colour. Awesome car

You can just order them right from FCPEuro, shipping won't be very expensive especially since FCPEuro are reasonable with shipping prices (unlike some others). Screw getting ripped off by @#$holes in NZ charging stupid mark-ups.

Yea stick to the BMW specialists recommended in this forum. I've been to both Bellars Motor works and BM workshop, both have been great.

That seems risky. Probably due to the unusually hot weather we've been having.

Got it in. Was an absolute mission to wrestle it on, now I know why BMW prefers plastic pipes - the flexibility makes them much easier to install. The o-ring I bought was too thick and made it impossible to get the pipe on. Pretty ridiculous that BMS can't include an o-ring with it... I used 1 layer of insulation tape around the throttle body instead, 2 layers of tape wouldn't even fit. The fitment on the BMS pipe is so tight though, even with no seal I can't see much, if any, air seeping out. Seems air tight, worked well on my drive to work. I'll log the boost levels when I have time to thrash it just to make sure.

LOL last time I go there. Oh well, can't wait to install it. Feels nice and tough, and it looks good

Hmm that software must be flashable via the BMW software though? Something the BMW specialists would have...

They didn't have it. Ended up paying $16 for one (which isn't a perfect fit) from Seal Imports. Suspect I've been well ripped off but didn't want to wait...

Oh Hydralink is pretty close to my office, will stop by there, thanks

Appreciate the offer Steve but I'm ok now Your one is likely an N54 though? Wouldn't fit. My BMS pipe just arrived (branded 'CPE'...). One issue is that it requires the rubber o-ring from the original pipe. Mine is gone. Anyone know where I can get one? Would Repco or Supercheap have one that fits?

Took the intake apart to do a stronger and cleaner repair. Tape + silicone wrap topped off with a metal clamp. At least now I can drive normally while I wait for the new part Edit: Found the throttle body clip! Saw a glimpse of something metal in a deep corner behind the engine. Managed to lean over the engine and reach in to grab it, was attached to the chunk of the charge pipe that blew off. In other news, my repair holds the pipe on fine, but can't quite hold the boost so car still goes into reduced power mode if I push it.

I agree. I've driven many of them as rentals and that V6 is excellent. Very responsive throttle makes them great around traffic and urban areas in general, and plenty of power. Much more responsive throttle than any car that relies on a turbo to make similar power, including a 335i.

Those wheels looked stuffed, that's some impressive work.

Removing some of the perforated pipe and replacing with straight pipe is exactly how the BMW M Performance exhausts work, at least the ones for the E9x 335is. They don't remove any of the packing - that was found to just increase drone/vibration. So I reckon you should experiment with wrapping it, then when you find a good level you may want to just replace the wrapped section with straight pipe. Not sure how well wrapping holds up in the long term. I'm considering doing something similar with my 335i.

Haha I won't be using a JB4. The BMW performance software is enough for me, made a great improvement itself!

Ok looks like I'm sorted. Some careful negotiating can get Autosure to be OK with it, as long as the mechanic vouches for it and is assured the intention is reliability, not supporting performance mods

Mine's an N55. But same rule seems to apply. BMW didn't learn obviously. Good to know, thank you Have ordered the BMS one with express shipping. Was thinking I'd also have BM Workshop arrange and fit OEM one under warranty, to keep me safe from voiding the warranty. But I guess that's pointless? Also, notice it also broke off by the red circled area. Could it be a sign the engine mounts are worn? I'm thinking engine movement could have broke it too.

Have an Autosure warranty. My stock chargepipe exploded while pulling onto the motorway near Thames. Had it towed to a workshop nearby and booked a rental to carry on my Coromandel trip. After finding that NOBODY has one in stock I drove back out to Thames from Auckland today in the rental and patched it with tape, in the rain, so that I could limp it home. Not fun. Worked well enough, it held until Bombay where it popped off again (felt the sudden loss of power, hear a vibration at certain revs when accelerating, and 'engine malfunction' warning again). Pulled into the service station to apply more tape and managed to get it home with no more drama. Just ordered a BMS one now. Problem is I have an Autosure warranty. What's the best way to handle this? Would they be ok with this? I have the BMW Performance Power kit software which does seem to increase the chances of them breaking so I don't really want to stick with the standard pipe. If it's really an issue I suppose I could just keep the aftermarket one as a 'spare' and buy an OEM one too. Easy enough to swap them by the looks of it.

My E46 had a couple visits to Bellars Motor Works and one at BM Workshop, they didn't replace it. Although it had a Team Mcmillan one so maybe they will only replace 'crap' ones. My E92 had one visit to BM Workshop for a software update and the Performance Power Kit, still has the Q motors surround Also, maybe that M3 is owned by the guy that works at Q Motors with Kyu (not the Kyu on this forum)? He did tell me he had an SMG M3 when I was chatting with him. What we really need are Bimmersport.co.nz plate surrounds

Just noticed it has no WOF according to the listing. A lot of things have been replaced though. "Gearbox mount replaced" Only one replaced? There are two mounts, should be replaced together along with engine mounts (BMW advises they should always all be replaced together).

How does the "Q Motors" surrounds on the plate mean it's never seen a specialist? I bought my 335i from them, they seemed to know their stuff with BMWs and they sell heaps of them...

Only locally. I bought one for my E46 for $100 all up from fcpeuro.com, was a genuine BMW part too. Will be a bit higher now as the NZD has dived since then but you should still save. Might be a similar case for the E39

You can throw in speed as a contributing factor to any accident really, so I do think that figure is pretty useless. I do think we need to be a bit more relaxed about speed limits in general and focus on correct driving. Overtaking safely, paying attention to the road, slowing down when there are hazards around... just that stuff is harder to enforce. We need cameras that snap drivers going past and the ones that can be seen on their phones or doing silly stuff in general get fined. Not ones triggered just by speed. Get a cop to skim through the photos and pick out any that need attention. We need a system that doesn't just focus on speed because it's near useless as it is. Going 115 km/h on a completely empty road can easily get you a fine, but it harms nobody. And who gives a crap about people not wearing their seat-belt, if risking your own life is a crime then extreme sports would be outlawed too. No need to spend resources protecting people from themselves, it gets in the way of evolution

Agreed. Running Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 on my 335i and reckon they are great for a car that has in the region of 300hp. Mag and Tyre sell them for approx $300 each if in stock. Some other places will charge about $500 for them so shop around before paying that much.

Massive traction difference when I replaced my Bridgestone RFT tyres with Goodyear Eagle F1s so that alone will make it faster. Even on dry road the runflat tyres had a lot of wheelspin. There is also the fact RFT tyres are heavier so it's a weight reduction, theoretically that should help acceleration and fuel economy but not sure it'll be enough that you can measure it.