Matth5

BMW's marketing is weird these days. All this for a funny looking wheel 😕

Nice to see all those M cars on display though. 

You get to see them a bit more in Mr AMG's video:

Still eagerly awaiting actual reviews/impressions of driving the new M3/4, even though I'm having a hard time accepting them...

Maybe start with posing a question and see what their attitude is. Ask if they are confident they can resolve all issues or if they would rather take the car back to settle the matter more easily?

At this point, I think you should ask to return the car. Honestly seems like they sold you a lemon.

I'm not generally one to give up on  a car over a couple issues as I know that's just life, but I find it hard to imagine they didn't notice serious issues with this one before selling it.

Even that website has only vague details about what the issues were, something about an alignment machine being out of spec.

Man it's hard to care about these issues when we're given so little detail.

23 hours ago, coop said:

 

Edit, my rant. BMW, VAG and Peugeot drivers who think they need their rear fog lights on. 

Fixed

Gotta include those special folk that treat them like daytime running lights or turn them on with headlights.

On 11/4/2020 at 3:32 PM, qube said:

I would also much prefer an M2 but still a lot of money for an N55 engine car.

Remember it's not your regular N55. Some upgraded internals including the oiling system to make it track-ready. 
https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/07/28/bmw-made-n55-even-better-m2/

But yeah, the S55 is still even better... 

2 hours ago, DonB123 said:

im keen on the software upgrade, who does this in Wellington? 
 

 

I just had the dealer do it. I think it was about $160. Ought to be free but whatever.

Although if you're not tied to a dealer warranty... maybe you're better off going aftermarket. Then you can get the CS software and tune. 

I wouldn't rush for any more power than that, IMO these cars are nicely balanced at stock power levels. 

Interesting thoughts about the C63 haha. I guess that's mainly since you feel the extra weight. I'd still love to try one some day. 

14 hours ago, Kashish said:

Yeah if can’t get 650i under my budget then I’m definitely buying 640igc and not 500hp if can get more hp with i would love and as far as ik big boost tubro stage 3 kit and is that reliable or some other company.

How are you going to use this car? Have you put any thought towards handling/suspension and brakes? Is just for drag racing and occasionally showing off on the street? Sounds like you're just wildly looking up ideas without knowing what you're getting in to. 
Plus consider you'll need a tuner, someone to install this, maintenance because this kind of power will not be kind to an engine where anything is less than perfect or worn. You'll be spending 650i/M6 money to do that right, so if that's your goal don't mess around and get the right car in the first place otherwise you'll regret it later. 

Think you need to take a step back and consider if you're getting in over your head here. Some simple bolt-ones like an intercooler, downpipe, MHD stage 1+ or 2 tune, will give you a nice reasonable tune without too much additional headache. 350hp or so, enough to light up the tyres and have fun without too much crazy work. 

You enter a whole new world of complication and expense once you start looking at big turbo upgrades. 

Nice. How do you find it compared to the C63?

For non-OEM parts... all I know is don't buy any of the non-branded ones on Trademe. They're re-selling aliexpress crap for twice the price, and offer nothing of value in terms of quality control or anything for it, you may as well take the risk yourself if going that route. You can see me wasting my time with it in the thread above. 

Carbonwurks is one I've been considering for a diffuser and CS style lip. Autotecknic is apparently good as well. But I'm worried I'll scrape the super expensive lip, and the diffuser... well I just wrapped my stock one black and now I'm happy enough with that look  
Also with a CF diffuser, it blocks the feature where you open the boot by waving your foot under the hood, I like that feature... 

For a spoiler, if you're considering one, just go OEM. Anything less than perfection will be too visible here. ML Performance UK ships to NZ at a decent rate. 

Also get the software updated if you haven't already (or if you aren't already going aftermarket with XHP/THOR whatever). The 2020 software is much improved over 2015 - better electronic diff tuning for better handling and DCT gearbox tuning is better refined. 

Trackday ? I'll share GoPro footage when I've had time to edit it. Might be some more good pics of it if you follow Christchurch trackdays on Facebook, they had some photographers about... 

One of the spectators snapped this with his phone and sent it to me, pretty good pic!

On 11/13/2020 at 7:44 AM, Sammo said:

Correct (it was inspected by AA on arrival to NZ but that was months earlier) , made the error of assuming dealer would have to sort immediate issues and the mechanical warranty would handle anything down the line, which is true, but didn't factor on the massive pain in the arse it would be.

Lesson learnt!

Yeah it always sucks learning the expensive way! It always pays to have a specialist with the particular to car look at them as they're more familiar with the cars and will generally have a better attention to detail with them, or at least a workshop with a solid reputation where you know they have highly skilled mechanics.

Didn't do a pre-purchase inspection?

I wouldn't trust a random car dealer as far as I could throw them and wouldn't want to have to let them fix anything. I'd much rather get a proper PPI to make sure it's sorted in the first place, and maybe an aftermarket warranty. If the car has oil leaks and stupid issues like that they should have sorted it before they sold it. 

This sounds familiar. Pretty sure this was discussed years ago, or at least another 540i where the owner had ordered a brand new replacement engine from Germany. 

I did say it was a trackday and I'd be happy to take on any risk... still no go. I figured it was easier to go elsewhere than try to argue with someone who wasn't keen on the job

I'm going with Endless MX72 which are a bit of a middle ground anyway, not a full race pad but (hopefully) enough for some fun when I'm just using street tyres.

I do know about potential issues with pad deposits ect that can happen when swapping pads and track use, but I've never heard of people who track their machining their rotors every time they swap pads unless they actually have vibration/noise issues. 

If I get really into trackdays, then maybe I'll get myself the right tools, proper track pads, separate wheels with semi slicks ect  But life makes that difficult right now. 

What's with some mechanics who seem to believe utter bulls**t and press you to pay for unnecessary crap.

I just want to swap brake pads on my M4 in advance for a trackday. I have the pads. The places I'd prefer to do the job are either too far away or too busy to do it in time so I call up some others...

One workshop I call insists that I can't just swap pads on existing rotors, and they need to be checked and machined. This is without even looking at them, will not swap the pads without machining the rotors and insists that the pads would only be touching "like 20%" of the rotor if I do this because the surface will not match. 
I think if my rotors were that uneven, I'd notice...

As if it isn't common for people to swap pads for trackdays? 

Just found another shop to do it. Really need to get my own tools ect to do this myself and avoid this kind of idiocy with basic jobs...

Last time I did this, the place threw away my existing pads despite me telling them I wanted to keep them (and they were clearly far from worn). I made them dig them back out of the rubbish...

That must have hurt the wallet, but I'm sure the M5 deserves it

The For Sale thread on this seems to have been deleted too. 

They have a 420i at the Christchuch dealer...

Yeah not loving it. 

Love their comments on the SUVs haha.

They blasted the F80 for being spiky/unpredictable.. pity they didn't seem to realise that was massively improved in software updates that were even available for the early models. I guess BMW should take the blame for keeping so quiet about it though, I had to specifically ask and pay to get mine updated.

Edit: These have now sold

I've put my wheels up as an auction:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/wheels-tyres/alloy-wheels/listing/2844170218?ed=true&bof=qLZJX0tK

Some of you were interested but weren't keen on the asking price, so I've set starting price to 1800 (no reserve) and we'll see how it goes

Yes you are covered for accidents. As long as you weren't massively negligent - driving drunk, unroadworthy car, breaking laws ect. 

Swerving to avoid a sheep... lol picturing that did make me chuckle. 

30k for a 19 year-old E46 330D? Nah man ? Low miles or not it's still oooold, and not all that special. 

Don't they look good together...

The straight at Ruapuna seemed like a nice spot to park..

Finally had time to stick on the OEM spoiler, and give it a good wash. Fitment was absolutely perfect. Why did I waste my time with that knock-off crap...

Blacked out kidney grill:

Spoiler + blacked out diffuser:

31 minutes ago, BlackAngel said:

@sjbglobal check this out https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/330i/listing/2828372816?bof=YDWztzZk

This is one of those retirement cars Im always looking for..

Woah, 1 owner E46... that's a long time to hold onto a car these days. Condition, at least cosmetically, looks great. Definitely worth a look if you're after an E46. 

36 minutes ago, 330itis said:

Clearly it is though. It definitely ain't no suny Sunday driver. Parts reversible? Most of them yes. But what about the abuse its received and damage/wear and year? 

It's a sports car made for fun on the track. I don't see the issue. It just needs to be maintained accordingly.

You buy an old sports car, you have to face the fact that you're not going to be the first one to have fun with it. It's like dating in your 30s, you can't expect to find a virgin.