Olaf

100,000kms is playing it safe on M54's, they're good for 120-140k kms.

Volvos are around 140,000kms.

yep change can be challenging. keep trying. It took me a few tries, I got it in the end. you can do it too, Dave! I will concede that on my iPhone it's horrible.

oh, okay. I get it. you want to buy an e30 in Wellington. You want the sympathy close to potentially lower your outlay below the (small, commpressed, wellington) market! I've gotta head into the attic later, I'll see if there's an e30 in there.

HI Charl. I've turned out my pockets, and even checked down the back of the couch. I haven't found any spare e30's for you. I can't help wondering though, if money's tight, why would you be seeking a facelift e30 with no rust - given the scene tax attached to e30's in any condition? If you need cheap to purchase (BMW) transport, the e36 and e46 are it. Good luck with your unicorn search!

M20's are simple, though head issues are common where the cooling system has been neglected. M30's were stonking at the time, though are heavy, inefficient, and slow these days. M54 less likely to survive an overheat than an M20 or M30.

545i: 83k, NZ New, $16, 995 http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1351844180.htm 545i: 90k, import, $12,000 http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1366810919.htm

PS - it's not a motorsport, is it? The red one I mentioned was a motorsport. I think Msport is worth 1.5 or 2 grand. NZ navigation nice. It's got the good fruit; dynamic drive, adaptive headlights, sports seats and steering wheel.

I think it's a little pricey, has been on the market for a while. Looks tidy, autosure extreme is a good thing.... providing the maintenance is up to date it should be transferred. There was an LCI NZ New 535D sedan approved used very early this year for $23k from memory. It was red. I think it'd be a pretty cool car. If you could get it for $21k it could be reasonable buying. Or just buy a 545i with low mileage and autosure extreme and take your wife on an overseas holiday. EDIT: PS - I've spent quite a bit on mine since buying (tyres, shocks & all bushes, coils, transmission service, diff service, oil service; to continue the good work done under Pete's stewarship, and ensure good service life ahead); every single time I get in it and drive it, it puts a smile on my face. IMHO the e60 is a really good drive. Quiet, comfortable, capable, and brisk.

Hi Dave, and welcome to Bimmersport! I can't help you with the tech question, though I'm sure there'll be someone along soon who has the answer. I'm sure your e30'll be the fastest in the valley! cheers Olaf

but he promised no sarcasm or hyperbole! I'm thinking "recall notice". If the author chose not to take it back to the dealer to have the nut tightened, he's an idiot. Just reading those paragraphs convinced me that he's suffering from an acute and extended cramp of his right wrist, and it's severly impeding blood flow to his head.

I expected nothing less #8 ) Do you have a press brake and guillotine in that workshop too? Tidy beads, looks trick.

Hi Duncan. It went very well. We did drain and refill with Fuchs Dex VI fully synthetic. The old fluid was dirty brown, thankfully not burnt or black. The words were "it was time for this service". It shifted better from the get-go. Snappier shifting, subtly improved. I drove it for three weeks, about 300kms? And then we did the new pan, new bolts, new mechatronic sleeve, new fill plug, and a fresh fill of Fuchs Dex VI. Workshop commented that the interim drain and fill made a difference; the fresh detergents moved some of the deeper muck, they noted that the drain showed varnish deposits suspended in the fluid for the drain. It's now shifting better again, it seems 'more intelligent' if you like, changes up or down more readily, working to keep the engine in the right rev range. I'm stoked, and there's a good peace of mind having done some key maintenance that most people avoid. I chose to have the differential fluid replaced with full synthetic at the same time; replaced the drain and fill plugs too. There are seals built in to the plugs, they're not expensive, so might as well replace them. Hope that helps!

nice fab work, Lee! great work.

yeah, they listen exclusively to Indie music.

Lee, I'm loving your new Samosa shifter. nice integration work! Tell us how it changes your experience behind the wheel. It's still standard gate, but shorter/narrower? Right then, I'm going to see if there's an Onion Bhaji variant for the 545i.

it's entirely possible that @BM WORLD has them available

in terms of washing a car... I always take a car for a drive, after washing. Get rid of any water sitting on the brakes, move the car so that any water sitting in drainage channels has a chance to drain in a different position, and (most importantly) allows the car to warm up and dry out. I can get these same symptoms on my Volvo 855-T5 when there's a vacuum leak.

great progress. what parts have you ordered, and what's on your jobs list?

Congratulations, astute buying with some elbow grease and you're sorted.

I thought it was good for e28 also!

Welcome! Not so many here in Rotorua; great to see you aboard. Feel free to join in with any of the Welly Roadies or Meetups if you're heading down this way.

A somewhat unusual E60 M5 for sale in auckland at Buy Right Cars with asking price $37,980. I thought the "Unusual Edition" was a good badge, it's Indianapolis Red with White Leder interior, and only 40k kms on the clock. Please refrain from commenting that the low mileage is due to the previous owner was to scared to be seen in public in it; the buyer may ultimately join our ranks! http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1320656610.htm Nice to see an alternate hue. At first I thought the images had bad white balance... Then I did a google search on Indianapolis Red and found it is kinda rusty looking red; "a bit ginga" if you like. It's striking, I kinda like it. And here's that Nissan Maxima wood again... ....and, the obligatory rearshot: Sassy!

I think you'll find Bimmersport has an excellent mix of members, encompassing the gamut from 'young' to the 'young at heart'! Get along to some meets and experience it for yourself Many of us wear grey hair with pride... or at least, we can't afford Grecian 2000 as we spent our last $50 on parts. That's not generally viewed as a disability here on Bimmersport (we're a non-descriminatory inter-denominational bunch), the rest of the country long ago forgave those north of the Bombays syphoning off extra petrol tax to build more roads in Auckland... You gain extra points for disarming honesty!

such thoughtful design engineers... giving the mechanics that would spend so much time with them, something beautiful to look at