Olaf

leased space, not public parking, parking like a boss yeah?

...and although it's not BMW, I couldn't help wondering if this very sharp looking Lexus/Soarer was @Michael.?? at Pukekohe Drift meeting.

ooops, rego expired more than a month ago.... sounded mean. at Pukekohe Drift meeting.

yeah William, I acknowledge that there are - the large proportion of - audiophools who devote their lives to the pursuit of soundstage. I lost all interest in it when I found that the systems I heard that excelled in soundstage, almost exclusively fell completely flat when it came to rhythm, timing... that sense of fun that you experience when the band is in front of you, playing together, and playing in time. Swing. I don't give a flying faark if I can discern a jazz quartet playing in space in front of me, if the bassplayer doesn't sound like he's locked-in with the drummer! It is for this reason I beleive this whole soundstaging malarky is in fact a wrong turn or even a distraction in the pursuit of musical reproduction. By contrast, a decent system that portrays the rhythm and the spontinaety of music well, will still provide me with enough (minimal) spatial information - such as the backup singers in 'walk on the wild side' walking up toward the vocal mics - and away again - while they're "doo, doo-doo, doot, doot-doot-doot"-ing. Still, could we be arguing the same point, as you're talking about rythmic information and the things that cause smearing? Back to cavity loading/porting - yep we're on the same page there. I still trot out - from time to time - that ported speakers are in fact the work of the devil, and transmission lines, doubly so! Extending this to car audio, subwoofers have to be fast, able to turn on a dime, to follow the bassline, and not get overcome by the kick drum. I'm finding that the Logic7 in the e60 is still a bit slow in the bass. Aside from tuning via the equalisers, not much I can do about that, so I have to fogive it its trespasses.

I took it for a strop to Auckland with #1 son, filled a few days of the school holidays in. And settle in the new shocks and tyres. Photos shortly. It's a great distance car. On smooth seal, you can turn up and enjoy the hifi without road noise intrusion. luxury. It's confortable, minimises time in the opposite lane while overtaking, stops and handles pretty well. And for the first time I had the fuel economy readout in the 11l/100km range. Pretty good given I was enjoying the kickdown bark while overtaking. Oh, and while in Auckland I went and had a look at the drift series at Pukekohe. My first time seeing it live, and I wasn't impressed. A separate post on that. I also fitted some genuine BMW wiper blades while in the north. I was having a little trouble fitting the new Valeos. Then I had trouble with the BMW blades... Auckland City BMW service advisor kindly helped me out. I guess I wasn't savage enough with them! Today a package arrived, and I'm enjoying reading my way through the north american e60 sales brochure (bout 70 pages), luxuriating in that BMW marketing speak. all rights reserved. hosted here on Bimmersport. My panzerwagen on SH4 - the Paraparas.

@kiwi535 surely you're tempted!

well done. you get a well done medal, with extra smugness bar! I wasn't "encumbered" with a BMW when we were using tethers, it was all about getting them to work in Nissans (easy for the later ones - the kit from baby factory just worked - quite a rigmarole for the 1989 model). I'd have been stoked if I'd been able to look up a parts catalogue online and order from a dealer - regardless of location - who said "why yes sir, we have just what you need".

great rewards to be reaped. #1 son had me in stitches today.

seat tethers? I remember doing that. That sunshade will come in very handy for you!

on Friday, I took the e60 along with #1 son to BM World, and scored some 'bits' (door seals, rear seat double-lighter, and door switch trim). We had an excellent chin-wag with Brent too. Then we went for a tour through the country to Clevedon, following a mate in his CLK55. It's a good part of the world out there; if I was organising a roadie in Auckland I'd consider the Clevedon Hotel as a lunch stop on a good weather day.

^^ thanks Gabe, I was to lazy to go and search the vin jeez, ex-Japan and still has so little fruit.

yep, esp if you've been working on a Volvo! Caliper Bolts should have had Loctite** on them too. (**Odd, Safari wanting to change that to 'lactate'.) Breaker bar do the trick? Or rattle gun?

and another silver 545i on sale on the same page, black rims, just over 200k kms, $10,000.

(Front right and left door seals duly acquired. Great visiting with you, Brent!)

seller claims: "04 bmw 545i e60 4.4 v8 255kw 340hp wof till august reg till may 225***ks never missed a engine or a Trans service got history back to 2004 engine and Trans service lest than 2000ks ago good tyers tidy as in and out apart from minor scrape back left rear bumper every thing electrical and mechanical perfect working order drives beautiful and gose like f***! $8000 or swap for 4x4" advertised in "BMW NZ Parts/Classifieds/Discussions" - which is a closed group, though membership is easy enough as they let me in!

could it be Singaporean spec, per chance? I think - if one was looking for a 330i coupe - that John's @Herbmiester's example would be a much, much better proposition! IMHO, of course. Not quite as pristine, but totally well-sorted.

Thanks Pete, I'll pop down and see Brent @BM WORLD today

@Neal or @kulgan - got any ideas?

welcome (back), Jim! There remains much love and respect here for the e38.

that's pretty darned special.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/wheels-tyres/alloy-wheels/auction-1302378438.htm 4 style 46 16" for $200 in Auckland with tyres. Sure, the tyres aren't awesome... but then if you get lucky with selling off your Metrics like this guy... http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/wheels-tyres/alloy-wheels/auction-1302614732.htm you'll be jelly.

thanks for that, I'd not gotten much further. sort of put the project on hold, bought an e60 as main car, the e46 is becoming the family run around. later in the year I'll get back to it and revive the hifi project. I think a sub-floor sub would be essential, can't see Mrs Olaf wanting to compromise grocery space for a sub box!

Wow! You'll be needing to share your secrets!

Hi Richard, welcome along! nice looking e46 you've got there. I've seen a bit of Texas, but never made it out so far west. I used to cross the border at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo. Which rims are you running? You'll certainly find plenty of e46 action around this parish, a number of us running tourings. cheers Olaf PS - looks like Texas plates have changed a bit since I used to visit regularly in the mid-90's.

pulled out the left hand side repeater... cleaned the contacts, indicator sorted. To celebrate, took it to VTNZ for a WoF. Passed first time with flying colours. Not that there was any doubt! ANZAC day arvo, interior detail, photos, then she's ready to sell.