Olaf

I've fixed that for you!

PS - here's the 777 now - tonight it's going south so there's a minor bass rumble down evans bay and 25 seconds later it's gone.

I've given up spruiking Hataitai. I think it's super, it'd under-valued and its proximity to the CBD, Airport, Motorways, Green Belt is brilliant, you can still have million dollar sea views at 50 cents in the dollar compared with Roseneath, and its well serviced by busses. Garages aren't a given here (I'd love one but by the time it was finished I'd have no coin for toys), walking to town is easy and free, and if your too pissed to walk home your Uber will cost you about eleven bucks. I recommend it to immigrants and returning kiwis, they buy in Khandallah, Whitby, or foolishly put their money into apartment buildings in town where a sub-par office building has been converted into apartments, and your fees are rouletted by under-skilled body corporates, Yes, you should definitely move you and your GF to Hataitai, I'll bring beer on occasions as rent to spanner in your nice dry garage. Easy. It's a great suburb and I've called it home on and off since 1989. Airport noise is very dependent on wind conditions and direction. The only one I really notice is due any minute now as I type this, the Singapore Airlines nightly service to Canberra, the 777 makes a bit of noise as it climbs.

yeah it was at Capital Mazda, they moved it to Kapiti as it hadn't sold down here. The salesman was keen-ish: "I can have it here tomorrow". Without next month's billing confirmed, I didn't want to waste his time. May head up to Auckland next week. I think I'd do a 550i rather than an X5 4.8

just four of us, William, though perhaps touring later in the year with my octogenerian mother on board as well. Mrs Olaf likes the idea of a seven seater, though in the case of the X5 that means no spare wheel and inflates the price.... unlikely we'd really be carrying the additional gymnasts with us to a comp... so it's a 'possibility' rather than a solid 'must have' or even 'nice to have'. The e46 Touring is too small these days for our crap for a week or more away plus my son is nearly taller than me at thirteen, so he's going to need a larger space as he grows. the e60/61 should be fine, but the lounge-room of the X5 appeals. It just seems so civilised.

Yep, can't argue that. It is a bus, though a surprisingly refined one. In diesel terms with the same power plant (comparing a 2008 535D touring with a 2008 X5 Msport - You've got 6.9l per 100km, vs 8.7l per 100. Thus we're paying 1.8 additional litres of diesel per 100kms. Interestingly, the Co2 grammes per km figure isn't significanty higher for the X5. it's got to be a cool DD, that one #8 ) looks good. I need to drive a few to either embrace or eliminate.

that's actually kind of tempting! High mileage and complex high-end German certainly has risks. What's to be aware of on something like this?

I've a mate who ended up with an X5 3.0Si and regrets it, horrified at round town consumption, disappointed at trip consumption. Seems to me you made the right choice, though the DD V8 for me (personally) scares me I admire your bravery! Got photos of yours somewhere on here, Nathan?

indeed, welcome along Ethan. If you're coming along to Ngawi, lock yourself in on the thread. Nice looking e36. If Barry's bringing his, we'll need to stage some Boston Green e36 Coupe mirror image photos.

+1 - deffy get a service sorted pronto. Wow, $75/hr that's very reasonable too. Washed engine bay, no charge for degreasers etc and consumables like gloves. Now you can get along to the next cars and coffee in AKL.

yep you'd probably be hard-pressed to source your own for less.

yeah I'm gonna take a look at 530i's. my thoughts; 3.0 petrol in X5 is a "no no" - nearly as thirsty round town as the V8, without the grunt, and underpowered on the open road. Might work in a sedan. Here's my thoughts: I'm thinking the Touring - being heavier - may be too much car for the N52 3.0. I've always felt that - laden with family - the e46 in 325i is just lacking a little something. Could a 3.0 Petrol e61 have the same fate?

hi Allan, they look cool but are beyond my means. I want to stay under $30k incl GST Perhaps a 535i GT? Sorry for those of you now barfing on your keyboards! Jeevan, I did think about this, doesn't meet my timeframes and I assume a lot of risk. Founf a beaut on eBay uk this morning, low miles but 18K sterling. add shipping, gst etc and it's too much. Unless anyone knows of a low-risk way of importing - could do an LCI 530D e61 ///MSport...???

I don't need the SUV either; I've a low CofG at just 175. What I have experienced of the X5 suggests it'll be fun enough. Oh, and in e60/61 LCI - yes the later iteration of iDrive is better, but the inflated premium of the LCI doesn't stack up for me. I'd like it, but getting me to part with my hard-earned... well we're approaching X5 territory. So many variables #8 )

Hi John, I included RUC and maintenance, the maintenance being less frequent but a little more costly with the diesel so not a whole lot different there. It wasn't the trickest spreadsheet around, though it made me less fearful of buying bunker oil and RUCs.

many thanks for the feedback, chaps. Graham, it's not that I'm impatient, it's just I have a limited window - the funds need to get out of my company one way or another... through a vehicle upgrade, or via Salary and PAYE, before the tax year ends. I've not grown up to Provisional Tax regime yet. If it comes out in Salaty and PAYE, I'll have to wait to build up another surplus in the new FY before trying again. Or go through the hassle of making loans to the company, or worse, trying to get small business finance. I'm preferring to keep things on a cash basis. I've seen few diesel tourings. I may have to settle for a sedan. Paul, indeed the X5 is a great compromise, and yes it would be less attractive - dynamically - over an e61. Nathan, to be fair the dealership had taken their ad down that day. I'd even dropped in to see it last week. My timing was off, pure and simple. I'm sure the cosmos has something else interesting in store for me. William, you'll find the E70 oil burners are equipped with swirl flaps. 19's sound like a good compromise, though it seems many of the MSport e70's are equipped with 20's out of the factory. John, yeah I was finding the e46 less economical than I'd hoped on the daily jaunt to Trentham, so figured that - for that kind of commuting - oil burning should be better on the pocket. I ran some spreadsheets and found that for the combined driving we've been doing over the last year (plenty of weekend trips away), diesel made sense. Now it looks like I'll be working in town - resulting in more walking and less driving for my commute - I still can't commit to petrol (something like a V8 would be interesting). Jon, thanks for the heads-up. Yes, I've been reading that the 3.0 likes it's regular maintenance. I'll be happy to put whatever I acquire on to half-distance oil and filters, far less costly in terms of 'insurance'. Yes, I'm looking for good service histories. It may be a pre-LCI 530D Sedan - less outlay, less risk. Buying from AKL I can get a PPI done from one of our forum sponsors. I've spotted a nice X5 in Motueka, though I think it's getting into the cost and mileage zone where there's more risk for me. It's a bit like the first time I went to buy a Linn LP12 turntable. I wasn't well-heeled enough, and there was too much risk for me at the pricepoint I could enter the market at. A 530D Sedan would do for a year or so... and hopefully wouldn't lose more than 25% of purchase price over a year, and would sell easily enough. I usually keep my cars 5+ years, seems odd to buy a shorter-term car. again, appreciate your input, guys!

welcome, Dan. Good to have you along. be sure to cheack out (and follow) the wellington meetings section, we get together from time to time for coffee, a cruise, or a trip somewhere.

I'll do you one better - this closes in 26 mins and is in Auckland - currently $2.50 http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farming-industry/retail-hospitality/mannequins/auction-1273878909.htm

IMV you'd have to have an other half that is expecting to bear your children, if you expect to move her from Newtown to the Hutt Valley and happily catch a train! The Ngaio option is a pretty good one, with J'Ville reasonable too. Newlands as Smithy says, has good access and is reasonably priced... the downside is it's usually shrouded in cloud and is miserable. Lower Hutt is pretty commutable from the Eastern Suburbs - I've spent the last 10-11 months driving to Upper Hutt each day. 40 mins/52kms and you see the traffic crawling in from the Hutt Valley, believe me it's worth a bit extra to avoid the SH1 southbound grind into Welly each day. You might consider Miramar or Maupuia, prolly some parts of Strathmore okay... not sure how Island Bay is for renting these days, southgate (above Island Bay, out from Newtown) was 60's/70's and usually had garaging. Wadestown good access to town, but garaging rare. Wildcard - Crofton Downs often garaging, not far from ngaio, simple train ride into CBD, reasonable access to get you out to Lower Hutt. HTH Come to Welly, you know it makes sense.

I've not seen the movie yet, looking foward to it. I remember seeing the original in a cinema on Times Square whilst taking a break in NYC. Raaaad. You'll need a mannekin dressed appropriately for future static displays, Tim!

I'd had my eye on an e61 LCI motorsport 535D Touring. NZ New, all the fruit, low mileage. Price dropping month by month. Just waiting for a contract, and 'go' - a quick PPI, Autosure, and pay the $$. I'd done the groundwork and figured I could afford it, the depreciation (on my business) would work. Got an offer today. Bingo! It's all happening, a new pipeline of work, keep the income running. Should have that stitched up in a couple of days. Called the dealer. "that 535D Touring you've had on your website?". "yes, sold it on Sunday". Deflated. There are few 535D Tourings around. The sedans - currently in the market - are over-priced. A decent 530D Sedan would do, prefer a touring though. So I'm looking at E70 X5 Diesels, NZ New. Preferably M-Sport. Am I mad? My price band indicates I'll be getting under 180k kms. I know they love brake rotors and pads, and like tryres (around $2k a set at 19 or 20"). I guess there are the same swirl flap concerns, and keeping the transmission serviced, as with the e60. Anything else I need to know? cheers.

yep, what Pete said.

sorry, selective reading. missed the bit about the smoke test... (dunno how)

Hi Gaz, I've no doubt they're presenting the true mileage. I'm just taking the piss on their wording "showing". No speculation, or suggestion of misrepresentation on the part of the auction house here. Move along please, nothing to see here... cheers

air leak? I'm guessing. I'd have it diagnosed by a specialist.