Olaf

John, I don't know about the N54 specifically, can say I've been running 5W40 in my M54 for some time now. I'm using Penrite full synthetic HPR5, works better for me. You can buy in 20L (just rock in to Repco and ask) it runs at a little better than the promo prices on all those 5L packs ($80 retail vs $55 promo?) - eg $205-ish (incl), they don't do promo pricing on the 20L but you're better off with that price anyway. HPR5 meets BMW LL01. My car uses less on HPR5 than on Castrol's 0w40 Edge or 5W30 Professional. http://www.penrite.com.au/products.php?id_categ=1&id_subcateg=&id_products=1 HTH

well... yesterday, I figured it would need rubber to pass it's forthcoming WoF... so I went to Bridgestone Torrens Tce. Rather than cheap out - despite likelihood of selling it soon - I went for Bridgestone RE-003s. Stock size is 205/50R16. Ahhh, better.

it seems Apple would have you think all it takes is an iPhone 7! #; )

Child: "Daddy, that car is creeping me out. It looks like a sort of dwarf X5, like that Chuckee doll in the movies. Please, make it go away" Parent: "Don't be afraid darling, this is not the stuff of nightmares - it's the X3"

here's the link to the advert: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1178291719.htm

certainly a beauty. Not sure I'd part with $60k for it. Looking good for 170k miles.

they're fair, though I'd suggest he should have shot all images from the west facing east to maximise the golden light and turned the car. the photos of the left side are all under-exposed. The processing is heavy-handed and overblown - like instagram filters. Still, if you like that kind of thing.... fussy? moi?

what about Seafoam? It works well, though unsure if folks are using it on N54s.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11726323 I hope the couple are alright. I certainly hope the e36 Ti is not becoming the escape vehicle of choice for agravated robbers! to quote NZ Herald: " Police are now focusing on finding the 1995 blue three-door 318TI coupe used in the heist. It has a registration plate BRE645. They are appealing for anyone who may have seen a vehicle matching that description driving near Taita Drive last night around the time of the robbery." I guess the odds of seeing this type of vehicle anywhere in Wellington is pretty high.. hope they find the buggers. Fancy risking a criminal record for a few hundred bucks.

on the surface, yes, though not everyone wants to add so much BHP that full-on suspension and braking upgrades are required as a result! anyway, if not e30, what about e46 with dead 4cyl, then!? Make yer own 325Ti with BMW Lego!

awesome, John. Where's the pics, mate? You managed to sell the Ci yet? If you still have it next week, we should do a mini-meet - love to drive it before it goes, and give you a taste of the wagon as it now runs.

I reckon you're right, Dion!

it really does look tidy. 230kms, if it's well maintained, that's a drop in the bucket. And Alpinweiss? Perfect. GLWS Hey, Elijah - surely you need a BMW that runs? This is perfect, yeah?

holy sht, is this not ripe for someone's e30 project? Nathan, have you thought of slinging this into the e30 group on FB? I'd have thought someone would snap up a good M54B25 and box at that price! PS - the stereo is fab, and the springs were just the thing, thanks.

well, I washed mine after work the week before last, then drove home. Packed it, put it on the ferry, drove about 2400kms around the south island, didn't miss a beat. Couldn't imagine enjoying that trip in a japanese or korean FWD car.

heyyyyyy, you didn't tell be you'd gone swede! that a 7/9 series? I'm picking 940 Turbo?

John, where's your 335i project thread?!

I like the general shape. I think the detailing is wrong - like the headlights... very 70's.

thanks for that chaps, I stand fully corrected! I managed to pass school cert science, that was about the extent of it. #; ) Physics and Chemistry at the next level up were interesting.

Awesome read, Allan.

come on Andy, that's seal-clubbing, really. We all want an X5, even if we don't know it, or are unlikely to ever show it worse than a skifield carpark or wet grassy field.

EDIT: nothing to see here, move along!! ++++++++++++++++ I stay the hell away from any ethanol fuels for my BMW, think I've written the same in other threads. Boaties generally know to stay away; with there usually being a high likelihood of water in the form of condensate in the fuel tank, ethanol can be very dangerous and costly where it separates from the fuel, combines with the water (that usually floats happily on the surface) and sinks to the bottom of the tank... then clogging the fuel system. At best, a Coastguard tow, at worst stuffed injectors and an expensive rebuild (these boat mechanics aren't cheap!). Consider your alloy fishing boat with a 100 litre sub-floor alloy tank. http://blog.bavauto.com/287/is-ethanol-safe-to-use-in-bmws/ http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?925902-Ethanol-Damages-BMW-Engines&p=11962660#post11962660 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2009-05-14/the-great-ethanol-scam It is for this reason I stick with BP98 (not Mobil, not Gull), and Caltex 95. It may have been coincidence wirh my e46 that the Fuel Pump was on its way out at 120k kms (112k of which were in Japan) when I ran two tanks of Mobil 98 through it and it died. The mechanic flushed the fuel system as requested, did find some moisture in the tank but not the phase separation I feared. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a6244/e15-gasoline-damage-engine/ http://www.bimmerfile.com/2010/10/14/exclusive-bmw-says-no-to-e15-gas-blend/ There should be stickers on the pump in NZ like these;

hello, and welcome along Bjoern. as others have said, that's a pristine looking e39 engine bay. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your car. best regards Olaf

Did you call Glenn?