Olaf

this used to be @Contrails car, always well cared-for based on many posts on here. Great to see it back out circulating.

I bought almost everything from FCP Euro. They were a mix of Lemforder, Febi, all sorts. Plenty of info on my build thread.

I did my entire e30 with RUBBER. It's firm without rattling my fillings, supple when it needs to be. I think I did e36 front TABs from memory. There are many providers of OEM and aftermarket in rubber. Unless you're going racing on track, stick with rubber is my recommendation.

Wow, it's up for sale again. thanks for the heads-up @str8_6 it's still looking tidy. A lot of car for the money, the owner's put ~19k on it in ~14 months. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/545i/listing/5262801469

and there's another at $10k - Estoril Blue iS https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/x5/listing/4791168661

your VIN gets you this page on REALOEM: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=DT62-EUR-05-2002-E39-BMW-530i&diagId=31_0255 Your mdecoder VIN Decode indicates no special suspension https://www.mdecoder.com/decode/wbadt62090ck17096 your front shock part number is 31311096858 which corresponds with what you pulled. Sure does. that certainly sachs bigtime. The Bilstein Touring equivalent also suggests it's a straightforward fit for sports and standard based on BMW part number equivalents. (From Spareto site) Bummer. See how it goes when you get the spring compressor on them.

what year is your car, whats the VIN, and what part number (BMW part number) did you buy.

Come on guys. back in the mid-80's when an Alpine Cassette head unit was king, they were running around NZD750 before you added a graphic and an amp or two. A Nakamichi was more like a grand or $1200 - and god did they sound good. Here's a 7273 from 1985 - if you had this, some amps and decent speakers you were - worried every time you parked your car! (stolen without permission - tried to link. Thanks to http://magnitola.org/attachments/golovnye-ustroistva/1272233d1553761180-Magnitola-Avtozvuk-img_0086.jpg ... And in '89/90 and a good CD deck was a grand - yes A Thousand Dollars with an amp, installed... and it skipped on bumps on the way to the mountain, needed an external amp just like yer Nak tape deck did. The TD1200 - OMG. $900 for a Blaupunkt in today's dollars? Not a lot, really. The phone in your pocket is probably worth more than two grand. Then there's the KMM-BT408. The Kenwood mechless decks actually sounds good if you feed em WAV files. Cost buttons, really, to boot. Just a thought @deedub - those guys doing bluetooth conversions on old gear probably charge more than you're expecting because they need to make sure it works for you for a good while.

wow. if you're going make a gram account for your car, print up stickers... surely you'd want to have some decent photos? Jesus wept. https://www.instagram.com/the_s1l3nt_tesla/

kids of today, not an honest elbow through the glass.

Kenwood KMM-BT408 mechless. It's the updated version of the 305 I have in my e30. Small, clean look, tons of integration with your phone, three sets of pre-outs and all sorts of configs for time delay, eq etc etc. Even configure what the pre-outs are doing. Amber lighting: check. Configure your own preferred shade. Plays your carefully ripped WAV files from USB too. Or just play Spotify from your phone if you favour convenience. Install the included mic, set up bluetooth with your phone - bingo full handsfree. It'll even take a second phone at the same time. I bought one for my e46, not yet installed. If you want steering wheel integration you'll need a babelfish to take the canbus and talk to the Kenwood. https://www.qualitycaraudio.co.nz/kenwood-kmm-bt408-bluetooth-usb-nz-tuners-3x-pre-outs-car-stereo?search=KMM-BT408

I know it's a little extra complexity - sensors, control/switch, compressor, bags... the bags aren't pricey, what about the compressor? Surely it's more sorted than the mighty "reach for the sky!" Disco?

they might have been seeking your quarter glass, stopped when they realised they'd f@#ked it.

Very sad news, always a worthwhile thread where SSBMW had contributed. Always on the money, particularly knowledgeble.

I've not been fancy enough to have Alcantara, thanks for the pointers👍. Leather's hard to beat for durability! When your kids are young, leather's the best for cleaning out dropped sweets, ice cream, vomit, nappies. When they're older, pie crust (grrrr!)... so much harder to clean out of fabric.

Trycycling improves fuel economy, lowers tyre wear. My picture, Nikon D4s+AF Nikkot 70-200 2.8 FL/E, B+W Kassemann Pol filter.

Bissell carpet cleaner, job done.

question: as the e39 shares so much with e46, is cruise in the e39 simply adding the multifuction wheel, retrofit wiring and 'bingo' like it is in the e46?

adulting is overrated! you can be a grownup without being surrendering everything!

Date: 22 Mar 2025 Distance: 217,700 kms 1. Fresh Rubber on the rear. As described above, two RE003 245/70R17 fitted to the rear. Care taken by my tyre professional, carefully wire brushing the beading surface inside the rim on both edges, to remove rubber buildup and enhance beading seal. New valve stem and valve core. fitted and dynamically balanced. Didn't do an alignment as the wear on the rear tyres is really nicely flat and even. Nothing like the feel of fresh rubber on your car. 2. Wiper Blades front & rear Replaced wiper blades front & rear. Much better. 3. Monitoring Left sitting for nearly a week, wet wet day, it started on 3 or 4 cylinders. Really not happy. Cycled off, restart... up to four. Then a couple more cycles, up to six, with a really faint misfire. I'll scan the codes soon, find out what it's complaiuning about. I'm guessing moisture tracking on dirt somewhere? Needs a bloody good wash. Totally loving the steering wheel, it's so connected. The car steers well, is planted. Need to get on with that stereo build.

Today I ordered some tyres for the rear, as measuring last weekend revealed 2.5mm on one side, 5mm on the other (puncture a while back). My supplier warned me only 13 RE003 in 245/40R17 left, Bridgestone NZ may not re-stock as they're a slow-mover. Bugger. 4mm on the front, still. They'll get fitted thursday. Time to replace the wiper blades as well, they're a bit crusty and hard after summer. A few things have been getting in the way of getting the stereo sorted. Fuel economy has improved since last year's servicing. Still loving it!

heya Cam, how's simply red coming along? Sending some mojo from Welly, man.

That looks superb. Very individual. I’m finding myself in the very unusual position of being envious of your stick 😎

argggghhh my eyes!

I just dig the open-road journey for these, four-up traveling as a family in my little tractor. The F25's a bit short in the boot for four adults, sadly. The Turbodiesel drivetrain just rocks. As you say, cruising at lower RPM, and the surge of torque whenever you need it dispatches overtakes swiftly. Relaxing to drive, by and large.