Olaf

Jeez it's even on Bridgestone RE002 or RE003, so it appears to have been well-loved. score!

and I've a set of wheels in Hawkes Bay waiting to get down here too, looking for space in someone else's trip, if that helps!

Hi Jacob, and welcome to Bimmersport! Not only have you bought the e46 (the best 3er IMHO), but you've also bought the best colour** too! Excellent idea to ensure the cooling system is in good order, quickest way to turn an M54 into a boat anchor is to neglect the cooling system. BMW Coolant *only* - it's reasonably priced from Winger BMW. - accept no substitutes. If you join BMW Car Club NZ you'll net 10% discount off of parts on production of your membership card. Re shocks, Sachs is your OEM part. You'll want to replace the fronts as a pair. There are other options like Bilstein Touring, or even Meyle, if you're after somthing that 'does the job' without going nuts on cost or performance. At 300+ kms you'll probably want to replace the strut bearing too, and some of the associated hardware/bushings etc. If you're in a hurry you might find Monroe or somesuch at Supercheap or REPCO. FCP Euro in the USA offer decent pricing and service, and you can expect your parts in a week or less at this time of year. what's my duty.org, xe.com, and realOEM.com*** are your 'friends' (great sources of info), if you start ordering online from abroad. I warmly suggest you subscribe to the Wellington Events Room in order to keep abreast of what's happening. There is a good variety of events in the Wellington region, from coffee meets, cruises, road trips, and of course the monthly Pub Night (first thursday of every month) organised by BMW Car Club NZ wellington crew (Bimmersporters always welcome). Next Pub Night is Thursday 3 January, do come along if you can make it. Hope that helps! Looking forward to seeing you at an event soon. And you should find plenty of help in the Bimmersport community! ** Disclosure: I've been running an Orientblau e46 325i Touring since 2012, including cooling system refresh, full suspension refresh, trans rebuild, braking system replacement, coils, other stuff I've forgotten, and general maintenance. *** this is linked to your VIN sourced from carjam based on your number plate. PS: cheap aftermarket badges are a false economy, delaminating quickly.

Yep, that boot lining is Chav-tastic. If anyone can get this car well-sorted it's you, Kelvin. Man, those wheels will sell on FB marketplace in an instant... to someone with dubious taste! ?

excellent sussing, Kelvin. A big step forward!

wow. Not doubting what you're saying; it's just double-confirmation that the whole system is clearly f%#ked, if from one person to the next they can't consistently read/understand/communicate their own rules.

welcome, James. Looking forward to some images. And tell us about your e46 too!

I thought we'd worked out it's on a per-axle basis.

Congrats Jun, you're in for an adventure driving it back. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. And I have some "M5 mirror" photo ideas...

quotes of the day. GOLD! ?

yes, I did it in spring 2 years ago (Dunedin to Invercargill), nice touring roads and stunning scenery with new spring lambs in the fields, and cherry blossoms in bloom.

Yes! Seems I missed a few updates, despite being subscribed! This car may be "built in a backyard", though you'd never guess that through the very high standards of workmanship. It's looking superb, and I for one have Garagistic Braided Line envy ?. What's next, Nathan?

that'll put it into perspective! ?

Auto 38 in Newtown. Page European in Mt Victoria. Both recommended. Update: as of Feb 19, I'm downgrading my recommendation of Page European to a cautious ok.

Pics or it didn't happen! Napier. Excellent Indian Food at Ahuriri: Master of India Tandoori Restaurant, 78 Bridge St, Ahuriri. You gotta go up Te Mata Peak, for the views. Decent British Car Museum in Haumoana, just out of Napier on the way to Hastings. Drive up Hospital Hill, find the lookout over the port. It's stunning. Take a winery tour or two. Church Road Wines (Taradale) not the bestest wines in the region, though their tour is very informative and fun. In contrast to Mission Estate - lovely setting though the reception was aloof and cool, and neither obliging nor visitor/tourist focussed. Get details on the Art Deco Trail. Learn about the great Napier Earthquake of 1931. Trattoria alla Toscana was amongst the very best of Italian restaurants I'd experienced anywhere on the planet, last time we ate there. There's so much to do in Napier, this is just a small sampling. PS: Avoid the Lone Star at all costs.

Seems about right for a V8 e60? I spent about $5k in the first year, and I think I've spent about $5-6k in the second. Maintained to a very high standard, though. Yep, it's a lot. I just look at the $160k-odd car that I bought for cents in the dollar, and it drives like new one, and like nothing else I could buy for the entry cost plus all I've spent on it. Importantly, it makes me smile every time I drive it. I can drive AKL-WLG and feel relaxed and refreshed on arrival. These are things I'm unlikely to get from the sensible option (Camry/Mazda 6/Commodore etc). I figure the next year should be less expensive. Be time for a full set of rubber, though. And as someone earlier said: you play, you pay.

okay, though this doesn't specify they must be the same, yeah? Only that you can't mix carcass types (on vehicles rego'd in NZ after 1 Oct 2002); so they all must be runflats, or steel belted radials, etc etc. Or have I missed something? so: same tyres on each axle, and all tyres must be of the same carcass type. Have I got this right?

18 Dec 2018. 258,444kms 1. New Black Circles 4 new Hankook K415 in 195/65R14 fitted, balanced, aligned. 2. WoF Passed her WoF. Wahoo! With thanks to Jon & Keren at Auto38. Next, in Jan it's time for me to do the lock barrel repair kit (over the hols); and the get subframe mounts, trailing arm mounts, diff bush and diff oil done at Auto38. Anyone have a pair of 51mm front strut housings in good nick?

I tried hard, and could not reach that concusion. It only specifies same per axle.

That one for sale in Wellington looks pretty good to me.

the PPI is the basis, maintenace records contribute. The other part of the puzzle is the workshop's relationship with the insurer. Where these are in balance, things go very smoothly. We've not experienced Autosure trying to wiggle out of a claim. My personal experience is they've been exceptional. Diagnosis made by specialist, discussion re policy cover, dpecialist approaches insurer for approval. I end up with a service record and a fix, and pay only my excess. Alternately there are some who try to take advantage; understandably the insurer will examine carefully. Summary:play by their rules, and use a specialist with an excellent relationship with the insurer, keep the vehicle serviced, and it's all really smooth.

“Less Probable?” Unsure which filter you applied to reach that conclusion. Similarly, as it is a) possible to cover a private purchased vehicle, or indeed a dealer purchased vehicle - by buying direct through an agent at a discounted rate, why wouldn’t you? youll take this theoretical vehicle wherever you choose, of course, and it’s good to have people you trust. BMWs are a bit different, and I would be going to [edited: xxxe xxxxxxn no longer recommended], Auto 38, Winger BMW, or a couple of other BMW Specialist Independents in Wellington for work on a BMW, in particular an M5. They’ll know the conventions. Whereas your experienced JDM Yo workshop will know their vehicles. It’s not just code readers, it’s knowing which specialist tools they need for timing etc etc. This ain’t your aunty’s Camry. @TermiPeteNZ that’s your cue. good luck!

You can certainly buy an MBI policy from an agent and apply it to a vehicle you’ve just acquired elsewhere, or already own. The insurer may want an inspection done to establish if there are pre-existing issues. Having plenty of service history helps. I think it’s still possible to buy an MBI for an M5, though it’s a bit more pricey than it used to be; an exclusive category for complex and outrageously expensive to repair luxury cars. I’d recommend buying a 5 year policy, which should make the vehicle a far more attractive proposition when it’s time to sell. Particularly if the vehicle approaches that age limit where one can no longer initiate a new MBI policy. Forgive me spruiking, you might like to know BMW Car Club NZ has arrangements with a number of businesses to provide discounts to members. The discount on Autosure MBI from the agency may be worth considering if you’re about to buy a pricey MBI policy, it would certainly cover your membership fee and provide a useful saving. Lastly which workshop is going to turn down a rod bearing job on a car like that? I think if I were looking to buy an e60 M5 I’d be happy to be buying one with the job already done, though I’d be more favourably influenced had the work been executed by a well-recognised BMW specialist, or BMW dealer. Hope that helps.

We all know gearbox oil is rather whiffy, or pungent. Now we know why... https://youtu.be/b6SN7N7sgks

yeah good point, tensioners done but not the guides, apparently.