Olaf

yep, if you're stashing coin to bring back, the extra leverage is a bonus. esp if you're saving for a house or similar.

10 August 2018. 170,136km. Replaced rear window seals (upper, and lower). Some outstanding service from Novus at 138 Adelaide Road, Wellington. Big shout out to Reuben (member on here)! My second experience with Novus, and again, very positive. I decided to get someone else to do it, after my recent experiences with the windscreen in my e46... it was the right move. So here's what a typical aged seal looks like on an e60. they're a trim part; you don't need to remove the glass to change them out. A wrinkly old seal, yesterday PS: if you're ordering the seals, there's two pieces. bottom rail (which even has a velvet seal to the bottlid), and the top (which includes the sides). There's the version (for top and bottom, respectively) for double-glazed/armoured, and the 'normal' version.

Looks fab, John. have heard the Turbos (and GT3?) are the safest bet for crank and seals, use same block, separate from the rest and built to different spec. There’s your business case justification for boost ? PS: within 3 weeks my e60 will be in a suitable state for you to drive. Brakes with 2 weeks, I reckon. I’ve a boot full of new rotors ?

Good outcomes all round, Charl

I have to challenge you on your populist Labour viewpoint here, Graham! The charge that the NZ Health system has been run down over the past ten years presupposes it was in a good state to start with. It was not. Successive governments, regardless of branding, party, or resident health minister, have under-funded, and perpetuated mismanagement in the heath sector for decades There have been large numbers of missed opportunities for betterment since the 90's and even before. Any government will tell you retrospectively that they did the best they could at the time, and you can be sure they did. If you had the opportunity to read the cabinet papers, and follow the decision making trail and Governance, I'm sure it would all read well. You can be sure that our elected officials truly did what they thought best, within the constraints at the time. The retrospective view always gives greater clarity, and is clouded if you don your blue-blocker sunglasses. It would be significantly healthier (pun intended) to acknowledge it's all a bit broken, and look to the government of the day (today)to put in changes that will truly make a difference. It's futile blaming one side or the other; these things were decided by our government of each time... the consistent thread. The cost to do this? I'm sure it's a number so big that the budget would need significant rebalancing, and a great deal of courage. As much as our system is seen as broken, it's a lot better than some of the other countries I've visited. NHS excepted; my limited view is that the NHS works pretty well. I certainly agree that the massive number of semi-autonomous DHBs in NZ is a total and complete waste of resources. Perhaps someone could code up an online game called Fantasy Niuzillund Government... a bit like a cross between Championship Manager, The Sims, World of Tanks, and SupermarioKart, only instead governing NZ Inc (or use the NZ Collective skin, if you prefer)... one could trial radical healthcare restructures (note I avoided reform), and find the funding to make it stick, all the while managing the flow-on effects of short-changing other areas of the economy. It'd be a hit! Cheers

PS: Interested to know what the dealers thought of market value, if only to understand how far away from the mark I’ve been. IM me if you prefer. I can keep a secret. ?

F10!? Ooooh. I’m not jelly. Honest. ?

Look around for a used Nikon SB28 flash, they're inexpensive, have a buttload of power, and with the right filter to colourmatch ambient light, you're laughing.

Graham, there are a few threads on retrorides with Landrover diesel transplants, including M57 and OM series diesels. It's still going to be a draughty, noisy, uncomfortable thing when you can 'waft' at 70mph (it's a comparative thing, really - like wafting in a scaffold bridge) and overtake things... and you'll still need to make it steer. Just buy a Land Cruiser and be done with it. Errr, I'll get me coat, then...

Hey, if this is actually a For Sale thread, @francoisv I apologise. I interpreted it as a discussion thread to help establish what you should be asking. Say the word mate, I'll delete my posts to help you clean up. Sorry! May be worst unintentional thread crap in the history of thread craps. Mea culpa.

Stop worrying and read your policy document.

+1. If your policy had an “agreed value” (those words), that’s what you should be paid for a total loss, less your excess.

Interesting. N62 Valve stem seals are a potentially pricey repair, though don’t cause catastrophic failure of the engine. Same for coolant tube through the valley; I’m (personally) mitigating that risk with annual coolant flush and replacement with genuine BMW coolant. Other than that, the standard coolant pump and hose replacements, and coil replacement one does with any BMW of a certain age. Am I in blissful ignorance of other lurking N62 maladies? We can then contrast this with M60/M62 V8 issues (timing chain/tensioner/water pump etc) in e39 and e35, that cost $3-5k to address ahead of failure, and result in significant engine damage when deferred/neglected. Which is worse? The M60/M62 is older tech and better understood, though is that really the safer bet?? I think the depreciation end-stop must just about be reached with the e60, same as e39 and e34. It comes down to whether one’s been well-fettled (lower risk), or neglected (lower price), providing that the car is of an attractive spec. The rest is down to general demand for that model. ?

there was a decent green one went for just over $2k the other day...

care to expand; who's experiencing the schadenfruede here?

I think $16k is slightly optimistic? The good: Kms are low, aparrently good service history, ///msport not so good: it’s down 400 or 800cc (and thus power/torque), it’s pre-LCI (presumably). H&R springs - good if buyer wants them, otherwise a detractor for many punters. It’s thirteen years old, not fresh enough for some. The market: 545i’s are $6k to $14k tops, these days, regardless of ///M. You can find good 550i ///M LCI $15-20k. People are understanding these cars respond well to loving maintenance, throw tanties when ignored. They’ll be wondering about valve stem oil seals, factoring a trans service in 25k kms (better than not done and 125kms on the clock). The question must be: what is going to tip a punter towards your vehicle at the upper end of the price scale? If you can sell/persuade that, you’ll secure that $16k ask. I’m biased, I think everyone should own a v8 e60. However, the prices are dropping with age, based on complexity and younger more attractive models. I’m keeping mine. hope that helps!

Hi Mike, great to see you along here! Looking forward to seeing this beast. you might want to ‘follow’ the Wellington meetings room - that way you’ll get notifications of all upcoming events. Tomorrow night - Thurs 2 August - 1830hrs at 1812 in Johnsonville is our next social night, if you’d like to meet up. cheers Richard EDIT: Is Permafrost a ‘Magazine’ reference?

31 July 2018. 169,986km. Replaced Transmission Mounts (gen BMW) Replaced Engine Mounts (OEM Hutchinson) Replaced front radius rods L&R (OEM Lemforder) Replaced front control arms L&R (OEM Lemforder) Alignment. Woah. Mounts? Even starting the engine.... it's like butter! I love engine mount/trans mount replacements. At around 170k kms/10+ years, they're not performing as they did when new. Control Arms/Radius Rods? Steering significantly improved, smoother lock-to-lock, and the car behaves significantly better over bumps (particularly in compression). My old ones had had a bit of a minor graunch in the steering (particularly right hand side), that's grown in the last few months; the balljoints were reaching end of their useful life. Replacement is great. I've only driven it at urban commuting speeds so far, it is transformed. I'll update this post when I've had chance to drive it at highway speeds. Next up: rear window trim seals sunroof seal Rotors Pads Lower oil pan & gasket

jeez you guys. this weekend my rental is a camry hybrid. you don't so much drive it, as operate it. it's an appliance. *any* BMW is better than that.

Christchurch - nay, all of the SI - is smouldering, just waiting for ignition to rekindle the BMW Car Club NZ. We're watching with interest, ready to support a nucleus when it forms. Don't give up hope, I think there is a growing number of folks in your position!

just add the pics, man. we're all driving projects, don't be shy... welcome to the forum, look forward to seeing you at a meet up. check in to the Meetings room, subscribe to the Wellington room to get notifications. BMW Club night on at the pub once a month, plus runs, coffee meets, and longer trips too.

I read that Pelican have been quietly swallowed by the ECS hegemony, who previously acquired Turner Motorsports. I read a blog post by a senior manager from Turner Motorsports recently, something to do with "Why I hate ECS tuning". I couldn't find it, though I was disturbed to find the Facebook group "why I hate ECS Tuning" FCP Euro are still doing right by me after around 12 years. ?

Hi Folks. Yes, as @Eagle Jared points out, my 2004 e60 545i was diagnosed and subsequently sorted. I think e60 V8's are inexpensive because they're unfashionable and don't have a Holden Commodore on the badge! They're an amazing car, and well optioned-up cost around $160-180k new? We're buying them under $20k with deferred maintenance; they're going to need some lurrrvvvvvv. So put on your Barry White (or your Marvin Gaye), settle in, and read a little about my case. ⛑️ oil leaks were all sorted under previous custodian's care. @TermiPeteNZ had already addressed plenty of the maintenance items; I took up the mantle when I bought it, and expected there'd be more to do. I wasn't disappointed. The good thing was it wasn't covering hoses with oil, or ruining the alternator, like it sounds is the case in yours, Geoff @awake On we strolled, taking care of the systems that might be smokey, while catching up on other items. Firstly the PCV diaphragms were were replaced. They're an inexpensive part, on top of each head. They get old and brittle. Secondly, vacuum pump replaced. it was weak, Brakes were not firm enough, and was not scavenging oil as expected. Oil consumption was increasing, and it was 'puffing billy' after sitting at traffic lights.?️ Valve stem seal failure was subsequently diagnosed. Yes, Valve Stem Seal failure an issue with the N62 V8's... though the same seals are used in MANY, MANY BMW engines. Don't be in such a hurry to roll out smugfaces, you M54 owners! Oh, yeah that's me too. Damn. ? Fortunately, I have kept up** maintenance, and the MBI is still valid. Thank you Autosure Extreme. Seriously. Thank you Autosure Extreme. And Page European, here in Wellington. Yes, you may have been following my SS Commodore in German suit thread. 'kept up' maintenance is probably an understatement! ? Now a little about the actual job. Valve Stem seal replacement is a labour-intensive job. The parts are relatively inexpensive; a couple of boxes of seals, a bunch of gaskets. The cost is in the labour. During disassembly the auxilliary water pump crumbled (love that 14 year old BMW plastic); it will likely happen on yours. Around $400 here. Yes, this job is more often done in with the heads in-place. Saves additional cost of head gaskets, bolts, and all that fun. Special tools are available to help with doing the job in-situ. The shop I use hires in the tools when they're needed. Cooling system out. Cams removed, etc etc. Compressed air to hold the valve closed, to allow remove the collet, extract the seal, replace the seal etc. I understand the new valve stem seals are made from a different material. Elring brand were used. I think there's a 'revision' number indicated on the BMW Parts schedule - check it out on in the BMW parts catalogue. It's tight - space-wise - but do-able. Patience required. Need to re-time the Valvetronic setup when the job is done; this is not a backyard job unless you have all the puter stuff. It's quite the jigsaw puzzle to get the shooting match back together. I don't know how much it cost the insurers, I paid for the pump, insurance excess, and cost of Wurth intake cleaner and associated labour with the intake clean. Phew, that's a relief. I knew it'd be a good few grand plus GST, based on what I'd read on the US sites, labour cost, parts estimate, and a guestimate of renting the tools. It would have been around 3 days labour give or take, plus it was in the shop for a couple of weeks; I was in no hurry for the car so preferred they work on it when they wanted to. The old seals were totally flogged-out; your eye-ometer™ is all that's needed to see that. No sealion is going to be happy with those baggy-old worn out items, and nor is your N62 V8! After, all any sea lion wants is a good tight seal, right? ? Outcome: Oil use is down. Puffing Billy effect is gone. Performance is improved. Fuel economy is better. Perhaps the latter two are more attributable to the intake clean? I'm sure vacuum loss wasn't helping things. It hasn't helped dad-jokes in my posts, either! ? I know there are better cars, newer cars, flasher cars. As an allround package, I totally love driving my e60 545i. I'll buy another MBI policy when this one expires. I'm not ready to move this car on yet, and am about to do brakes at all corners, and tension struts at the front, so am planning on keeping it for a while. I can't think of a car I'd rather drive for the purposes I use it for, on my wallet (forget fantasy garage or Lotto wins). If you're fussy on your maintenance like I am, a tough year could cost you $5k. Perhaps this is one of those years for you; hopefully you'll find it less wallet-burning. Whether it's worth doing your vehicle is a value judgement for you to make. I agree with the earlier comment from @Gaz that you want to find a shop that's done it a few times before. They'll know the ins and outs, and can price it accurately, and do the work efficiently. Hopefully that was helpful. I really must finish editing my movie on this job! It'll make ya'll laugh. Cheers Olaf. PS: I mentioned before that Patience is required. Dunno if they were spinning Lloyd Cole in the workshop, but this could have been soothing, particularly toward the rear cylinders. Not my favourite Lloyd Cole song; if you don't know it, you owe yourself to at least listen to the whole of Rattlesnakes. One of the coolest albums of 1984.

You priced a kit of 8? May be worthwhile, they’re all getting old.