Olaf

it's my pleasure.

Not to mention your pedestrian, having had her/his ankles sliced, has now gone over your windscreen, only to get sliced by that OTT wing. Good to see you've restored it to normal!

Ex Singapore? Rather your money than mine.

e46: I've just cleaned and rain-x'd the screen, and installed new BMW wiper blades. It's not clearing correctly; so I'm consulting my Bentley manual for correct position and torques of the arm-to-shaft securing nuts (30Nm or 22 ft-lb). Bentley (being US) states Front wiper blade tip to gasket distance for Right = 24mm, Left = 44mm. I guess they're reversed down here! Armed with this, and once I locate my torque wrench (yes I know 30Nm is "not much"), I'll have a go at it and report back.

Damage: driving on SH1, impact damage sustained (bullseye and crack 15-20mm) from flying debris. Insurance: Car fully insured including glass cover. Called insurer, lodged claim. Asked who my preferred repairer is, nominated Winger as local BMW dealer. Repairer: Supplied claim number to dealer, who then assessed and quoted. Replacement screen recommended. Quote process and approval managed by dealer, furnishing my claim number. Once quote accepted, dealer updated me on process, then ordered new screen, booked appointment with me *after* they'd taken delivery of screen and confirmed no transit damage. Repair: I elected to leave vehicle overnight to leave additional time for sealant to cure. Genuine BMW screen fitted. Point of difference: new exterior seal/trim installed. Whenever I've had a Smith & Smith replacement, they say "nah we don't do that/can't get that/not part of the job" and burgerise around with old seal/trim. Plus the standard Smith & Smith poor service, glass left in car or tools left in car... Contrast this with BMW dealer finishing touches new replacement WoF sticker fitted, and Rego label holder fitted, both sensibly positioned. Clean car, no broken glass left behind or rattling in vents, no tools left in car. And of course that wander around the showroom (with my kids, on collection), and courtesy ride back in to town on drop-off. If I drank coffee, a complimentary coffee too. A good service experience. Summary: the BMW Dealer experience significantly better than run-of-the-mill "windscreen specialist". Not to mention great service from AA Insurance. I received some great prelim advice from BMW Car Club NZ members. Now I just need to clean & Rain-X the new screen, and fit new set of BMW wiper blades from my parts stash. Hope that helps

yesterday: collected e60, following Valve Stem Seals replacement. Woohoo, no more puffing billy & oil consumption! Thanks Autosure Extreme MBI, that would be an uncomfortable job in full from one's wallet. today: collected e46, windscreen replaced by Insurance (full glass cover); Winger BMW my preferred repairer. Quality job.

166699kms. With the assistance of Autosure Extreme MBI, I've purchased a box of these: Yes folks, 32 hard, filthy, worn-out valve stem oil seals. Not much said quickly, and not that pricey to buy. A bunch of other gaskets and seals. Collateral damage of one auxillary water pump (it's done behind the radiator by the left chassis rail); it fell to pieces during strip-down. Good old BMW plastics, eh? Rather it happened now in controlled circumstances, than out between towns in use! For reference, if you're doing this job, factoring in BMW Auxiliary Water Pump - Pierburg 7.02078.37.0 would be useful. I bought OEM Pierburg item. I digress. It's a long and complex job. I got the car back yesterday after two weeks (I'd prefer it wasn't rushed, or they felt under time pressure). Great to have it back. More details coming. I think I'll edit up a movie. PS: I also took Page European's recommendation, and had them run a Wurth Intake System Cleaner through it. Initial impressions - after all the work - are that it's running better. I'm sure there'd have been a vacuum loss through the knackered guides, it builds vacuum on liftoff faster than before... wonder if the fuel economy is going to improve as a result of all this work? Anyway, it's no longer making like puffing billy, which is a good thing.

welcome, Scott. We love a good e31 round here. best you show us some more!

Bummer. Glad you're unharmed.

ha! you haven't gotten to actually driving it yet. once your elbows and knees recover (usually after it's been on the side of the road for a few weeks with another failure), drive a Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol. "Oh look, their designers recognise the presence of elbows and knees! Who knew?"

Yes, they do consolidation. they do re-packaging. they wont split an incoming shipment. You have excellent control through the web portal or the phone app. basically they everything that you shop does, more and better. You choose your carrier... I get option on two versions of FedEx, DHL, two versions of UPS, and "Budget" (no consolidation, 7-14 days). DHL is only one doing batteries now. You get your own address. All the carriers deliver there. It's in Florida. I find that using FedEx I get it here in 4 days, as long as I press 'send' before Thursday US time. Unless they're really busy. Look here: https://www.myus.com/benefits/ Buy here: https://www.myus.com/welcome/visa/ - this way you get: • Set-up fee waived (US$20 value) • 2-year free Premium membership (US$120 value) • Save 25% on shipping for first month • Save 20% on future shipments • Personal Shopper service can make purchases for you premium gives you 30 days no-charge storage. Then they just charge you a per-day, per package rate. Theyve always packged well - "the right amount". Hey, I'm not here to sell you. You just seem traumatised from You Shop. There are other, service-oriented offerings. HTH.

with MyUS.com, YOU CHOOSE your carrier! I ordered from FCP on Weds evening last week, parts arrived at my doorstep this morning. W00t.

it's pretty simple. or at least it has been for me, recently. When I get a notification from the tracker that says 'held in customs' I call immediately. Eventually I get put through to the Brokerage section. there's usually a bit of to-and-fro while they accept their calculations are wrong. Then I pay visa credit card, and it gets underway. Usually this is done within a business day. HTH. Or, just use FedEx. They're absolutely awesome.

yep. just google it, you'll find plenty, and it's consistent. oil analysis - regularly - appears to be a wise precaution. Here's a pic: Image from M5Board.com

I like it! I like it's good.

most inconvenient.

QH most certainly are an OEM. Just not for the e60.

As you have the N52B25 engine, it is most likely the electric water pump. You can certainly start with the thermostat... 12 years old, prime time for a cooling system overhaul. As Glenn indicates, it's unlikely to be cheap. Still, good luck with the thermostat..

I looked at them for e60 parts for my 545i. Not sure about QH (Quinton Hazlet) brake rotors... only choice there.

action-packed day today. Washed, and then dropped in the e60 to have the Bond Car option delete executed (with thanks to MBI from Autosure). It should be out of sick bay in a few days, no longer appearing as puffing billy! And, while out with the kids in our e46, window regulator failure. So dropped that in to Page European as well. Will be ready tomorrow. So we caught the bus home, and I pressed our trusty 855-T5 into action. It had sat on the side of the road since late January, after I last washed it. It started first go, and I took it for a 30 min drive (after an appropriate warm-up). I really must get it listed for sale this week, it needs a good home to continue the love. Only 196k kms on a 21 year old car; and it feels and runs well.

great work with the engine overhaul, well done! Looking forward to seeing you at a meet soon.

nice trailer sailer; what is it? and is that a super-monster englarger on your trailer?

which foam gun did you get? Is it one for your water blaster?

they have you on a regular pickup from your garage!