Olaf

https://www.myus.com/welcome/visa/

Simply, BMW Car Clubs - worldwide - are under the umbrella of BMW Group. They're the world's largest single-marque motor club, and use the BMW trademarks with permission of BMW Group, and are supported by the BMW Group. The copyright concerns would come from BMW Group; the local BMW Car Club would be doing the 'right thing' by making ///M group aware of this, such that they don't end up with lawyers letters from BMW Group. I used to belong to an active, well-organised and very financial club in the UK, BMW Driver's Club GB. Not sure what happened since I left, having a poke around on the inter web all I can find are companies house records with directorships changing to BMW GB and the club is no more. It's understandable that BMW Group would want to protect their trademarks worldwide. As for your charges of flying lunch boxes and vociferous armchair critics; interesting way to enter a party, on your sixth visit. We don't take ourselves too seriously here, prefer to leave that work to others!

UPS are pretty good until it gets through customs, then all bets are off. At least here in Wellington, FedEx are AWESOME. DHL pretty good, though when they toss the parcel over to NZ Post, it can get very odd. There will be local parts suppliers reading these posts, waving... "none of that rubbish to deal with at our shop!".

VIN Numbers - hmmm, and how do they securely store this information, once they've requested it. Still, easy enough to furnish an M-Car VIN, isn't it? More importantly - by excluding "committee members of other clubs" (BMW Clubs, Car Clubs in general, Knitting Clubs, Cricket Clubs, Cycling Clubs?) from becoming members of ///M CLUB, one has to ask: what have they got to hide? I mean, really... is the establishment of ///M CLUB born of dissatisfaction with http://www.bmwclubsaustralia.org.au or BMW Car Club NZ, or is it simply misplaced elitism? I expect they'll come under the magnifying glass of BMW Group soon enough. I for one like the easygoing nature of Bimmersport, and am hugely impressed with the egalitarian and social nature of the BMW Car Club NZ since joining last year. Cheers Olaf Disclosure: I won't qualify for ///M CLUB membership as I don't have an ///M car, and am a local committee member of another club (BMW Car Club NZ - Wellington).

hope your bairn is on the mend and you're all getting into that rhythm as a family.

Guys, he's talking about the ZF 6 speed. It's *very* finicky about what oil it uses. The *KEY* spec is Shell M-1375.4 If you take a look at the specs for Penrite ATF-FS specs (which I rate for the 5SP), you'll find i) it doesn't list Shell M-1375.4, and ii) there's a specific note about "not for use in ZF 6 speed...". In summary, finding an oil that meets both Shell M-1375.4 and ZF Lifeguard 6, $20/litre isn't too bad... even if they are Aussie Dollars! cheers

yes. not a mis-print. I saw it in the flesh recently. totes outrageous.

Yes. The MBI on my vehicle has a requirement of an annual service. To gain a stamp in the book, the stuff you'd expect to be checked/maintained/replaced annually (or 15,000kms whichever is first) are checked/maintained/replaced. You're not prevented from doing this stuff yourself; for example if you've done a cooling system service, when the agent checks the system, checks the antifreeze, and does a pressure test - it'll pass. They are supposed to do an oil change and filter. Check all belts, replace if necessary. etc etc. The stamp on the service book comes from 'any recognised service facility'. In the event of any claim, this information (the stamps, and invoices indicating the servicing performed) will be required by the insurer. It's pretty straightforward. It's less "hands off, spend up largee", more "we need to be sure your vehicle is serviced regularly". HTH

So amidst a sensible preventative maintenance programme - regardless of whether it's you or your garage doing the work - where your transmission goes *BANG* - and you're up for around $5k once GST is on there... an MBI would have been no value as *insurance*? I'm afraid I'm just not seeing your viewpoint.

1. Sure. It's just a car, right? Any BMW specialist will tell you, that the maintenance budget for an X5 is more than double that of a 5er. Stacking all that extra kit into an e39-era body, takes longer to do module replacements = repair complexity. 2. Yes, of course you can. Though IMHO the premature failure of valve guide seals presents the modern BMW V8 owner with a significant bill (read: two plus days of labour, gasket set, seal kit) , that is certainly softened by MBI. Were I relying on MBI to cover bills, I'd not have proactively: (take your pick): replaced all shock absorbers and related bushes/mounts replaced all coils replaced the mechatronic sleeve, bolts, and transmission pan + fluid

just because you have an MBI, doesn't mean you can't wrench on your car! If you think an e60 is complex, wait until you look at an X5

nope. you need to test drive it!

Hi Gabe, might I suggest: e60 545i. Come to the dark side! - improved dynamics over e65 - no electronic module issues (unless you have blocked drains). The battery charge cable doodad is one exception (see my showroom thread for details). - plenty of space for family and cargo on distance trips (though not as cavernish as a seven) - 50:50 weight distribution! - the risk of valve stem seal failure can be minimised with a good MBI - the FUN of a V8, and a genuinely good drive - quiet, comfortable, drive WLG-AKL and arrive feeling refreshed. An e46 Touring doesn't give you a lot of space for family travel. Once our offspring were both over ten, it became too tight. It's great for 100< kms radius of home now that our little ones aren't so little. An X5 is more complex, and uses more expensive rubber and rotors more regularly. They're a great machine, and solve a specific problem. If you don't have that problem, and want to keep things lower cost, I'd suggest a 5er is a more economical solution. And you can get a reasonable e60 545i for between $8-12k. What's not to love?! PS: this one looks solid, has been for sale for a while, has already had trans service - amazed it hasn't sold with low mileage and reasonable asking price. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1554895475.htm?rsqid=4e1394cba4f14c34b68faba0f7a60266

that's even more awesome than I'd pictured it, when you first mentioned this project. More pics! More details! What's left to do?

BNT are really good to deal with. Do tell us which Fuchs ATF you got. This will help others in future seeking the same solution, via the Search bicycle. Re big beard; is this what you tell your wife? "no darling, I can't go back to being clean-shaven, I'll lose my parts discounts!"

and pics, maaaan!

loving this. exactly the same as the one I missed out on last year... it's like I'm haunted by the e61 M535D... whenever I don't have a contract! GLWS. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

here's a thread I made earlier for the ZF 6HP26 (same trans, just greater torque rating)... I believe this has the info you seek. make sure you replace the bolts and the mechatronic sleeve (seal) too. If you're DIY-ing, you'll need to have the car dead level, and you need the software (or an infrared thermometer) as you sort the level out at cold (initially) and then warm (running - but not hot)...

Good call!! Until it's worn out, it'll give you better (more reliable) service at a lower cost.

Hi Tim FWIW, my e46 also has ZF 5HP19 (A5S 325Z variant). It was fully rebuilt by Hutt Automatics, reinstalled by Page European with Penrite ATF Full Synthetic (ATF-FS). It's running like a swiss watch 5 years later. Sorry, I forget if mine has the Green rating plate! You might consider a pre filter change drain and fill... run it for 500-1000kms then do the full dump and filter change. Buying the Penrite in volume (e.g. 20L pack) brings the price down, esp during sales weekends. HTH.

What's the part number for the steering coupler, please? And are they pricey? I think my e46 touring (325i) could do with one.

165xxxkm: CEL. Last week I had a CEL come up during the school run. '! warning, reduced power' my son read out from the main display. it felt a little different... just about at school and I accelerated out of an intersection... well, my right foot said 'go' and the car said 'wait, what?'. I popped in to Page Euro, they did a quick scan... looking like lean codes, so it may have an air leak. We reset the oil change counter reflecting the recent oil and filter, and reset the codes... monitoring. If I get more, it'll be in for air leak diagnosis and repair.

Araldite or similar epoxy?

since last update, it went for the WoF. It failed on a broken fog lamp, which turned out to be a bit of a hassle... I ended up sourcing one brand new from ebay from USA for USA40. And it needed left hand LCA bushings. That's why it had been pulling to the left under braking! For the last TWO YEARS. Nice one VTNZ, you were on your 'a game' for the last three WoF's, eh?! More on the LCA's - I'd replaced them five or six years ago (so only about 25k kms at most) with Meyle HD parts. Odd that they'd died already. Anyway, my partner in volvo crime had a set of genuine volvo bushes in his parts stash, so we had those fitted. Job done. It's now had a coat of wax, and is going up FOR SALE. It's looking spiffy, running well.

Hiya Gaz, sorry I'd not seen your question earlier. 2005+ - should be a comfortable, safe swedish battle tank! Your family is much better off in that than a Mazda MPV. You'll find it a little different to work on than BMW, though not particularly difficult. Plenty of support via forums in the US and UK. I'm pretty sure the running gear is essentially the same basic kit as the P80 (850/V70) and later P2 platform. P3 platform is shared with Mondeo etc. Congratulations on your impending fatherhood. Nothing will ever be the same again! Though, in a good way.