andrewm

Getting it on the interislander to bring it home 

Picked this up off a member here to replace my e39 540i. Wanted something that would best the 540i in every category, handling, acceleration, braking, speed, sound, looks, and this fits the bill. 

Have been meaning to post a log but didnt get around to it till now. 

1 hour ago, qube said:

definitely read this comment wrong the first time round..

Cook, cook. It definately says cook. 

2 hours ago, BlackrazorNZ said:

Got a big cook this weekend, I’ll compensate with some meat pics for you once done

Amazing a thread where people post pictures of their meat made it this far without innuendo. 

I have opened the bbq thread and found watches. I would not bbq a watch, atleast i certainly wouldnt eat one. 

Better flash the cash if you really want one. There are only a handful of really good ones left and of the two owners i know, the phrase ‘from my cold dead hands’ comes to mind. 

Get a receipt for the ‘new’ gearbox then you wont lose money if its junk and you part it. 

Save the 4k for two front end resprays at reputable shops or wrap the car. 

I always get an email from UPSAOCCOD-NZ@UPS.com saying

"your parcel has incurred customs charges please call 0800742587 EXT 3 and quote SAI# or email  [email protected]"

Maybe give them a call to that number and check it out, the email address you have shown look dodgy.

From memory they had their own charge for brokerage of customs fee.

X pipe for inline engines

You cant pay a bit extra and order BMW individual with laguna seca blue?

1 hour ago, *Glenn* said:

What a great idea..such constructive criticism by you Andrew

Perhaps that reads wrong, its not a criticism, saves the rest of us from telling vague problem people to get it scanned.

9 minutes ago, *Glenn* said:

You need to get it scanned by someone with a brain that has BMW experience

 

Have you got that sentence on permanent copy paste yet? you must be getting real tired of writing it.

Hopefully someone South Auckland ways

Since the certifier has incorrectly listed my front wheels as 18x8 (they are 18x8.5) and VTNZ Takanini has failed me on it, I would like to please borrow two 18x8 wheels with warrantable tires just to run it through VTNZ while I argue and try provide evidence to convince the certifier of their mistake.

Can pickup and drop off same day - happy to leave my wheels as insurance and will buy you a box of beers of your choice.

I took it through VTNZ during holidays and certifier only just back so doubt even if I am successful that I will get a new cert plate before my 28 days run out.

Still some metal on the back half of that rotor, could just bang one pad in that caliper and do another 50,000.

both links actual hyperlink is back to this forum page, for me atleast.

Agree, I use the same.

Castrol response/react dot 4 for daily drivers - its a good deal for the temperatures it can handle.

I did mine at about 9pm under jack stands with a phone torch so cant remember if it was easy to see, remember that the hose didn't initially flow well through.

I set the hose to jet and blasted it as best I could from both sides for probably 5 minutes on an off each side, that got most of it out.

I did fill it with a citrus based all purpose cleaner and left for 10 mins before I blasted it again but not sure that did anything extra.

When you do get that off make sure to shine a light inside the cooler, all 3 540I m62TU's ive worked on had some level of crud buildup in there.

Also make sure to get the O rings for the thermostat, from memory my new thermostat didnt come with them - i ordered them seperate.

PM me if you go for FCP euro, I will order some small stuff and split shipping with you.

Did you have clay like gunk in yours? I found it was the cause of my trans cooling issue so cleaned the crap out and replaced this part, voila no more harsh downshift in traffic.

7 minutes ago, Matth5 said:

You can't get away saying they're OE sizes (if they are)?

My car had it's standard wheels at time of cert so the plate only says 'OE' for wheels. Even though I have wider aftermarket wheels now, it has passed its WOFs. Or you could just go somewhee else, probably a good chance it'll get missed or they won't fail on it (surely some WOF guys will have some discretion?). 

I had inquired about this with the certifier but he insisted that wheel sizes needed to be listed as he was certifying a suspension system.

I then attempted to start a stupid argument about why then were all the other components not listed, roll bar thickness, spring thickness, number of coils, dampening settings etc. While I was waiting for some mediocre reasoning like 'because wheels are easy to change' or ' unsprung mass blah blah' I think he realised that I am a level 99 sarcastic prick and didnt even try - 'those are the rules, I didnt make them' was the best I could get out of him.

50 minutes ago, zero said:

Time to get a pair of crappy 18x8s just so you pass wof lol.

This is likely what i'll do while I try get cert plate sorted, dont think 28 days for a recheck is long enough even if it goes well.

New Rants

- the guy at beaurepairs that wanted two new 255 width tires but only prepared to spend $80 each. 

- The lower control arm on my C63's are knackered and they are exclusive to the c63 so they are ~$500 USD each, ... each. They are so remarkably similar to the upper control arms at $86 each....

VTNZ failed me on my WOF as cert plate for adjustable suspension incorrectly states wheels as 18x8 F and 18x8.5 R when both are 8.5 wide.

Think because i run 245 front and 265 rear the cert guy got it wrong but that was two years ago, goodluck to me convincing him that he made a mistake and not that I changed wheels.

Also took VTNZ 4 WOF’s to notice....

Got a picture? There are alternatives.

Abrade oxidation and Matte or gloss clearcoat

Vinyl wrap in matte or gloss black or stainless/aluminium finishes

Paint body colour or gloss/matte black.