TermiPeteNZ

After driving home in the X5 today, a fellow Club member and colleague who was parked next to me shared this pic of where I was parked ... which I saw when I got home - after getting a 'Check rear num plate light' warning. Another cooling system leak ? Tow truck on Monday off to Jon at Auto38! Just as well I have the M5 back...

Just got the M5 back from Jon at Auto38 ... getting some niggles resolved... Left hand (low-tone) horn unit hadn't been working - my kids have given me a lot of stick for a V10 with a 'meep meep' horn. Sorted now! New horn unit was same price as used - so new it is. Right front outer PDC sensor also hasn't worked since getting the vehicle. Replaced with new unit, colour-coded and fitted. Jon noticed with the left headlight out that it was playing up and the insulation on the wiring had deteriorated. Due to a new headlight unit (xenon adaptive) costing $3K we've repaired the insulation using paint-on insulation as a fix. FYI Hella make replacement headlight units at a much better price than BMW original - but they only come in LHD Another option before full replacement is replacing the lens & wiring. We'll see how this goes. A friend has done this successfully with his E60 M5. My driver's side air con had sometimes been switching magically and blowing hot when it shouldn't. Jon did a thorough investigation of the blinds, actuators and cleaned the dash thermostat - everything that could be done without removing the whole(!) dash. We'll see how this goes too Jon is fantastic - a real craftsman. Communicates the issues (with pics), provides options, shows me the stuffed bits, runs through the bill.

Giving in to peer pressure @Olaf and @adro and sharing 'the journey'... although nowhere near as hands on as the latter or as fastidious as the former! Car 1 is a 2001 E53 V8 Sport Package in Stahlgrau Car 2 is a 2005 E60 M5 in Silverstone II

Need pics for future reference...

Gorgeous pics as always! ?

The reason I've started to use Auto38 is simply the level of experience, care and passion that Jon brings to working on Bimmers. Difference between a craftsman and people doing a job ...

Welcome Tony - beautiful vehicle and great pics Hope you head along to some of our local events! We have a number of keen photographers as well.

Here's the key component/cause exclusions under the 2 main AutoSure policies: Under the Autosure Extreme: Batteries, exhaust systems, catalytic converters, tyres, entertainment systems, heated seat elements, light bulbs, communication systems, fuel tanks, keys and remotes; Repairs necessitated by external causes, contamination, perishing, corrosion, rust, consequential loss or damage, accident damage, fire damage, water damage, theft, wilful damage, misuse, neglect, faulty repair and/or defective workmanship; Under Essential: Batteries, exhaust systems, shock absorbers, air bags and componentry, sunroofs, catalytic converters, tyres, seat belts, audio and entertainment systems, global positioning systems, seats, lights, communication systems, fuel tanks, air bag suspension, keys and remotes; Brake pads and shoes; Manual clutch and flywheels; Spark plugs, glow plugs, drive belts, lubricants, gas, filters, injector servicing and fluids; Repairs necessitated by external causes, contamination, perishing, corrosion, rust, consequential loss or damage, accident damage, fire damage, water damage, theft, wilful damage, misuse, neglect, faulty repair and/or defective workmanship; Repairs necessitated by the failure of any plastic components due to gradual deterioration and any resulting damage Depends on the policy you have... Extreme is the best one to go with. For @Olaf's rack to be excluded the repair would need to be required because of the corrosion. So for example if my plastic timing chain guides fail on my M62TU (in my old X5) due to age/deterioration then under my Essential policy the repair to sort it all out won't be covered. ?

Glad you got the clunk sorted

Had a sit in an F20 today. Rear legroom is not awesome at all. Much better in the E83 and F25 X3s. Oh well.

As much as these look like great fun anything that's a bit cramped in the back isn't going to fly to replace the wife's car... think I'll need to focus on F20 and F25 X3....

My wife's amenable to replacing the Mazda - I just need to work out if the lads can fit in the back ? ? Might have a squiz at an E87 in the weekend to work this out - and compare it to an E90.

Welcome Wolfgang and great to hear you're loving the 550i

Great presentation/photography! GLWS...

Tempting proposition

There's a good case for a $15K 116i Msport (I just don't like the non-Msport aesthetic) but yes need to check the spec...

There's a decent bit of eco-guilt mixed in with the fuel cost side of things. Also - it would be nice to get the wife into a F20 which I think would be a good replacement for the Atenza. 130i would make more sense if Ethan got his license sorted and was heading off soon... he could have it (along with the running costs )

Yes the spec is good and I happen to like blue There's a v low kms 118i Msport down here with balance of wty etc and I've heard good things about the 3 cylinder too. https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1979107246 Might have to pop in to see Jacky at Winger and take it for spin.

Let me know when you're selling it - might be interested

Cheers for the advice q Sounds like a 130i would be fun but not the smart city car to balance V8 and V10! Been pondering 120i/125i Msports - not sure I could cope with a 116i as much as they look fine! This looks nice: https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=2000832627 Wonder if an M135i could make my M5 feel a bit redundant tho…. saw a few go for mid-20s recently which was a little tempting

What's the urban fuel use like? Been wondering about one of these or even a F20 as a better daily driver than my V8 X5 (15l/100KM!)

Curious - VIN decoder says original upholstery was STOFF HEADLINEANTHRAZIT (G3AT) - so wonder what the leather came out of? Very nice Touring! GLWS @Mikan

Welcome @buddynz6 @Mr Hyde is another 335i keenbean...

Nice!

Tragic and stupid waste. I wish I'd got to know Atta. When an event is so terrible in scale it is the personal connections that bring it close to home, and make us realise what the loss really means.