TermiPeteNZ

So how's about BimmerSport lunch meet Saturday 17th - with this on the discussion menu? Thinking Simmer in Churton Park given there's plenty of parking but it would be good if there was a larger venue as it is likely to be busy. Ideas? Gerry did say there's a healthy balance sitting idle .... be good to get the gist of how things operated from the newsletters ....

Awesome event!

Have asked Gerry 'the President' for these .... Agree that there's opportunity for stepping things up with current levels of interest - whether it is via BimmerSport or the Club or both. One thing I'm a little unsure about is how much we're able to do with BimmerSport as it is somebody's IP and property and we need permission to do stuff. Agree on not creating any barriers to participation ... I suppose my view is that if we have at least a small keen core of people across both groups then there's opportunity for cross-pollination and expanding both groups. Who's up for a coffee this weekend to have a yak about this? @Barryn @Olaf @Neal

I've just taken the plunge and joined the club ... see where we go from here. More views and interest pls! Reckon the least I can do is organise a monthly meal at a decent pub with good parking to talk car 5h1t!!

Hey guys - appreciate the feedback A pure social media group would in my view compete with BimmerSport which is not what I want to do. Neal - it's always up to a few keen beans to make this sort of thing work - if I do this then I hope you'll stick with it A few more hands make light work ....

Hi everybody! Interested in peoples' opinions around the BMW Car Club ... Is it worth belonging? Where does it have momentum? How do they organise things if they don't have anything like BimmerSport? What's the relationship between BimmerSport and the Club- is it 'competitive' or complementary? BimmerSport is a fantastic community and has increased my enjoyment of the BMW experience significantly. I don't want to do anything that works against that.... I'm asking because I'm considering joining the Club and maybe trying to kick start it again in Wellington - and I reckon there's a good complementary proposition that could get extra members flowing in both directions. BimmerSport is the open community for enthusiasts - no joining fees, no car ownership actually required - you just have to be interested BMW Car Club is a club focused on 'real life' activities and has an official BMW association. Events have rules and standards and there's some funding to do stuff. May attract some different people ... I pinged them and they'd appreciate help in getting Welly up and going again. Is this a dumb idea? Is anybody interested in doing the same thing and helping? @Olaf @skidz

Welcome Michael and good luck with the car shopping! This is an interesting proposition if rather little pricey - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1321392579.htm. Someone has taken good care of it mechanically and invested on upgrades by the looks of things - still surprises me to see people advertising vehicles with crap lying around in them and cobwebs on the vehicle tho! This looks reasonable: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1333852091.htm But this way down in Dunedin is the nicest looking - but again at the pricey end for an E36: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1340122644.htm

Welcome from the Welly crew Shaun - love the 2002! Great pictures BTW

Great to hear you're enjoying it Richard - the E90 MSport is a great looking vehicle. Definitely take it out on a decent road trip - hopefully the Auckland crew organise some soon! I get the 3*C warning during winter in a valley between home and the motorway - glad I don't live down in there! Badging and coloured grill stripes is a personal choice- just make the decision that's right for you

Congrats on the purchase Tim - the Jazz does have a good rep. Really hope you do keep the 328i as your fun car and stay in the BimmerSport community and it's been good having you along at various meets. We have a few roadies coming up too ....

Very nice - GLWS Mack.

The Logic 7 is impressive On my M5 I use the paddles on distance/engaging driving (Gentle Annie!) but tootling around the CBD I'm more likely to use the stick. You might want to think about a 530i MSport like this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1330974633.htm - $10K less and still 180KW - won't have all the same extras though .... Or this white one for $15K: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1285458247.htm Either will give you more of a buffer for MBI etc. Depends if you want/need a V8!!!

Yes I was more than happy to keep it - but I could easily see how this scenario might arise for the more fiscally challenged.

Welcome from Welly Michael - looks very nice indeed! 6th is good going What have you owned previously?

Welcome Paul and that E61 looks beaut. One just like that was the first Euro I looked at after deciding to mix it up and switch back from Jap vehicles. Looks like you've had a full 'dump' of useful advice from the crew So here's some more ... resist the urge to just get it and do the PPI thing Put on the MBI for 3-4 years - they don't cost heaps and cover you for big ticket items. Autosure/Vero is excellent. Be aware that you might have to (or want to) deal with a bunch of things and even with MBI accept a risk of several $K for the first year - and hopefully you just don't have to spend it if it has been well serviced, you're buying it from a dealer and it's not 'cheap'. Make sure it's really what you want (I switched from E60 545i to E60 M5) and plan on keeping it for a few years - it's just not a good idea to buy one, fix it up, get annoyed at what you've spent and sell it in frustration so that someone else gets all the benefit of your investment For $23K I'd want a well sorted one without obvious niggles/problems - whilst also recognising they're aren't many on the market currently. :| If I was buying another single BMW (rather than a M5 & X5) then I'd be looking at something like this. Enjoy your car shopping (I love it) and good luck with the purchase! Don't let all of us with war stories put you off ...

Well - there's something like this .... LCI E60 530i MSport for $10k ... http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1263620784.htm And blue is good ...

Great chance for somebody to grab an M-car at a compelling price. GLWS Ben.

Welcome from the Welly crew Adrian! Nice collection of classic vehicles!

Nope I'm shooting noob.

Cheers - well pleased with the new camera!! A quick enhance with Picasa seems to work well ...

And finishing up at the very good Thirsty Whale in Port Napier .... what a day!

And lining up before heading along for an excellent lunch .... with a nice contrasting hedge

And another stop on Gentle Annie - what a view!

Next stop - the historic Springvale bridge!

And on the Gentle Annie itself ... what an amazing road!! This was stop #1 ... not that easy to find places for 13 cars to pull over!!! E39 goodness .... 3 generations of 3-series ...