TermiPeteNZ

Ah we just enjoyed the 'opinions' + 'opinion of opinions = stupid' in the ex-govt 730LD thread I agree when you look at TCO then 'higher fuel use = more$$' no matter what the rate per km is. But if there is a focus on the l/100km rate itself then open road driving does mean you get more km for the $$ you're spending. It feels better spending $10 getting to the next town than getting to the next set of lights. If you're going to drop more than $30K on an X5 then there's no argument that a modern diesel is just awesome and that's where the market is focused today. Diesels do carry a premium and do have better resale. I would much rather have my boss' 18-month old X5 M 4.0D than my V8 X5 I can assure you - not least for the performance If however you're like me then a V8 is cheap ($10k) and I think fun - costs way less to buy, sounds way better, goes well and because I can only drive one of my V8s at a time the kms won't be very high (maybe 7500 per year). My 3 lads think it rocks and my 6 year gets to choose which V8 we take in the morning (most days).

Might be keen - my E53's LCD OBC display has lost heaps of pixels and I need to get it fixed...

I generally like bigger cars - both those 135 Ms are just awesome - and I the colour is great.

Yeah that one looks very nice. Love the contrast interior.

Have to have a drive of one and then think some more.

If you're doing mostly urban and a bit of motorway probably around 15l/100km. All urban ~17l/100km. Plenty of figures on the web. My older E53 4.4i X5 is 15-17 with mostly urban use - giving it occasional welly but mostly cruising. You don't buy something like this for fuel efficiency (unless you do mostly long-distance open road travel )- you buy it because it is awesome and has 261KW! Price seems to be fair for mileage, condition and V8. You could spend ~$32K and get one with the 200KW 3l 6 instead which will certainly use less fuel (urban listed at ~13l/100km.

Still play with the idea of late run E39/E38 Motorsport vs my E60 545i Highline . . . character vs much more modern and powerful ....

Discussion of politicians' vehicles is always going to be a source of humour, derision or taxpayer annoyance They are premium luxury vehicles with a short life in service that look like conspicuous consumption - just like the huge numbers of $1000 iPhones and iPad being used by public servants. There may be an interesting or surprising business case that actually makes good sense - but there's still the smell of 'bling' Peter (the other not me) is just voicing what many/most will think and I don't think his comment warrants others (inc. a mod) having a go at him. Let's keep it friendly dudes. Anyway - do wonder who ends up buying these - Ls are huge and the flagpole attachments must be tempting to use!

Forgotten glory and long list of problems. Sad to see in this condition. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1076751657 Would be a good project for someone with plenty of time (not me).

Serious? Had a full repaint???

Ummm - looks really tidy to me! Sue some of the Auckland crowd will have some recommendations - there's another thread on much the same topic.

Welcome from Welly - looks great - body kit etc plus some serious pipes

Welcome from Welly - new wheels look great and $400 is a score

Very nice!

Welcome! Prob need to get the ABS unit repaired - by 'the guy in Nelson ) which is a few hundred bucks. Just doing this for my E53 X5... could just be a wheel sensor.

Holy crap - they're game Both awesome vehicles but the M3 sedan is my pick.

Looks like a bunch of the government 730LDs are up for tender @Turners! Wonder what they'll go for. But who really wants to look like a driver for Winston Peters or JK? http://www.turners.co.nz/Cars/Search/BMW/7-Series/14994850%C2'>

Sounds frustrating Ray - glad you got the wty.

Congrats Russell - nice quick sale! Sure you have mixed feelings 'bout this....

Looks nice! Not sure about value... but it looks like a better deal than then cheapest M3 on TradeMe: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1063334149.htm $500 less and needs a bunch of work.

Their before and after pics do look impressive

+1 on this I think it is like $150 and Joe can do it in about 15min. No hardware changes etc - just recoding and all sorted. Getting nav sorted does involve extra hardware (gyros etc) but it does work a treat. I had Eurosurgeon do my radio and nav for $748 (they come to Welly regularly) late last year, but after having the CCC die on me and getting it replaced by Autosure i have not wanted to chance a repeat (CCCs cost heaps). So I've left the nav in Japanese and only had the radio recoded Bit of a waste of $$ from the nav but I don't want to risk another CCC failure and have an argument with Autosure who honestly have been fantastic to deal with. I don't think Eurosurgeon's mods caused the CCC failure - it looks like whatever numpty (PO/car yard) put a band expander(why!?) in the car did some substandard wiring and also unplugged the cooling fan - over time (and the summer) it cooked. Bluetooth etc costs buckets so personally I think radio is good. Eurosurgeon can sort an Aux jack easy enough ...

Awesome!

Yes I reckon an E38 740i M-Sport would be mighty tempting!

Nice - would have been better thematically if it wasn't a M41 and was a Panzer of some description... would have been 2 German tanks