bummer

No not the Nurburgring edition sadly, but it has the distinction of being the only 3.8 sold new here in NZ.

Hi everyone, I’m looking to replace the cloth interior of my E34 M5 3.8 with leather (including door-cards, trim etc.) The front seats are the M-Sport seats; I think the rest is standard E34. I’d prefer champagne but black would also do – definitely not grey! Need to be in exccllent condition. Thanks!

http://ferraricollectionforsale.com/bmwnazca.html

Might be me?

Worked with Steve for about 20 years, watched him build his original F40 replica from the ground up. Dunno if he made any more? Agree with Palazzo, quality car. Link to his F40 site: http://www.f40.co.nz

Hey Simon, that's me, I live in Dairy Flat (well spotted!) Avus Blue 3.8, think the valve guides are getting a bit worn so will have to spend some M$$$ in a while!

I wonder how evenly the Police apply their discretion. Probably the only reason I'm not ticketed for a loud exhaust is that I'm 44 and look respectable. Stick my 17yo in the same car and she'll come back with a bunch of tickets and a big fat green sticker!

LOL that's no Schnitzer - bog standard 540 with a few bling bits added on somewhere. Here's my real one (Schnitzer 540) http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/upload...80_222_5185.jpg Disagree that the full V8 cant be used with the 540 in NZ - lots of fun from zero to road legal speeds. I have seen a paddle-shift installation where an M5 steering wheel is installed and connected to the tiptronic too.

Can anyone tell me what style/size those rims are? Would look just fine on the black E34.

With the priviso that I won't put the Force-10 in the 1970's Porsche, the engine is just too expensive to mess with & I'm sure it wasn't designed for ethanol.

Used to use Ultimate, now using Force 10. The V8 & hi-performance engines love it, smaller capacity ones couldn't give a sh*t.

Yummm. Best looking 5 series?

Yeah that was a hard hit. Other car folded in half around the b-pillar up to the transmission tunnel! I posted a reply to a member the other night who was thinking about buying an MX5 - the day of that crash I was going to take my own MX5, changed my mind at the last minute. If I had taken it, might not be here writing this today!

I've only ever used Grey Lynn, Guido and the guys are so good I haven't thought about going anywhere else. As I understand it they are independent shops but have the same DNA - I'm sure Ross at the guys at Botany are excellent too.

I was doing about 80km, the other spun across the road into me & hit me sideways at about 60 I suppose. I was OK but a couple of passengers in the other car were really messed up.

Was reminiscing about my long-dead E34 535i 5-speed today, dug up a picture to share with you all. The learner-licencer who hit me bent his Toyota Corolla like a banana and nearly killed two passengers, I walked away with only a set-belt bruise. sh*t I loved that car, spent a fortune on the motor and suspension too. (Sniff) Goes to show how tough our cars are.

Cheers Cliff, appreciated!

Well thank you again - the Schnitzer does a lot of km in Auckland so you may well have seen it. It's loving the cool air at the moment - ate some little tosser in an Evo 7 on an onramp today, I should know better at my age but that baseball cap just pissed me off. Just got the M5 back from the BM Workshop, had it serviced and checked out & it's in great condition. Never paid $240 for a set of plugs before though! Tim

Holding back the bile but I'm in the wrong demographic to appreciate...that. Burn the f**king teddy.

I've had MX5's for years, bought my first one in the early 90's to replace my TR6 (why why why did I do that). They were designed from the ground up as a roadster/sports car & benefit from near perfect weight distribution, rear wheel drive & a fantastic gearbox/engine combination. My personal favorite is the original NA 1.6 - these motors were originally designed to have turbo's (but canned, this considered too butch for their intended handbag-toting market) and are tough as hell. There is a huge aftermarket for parts/upgrades, even here in NZ. It's too bad there are so many of them around, blame the Japanese import deluge for that. If you get over to countries like Australia they are far rarer & held in a higher regard! To be honest I hardly ever drive mine these days, my 17 year old daughter drives it & loves it (kicked arse at a Pukekohe defensive driving day a while back). When I do drive it it certainly gives me a smile but I'm glad I dont drive it everyday anymore! Pros: One of the best handling cars you will ever drive Cheap to buy, cheap to run, maintain & reliable Great in summer for a neck-up tan Chicks like them Cons: Chicks like them Underpowered (turbo/supercharged excepted) No boot space Gay factor Tin-can in a crash factor If you're going to buy one: Get a hardtop for winter if you can. Watch the paint on the red ones, they fade badly if not looked after ($2k paint job) Ditto the soft-top for all MX5's Ditto the rear windows, they dont last long (plastic) The early NZ new ones had no power steering & manual windows (imports were better) The early 1.6 models have a problem with the crank nose snapping off (= new engine) Be prepared to have everyone on the motorway either sit 2" off your arse or pretend you don't exist

Drives me crazy to be honest. For transport she uses my old 1992 MX5. Not too much of a punishment, spoiled brat!

Thanks very much, appreciate the warm welcome. Must get the E34 535is sorted and post some pictures up here, I think it's the best looking of them all!

The E39 540i is a great car - to be perfect it would have the 6-speed but I don't think I'd enjoy those motorways so much. I guess the issue is always maintenance costs - I bought this one from McMillans with a 2 year factory warranty, had about 80k on the clock. I think everything must have broken in those first 2 years, I'll never forget Sean at service telling me they replaced to two blocked cats @ $4000 each!

yeah especially with the skinny liitle tyres this one has on the back! God I just love the sound that thing makes though.

Hi all, I've been round the BMW scene a few years but never really popped my head over the fence until now. I started with an Alpina White E34 535i 5-speed about ten years ago & have been addicted with BMW ever since! Some clown on a learner licence put an end to that beautiful (and highly modified) car, but I haven't been without an E34/E39 for as long as I can remember. I have three interesting BMW's at the moment; my daily driver is an E39 540i that's been given the Schnitzer treatment (apparantly one of ten that BMW imported from new). Got a few km n the clock but I just love it - comfortable, reliable & goes like a rocket. Fuel economy isn't too bad considering we are negotiating Auckland's northern/southern motorways every day. My pride and joy is my E34 M5 3.8 that I bought last month from John Wanganui, something I have been dreaming about for a long time. I saw a few of you were following the auction on Trademe and you are right as far as I can tell this is the only NZ New 3.8 E34 M5. This car is in great condition, I don't think the TM pictures did it justice. Interesting car to drive & it takes a change of driving style to appreciate it. I was initially underwhelmed when I first drove it; with all the power & torque at the top of the rev range this lady likes to be spanked. My other BMW is a 1992 E34 535is 5-speed that I bought for my daughter - she did a bit of damage spinning it on SH17 about 6 months ago, I'll post some pix when it's looking presentable again. Nice car, factory motorsport kit in Diamondschwarz with the shadowline trim - bloody fast too. In some ways I'm glad the daughter doesn't drive it anymore, she is a Philistine behind the wheel and would have killed herself and the car eventually. And every once in a while I'll pull this little beauty out - some would argue it's a bit like getting my d*ck out & I wouldn't necessarily disagree! Fun drive as long as it isn't raining & you like smoke in the cabin. Cheers, Tim