balancerider

@E30 325i Rag-Top apparently an April Fools project at M but they actually built it!

Kiwiplates have 15% off til end of this month

you might be right about that - vaguely remember @hunter doing this to his 530i?

All the JDM M-sports have it (which is probably 50% of the remaining E39's in NZ) - that along with the lack of cruise control and PDC puts me off.

Alcantara is nasty, too many poverty spec JDM Bimmers with it to want a car like that, let alone swapping it out. Cognac leather with green paint is the dream spec for me, was playing around on the M3 touring configurator last night

Much better on Alpina rims. From memory that particular E39 was being sold as spares or repair.

Gold wheels are definitely polarising, nice interior though. I wonder if the manual conversion has been certed. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/530i/listing/5220384911

Someone needs to snaffle that for the recaros

A couple of forlorn 5’ers

Victorian Highway Patrol G31 LCI 530d Touring and G05 x5 spotted today

Would imagine a decent proportion of E30 buyers now would know that plate’s backstory and run a mile! (Just waiting for the seller to put it back on a standard rego…) also, E36 M rain Vaders in an E30 are…not good.

What else is the seller of this not mentioning (other than the obvious one that the X6 looks like a 🐕 taking a 💩 in profile) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/5198260276

Swasticar drivers in a nutshell 🤡

The flush rails probably make less sense if you are going to run racks permanently, but they are a cleaner look with racks off (see below) pretty sure the xenon’s need self leveling (and maybe headlight washers) if you are going to run them properly which turns into an expensive exercise, pre-facelift lights aren’t too bad now but the retrofit would be a big job, whereas I think the post facelift halogens are plug and play and look a lot better as have angel eyes. the colour is nice actually, haven’t seen any others.

Just picked up a pair of Valeo front wipers for $10. These are OE on the F3x. Looks like they fit E9x and G2x as well. $132 for a pair in a BMW box from your friendly local dealer. https://www.repco.co.nz/parts-service/wiper-components/wiper-blades/valeo-silencio-flat-wiper-blade-set-600mm-24in-475mm-19in-574471/p/A1333842

Looking like he got a decent deal on that atm (pending exploding SMG / rod bearings)…the dealer plate surround on that suggests ‘don’t touch with a 10 foot pole’ to me though. so tempting to convert an E61 M5 to manual

Welcome @balinm - sometimes I feel like Bimmersport is the last bastion of the station wagon / 'touring' in NZ. M57 is a great engine and as you say even giving it the beans the fuel economy is still impressive. That front bumper looks aftermarket - ? M3 replica. Would be nice to take it back to an OEM M-sport look, though I doubt M-sports came with that colour (Tasman Green?) as standard so would need to get the m-bumper painted. LCI halogen headlights and flush fit (vs the raised ones you have) roof rails would be nice cosmetic improvements as well.

That sounds about right for an E70 on an urban driving cycle, two tons of not very aerodynamic SUV with 4WD will struggle to do much better than that unless driven on open road

Ooh very cool @Neal - I always wondered if the dealer could do an official region change on the VO, my cruise control reading in MPH when everything else is in KPH is irritating. As I understand it on the F3x would need a new kombi as well.

@Neil McCauley no doubt a an ex-lease car in the UK - spec is very similar to mine. M-sport plus pack gave you HK audio, M-sport brakes and High Beam Assist. At least this one has heated seats, and the PFL Bi-Xenons are arguably better than the LCI LED's (unless you get adaptive icon lights)

Peak late 2000’s BMW, not a capybara in sight

@turboray82 Shouldn’t be 40k for the swap! I’ve just realised the rear seats from the green sedan won’t work in a touring though so would have to budget for reupholstering the minging red / black ones. if I win powerball I’ll do it…feels inappropriate parting out a proper m5 for the engine but as this one is already a mongrel so to speak I reckon it would be ok. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1972550 here’s the protocol to follow

asking to be put back to original spec and cut out the spare wheel well. colour combo is lovely, would be so nice with OEM wheels probably not worthwhile from a financial standpoint currently. this would be a fantastic receptacle for the running gear and interior if someone was to part out (even better if resprayed to Oxford Green!)

When it’s a choice between this, a BYD and an MG for equivalent money, it didn’t take us long to pick (the ADAS on the Chinese cars is awful). Acceleration belies the power numbers (150kw/250nm) and it feels quite happy at open road overtaking speeds. I don’t think I’d want to do more than 4.5 hours without a break anyway (which it can manage on a full charge)

Can't edit the title but there are now two BMW's at home. Don't think the new one quite fits the 'ultimate driving machine' moniker but range seems good (Chch-Welly on 77% of battery) and it's a very pleasant thing to commute in. Wheels are UGLY though.