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balancerider

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Posts posted by balancerider

  1. Posted · Report reply

    @Weynay thanks! Yes as far as I know the UK was the only RHD market to get the f3x generation 335d. NZ got the 330d xdrive single turbo version. Japan only got 4cyl diesels. Not sure if Singapore / Malaysia ever got them. The cluster had the gauge faces swapped but the cruise control still displays in mph - I have a native kph one to swap in but need to find someone who can code it

  2. Posted · Edited by balancerider · Report reply

    Wairarapa SH2 roadworks claimed my windscreen this morning. Not excited about the replacement process, especially at this time of year. Given the terrible reviews of S+S Glass (who are preferred repairer) wondering if I should call Continental Cars and see what they'd charge. Screen has rain sensor and high beam assist camera so hopefully I should get an OEM screen rather than some janky chinese crap

    IMG_8272.jpeg

    • Sad 3

  3. Posted · Report reply

    15 hours ago, gjm said:

    'End of life' sales are awful.

    I've seen perfectly good cars declared EOL, with cancelled rego, when all they need is some TLC.

    This one may need more than that.

     

    It’s got wof and rego according to carjam. Looks like their other listings are mostly imports that can’t be complied and they’ve cut and pasted the blurb on the ad.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, Vass said:

    Factor in the purchase price of the car and I'm $40k deep in this thing. Could have had an M3 hahah.

    FCP / Spareto must love you! I don’t even know if Sreten from M539 has managed to hit that number (maybe on the alpina b7 with 3 engines!) 

    • Haha 1

  11. Posted · Report reply

    5 hours ago, Palazzo said:

    https://www.christchurcheuropean.co.nz/vehicle/2016-BMW-435D/12113?s=1&fbclid=IwAR0b5dMT3TthYLlRz1TtF9KPIg6T4X7aiq4ch7sFyN6FQmMcEtSb6-Ks-6c_aem_AePFRYk2VbeYMdcg2GYmhU22S4yPbJH6hDvYhC8jv6fL4BzMZ6bVvmTtodI7tFgebOSG1FAn17mqWDHsZRXuhXZ3
     

    Here you go, even more niche. What was the market for these?

    Luxury line + 35d xdrive is definitely a weird combo…not available in the f30/f31 in the uk. Not even mentioning the obvious no-no of a diesel convertible, so you can revel in the sound of dagdag

  15. Posted · Edited by balancerider · Report reply

    1 hour ago, gjm said:

    The E46 I've found is (according to Carjam) NZ new, first registered in NZ in late January 2004 but has an August 2002 build date. Hmm. Low mileage though. (I can change that. :) ) It has the usual M57 engine.

    The E90 is ex-SA, first registered in NZ late February 2020 (originally registered in SA November 2005. This has the more powerful M57S engine. Higher but by no means silly mileage, and (as might be expected) slightly higher price. Still under $7k.

    Both look good in pics (both are in Auckland), both are automatics, both are well-specced, both have good history and long current ownership, neither have any Motorsport options.

    My feeling is that the E46 is the better bet for my purposes, is simpler to work on and will be cheaper to keep on the road. The E90 may have a removable towbar but that's not a deciding factor; the E46 has through-loading which may be useful.

    No idea if either would be more economical at a constant 100km/h; Carjam suggests they would be the same, another site suggests perhaps a 0.1 l per 100km difference. If we get that far, perhaps have a chat with Pramod to optimise what is there.

     

    If you’re planning to drive at night then I’d take the 330d with xenons, halogens on the e46 are dreadful. 204 vs 231 bhp as well. The e46 does have sport seats though and the e9x stock seats aren’t exactly supportive.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, gjm said:

    It looks likely that I have work, and is seems to be the case, it's really not as close to home as would be ideal. Oh well...

    Driving about 180km a day

    Quick thoughts on the merits of a 2004 E46 vs 2005 E90, both 330D ?

    Same M57 engine. 6 speed zf auto in the e90 will be more economical than the 5 speed in the e46. If the e46 is a msport and the e90 isn’t that might sway it for me. E46’s may be starting to rust

    • Like 1

  19. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, Sammo said:

    The rarest of rare - 333i with a Tech 2 kit 🙃

    https://www.rosecitycars.co.nz/vehicle/1986-BMW-Other/11955?s=1&fbclid=IwAR3mR2oKEOI-vQHROlVxoGZ7w0JioNjTcpk1EinucF2-tlxqjo1ePixvsHI

    Not sure why you would not return to stock and present as an original car if you had all the bits with it.

    The unworn houndstooth Recaros that are in there now should defray the ‘rose city cars’ tax somewhat? Nice but 96k buys you quite a lot of Porsche / Audi RS / Maserati…

    • Like 1

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Completely agree @Eagle - gotta look holistically and not make generalisations. Plenty of uk imports in NZ that came here under 3 years old and are similar or better than NZ new. Some of the Japanese ones do have service history esp now that the newer BMW’s have online service records. I would still tend to be wary of Singapore cars (even though they are normally well specced) and the Aussie stat write offs are possibly ok if you are going to drive them into the ground but selling them on will be difficult / impossible.

    • Like 2

  21. Posted · Report reply

    N52 is a good engine but b25 2.5l version may feel a bit underpowered in this application as it’s a big car without heaps of low end torque. Can end up chasing oil leaks and the electric water pump can die without warning between 100-150k km.

     The E350 is nice, I preferred the diesel but the petrol V6 sounds better and both engines suit the car. Driving experience not dissimilar to a 5 series, they also have rear air suspension (at least the ones I’ve driven) and drive nicely if a little uninvolving. IMO neither a 5 series or an E class is going to make a back road blaster, they’re 5 m long and 1.8 tonnes. Even my 3 series touring feels big sometimes. 

  22. Posted · Edited by balancerider · Report reply

    Would you consider an E-class estate @Willem? Selection is a little better than the 5er, CLS shooting brake also looks good but maybe not as practical

    https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/mercedes-benz/e-350/listing/4317218526
    https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/mercedes-benz/e-350/listing/4429267980

    if the clean car rebate is rolled back I imagine the used importers will start to look at bigger displacement cars again in the new year (if they aren’t already)

     

    • Like 2

  24. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, Eagle said:

    It did mention they had been replaced, springs im assuming

    Id say the engine ancillaries are the weak link as far as costs. If you google N54 engine problems you will get an idea what can happen. 

    Oops didn’t spot the suspension comment. Apparently aftermarket air springs are decent and not horrendously expensive.

    fairly certain the f10/f11 were n55 engined from the get go

    • Like 1

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Welcome @Hanna. It looks like it might be a Singapore import which are potentially more prone to electrical issues due to the humidity.
    Spec looks decent albeit a bit ‘elderly’ - Chrome line exterior with green, I quite like the tan interior though and it has comfort seats which are great. Sunroof can fail expensively though it makes the interior feel nice. May well be due a set of shocks and springs (rear air suspension) at 10 years. The N55 engine is mechanically sound if serviced and ancillaries seem more solid than the N54 that preceded it. Plenty of these engines above 250k km in Europe / US, unlikely that drivetrain will be the major issue with it.

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