balancerider

looking good - whiter bulbs might be the only thing I'd change?

CSL is SMG only - take your point but even if you're a real enthusiast, you can only drive one at a time. I'd love either but probably take the M2 comp

CSL and M2 seem to fall in the same category?

Nice! (except the yellow X2 ?)

Writeoffs on trademe (either stat from Australia or here in NZ) seem to be a burgeoning category on TM. People tend to take the real estate agent approach of saying nothing and answering questions in the vaguest fashion possible. As always, 'caveat emptor'. Suspect the market for expensive second hand cars is going to take a dive in the coming months.

Couldn’t help but park next to this one at work today. Plates even (kind of) match...

Small update - paint correction and installed rear transparent strip (great job by Elite Detailing in Wellington) to protect from the dog!

already at 32k with 8 days to go. seems over the odds...

I could be wrong @E30 325i Rag-Top but I think the Japan and US market 30d models were labelled as 35d? A bit like the G30 530d being labelled a 540d in NA...

correlation is not causation but the user name of the seller is suggestive...?

@LemonHunter tend to agree the chance of this being relisted is high (either from buyer or seller fail) Having said that the market for something like this is only going one way so could be counterproductive

Be interesting to see what this goes for. Best engine although high km (not a problem if looked after - not sure that 30k BMW mandated oil changes constitute being looked after though) https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=2604172556

Just had another excellent experience with him. He's fantastic.

Agree with the suggestion of Coombes Johnston - by far best main dealer I've dealt with.

Champagne Quartz (can’t quite believe I like brown!)

Thanks for all the advice. Michelin Pilot Sport 4's are 50% more expensive in 19" ($575 vs $350 per corner) so it's not a small difference, but agree that running a newish BMW is never going to be cheap.

Hard to believe it's 40 years old. Great looking car

Don’t love the 19’s design and suspect there will be a reasonable market for OEM m sport wheels.

Thinking about changing the 19's (currently running stock tires - 225/40/19f + 255/35/19r run flats) to 18's - probably the style 398 in orbit grey (18's are the smallest that will clear with M-sport big brake kit). Pros and cons? Guessing the ride will be a little better on 18's (stock tires are non-runflat Michelin Pilot Super Sport) and tires may be a bit cheaper too? Anything else I should know?

Was just scrolling through the Audi and BMW wagon configurations, interesting that all NZ a4’s are petrol and only the Allroad A6 has a diesel, whereas 3 out of 5 BMW wagons are diesel. Would be interesting to know what the diesel vs petrol sales breakdown was on F31 wagons? @E30 325i Rag-Top? (possibly to do with the fact that VAG are diesel cheaters?)

This says it all really...

All of the 535d tourers I've seen have big miles (200k +) which probably speaks to good longevity, seem to be a roughly even split of NZ new and UK imports - spec levels probably similar between them, they all tend to have PDC which a lot of the Jap import E61's don't if that matters to you. M57 diesel has a decent reputation - risk of clogged EGR valve and turbo issues (two turbos on the 35d) potentially the most significant. I would also second @qube's advice - F11 is a much more modern car and lovely to drive, possibly more electronics to go wrong. Straight 6 NA petrol only on 2010-11 models (I4 in the 520/528i after that), though there are a few 535i's around too. I remember seeing a 530d with 120-odd k for <20k 12 or so months back.

Any comment on the tuning @qube? I've heard mixed things about the durability of that N13 engine (actually a PSA Peugeot model) and my gut still suggests avoiding 4 cyl petrol BMW engines!

This would be excellent - the number of cars/trucks in NZ belching black smoke with even minimal throttle application is ridiculous.

Wouldn't recommend running on 91, might as well buy the corolla if you're worried about the 91-95 price differential...