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balancerider

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Everything posted by balancerider

  1. balancerider
    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…
  2. balancerider
    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.
  3. balancerider
    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.
  4. balancerider
    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)
  5. balancerider
    I would probably steer clear of 523i/528i 3L engine versions. The N53 despite being naturally aspirated is more unreliable than the turbo n55 with expensive / unreliable piezo injectors and a complicated intake manifold and NOX sensor issues. Also 3 yrs older. I would go for the 535i
  6. balancerider
    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
  7. balancerider
    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.
  8. balancerider
    Or the M3/M4 CSL with their shitty red accents everywhere 🤮
  9. balancerider
    Imola red E39 M5 in Akl (plate = AWSUM5)…no pics sorry. Assume there are very few in that colour in NZ. Apparently 79 total in RHD.
  10. balancerider

    435d x-Drive

    balancerider replied to Dogballs's topic in Showroom

    Possibly biased but N57 + x-drive is the best F3x powertrain...digital cluster looks awesome.
  11. balancerider

    F11 v E61

    balancerider replied to Apex's topic in Want to buy

    Very few NZ New F11 535i's. You might have more luck with a 530d, there were a few around for low 20's earlier this year
  12. balancerider
    @HerbmiesterI think they are the replacement for the Dragon Sport (which were a bit average…)
  13. balancerider

    F11 v E61

    balancerider replied to Apex's topic in Want to buy

    The battery range on the Merc c350e is utter shite, less than 10km apparently. G series 330/530e seem decent but unless you’re doing mucho km and all short running within battery range it’s never going to pay for the higher purchase price. I think I’d rather emnjoy driving something with an I6 in it (admittedly I don’t do many k and it’s all open road so YMMV). F series 330e doesn’t come as a wagon so that option is out
  14. balancerider

    F11 v E61

    balancerider replied to Apex's topic in Want to buy

    Wouldn’t rule out a diesel as long as the car will get some decent running (and you can find a 530/535d). 580nm of torque is very nice for shifting 1800kg of wagon. Air suspension liable to need replacement at the age the f11 is now. Expensive options (adaptive suspension / lights / soft close doors) will be expensive to fix if they fail. There is a nice looking 535i LCI in Christchurch but a bit over your budget. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/535i/listing/4391340312
  15. balancerider
    @TulleAll the BMW diamond cut wheels do this. I'm going to get mine powder coated.
  16. balancerider
    @Vass Snap!
  17. balancerider
    This looks an honest car. Pretty tempting at mid 20’s https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/325i/listing/4406638080
  18. balancerider
    Love this - looks OEM for the standard NZ plate (which always looks odd mounted on the euro plinth) and no extra spend required.
  19. balancerider
    Barn find @Gaz? 2013 rego card in the window.
  20. balancerider
    No pics but the tanzanite blue M3 Touring at Continental BMW looks lovely. Also spotted a German plated estate on SH2 in full prototype camo - first two letters of plate were HN so speculating it might be the new Audi A4 B10 Avant
  21. balancerider
    No one said running BMW's is cheap @TermiPeteNZ but looks like you're onto replacing things you've already replaced on the X5?? Time to cut losses?
  22. balancerider
    The e87’s have xenons and parking sensors at least @Driftit…feels like a steering wheel was an option on the early nz new e9x’s!
  23. balancerider
    @leonf - there was a low km one here owned by @NZ_InFerno ex-Singapore but I think it had quite a lot of issues. I'd say <10 total in NZ. Any others are probably ex-UK though
  24. balancerider
    Interesting that both the Chch and Hamilton dealer demo G81’s were on trade me <24h before being taken down (both at rrp) so clearly the demand is there. I love the idea of an M touring but think I’d take an Alpina B3 instead
  25. balancerider
    Any recommendations for wheel refurbishment in Wellington? I have diamond cut finish (Style 442) wheels and want to get them done in the factory single colour below. Presumably powder coated?
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