chuckitinbro

I've been using this, seems to work well - http://bimmer.work/

Very nice man, mind me asking where you got it? i've been looking for an e61 for months now and i hadn't seen this one.

Me again, 4months on and still without a wagon. Seen a few good deals come and go. Found my expectations on price are a little lower than what's being asked at the moment in most cases. I'm considering flying up to Auckland and having a look at a few This isn't too bad but I think i'd want to pay closer to 9 for it. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/2806390929?bof=1KgtUF3G This is the same seller. Asked him a few questions and he said that the list price is his bottom dollar. I'd hope to pay around 11 max for it but it is pretty well specced. Not a huge fan of the colour https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/2758084114?bof=yFplG427 Then there's this very nice looking 550i with a busted sunroof. Via text he said he'd go 13500. That's still a bit outside what i want to spend and doesnt leave me anything for repairs. ( I don't overly mind the sunroof not working as long as it doesnt leak. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/2793443844?bof=sZhjcLCt Any thoughts on those ones and the pricing? Or just peoples opinions in general of a 530i/550i touring prices. Ideally after doing more research I'd like an 07 LCI but i can live with an 06 for the right price and condition. I've given up the idea of ever finding a 525,530d or 535d. Does anyone know of something fitting my bill for sale? I've scoured trademe, driven.co.nz, turners and facebook as much as possible. Is there another way to search all car dealers sites/listings? Appreciate any help. whilst i love riding my motorbike sharing 1 car with the wife is wearing thin.

This would be ideal. i just dont know how long im going to have to wait and riding a motorbike in winter isn't always fun

Thanks for the x suggestions but im not after an SUV at all. Towing would be like 2% of the vehicles workload so i'm happy to compromise in that area as long whatever I get can do it safely. Do the valve stem issues occur even with good service history or is it cause by neglect?

Should have added the boat i believe is 1400kg with trailer. Im in Hawkes Bay, furthest i've towed it so far is taupo but possibility of a corromandle trip once a year. Otherwise its only a 5 min trip to the ramp. i was more concerned with having grunt to pull it out of the water up a slippery ramp. Figures seem to be 1800-2000kg braked so its within that. just wanted some personal experience vs figures on a page. Good to note about different towbar types

Im a total n00b when it comes to bmw but here's some background and requirements/wants. Would greatly appreciate advise from those that have owned. For the last 6 years i've had D40 Navara. For the last 2 i've been thinking about getting something nicer to drive but still do most of the tasks i want. I sold the ute a few weeks back so i need to replace it. Requirements: Price range is ideally under 11k Be a a wagon. Have a family that it needs to carry and occasionally dogs in the back. I do a bit of DIY and making things so with roof racks it could carry timber etc. Thats pretty much got me set on an E61 Decent size engine. I have a boat that i don't use as much as i should but need to be able to at least tow it to the ramp and pull it out of the water. I had it narrowed in order of preference to 530d, 550i, 525d. 530d's are apparently like unicorns and hard to find. 525d's arent much easier. There's a few 550i's around in my price. Had a friend look at one in auckland for me and he said it was solid. its had a lot of the common issues resolved and good service history while the guy has owned it. But i have read a few things that those motors can be time bombs. Im prepared for maintenance costs but not equipped for repairs in the thousands. I'm pretty hand DIY and mechanic but not engine internals. Given the rarity of the diesels will a 530i be ok or will it suck completely at towing? Figures say its got 20nm more torque than my navara and double the kw at 200. 535 not available in a wagon it seems unless you go to an F11. Nice to haves: M Sport. They look great but i'd take a non M if it was a good deal Dark interior. I've seen a decent priced F11 535i but it has a cream interior that would get dirty if you looked at it the wrong way. Appreciate peoples thoughts mainly about the e61's engine options related to towing. If the 530 will do it and not suck more than a D40 i can live with it if it means a more reliable engine. Or if im better to hold out for a unicorn white msport 08 530d.

Also i found a lockon towbar on an e60 but the guy says its different than an e61. can anyone confirm if this is the case?

To piggy back off this others that have towbars on the e61 do you just have a module to intergrate the lighting? I saw a UK vid where the guy had a module that also changed the way the auto shifts gears etc when a trailer was connected