tmase

Nice, I have pretty much an identical one, except metallic interior trim and no wind deflector things round the windows. Bonus to have an NZ sat unit installed, is it a Mk 4 or aftermarket?

Bought the wagon sibling, a T5 V50 for my missus a few months back. Nice cars, she's very happy with it. Hope you have a good run with it, mine hasn't given me any trouble at all but the turbo 5 is a touch thirsty round town, I'd say the n/a ones are probably a heap better on fuel. Good deal at 3.5k, paid 10k for mine!

I saw this today, graphically very impressive

Got done at 111 km/h 15 kms out of Waiouru on the Desert road driving the missus's Volvo back from Auckland to Christchurch after I bought it a few weeks ago by a cop who turned out to be my brother-in-laws school buddy! Wore the fine, my first in since a camera got me at 61km/h in 2003. Luckily was aware of the Sanson and Wellington motorway cameras so missed those. Luckily it sounds like you missed the inter-island ferry disruptions, what with the Aratere missing a propeller now, it sounds like there could be some delays for those of us who are bringing vehicles South.

+1

Probably the dealer if you need one ASAP, but I doubt it'll be all the cheap there.

In behind the dash, you can reach it from the drivers foot well if you remove some trim. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143393 should help, just remember you have a RHD car not a LHD one

Final stage resistor unit, very common, luckily it's not too hard to replace. Ray at Hell BM might be able to sort you a replacement. I've changed two in my E39 in the past.

Saw the same one up at Church Corner on Monday afternoon, was unusual enough that I snapped a couple of quick, rather rubbish cell phone pics.

This thing: I've owned it since I was 17, still do, and hate it. 12 years and 80,000 kms has done nothing to forge any sort of bond with this car, it is an appliance, nothing more. To give it it's due it's cost me virtually nothing in unscheduled maintenance and has never left me stranded, a claim I cannot make of my beloved E39!

As a follow up, the module returned from the repairers yesterday and I got round to installing it again tonight.... and it's all go! Very pleased with the result and would be happy to recommend Anything Electronic in Nelson.

Thanks for the info. I checked and cleaned the wheel speed sensors in the beginning to see if that fix the issue as that was the code that was initially shown. Haven't tried the relays but will look into it now. The module is off back to the repairers for a second look tomorrow.

Don't think the repairer was able to clear to clear the codes on the bench as they have asked me to test the unit in the vehicle. I guess mine is toast, but I will see if the repairer has any ideas tomorrow, and they do guarantee their work.

Just got the module back from repair today, have just reinstalled it and have problems . Vehicle now goes into Trans. Failsafe Prog with the refurbed module installed, but the fault goes when the module is disconnected, ABS ASC lights still on too. Also I can't get my laptop to connect to the vehicle with the module installed to read any codes, just times out, and won't connect, but again it'll connect fine when the ABS module is disconnected. This is the same module as I sent away so it shouldn't need recoding, so I am guessing the there is an issue with the ABS module again. Does anyone have any ideas before I ring the electrical group that did the work in the morning?

I've been getting an intermittent ASC/ABS fault that renders my speedo inoperative as well. When I hooked up the laptop INPA was showing an left rear wheel speed sensor error. I have a replacement sensor to fit, but no time to do so as yet. After doing further research it seems it might be poor electrical connections in the ABS module causing the issue, engine heat can cause soldered joints to pull apart as the vehicle heats up, and then contract and reconnect when it cools overnight apparently. This can simulate the wheel sensor fault, among others, or so I have read. Does anyone have any recommendations or even know of companies that complete repairs on these units in New Zealand? There seem to be places in the states that do this work but I'd rather not have to send the unit overseas. I think it's the Bosch 5.7 unit if that makes any difference.

Saw this yesterday Can't see how they haven't run into more things with all the crap on the dashboard, also nicely parked in a near empty lot.

Lost the speedo, ASC and ABS, diagnosed (hopefully) a rear wheel sensor, removed, cleaned and refitted both sensors. Still not fixed, looked into replacing the wheel sensor, so hopefully it's that and not the ABS module.

The SIV import thread was here - http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....+vehicle+import

Should be able to with the key, at least that was the case when I flattened my E39 battery due to being away for 2 months

I bought a Bluetooth ULF retrofit kit from Bimmernav last year for my E39. Install was very simple, and I am not very technical! The hardest part was mounting the ULF bracket behind the CD changer in the boot, the rest was plug and play, no cutting or soldering wires. I exchanged a few emails with the Bimmernav and they made up a kit that fitted my car. Japanese import E39s have a couple of odd connectors in the JBIT phone system that required an adapter. Not sure if your car is imported. I think most E39s were prewired for phones from around mid 98, but not sure about that. Not the cheapest way, but they were very helpful and good communicators. There are several different ULF generations as well, and it pays to get a later one. Apparently the early ones were not that great so it pays to know which part numbers to buy from if you go the Ebay route. You might want to check under the parcel shelf in the boot or inside the armrest for a BT antenna as you will need one of these as well if you DIY. Later ULFs also come with the SES (Voice recognition module) included as well. ULF Generations Haven't seen a steering wheel mounted pairing button before, normally it's on the armrest tray, some people retrofit them to the boot, or you can use Navcoder to do your pairing and dispense with a pairing button altogether. My roof aerial doesn't do anything, it is only for the orginal hard mounted car phone or if you have a snap in armrest adapter for one of the few supported mobile handsets. I have a 13th generation ULF which works well. It would read SMS from my old Sony Ericsson phone but strangely not from my S3. Sorry I don't know much about MID screens so can't help you there.

When my FSU failed, this has happened twice, it caused all kinds of weird fan speed problems. Some days it would work, other days it wouldn't. I have heard of fans continuing to run when the ignition was switched off too, though this didn't happen to me. Didn't lose power to the HVAC console though.

Pleased to hear it! Useful website too!

The BP in Halswell stopped selling it about 6 months ago, they told me that BP Rolleston was my best bet for that side of town, and it's miles away. Think the BP on Papanui Road has stopped selling it to. The Mobil on Hagley Park doesn't even sell 95 now.

Came home from 2 months overseas yesterday to dead battery, got a new one, the original was still in there from 11 years ago. Drove in the garage today and was greeted by a hissing, cracked, and pretty much empty expansion tank and a trail of coolant down the drive. High OBD hadn't flashed up the Low Coolant Level warning and the temp was still normal so hopefully no engine damage, fingers crossed. Tow truck booked for tomorrow morning. Damn, was looking forward to making a bit of a road trip this week!

+1 Kevin Burt, I had him install the Beisan Seal kit on my M54 as well as all my other servicing. Didn't have to do the rattle fix though. Not the cheapest around but I've found they're professional and knowledgeable. Can be busy so book ahead.