tmase

Looks hot, M-Pars really set it off!

I had my mechanic take a look at the front suspension while it was up on the hoist as I was worried about the thrust arm bushes wearing but he reckoned they were okay. Sounds like I might have to take to a place that really knows what they are doing. Like the bulk of customers I don't know a whole heap about this sort of thing but I would expect the people doing the job to. You get what you pay for it seems!

Cool, I'll have a look tomorrow.

Cheers Ron. Car is factory standard, but does have M Sport Suspension II from the factory. I am not sure but this could be a lower ride height than the standard.

Cheers Alan I think I'll take it back to the same place and see what they say about it. But regardless I'll have to get another alignment if I am going to save the tyres, probably still got 4-5 mm worth of tread.

A few months ago I had a new set of rear tyres fitted and a wheel alignment completed. About 3000 kilometres later a had a service and it was noted that the inside shoulders of the front wheels were getting very worn and that it should have a wheel alignment. Thinking this was a bit odd, as the front tyres were wearing evenly when I had the rear ones changed I dug up the alignment sheet. It looks like the tyre place has entered my car into the system as an 8 cylinder (535i/540i) rather than the 6 cylinder (530i) that it actually is. I am wondering that since the steering is different between 6 and 8 cylinder E39s (rack and pinion vs. recirculating ball) that the wheel geometry may vary as well. As you can see there was really very little adjustment required for the wheel alignment though I thought the alignment would be out as the roads in Christchurch are pretty rough at the moment. Is it possible that the alignment was not done correctly (8 cyl. vs 6cyl) and that this could have contributed to the uneven tyre wear or is it unrelated? I keep a reasonably close eye on my tyre pressures and the front tyres are Goodyear Eagle F1s.

I got my Vanos O-rings replaced the other day. Done about 300 kilometres of city driving since then which is about the minimum recommended to bed them in. I wouldn't say the before and after difference was night and day but I reckon I can feel a bit more mid range urgency from around 3000 RPM. Doesn't seem to have made much of difference lower down the rev range. That's just what I feel, I haven't done a before and after dyno or anything but I am sure someone has somewhere. This is in an M54 but I guess you'd get similar results in an M52. I actually got mine done more to see if it would eliminate a slightly rough idle when the engine is cold (less than 15 degrees ambient) that lasts for about two minutes, but it doesn't seem to done much to that. The other benefit touted was better fuel consumption but I haven't done enough driving to see if there has been a difference there. I think the idea that they can fix the rough cold idle might only be limited to the M52TU engine. With more driving I might see better results, but unfortunately I am away with work so I haven't been doing any. I'll keep you posted with any other observations when I get back.

My missus won't drive an automatic and she's a menace!

Sure is impressive, there is a small write up on Stuff - http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8014632/Ne...plenty-of-growl. Before I even read it I thought it looks a lot like an E-Series HSV, guess I am not the only one

My company use a document called a Carnet de passage to avoid customs charges when we import and export specialist equipment between NZ and Australia on a temporary basis. They can be valid for up to a year. Your local chamber of commerce is usually where you'd get one issued.

Interested in a set myself. No error codes or strobing so far?

Standard wheels, Style 48s I think. Personalised plate starts with CC, car is black. Lots of fake M5s in Christchurch, see a green one with Style 65 reps and not much else on Hagley Park opposite Hagley community college most days too.

My E39 has an M-sport kit http://www.bmwvin.com/?vin=CK18153 and it has enough M-Badging on the car, door sills, steering wheel, wheels for people to know that it's got the kit. Quite like the fact that it just says 530i on the boot lid, was an import so I guess they don't rebadge as part of the pre-delivery inspection in Japan. Doesn't bother me to much what you've got on the back so long as it is accurate. Guy across the street from me has four fake exhaust tips and an M5 badge on his bog standard 520i Executive, looks a bit naff. Was wondering why a lot of newer cars had just an M badge on the back. Cheers Greg

Good stuff! I've always liked the sound of a 325ti manual! Just out of interest would you have been able to get an M54B30 in there?

Hadn't thought of that!

Everyone breaks the damn things! I have bought stuff off this seller in the past. His Int'l postage rate is very cheap and I've never had a problem with anything he's sold me. Might as well take advantage of the high Kiwi dollar. http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E39-OEM-M5-CUP...=item2a0e19d7e9 http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E39-NEW-FRONT-...=item518e0b6bcd Rear ones are normally more expensive and harder to track down.

You mean: The brown plastic in the interior is not to my taste, especially that steering wheel, and the front of the body kit really doesn't look like it matches. Not the worst looking 7 series out there though, there is always this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-531362501.htm if you are into Black E65s

I'm no expert but I think you are probably right, your antenna could be gone. The fact that the almanac data is available just gives the GPS receiver an idea of where in the sky to start looking for satellites and which satellites to look for so that you get a fix much faster and don't have to scan the whole visible sky. If your position is way out or the almanac data is old, like more than six months old, it will be pretty useless, so the unit won't know where to start looking so a fix could take a long time to acquire, ten to fifteen minutes in some cases, maybe even longer. I can't remember all the theory with pseudo-random code and the like that GPS uses but the signal strength is crazy weak, actually weaker then the background noise levels so it probably wouldn't take much interference to stop it receiving correct positioning data. The troubleshooting document is for the MKII, not sure if all the figures remain the same for the MkIV that you have. BTW E39 530d touring - cool car! Tell me it's an M-Sport one!

Raxworthy European on Wrights Road behind Addington Racecourse do all the late model European stuff, they are the approved Audi repairers and they have done work on my E39 when it was newer. Probably pretty pricey though, linky! BTW nice Ferrari!

Wow, that looks awesome!

Suppose I'll be a pain in the ass and add mine to the list! 2002 E39 530i MSport Sedan Titansilber edit - Added

Oh come now, the fuel consumption is not that bad! http://www.fuelly.com/car/chevrolet/suburban%202500

Trying to decipher some of his feedback comments that he's made on his bad trades, Google translate can't work them out. I'd be wary

Did you put a Dynavin in?

Your remote key is probably IR as opposed to RF, so has exceptionally crappy range. One car length is about all it's good for and you have to aim directly at the clowns nose thing on the underside of the rear view mirror.