tmase

Pilot for a geophysical survey company. I fly planes full of sensors down low, scaring birds out of trees looking for stuff underground for mining companies. Travel a lot, mostly to Australia.

I have a PPL and well on the way to a CPL, so if anyone wants a personal Charter pilot for their C172/DA42 I can help you out

CTC? I have to ferry a Diesel DA42 across from Australia in July - not looking forward to spending 9 hours over the Tasman in winter. Had an engine stop on you yet?

Each to their own but I don't like it. Not sure the mesh alone would give it 'nightmare' status though. Some of those things on that page make me want to scratch my eyes out!

Back end reminds me more of a Lotus

26515

id like to see him roll it into the local dealership with an error code or something

+1 on a facelift E39 530i - love mine, great all rounded!

It's been listed before, and discussed here. Interesting that the previous listing mentions that it was owner serviced but now it has a full dealer service history.

Now listed at $21,900 ono - grab yourself a bargain - you know you want to!

Slim odds that there'd be two black ones around the Wellington region. Condition might explain the lack of pics especially the interior.

This link from Trade Me popped into my inbox this morning - though people might be interested. If the 6 speed manual is factory new, and combined with the Schnitzer treatment would make it a pretty rare car in NZ.

Machine learning for font recognition has pretty advanced, the automated postal sorting systems have been using it for some time. Different number plate fonts would be no issue. In Queensland, W.A. and I am sure other states there are differences in the fonts of state issued plates, some vanity plates have different lettering and spacings and they have introduced automated licence plate readers in police cars a while back.

Pleased to here that you are back on the road. Hope it doesn't give you any more drama!

Read somewhere ages ago about people using vinyl wrap to redo their interior trim and cover over woodgrain, have a funny feeling it was on an E46 forum in the states. From memory results were better than you'd think. Might be an option for you.

I have a MKIV GPS and you can access a service mode which gives you satellite data, number of sats, signal strength, almanac info.

If you have a 4:3 screen you might have a MKII nav system, I am not 100% sure but I think you can access a service mode there too;

This from M5board.com -

1. Service mode menu

If you have a MK2 Nav System (female voice), you can bring up a Service Mode Menu as following:

* Set ignition to pos. II

* go to "settings"

* push the MENU button for at least 20 s

The service menu has some TV, GPS Data and telematik options and info. For example it's possible to get GPS satellite status and your lat, long, altitude, speed and heading.

Hopefully this will tell you what satellites you are receiving and could give you an indication as to whether or not your GPS antenna is working properly.

Could be wrong but I think the 16:9 screen nav systems are Mk. III or Mk. IV

as soon as you tick the "modified" column, combined with age etc, its a b*tch. My excess is 50% of the insured value. Technically, your BBS' are factory so just run with that. Just set your value at 2500 or something

Might as well have third party only then. No way any insurance company is going to replace BBS wheels if they aren't listed.

AA Insurance were about the best deal when I was shopping around, they were pretty good when my A4 was rear ended and written off the day after I bought it. Paid out the full agreed amount within a few days, refunded the excess inside in of 24 hours, and refunded the premium. On the other hand they declined an OEM windscreen under their glass policy. State were about twice the premium, I don't know why anyone uses them.

Wonder what state the interior is in? ugh not my cup of tea at all!

Done a few kays, could be in for cooling system replacement if the diesels are anything like the petrols. Bit of a rarity as an E39 a diesel M-sport, how easy would another engine be to track down? Might be worth a bit parted out if you could be bothered.

$60 is OK.

For not much more, you can buy software to do it.

Either carsoft type stuff, or an OBDII cable and adapter to the big round socket (if you need it) from eBay - search for cable-shack - he did mine, I think it was about $75 shipped??? You'd need a latop with about 30Gigs free, and several hours to set it up. Not too tricky if you're puter savvy.

Cable and software

Just ordered one! Had a plug and software that a mate bought off ebay from China for his E90 and couldn't get it to work, software ran on a VMWare virtual machine, the plug was only for 9 pin serial (RS-232) and wouldn't work with a USB/Serial adapter. He gave it to me and I couldn't get it to work at all, was going to buy an old laptop off trade me that had a serial port for a hundy but this was much easier. Put an offer in for 20.01 GBP and got the whole thing including shipping for 25 quid!

Im dissapointed the VW vert didnt flip like the rest of them

Bet the people in it weren't!

wee'd my pants a little

Most will try and sell you whatever brand they sell the most of and slander whatever brand it is you actually want stating their brand is heaps better because Mad Mike uses them on his Drift RX7. Is majorly confusing even if you do know a little bit about tyres.

Exactly - When I was looking for tyres recently I had one guy down here in Christchurch who was trying to sell some one particular tyre because the NZ Drift champ uses them. I couldn't see the relationship between a 1200 kg sports coupe and a 1700 kg sedan and nor could he really explain why it'd be relevant to what I was looking for. Finding tyres confused the crap outta me.

Have BMW withdrawn the rights for PPlates to use their branding. I don't see it on the europlates list, though I thought you used to be able to get it. Wonder what it cost BMW NZ to reserve the whole BMW XXX series a few years back?

Any good BMW mechanics in Chch?

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience

I use Kevin Burt Ltd on St Asaph St. He specialises in Mercedes, BMW and Audi servicing. I found his team extremely friendly and knowledgeable and would recommend him highly. He did my pre-purchase inspection and first service on my E39. He has all the diagnostics gear and am sure could help.