ThreeOneEight

Loving, and driving into the side of his garage. You'd think a multimillionaire could manage a new wing mirror!

I disagree. It will be purchased by estate agents.

What on earth is cross-contamination? I don't eat fast food personally. Bleached bread just doesn't do it for me.

"The first PAS will be based on the 5-Series and is said to be a more spacious and functional four-door sedan that is lighter and sportier than a station wagon." Ahh, a five door lift-back. How original!

It might just be my eyes, but does the Lexus IS not look an awful lot like a mid 1970s Datsun 120Y Saloon?

Here's top dollar. Wow!

Clean your wheels!

I like having registration plates where the letter prefix matches the age of the car. It makes it easier for me to pretend that it really is still 1990. It also makes it easier to act like you have had the car from new, though that would be pointless for me given that I was four when it was manufactured. I have had awful NZ new and awful Jap import cars, and lovely ones of both too. So it's really down to the individual car. I've never cared much about spec, as long as I have a sunroof and a foot actuated clutch. Mechanical and bodywork condition is the most important part of buying a car.

How many apartments are actually 'doer-uppers' though? The Italian places would be good for holidays, not so much for a small-time NZ based investor. I look after a few investment properties in the Wellington region(no apartments- I like the security of owning the land rather than borrowing a miniscule share of it!) on behalf of my family trust, it's easy to look after things locally, and the bonus is you can decide who rents it off you by meeting them in person. If you really want to be an absentee landlord, it's best to use a property management company. But personally, I'd rather keep things local, at least while it's your first foray into property.

I have one of those stereos at home if anybody really wants one. Nice iS! I'd pay ten, tops. But my dream 'E30' is a Z1.

This reminds me of something an HR department would waste a whole day with by making you discuss it at work.

Nice car... Blacked out rims look much nicer with some form of polished lip to me, though. Perhaps a future upgrade? We don't have warships here, just a rowboat with a few water pistols taped on. But that's ANZUS for you!

Wouldn't a low KMs example with an Automatic gearbox be cheaper to convert to manual, than buying a tired manual one with high kms and having to spend more money on fixing up the engine or replacing it altogther?

Big BMWs always have crap residuals. No one knows why! I guess because S class Mercs have the whole taxi/wedding car/limo thing going for them that the 7's just don't have.

Probably prohibitively expensive Martyn, but send the 7 to a coach-builder and make yourself a one-off 740i Touring!

I like the colour, though it reminds me of those 'funtop' E36 compacts a bit. If those wheels are painted, then I imagine they will look terrible after brake dust/road sh*t etc. Wheels are usually grey-toned for a good reason!

98 from BP. I get 16 cents a litre off from New World shopping so it's pretty reasonable.

Ahh, good choice. That's a 1987. A much more exciting year than 1997. I like the colour, what is it called? (It will say on the black plate on the left hand front suspension turret in your engine bay(in German).

1997 for under $3000, well done. Why so cheap?

And another one Crap photos, but low kms and looks to be NZ new. Good price!

I'm all for keeping the 15"s. But if you must have 17"s, get some with a little dish to them- Alloys with a main surface sitting flush with the rim of the wheel is a very 1990s/early 2000s thing, and just doesn't suit a 1980s BMW to me.

Definitely. The KMs are average for the age- and if it's been in Masterton, I highly doubt it has been stuck in traffic very often, more likely doing long distances (which are much better for the car). The interior looks immaculate- just get a gearknob off one of our many handy parts suppliers before you go and pick it up! The paint also looks excellent, and it comes with service history. A manual 318i is probably a much better car for a 16 year old than a 325i Automatic, too- insurance and gas are not your friend in a 325i.

I'd look at that one in Masterton if I were you. M10 engines are bulletproof, and with a manual it would go decently.

I'd hesitate to say 'bargain'- it's not worth that. There was a very tidy NZ new 325i manual for sale on TradeMe a few weeks ago for $4000. I believe the seller was a forum member- To me, it looked worth $4000- the black one honestly does not.

Here's a 325i SE- what it SHOULD have. Note; *Body coloured bumpers, spoiler. *Full velour trim as standard, leather an option *'Basketweave' style wheels- 14 inch standard- this car is on 15 inch which were optional *Colour coded side skirts (smaller than M-Tech 2 skirts) *13 button OBC *Electric windows, Sunroof And a few other nice bits and pieces that I may have missed.