New car for PMKeates time

Two Enzos? Such an up market indi is a special case.

It is somewhat unfair on the independents accross the country, there are 3rd party diagnostic computers, but very few are complete enough across lots of models, and OBD2 is just a joke. Those that are complete enough are expensive. The manufacturers computers are available to anyone, but they are ludicrously expensive and only cover the one group. Only suitable for an indi who specialise, like the Alfa workshop. It's the cost of the real examiners and software updates that drive the cost of the 3rd party ones, reverse engineering is required. It's all very well saying adapt, but it means charging closer to stealer prices, which will pu more indis out of business before we're through.

As for the people, the UK still has a problem where failing students get bundled off to college to learn hot to be a mechanic, when it is now one of the hardest skilled labours out there.

No drivel required.
 
I think things like specialists tasks such as programming keys/immobilisers, new equipment, configuring options should be made to follow some standard protocol rather than OEMs allowed to continue making it all proprietary.

It'll never happen though.
 
BigglesPiP said:
It's the same on even a rental spec punto though
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Not really, no.

I would rather be slightly more wealthy between breakdowns than not be interrupted at all by them. But then I am more of a saver than a "creditee".
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Good for you. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of running a £20,000 car, having to spend 500 quid a year on a warranty doesn't really affect your 'wealth'.

6 months after purchase, my parents E60 dropped a £1500 bill.
 
Will Gill said:
mileage?

I'll reserve my judgement and your impending costs till I hear that :p
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Car is on 72k, hence the price. Under the very good BMW AUC warranty for year 1 and will be under comprehensive level BMW insured warranty thereafter. All I really have to worry about is worn suspension. Even then it should be in good condition. These cars run a CBS (Condition Based Servicing) system, and from the oil change intervals in the book I can tell it has been driven very economically and therefore probably quite lightly. Everything else should hold up pretty well or be warrantied!
anticonscience said:
Why so long to pick it up?
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A few reasons. The dealer wanted some time (the car had only just arrived so needs to be prepped, MOT'd etc), I am going to Switzerland towards the end of the month and so can't pick it up the week of the 28th, and I have a significant amount of business expenses from a trip to India outstanding that I would like to use to help pay for the car (and these will be paid to me March 30th).

Ideally both the engine and tranmission will completely fail after 1 month of ownership, be replaced under warranty, and I have a brand new drivetrain for free :D
 
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I suppose it depends on your daily mileage but a guy here had one (m5 now) and he chewed through tyres every 10k, on 19" rims with run flats that became a £1400 every two months habit (with bmw KDS II).

lovely car though (apart from the wood interior), given my exposure to e60's I would be more than happy to recommend them to anybody as they have an engine for every eventuality, power, economy or a happy mixture

they do however come with high running costs, especially if you have a heavy right foot.
 
Will Gill said:
I suppose it depends on your daily mileage but a guy here had one (m5 now) and he chewed through tyres every 10k, on 19" rims with run flats that became a £1400 every two months habit (with bmw KDS II).

lovely car though (apart from the wood interior), given my exposure to e60's I would be more than happy to recommend them to anybody as they have an engine for every eventuality, power, economy or a happy mixture

they do however come with high running costs, especially if you have a heavy right foot.
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Fortunately I am used to dealing with relatively heavy maintenance costs from having a 330i since 19. I was getting through rear tyres at 7/8k intervals back then, but granted they were cheaper. A boon is that my 535d does not have run flats fitted - they are normal tyres, 275 30 19 at the rear. These are currently c. £500 a pair and I've costed replacing them every ~12,500 miles. My driving is almost exclusively motorway and, despite the reputation my driving might have on here, for the vast majority of the time I am reasonably light footed when accelerating - I just cruise at high speed.

I am not usually a wood interior fan, but i think with the cream beige interior it 'works'. The alternatives are not much better, with the silver trim looking especially out of place. The car has quite a luxurious feel to it when you are inside and I think the wood contributes to that.
 
if you get through tyres on a 330 every 7/8k the 535 will get through them every 3/4k :p

its the torqueszzz

having said that, I just got through a set and they lasted 9k and thats on a wimpy 4 pot, same as you thats motorway munching
 
Will Gill said:
if you get through tyres on a 330 every 7/8k the 535 will get through them every 3/4k :p

its the torqueszzz

having said that, I just got through a set and they lasted 9k and thats on a wimpy 4 pot, same as you thats motorway munching
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I'm confused as to how everyone's BMWs are getting through rear tyres so fast. My E90 330i had a set of new 18" bridgestone runflats on the rear which have lasted 8k so far (in varied driving conditions) and barely look worn.

I actually want them to run out so I can replace them with non-RFTs.
 
no idea, at a guess it would be torque related as thats the obvious difference

mine was kdsII'd when they were fitted, just had it re-done and it had three green wheels and one red by 0.3 degrees, wear was totally uniform.

also found a knackered track rod at the same time which saved bmw investigative costs :cool:
 
Will Gill said:
if you get through tyres on a 330 every 7/8k the 535 will get through them every 3/4k :p

its the torqueszzz

having said that, I just got through a set and they lasted 9k and thats on a wimpy 4 pot, same as you thats motorway munching
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It was 7/8k on the 330i when I was 19 and hooning around town in it. Not sure what I'd get from it nowadays. What tyres and car was 9k on the motorway from?
blun said:
I'm confused as to how everyone's BMWs are getting through rear tyres so fast. My E90 330i had a set of new 18" bridgestone runflats on the rear which have lasted 8k so far (in varied driving conditions) and barely look worn.

I actually want them to run out so I can replace them with non-RFTs.
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Depends on the tyre. I tend to run max performance tyres (excluding semi-slick types) and these generally wear out very quickly. What model are your Bridgestones?
 
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