Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

So a E61 520d with 185k miles on the clock is a bad idea? Haven't seen it in person, but from the listing it seems to be a well looked after car + it's had most of the classic problems fixed (rear wiper, compressor for self levelling, cable through hatch, etc)

On a w124 it wouldn't be any problems at all if well looked after

Go and have a look and see what needs doing.

If it was something easy it would have been done. Can go with you and take a look.

Look at the mechanicals. Does the engine have good compression?

No idea how to check that. If I was still interested after a test drive I'd take it to a bmw garage for a check, that'd be a well worth investment I think

Seller says it last run in February this year, and has admitted the brakes will need sorting but hasn't mentioned the underside yet, still waiting to hear back.

Having been supposedly dry stored since '88 I'm almost tempted to take the risk on the underside if I can get it for £1,500 delivered but he's said 'the gearbox selector needs setting up' which does worry me. Hopefully there's an important distinction between 'gearbox' and 'gearbox selector'.

Totally agree about the approach to MOT's doing the minimum to pass.

Yup, behind the little dark windows. Oopsie. How bad?

That's the thing, the window was in the side of the van, not in the rear doors, but it was parked parallel to the road, so either they were "shooting" through the windscreen, or it was a van with high-viz stripes on the rear doors that was nothing to do with speed-enforcement.

Or the camera was on the roof, or something. I'm not going to know until the whatever it is, 14 days? Is up.

Could be ANPR for Tax/Insurance

Is it manual or auto? Self levelling warning came on this morning cry cry...

Thanks, took a look and showing last MOT was 2007 with 63k showing on the clock. Advisories then were:

• Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
  
• Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)
  
• Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
  
• n/s/r tyre perished
  
• Slight play at n/s and o/s/r hubs
  
• All brake pipes and flexi's heavily greased
  

No text on the van at all (as far as I could see, anyway), definitely no "Police".

Auto

Self levelling worries me just as much as it does on the merc. I think the Touring's came without self levelling as well though?

Anyone know a place I can get my BMW 2002ti restored?

I was in the Porsche, I was doing ~80 mph in a 60 (just completed an overtake) on the A272, so points and a fine rather than a ban, if it was a speed camera van (I would think).

See if it's had the box fluid changed, I think it's another 'sealed for life' thing that isn't really and should be serviced.

I'm not sure about the suspension, this has 'Sports Suspension Settings' and 'Dynamic Drive' but I'm not sure what that changes from standard.

Use this https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Login/Index then this http://bimmer.work/ to find the VIN and decode it (if you have the reg) - you get a full options list then and can have hours of fun decoding what exactly BMW means by things like '877 Deletion Cross-over Operation'.

Well, whatever will be will be.

Jaymic are pretty well regarded I believe

@BRM and myself run a great service from his council lockup.

Nice one, thank you.

This though, very tempting: https://www.blocket.se/kalmar/Bmw_525_72766160.htm?sa=1

It has some early signs of rust though, which means it'll look shit after a year or two of road salts and outside parking...

ha!

last MOT was 2007

Leave it.

You'll get a reasonable running one for £4k or so and the bill for getting one recommissioned after 10 years WILL be huge. Probably loads more than £4k, perhaps nearer double that.

All the seals will have gone hard and need replacing, all the brakes will need rebuilding, the fuel tanks and lines are likely to have corroded and/or gummed up, the tyres will be hard and probably square unless it's been on stands. It'll basically want totally mechanically restoring.

There's a reason he's keen to deliver it for £1500.

^zackly

I bought a car that had been restored, then laid up for 13 years. It was at least 12 months of pain. Rubber perishes (brakes and fuel lines), plastic goes brittle (switches etc) and electrical problems willy nilly. Then a head gasket. Bleurgh.

How much am I looking at to remap the subaru? Not looking for mad gains just wanna make sure it fuels right after the new filter element and exhaust.

Download romraider and do it yourself :)
What's the worst that could happen.