New Member, Ex-Saffa

[viskop]

Hey everyone,

My name is Charl, originally from Cape Town. No longer living in South Africa, though.

When I moved to Pretoria in 1995, I sold my house in Cape Town and bought my first BMW...an E30 325iS, 4-door. A couple of years later I itched for an E36, so sold my E30 for R15 000-00 (yes, R15 000 Rand! - I still want to kick myself to this day for selling it) and then bought a 1993 E36 325i. That car was stolen and I then bought a 1998 E36 328i. What a car that was. I then sold it to a dealer before my family and I left South Africa.

Been out of SA for nearly 10 years and still miss SA every single day. The cars here are poor quality, even though I have owned 4 BMWs at one stage. A 1996 E36 318iS, a 1996 E36 328i, a 1995 E36 328i Motorsport and a 2005 E46 330i. Even though I loved the E46 330i, I still prefer the 1995 E36 328i Motorsport above all the other BMWs I have owned here in our new country, but I sold the Motorsport 2 days ago for around R42 000-00. It had 158000km on the clock and is an automatic. Pics to follow. I also sold the 330i a year ago for around R85 000-00 and it only had 111000km on the clock.

I also sold the other BMWs and bought a 1996 E36 328i for R29 000-00, and it has 127000km on the clock, automatic. Currently this BMW is having an operation and getting a ZF manual conversion with a competition clutch kit. Here is a pic of my (now sold) E36 328i Motorsport. Will see if I can upload pics of my other Beemers I owned.

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My 2005 330i, sold a year ago. This pic was taken at my son's place of work - he works at a car dealership, where he groomed the Beemer before it was taken over by the new owner.

 

[Tjoppies]

wow - good story!

where and why did you move ?

 

[viskop]

My 1996 318iS, also sold a year ago.

 

[tman]

Great intro post, welcome!

You didnt mention where you live now? I cant seem to make out from the numberplate, it looks like Russian on the E46?

Another question, how did you utilize 3 E36's and a E46 all at the same time? Reason I am asking, you see a lot of guys with weekend cars, that usually very different to their daily drives. In your case all 4 cars are more or less the same? Keen to hear the reasoning and the story behind it!

 

[viskop]

wow - good story!

where and why did you move ?

Moved to NZ, because my family and I were victims of crime many times, with the last straw was when my wife was nearly killed and my (then 10 year old) son was held at knife point. If the crime in SA drastically reduces, we'll be back on the 1st plane!! That's how much we miss SA. NZ is not the "greener grass on the other side".

 

[ChefDJ]

That's not Russian, it's CND40 :=):


Welcome to the forum. Where are you based now?

 

[viskop]

Great intro post, welcome!

You didnt mention where you live now? I cant seem to make out from the numberplate, it looks like Russian on the E46?

Another question, how did you utilize 3 E36's and a E46 all at the same time? Reason I am asking, you see a lot of guys with weekend cars, that usually very different to their daily drives. In your case all 4 cars are more or less the same? Keen to hear the reasoning and the story behind it!

We now live in NZ (grass is NOT greener on the other side), and would love to move back to SA. Reason why I had 4 Beemers, is because cars here are cheap, but quality is crap as majority of cars here are "Jap crap" as the Kiwis call it here. Japanese imports = poor quality assembled, etc. That's about the only reason why I had, or could have 4 Beemers. And I love BMWs....just love them, or most of them.

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That's not Russian, it's CND40 :=):


Welcome to the forum. Where are you based now?

Thanks, we're now living in the land of the All Blacks, but will come back home immediately, if the crime drastically reduces in SA. We actually hate it here...but life goes on.

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You all have a great day, we're off to bed now! Alles van die beste. (Yes, we can still speak Afrikaans, hahaha).

 

[tman]

Great intro post, welcome!

You didnt mention where you live now? I cant seem to make out from the numberplate, it looks like Russian on the E46?

Another question, how did you utilize 3 E36's and a E46 all at the same time? Reason I am asking, you see a lot of guys with weekend cars, that usually very different to their daily drives. In your case all 4 cars are more or less the same? Keen to hear the reasoning and the story behind it!

We now live in NZ (grass is NOT greener on the other side), and would love to move back to SA. Reason why I had 4 Beemers, is because cars here are cheap, but quality is crap as majority of cars here are "Jap crap" as the Kiwis call it here. Japanese imports = poor quality assembled, etc. That's about the only reason why I had, or could have 4 Beemers. And I love BMWs....just love them, or most of them.

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Its interesting that you mention the grass isn't always greener. The company I work for has an immigration branch, and I can tell you that South Africans are still flocking to AUS & NZ like you can not believe.

It seems like you are not too happy in NZ, do you mind to share some more details in your experience? ie, quality of life, whats great, whats not so great etc?

I am sure a lot of forumites would like to get details from someone actually living there!

In terms of the crime here in SA, its certainly not getting better any time soon!

 

[///Avi]

Wow what a selection of Bimmers. Welcome to the forum. :clapper:

Would the type of lifestyle in NZ be similar to Australia? I have family over in Aus and they really do love it, they wouldn't think of coming back.

 

[Nick]

Ya, no dont come back yet. Sh1ts about to go down here.


Welcome to the Forum!

 

[Dirtydeedsman]

Hey everyone,

....I sold my house in Cape Town and bought my first BMW...an E30 325iS, 4-door...

This is what I call civilized behavior. Because you sleep in your car and drive to work but you can't drive your house :roflol:

Enough trolling, You have had some nice machines and that e46 looks amazing hope the new owner is taking good care of it.

Welcome

 

[Nick]

Great intro post, welcome!

You didnt mention where you live now? I cant seem to make out from the numberplate, it looks like Russian on the E46?

Another question, how did you utilize 3 E36's and a E46 all at the same time? Reason I am asking, you see a lot of guys with weekend cars, that usually very different to their daily drives. In your case all 4 cars are more or less the same? Keen to hear the reasoning and the story behind it!

We now live in NZ (grass is NOT greener on the other side), and would love to move back to SA. Reason why I had 4 Beemers, is because cars here are cheap, but quality is crap as majority of cars here are "Jap crap" as the Kiwis call it here. Japanese imports = poor quality assembled, etc. That's about the only reason why I had, or could have 4 Beemers. And I love BMWs....just love them, or most of them.

---

Its interesting that you mention the grass isn't always greener. The company I work for has an immigration branch, and I can tell you that South Africans are still flocking to AUS & NZ like you can not believe.

It seems like you are not too happy in NZ, do you mind to share some more details in your experience? ie, quality of life, whats great, whats not so great etc?

I am sure a lot of forumites would like to get details from someone actually living there!

In terms of the crime here in SA, its certainly not getting better any time soon!

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This ^^

 

[WIDEOPN-X5]

I went to a presentation on emigrating to New Zealand on Friday morning. There were 40 people there and Hilton is a sleepy village....

With the way this clown show government is going, the desire for people (with the means to do so) will only continue to increase. The reality is however that the doors won't be open forever. The lady doing the presentation stressed that already the requirements are much tighter and in June this year she believes there will be further tightening.

The reason is the masses of refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East for one and of course then the people seeking a country that is stable economically, doesn't have a government full of self entitled VVIP and people with delusions of grandeur who have clearly forgotten that people in government are CIVIL SERVANTS ie SERVANTS of the PEOPLE and answerable to those people who elected them......

APOLOGIES for the hijack.


Welcome to the looney bin here OP :rollsmile::rollsmile::roflol::roflol:

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wow - good story!

where and why did you move ?

Moved to NZ, because my family and I were victims of crime many times, with the last straw was when my wife was nearly killed and my (then 10 year old) son was held at knife point. If the crime in SA drastically reduces, we'll be back on the 1st plane!! That's how much we miss SA. NZ is not the "greener grass on the other side".

The grass is most certainly greener in New Zealand........its always pissing with rain:roflol::roflol::roflol:

 

[SMN325]

Welcome and great intro

 

[Jeremy.d]

Cool Story, great cars.... One Problem: Where did you find an e30 325is with 4 doors?:skit:

 

[viskop]

Its interesting that you mention the grass isn't always greener. The company I work for has an immigration branch, and I can tell you that South Africans are still flocking to AUS & NZ like you can not believe.

It seems like you are not too happy in NZ, do you mind to share some more details in your experience? ie, quality of life, whats great, whats not so great etc?

I am sure a lot of forumites would like to get details from someone actually living there!

In terms of the crime here in SA, its certainly not getting better any time soon!
[/quote]

Sorry for late reply, but I am on-call and have been working many late nights till around 2am, then had to be back at work 7am. So not much sleep. A few bad things about NZ - WORK comes 1st! Houses here are build with cardboard and they are crazy expensive. Cheapest pondok in Auckland is around R8 million! NZ house prices are the 2nd most expensive in the world.

No pay increase, or very very seldom one will get a pay increase, and only a few dollars. Our staff have had no pay increases for around 7 years, yet our CEO got a "small" bonus last year of around R8.5 million!!
Basic living cost is very very high. the saying here is "You don't come to NZ to get rich or for the weather". And in nearly 10 years in NZ we only had 3 summers. Rest of the time it is 100 times worse than Cape Town's winters...with wind and rain and cold. This past summer (Dec 2016 to Feb 2017) we only had around 10 days of sun. As for AUS - they get like SA, a lot more sun and nice summers.

And as in SA, criminals here have more rights than law-abiding citizens. And here little 12 yr old kids can tell u straight to your face to f-off, and you can do nothing about it. Kids here have no respect, no manners.

The only good thing about NZ is that the crime here is a little less. That is about it. Also, we don't socialise here with other white SA people (and yes, we are white!). Reason why is most white Saffas still look down on you (on us) cause we don't live in a flashy neighbourhood, or drive a flashy car, and most of them are still very stuckup when they come to NZ! Our only other friends here are a few Coloured and Black families from SA and we kuier lekker together. We also have a few Samoan friends.

Many Kiwis (including the Maoris) don't like the SA people, cause they say we steal their jobs, but they are a lazy bunch and we get told many times to "go back to your country!". Anyhow, enough said. I will end with this - there is NO place like SA!! Peace.

---

I went to a presentation on emigrating to New Zealand on Friday morning. There were 40 people there and Hilton is a sleepy village....

With the way this clown show government is going, the desire for people (with the means to do so) will only continue to increase. The reality is however that the doors won't be open forever. The lady doing the presentation stressed that already the requirements are much tighter and in June this year she believes there will be further tightening.

The reason is the masses of refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East for one and of course then the people seeking a country that is stable economically, doesn't have a government full of self entitled VVIP and people with delusions of grandeur who have clearly forgotten that people in government are CIVIL SERVANTS ie SERVANTS of the PEOPLE and answerable to those people who elected them......

APOLOGIES for the hijack.


Welcome to the looney bin here OP :rollsmile::rollsmile::roflol::roflol:

---

The grass is most certainly greener in New Zealand........its always pissing with rain:roflol::roflol::roflol:

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Yes, it is mostly raining here, and cold. That is why the suicide rate here is so high. As for migrating to NZ, jobs here are very very very scares. And there is a shortage of houses here as well. Many houses, even newly build, are mouldy and damp, and especially kids and older people get very sick from the damp/mouldy houses and wet climate here. As for the refugees...I feel sorry for some of them, but most of the "refugees" are young men and they mostly wear branded clothing. And when they come here, they are all treated like royalty and they are given best houses for free to live in, yet there are not enough houses for NZ's own citizens (Kiwis/Maoris). Many "refugees" here are now "running" (in charge of) the streets and even the Kiwis here are fearing for their lives as many of the "refugees" are violent towards everyone here (and the Police are sissies).

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Cool Story, great cars.... One Problem: Where did you find an e30 325is with 4 doors?:skit:

Thanks! Can't remember where I got the 4-door 325iS - toooooo long ago. It was a very, very rear find back then.

 

[sash]

Thanks! Can't remember where I got the 4-door 325iS - toooooo long ago. It was a very, very rear find back then.

I think he meant where you found it, because it was 2 door car.....

 

[Hugo_za]

Great intro mate. Sorry to hear that you are not enjoying it here. We are fast approaching our 1 year anniversary in Auckland and we love it. I can honestly say that we have had zero problems with people being rude or with any crime. I think everyone has a different idea of what "greener on the other side" means, and I firmly believe that mindset has a great deal to do with it also. It's a matter of perspective.

 

[Jeremy.d]

Thanks! Can't remember where I got the 4-door 325iS - toooooo long ago. It was a very, very rear find back then.

I think he meant where you found it, because it was 2 door car.....

Thats exactly what i meant. It sounds to me like our new friend was unfortunate enough to be victim of an old school conman back in the day. :cartel:

 

[r0ckf1re]

This car looks great.

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My 1996 318iS, also sold a year ago.

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