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Ha ha.
Easy.....its french, it has french electrics, it was possibly made in france by a french person, it is exhibiting the same old issue that french cars all to often see at that sort of age.....
....got it yet
Bad ground on the rear light clusters
. Will have a looksie once it returns 
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. Reading on Google is just confusing us all here. As much as I'd hate him to go, I don't want to be the reason he doesn't.
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Any acces to live data on the abs? See what wheel speed is doing on that corner.
Volvo diagnostics are a bit obscure iirc though. Not sure if a generic will work
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Are they similar to the e39 5 Del? Suspension joints, turbo, injectors, hedgehogs, swirl flaps, diesel pumps(x5?)...?So which is it?
Performance = V8
Reality = Diesel
Limited to BMW & Audi as they are about the only to make fast V8 diesels
Think it's been mentioned but dare I say 530/535d. Straight six, economical for its size and limited to 155. Don't know what budget or requirements are though. Trust me, you won't know you are in a diesel.
No idea on maintenance costs though so could be a nightmare.
I like 5s but as you say service costs will be high. Limited DIY base too.
With my decent tools these days, going classic route is valid option. Expensive to fuel, but cheap to service.
Trade BMW parts, cheap stuff, DIY on a 5 Series, easy stuff
. BMW's are no better reliability wise than anything else I've got to say, however the engines are cracking, build quality is good, and they drive like a car should.
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The real issue is that cars are built to emissions standards, not designed for the jobs the actually do...
Plod cars being a case in point... always fully loaded and either idling or flat out. Emission control systems simply can't deal with the randomness. And in a degree of abuse and the cars soon prove what they're made of...V70s and Omegas/Senators being granite, BMWs being toffee
Oh dear! Not for me I'm afraid. Wouldn't mind a blip in an R32 though
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So which is it?
Performance = V8
Reality = Diesel
Limited to BMW & Audi as they are about the only to make fast V8 diesels
Think it's been mentioned but dare I say 530/535d. Straight six, economical for its size and limited to 155. Don't know what budget or requirements are though. Trust me, you won't know you are in a diesel.
No idea on maintenance costs though so could be a nightmare.
I like 5s but as you say service costs will be high. Limited DIY base too.
With my decent tools these days, going classic route is valid option. Expensive to fuel, but cheap to service.
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