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Went on a date.

So after selling the e91 and failing dismally at owning something sensible - common sense prevailed and we flicked the Mazda 6 getting something smaller/newer for Mrs SiW something that would also serve as our commuter car; and leave me a few grand to get something a bit more "me" that I can have a few fun and games with. Come on down a wee NZ new e46 compact that will give me the chance to do a little tinkering (but not a lot), whilst not being completely boring to drive over the hill to Martinborough every month or so. It isn't a minter - but is something I'm confident having a go with doing a few things to (namely some interior trim and stereo updates). I'll get some nicer wheels for it at some stage. But that aside - I'll be refreshing the cooling system and doing something about the (slightly) tired steering. I'll also be getting a dent dude (or dudette) to wave their wand over the roof where someone has been practising their tap dancing. It drives well (for a 200km car), and goes around corners pretty well - but it can of course be better ?

Hi All, Have just found this forum, thought I'd join and say hello. Had my 2008 M3 manual (UK model), for just over a year now. It's my daily drive and I'm very glad to have picked it up. I collected in Christchurch and drove up to Auckland last Dec through Kaikoura (awesome roads), easy car to live with and enjoy it every time I drive it. After a year I'm getting around 14L/100km, mostly motorway driving. Gets more thirsty when booted but I didn't get it for the fuel economy I'm now up to around 153km on the clock and I'm looking at replacing the rod end bearings as preventative maintenance. (Will probably post on this elsewhere for some input). Obligatory pics attached. (Nurb sticker will probably go once I do the bearings and move on to cosmetic stuff -paint touch up, mags tidied etc.) cheers

Does she put out

Hey guys, 2kcup competitor here. I’ve been running the only ever Lancer to compete in 2KCup, but have just picked up an E36 323i that I’m building up for next season. Was an auto, but Ray at HellBM has already done a great job fixing that!

Spare XYZs for the race car

They should have one that will work for you, I bought direct from Dension website. Mine is a gateway 500 something....

Had a clean now - currently offering to watchers for $1500: https://trademe.nz/motors/cars/bmw/328i/listing/1890436777

Awesome thanks for the welcome guys. Car is back in the shop getting some more issues sorted but should be good to go soon and hopefully I will make it too some of these events. ?

Finally switched to non-runflat tyres. What a change, transformed the car significantly! Went with Dunlop SP SportMaxx 050+ 245/35/20 at the front and 275/30/20 at the rear. Did not realise how massive 275/30 look when off a rim... $350ea fronts, $375ea rears fitted/balanced Would highly recommend Tyretech on Archers road for those in Auckland. Very competitive prices and good service.

great score, a 325Ti. nice one! Looking forward to reading of your audio exploits.

Busy few days. She's now in for the rear subframe bushings, trailing arm bushings, rear ARB install. Here's a rather unflattering image of her up on the rack at Auto38 with her arse-end out, @qube e30 on the rack. sounds positively medieval (above) ARB Prep My previous paintjob on the rear ARB hadn't held up so well. I guess lack of patience in the prep may have had something to do with it; the Rustoleum all-in-one wasn't sticking everywhere. Ahead of Monday's install work, I stripped it back yesterday afternoon with the flap disk on grinder, and sanded with random orbital (both 120 grit). I used a tack-rag (with turps), then gave it a coat of etch primer and waited an hour, before two coats of Rustoluem 50 mins apart (re-coat within 1 hour, or after 48hrs). I touched up the other end of the rear ARB this morning with Rustoleum (above) I also stripped back 20mm front ARB to bare metal with the flap disk, and gave it a coat of rust converter. There's a little minor pitting around the rubber bushing mounts, so I was being cautious. CRC aren't very clear on how long one should wait before painting; I found 'leave overnight' in one of their videos. So I did just that. This morning it's all about "waiting for paint to dry"; I've etch-primed the front bar, ahead of painting it with Rustoleum. an ARB, in etch, this morning (above) And here's the usual suspects... (below) This arvo I will be rebuilding the door lock (lock cylinder repair kit). Woohoo!

5er at Zebra Onehunga...

Monsoons!

Ended up taking Olaf’s recommendation of Mick’s Garage - can’t believe the shipping price. For $40 I won’t have to bother putting these in another bag, arrived in just over a week.

I removed the 20s and on went the OEM M3 Style 24 17x7.5" wheels They need new tires all around, as 245 cheapies on the back and 215 semi slicks on the front is a bit weird looking ( and the tread is low all around). Will be going OEM 235/40 all around.

Yeah - the price was pretty good; got it from a dealer I know who's been sitting on it for far too long... mainly as it was overpriced (it owed them too much too; a former employee gave far too much for it as a trade) so I gave them an easy chance to get rid of it and they can put something profitable onto the same space! I'm not entirely sure they realised what they had - and as soon as I drove it; well, you know how it happens

Wait, is it actually a 325ti as per the badging, or is someone having a laugh? E: carjam says its a legit 325ti. Good score!

So over the last month or two, i have been going over the car and "fixing" the small detail stuff that needs doing. Things like some minor dings in the body work, re doing some welds, and started the repair work on the jack points that were quite damaged by rust as well as having the donor engine looked over and all looks good for engine transplant over Christmas. Not many photos yet, as its not very interesting. Getting the car ready for the engine swap will be a good mile stone and then look at paint early next year, but will hold off on spaying the deck tray until the below has been addressed. A certifier has been out and was pretty hard case. He refused to acknowledge anything the previous certifier had inspected and requested i open the tray panels up for investigation. I have been in touch with the LVVTA and another certifier to work around this, so will see how that goes. Understandably he is putting his name on the build as a sign off, but its a good case of how different every inspector is. LVVTA suggested i engage another certifier as the regulations are around safety ad impact to the driver / passenger cabin and since i have not made any adjustments or modifications to the front cabin, that should be taken into consideration etc etc - Not really sure how that all pans out In other news, I have just purchased the below - yes, its the same plate as the one in Aussie, but i dont care and it suits the car quite well. I did put a space between the M and the U ?

2018 has seen more increases in engine parts and component stocking levels. We are NZ's largest stockist of King Race series bearings for import and euro engines. We also carry OE bearing applications in ACL, King and Glyco We have increased our range of gaskets stocking OE type head gaskets to full sets. We have also increased our engine parts for BMW 6 cylinders for stock, performance and race applications. Glyco bearings, head gaskets, gasket sets and singles, timing chains, water pumps now available. We cover M20 M30 M50 M52 M54 S14 S50 S54 comprehensively Now available popular 6 cylinder timing chain kits and components. We also have the best range available in NZ for the M3 S50 engines. Parts we stock are oe and performance, including all timing tensioners and waterpumps and complete engine overhaul components.

Original Cert fella was Lance Welsh, then yea, Clint came and had a look and dismisses pretty much everything Lance had done...