E30 325i Rag-Top

I would suggest you have got a snowball in hell’s chance of people moving over to let you pass If they are holding you up. These are most likely the same people that can’t keep left on a two lane road, let alone maintain a speed near the limit. And as for multi lane motorways, absolutely no chance, sit in the middle lane at about 20km/h below the limit to be “safe”. The driving standards in NZ are getting worse by the day, no point worrying about speed limits when the majority of drivers don’t have the basic skills necessary for daily driving.

Trying to take the VIN / identity of one car onto another used to be referred to as ringing yes, but re-building a car is not illegal unless either of the cars used is stolen. If you’ve got a crashed car with nice bits on then they can be swapped into a different shell. No different to replacing parts over a period of years as they break or wear out. What would the M3 shell be worth if it was fully be built up to a full M3 with all the bits.. who knows? Take off the cost of the parts and the re-cert process, would probably only stack up if you already had a few of the big bits and did it all yourself. If you try to put the VIN from this shell onto another vehicle, then yes that would be illegal. Better to bolt the bits on to this shell.

@C-130 Hercules Chicane in NZ used to do a package, with overalls, boots, gloves, etc. Decent quality (I’ve still got most of mine all these years later) for the price. They sell through the V8 performance / Stockcars type places, Silvesters might be one?

Trying to remember what it says in the Road Code, certainly something in there about pulling over if you are holding up traffic. That said, it certainly doesn’t give the right to try to intimidate other drivers, no matter how slow they are going. Unfortunately courtesy doesn’t come into it, far too many drivers bimbling along holding up traffic not pulling over.

26.06.2023 PRESS RELEASE Seventh generation of the BMW M5 Sedan already undergoing an intensive testing programme. BMW M GmbH to continue its product offensive in 2024 and confirms the extension of its model range to include a Touring variant of the new high-performance model. Munich. The prototypes are carefully disguised, but they cannot conceal their character as high-performance cars. The future generation of the BMW M5 has entered the practical phase of its series development process. The new high-performance sedan from BMW M GmbH is now completing its test drives on public roads, BMW Group proving grounds and racetracks around the world. Moreover, fans of the BMW M brand can look forward to a further result of the product offensive that will continue into the year 2024. BMW M GmbH has now officially confirmed that with the new edition of the BMW M5, it will be adding a Touring variant to its model range. The perfect symbiosis of M-typical performance, uncompromising long-distance comfort and impressive spaciousness will experience a renaissance in 2024 with the new BMW M5 Touring. Just like the future BMW M5 Sedan, the Touring variant will also feature a completely newly developed partially electrified drive system. Its M-typical performance characteristics as well as the precisely tuned chassis technology refined with innovative systems facilitate driving dynamics and agility at a level unique in this vehicle class. Thus, BMW M GmbH is steadily progressing on its path to electrification. "We are now also installing a hybrid drive system with typical M performance in other high-performance cars," says Dirk Häcker, Head of Development at BMW M GmbH. For almost 40 years now, the BMW M5 has been the benchmark for driving dynamics, agility and precision in the high-performance sedan segment. Evolutionary progress, development know-how from racing and pioneering innovations in the areas of drive, suspension, aerodynamics and lightweight construction have shaped the history of the BMW M5. Engines with six, eight and ten cylinders, M TwinPower Turbo technology and high-revving characteristics, the compound brake system with M Carbon ceramic brakes and M xDrive four-wheel drive are just some of the technological milestones with which this model has repeatedly redefined top performance in a sedan that is unconditionally suitable for everyday use. The seventh generation of the BMW M5 takes up on this – with fascinating innovations for an even more intense performance experience. The first BMW M5 Touring was launched back in 1992 based on the second-generation BMW M5 Sedan and has since stood for a combination of high performance and everyday practicality on four wheels. In 2007, BMW M GmbH also added a Touring variant to the fourth-generation BMW M5. And currently, the successful launch of the first BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive* also underscores the high appeal of this special vehicle concept in the premium midrange segment of high-performance cars. Testing of the first prototypes of the new BMW M5 Touring is to commence in the next few days in urban traffic as well as on country roads and motorways around Munich and at the BMW M GmbH headquarters in Garching. The integrated application of all drive and suspension systems will then also be carried out for the new BMW M5 Touring on the Nürburgring's Nordschleife, among other places, with the aim of ensuring the ideal balance of sporting performance on the racetrack and superior ride comfort in everyday driving and over long distances.

I’ve got the seat “inners” you can have for nothing if you can get the material to cover them?

Looks nice, always get good prices for Tech II coupes. Is it a genuine M325i and manual?

@Arsony short answers: 1. Very, I got around 45km range from a charge which was enough to get to work and back for two days. Also good economy on longer runs with petrol plus electric regeneration. 2. Boot space is a little reduced due to batteries under the floor. Other generic F30 issues could still apply. I’ve not heard of any specific HV electric issues. 3. LCI was in late 2015 which would be the major update, so 16&17 models would have that. There were continual updates (three times per year) to all models but relatively minor. 4. Yes definately, 99% of NZ new were M-Sport for a good reason. More equipment, better looking, etc. 5. Not sure how much experience of this model the independents would have. If it’s just general servicing they would be all good, anything connected to the HV electrical side could be tricky.

If it’s been sat in a shed for 15 years without moving or being started then a lot of $$$ would be needed to bring everything back up to scratch - all rubbers, etc. before you even start to think about panel and paint.

Yet it’s got the fader dial, weird..?

@Driftit I know where you’re coming from, however, it is still an E30 which is still cooler than 95% of the cars out there today. Let’s face it, it’s pretty much pointless having any car with more than 90hp these days, between traffic and reduced speed limits you can’t enjoy any more power than that. Well in Akl anyways.

There’s an E30 gone on TardMe for $1 reserve, so this should give an indication of how strong the market is at the moment. https://www.trademe.co.nz/link.aspx?i=11092&id=4158121841&t=ca&s=2078141&c=291&tm=email&et=47&mt=447A056B-A2F6-40BB-A9A0-FFDEE8340445 Ok, it’s a fairly low spec, 316i 4dr Auto, but it looks fairly tidy and clean. So it will give a decent indication of the entry level pricing into a decent E30.

@HELLBM if this is still around when I get back from the UK I may well be in to see you!

Whilst you’ve done a lot to yours since you bought it I still think yours had better bones to start with than this one.

Ahem, it’s the King now.

Try to get one from a facelift if you can - fits the same physically, you just need to adapt the wiring for the second fuel sender. Better in tank pump (I think you can do away with the second external pump on a PFL), it’s a slightly bigger tank and has the internal syphon which means much less fuel surge when the fuel gets low and gets rid of the annoying external cross over pipe which you have to work around with the diff/driveshaft.

Not really, the M4 is a 2-door M3 anyway. The fact that they are the last NA M3 is more desirable to some. There are some versions that could appreciate over time if looked after, but not a reason you should really be looking for one of these.

I don’t believe it was a trade in, and as an aside 99% of trade-ins vehicles are currently “over-traded”.

Yup, totally, much better presented examples of the M325i have sold for around that number. This is well short of being a $40k car, especially in this current market.

Lexus: I'll see your grille and raise you

That was the market - in terms of buyer and offering, back then. Again it shows how both have changed over the last 20+ years. As I understand it, NZ New, one owner before the dealer. Was used very sparingly (only to church on Sunday’s?) before owner passed and car was pretty much parked up for a period. It would need to be kept as a garage queen / shows and meetings car and extremely low kms to make it worthwhile purchase. Hopefully there is someone out there who will do exactly that, if I had the room and permission I definately would.

Time capsule in Hamilton dealership, no not old stock but a used car bought back in. In amazing condition, only about 6k on odo, always garaged. One to keep locked away. In late 90s period correct spec, orient blue with tan leather and wood trims, non-M Sport. Shows how tastes have changed.

Nice build, quite the sleeper.

That is true, which is why the injection cycle is controlled to keep the temp of the flame front under control and temps down. However, when you talk about the running temps of engines I think more of the oil / coolant / engine body temps (some cross correlation from the cylinder temps I know) as being the “running temp” rather than the temp in the ignition stroke. Would thatalso have more of an effect on gaskets as well, with the temps affecting the expansion/contraction of the various parts? My totally un-educated guess is that the “liquid” type gasket materials start to harden over time from the repeated heat cycles, and then crack rather than stretch. FWIW my M57 had quite a few leaks, but was older rather than high kms.

I always thought diesels ran hotter than petrol, as no issues with pre-ignition due to the fuel injection controlling the timing? May have changed with turbo / DI petrols I suppose.