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My first project post guys... hope I don't do any injustice to all the other amazing projects that have posted here, mine quite clearly pales in comparison to the amazing work of most of the members here. This is my 2nd M3 and we've had a few M cars (2 M5's) in the family so it's not something that's completely alien to me. The M3 CS started off in amazing nick however preventative maintenance is something I'm quite keen on so this is my little project for the next few weeks. Started my wee January 2015 project on the CS (E46 M3), after 2 years of a mutually awesome relationship where engine oil/ filter, cabin/air filter changes were predominantly the norm, I decided it was time to do some extra work. (in addition to diff and gearbox fluid changes that were already done prior). The AC condenser took a bit of damage from the 'amazing' NZ roads we have hence equalling an AC leak and no air conditioning lately, so while ordering the condenser I decided to change a few more things while I'm 'making my way' to the condenser. - New xenon headlight lenses and weather strips - Front bumper repair and repaint from the 10 or so wee stone chips - Rear bumper and rear diffuser repaint depending on condition when I remove it - Removing CSL exhaust (rear and centre sections) and changing up gaskets while cleaning up pipes - New Condenser (of course) - Radiator pressure test and if it fails at all a new radiator - New AC pump - New Water Pump + o-ring - New pulleys and belts - New radiator hoses - New temp sensor + o-rings - New ac lines + o-rings - Replace Receiver Drier - New water valve + o-ring - New expansion valve - Replace fan - Replacing fan clutch - New thermostat + o-ring and genuine bmw coolant (after a thorough coolant flush) - Replace fuel filter - Refurbishing BBS CSL wheels As per what I've planned I've ordered all new bolts, screws and rivets for every component I'm removing and will be re-installing Today's results have been headlight, fog lamp, washer nozzle (this is a retarded part of the car! lol) and associated trim removal in addition to front and rear bumper removal (including diffuser). Did the fuel filter on Saturday arvo...task was successful) Will endeavour to take better pictures and update once parts get here and project continues.

Does not surprise me, one of my recent dealings with mainfreight was also a complete f**k up. Relatively large 40kg wooden crate coming from China. China to auckland was 3 days, from there forwarded on to mainfreight for delivery. Auckland to Hamilton in 6 days via mainfrieght, then from Hamilton depo to a Hamilton address - 2 weeks - they lost it and took 2 weeks to find it. How does it take 3 days for something to get from china to auckland, and then 3 weeks from auckland to hamilton? Even when things do not get lost it seems the transit around nz is longer than going international. Unbelievable.

Just because. Shine courtesy of Sam and Christian @ Attention to Detail...

I thought I'd share a recent experience with you about the subject operations (Mainfreight and Amazon) because it's amazing and amusing as well as anecdotally relevant to many on this site. TLDR; Amazon.com rocks! Whilst it does seem as if things are working out for me this is only as a consequence of some astonishing customer service from a party that had absolutely no hand in the mess that was created. I've been watching the price fluctuations of a high quality spring and sway bar kit on Amazon for about 5 months now (tracking the price with camelcamelcamel) because the kit retails for about US$800 (often >$NZ$1400) but it's been offered for as low as US$345 from time to time on Amazon which is quite an amazing price (for a brand name kit - Eibach). The product is only available to ship to the USA so I got a quote from Kiwishipping to freight forward it that I was happy with and signed up for their service in anticipation. Well on 27/12 the kit was at a great low price and I hit 'Buy Now' and made the purchase on Amazon. I also purchased a smaller, unrelated item at the same time. I then downloaded the instructions under "Help" on the Kiwishipping site and followed them to the letter to complete the order and shipping details on Amazon. A day or so later I received tracking numbers (one USPS, one UPS) and I thought "wow, this is easy!". Some two or three days later Google Now (of all services!) advised me on my phone that the USPS package had been rejected at the delivery address "Recipient No Longer At Address". WTF!!! How did I get that wrong? I didn't get it wrong. Mainfreight (Kiwishipping.co.nz), a Freight and Logistics company had got their own delivery address wrong! They had moved about a month ago and hadn't updated their user documentation! One can only imagine how many packages were misdirected. So I sent the Kiwishipping US and NZ emails addresses an urgent request (admittedly on Dec 30) but heard nothing back and had to call them yesterday. They said they'd get onto it. They did not. When I first called Kiwishipping yesterday the UPS package was still in transit and could have been intercepted. By the time they eventually got onto it (with my 3rd call) it was too late (rejected at address). The people I dealt with at Kiwishipping were polite but ultimately unhelpful. They said I should contact Amazon. Amazon had already processed a full refund for the USPS package having received it back (no questions asked!) but my concern with the suspension kit (UPS package) was that the price had already gone back up by more than US$200! I would receive a refund but If I had to re-order then I would be out US$200 + tax + duty etc, etc. So I logged on to Amazon, went to customer service and started a chat session. It wasn't Amazon's fault but I had no idea what my options were - I was at best expecting a new quote that I could pass on to Kiwishipping to negotiate with them since it was their monumental cock-up that had resulted in my inconvenience and potential loss. What actually happened was amazing. Over the course of a one hour chat (!) Amazon apologised many times for my inconvenience (despite me reassuring them that they were not at fault) and would you believe actually offered to "replace" the order to a new address at no additional cost to me!! i.e. they were willing to ship initially for free, accept the items back and restock, resend the items to me at a new address honoring the original price and they even upgraded the free 7 day shipping to free 2 day shipping because "that would be better". Keep in mind this is a 25+ kg package. OMGWTF!?! I'm still going to expect Kiwishipping to provide some compensation for my time/anxiety but that is almost secondary to the amazing experience I had with Amazon - all businesses should operate like this.** I can't recommend Amazon enough. We'll see how I feel about Kiwishipping when I (eventually) get my goods. **Shout out to Bellars Motor Works and Kayne Barrie Motorsports who I have first had experience of also operating in this customer-focused fashion (at their own expense).

Something from Hellbm maybe. Ask Josh if he`d be keen to drive.

The troll in me thinks the best E36 angel eyes are the ones that stay in the box.

Tidying up the rear end of the race car, ready for the NZFMR, now that exhaust is fixed and back in the right place (gases were melting the bumper rubber!!). Replaced whole bumper with better, straighter one, sprayed up the rubber to match the body work. Touched up marks on the bodywork and re-sprayed worst areas. Bumper to go back on tonight and then to finally for the decals I got made up about 5 years ago!

Yeah I have read that too, but this has the CSL spec wheel, with associated BBS part number engraved in the rear face of the wheel. Maybe last owner (original owner) spec'd it up or optioned it from new as that? Not too sure. Wheels look to be cheapest part of project! Haha ..customs are horrendous with charges on the genuine bmw parts I've ordered!

Yeah Mike I'm thinking of keeping it for the foreseeable future..since I'm not moving to Canada now however a F10 M5 or 2012 c63 amg performance package plus is in my plan for later maybe early 2016 maybe depending on depreciation. Replacing the CSL exhaust would be nice.. but I've kept the car completely stock till now, I might continue on that spectrum for now..this would be an awesome time to modify but I'll see I guess. I'll call you when I run into that inevitable problem haha

Only did a little today. Sanded and primered around the rear window and back half of guard.

All good! For 200k I thought they looked pretty good too. Very soft wire brush (brass) and small amount of brake clean! - See pic of it after clean up. I also cleaned out the intake box, air filter and MAF sensor at the same time. Those things combined took a few hours and did make a slight difference! Either way, very satisfying and good maintenance.

Hello I need the VIN or the BAUR numbre. Best regards from BAUR TC 1 Register Uwe Hinz http://bmwe21baur.npage.de

Powder coated the modified cam cover for the e21-m42 conversion, wrinkle black.