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Dodgy aerosol meant the finish on the valve covers is nowhere near as good as the one I got on the strut bar but not the end of the world as the valve covers are 95% covered on the M70 anyway. Did some cleaning - although pleasantly surprised at how clean the intake ports are - fitted locking washer tabs to the banjo bolts and refitted the valve covers with Martin today, manifolds and spruced injectors back next week... Along with a few escaped horses I expect!

hi guys/gals my names julian, just doing the intro thing, im not that new to bmw's but want to get to know /meet more bmw fanatics and try and find the right places to get parts/work done locally etc, the people you recommend and trust! and at a fair price(probably asking to much lol) i have a early 1973 2002 tii that is in need of a bit of tidying up, i could give you a list longer than my hallway as im sure most fanatics would but simply i want this car on the road for next summer........because it needs to be driven! so new clutch, a bunch of gaskets and rubber mounts, some minor rust and paint , potential engine-gear box strip down/check because they are out of the car and that should do for a while...... not! give us a yell if you can point me in the right direction or have any info etc, cheers

What you can't see in the pictures above is the horrible condition on the black trim that runs across the top of the windows from the A pillar right back to the C pillar. Mine looked like: So a bit of this: And this: And I got this: Much better: I'm delighted with the results and although the texture is a different to OEM you wouldn't know unless you knew. It looks so much better than it did that I'm happy even if it's not perfect. I used Dupli-Color "Custom Wrap" which seems to be the same sort of thing as Plasti-Dip. I'm not sure how long it will last but I used about 3/4 of a $28 can to coat each side 7 times. Application was easy, my second side (driver's) turned out better than the first but even so the first side isn't worth redoing, the imperfections are tiny. It really looks a million bucks - that trim in poor condition is in a place that you simply can't "unsee".

yeah i came in here expecting tits.

Yeah I see people driving down foot paths and carrying pistols around here all the time...

Yeah wouldn't worry about the engine swap - coilovers are certed. He says some of the work was done by HellBM so thats a good thing.

Don't buy it, that model is known to be poor. Buy a 323i or 325i etc

Oooo that black crinkle paint looks good. 10hp gains I would imagine.

Cheers guys. Detailing cars is what I do for a full-time job now by the way Here's a vid I took in-car at Taupo race track on Friday. Had a bit of fun dodging the drifters. The new livery IMG_9944 by cse.taylor, on Flickr

Adding to, I would say that probably heat is all that is required to remove the dent. That said - right amount, right place & technique - which a skilled plastic welder will know...

I'd be happy to visit if you lived 800 k's further north! I added extra tape after the first coat as the wind tempted my paper to go AWOL. Feel for ya.

Thought you did! haha, Yeah, Complete Oettinger kitted and tuned V6 2.8 4motion. Saw you again tonight at the roundabout end of Hurstmere road in Takapuna :>

fixed

Let me know if you buy the TM one, I can pick up and take to Welly for you. TXT me on 027 241 7328 I am only home in the weekends Cheers

That damage looks very minor & should be easily repaired. As Allan has alluded to - find a Plastic Welder in your area. That damage is not a Panel Beaters job. We have a brilliant Plastic Welder here in TA - he gets plenty of MUCH more damaged bumpers than that & repairs them without trace.

No such thing exists - theft is defined in s 219 of the Crimes Act and the term theft, by its own definition, is an illegal act - you cannot have a legal illegal act if you get my drift. What tow companies have is the capacity to "right a wrong". In other words they can move a car if it is somewhere it is not supposed to be (circumstances permitting etc etc). If they do not have the authority to "right the wrong" then they indeed act illegally. The problem with the term theft is this part "intent to deprive any owner permanently of that property or of any interest in that property" - a tow company does not purport to deprive you permanently, rather you pay the fee and you get access to your car. This is where the argument starts to go in circles, should you have to pay the fee, where they have had no ability to "right the wrong"? Of course the clear answer is no - and the building company has acknowledged this by paying the fee. But the damage inflicted to the car.... well I have clear views on this which I will PM you OP.

Towing companies seem to be scumbags. Towed one of my previous flatmates cars and damaged the underside somehow, something hit the underside and damaged the sump. Also car was an FWD auto, shouldn't they be making sure it's the front that is raised? They had it 'repaired' but on the way back home it broke down again with engine and trans warning lights flashing, and towing company just refused to take any responsibility. Clamping and towing just seems too frequent and open to abuse. Private companies shouldn't have this kind of power IMO.

Can think of the following 1. Get a quote from a panel beater to repair the damaged totally. Will give you an idea of how much you will be up for and if you could reduce that cost. 2. Call in any outstanding debts owed by people you know in the motor trade etc. 3. If only bumper damaged take the car to a place that repairs bumpers/ plastic welding and paints etc and get a price ask if bumper removed refitted by you/ friend will it reduce the cost. 4. Trade me option here you have bumper cost, transport to you, painting if not correct colour. If you can remove refit the bumper your self or friend can this will help reduce the price. Considering a new, primed only, bare bumper could be close to a grand if not more then it would appear to be a good price would need to be checked out though. The only other issue is what damage is their behind the dent that is already their. As some clips or support brackets maybe damaged you will not know this until the bumper is removed.

Only in Hamilton (Nothing against Hamilton though)

Washed...

Same situation here, the front bumper was damaged from being towed backwards. The towing companies keep records of who requests the tows, but it's pretty hard to get the info from them. Surprisingly, I haven't heard back from the towing company after I responded, calling their response to me bullshit.

Glad you are getting somewhere with this. I was towed from my workplace (Vodafone) many years ago by some twat who had no authority to request a vehicle towed. He didn't recognize my new car. The car was towed in reverse and they badly damaged the front bumper and curbed a wheel. Same issues with the towing company. They were impossible to deal with. They don't require customer service whatsoever. Vodafone reimbursed me for all damages and the towing fee in the end. But it took me a long time to track down who had requested it in the first place. It took him bragging about mistakenly having a car towed to a co-worker months later. I did plot revenge but I think he knew it was coming and left shortly after.

@Mike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=celJFMkxzmQ

Haha.