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I first tried a blow torch. The welder thing was just as a "if the blow torch didn't do it, this should have" remark. Interesting point though. Update for the thread. All I have to say about last night is this:

Average spec e46 sedan non motorsport with worn grey leather interior. After new secondhand engine and new cooling system (budget 3-4k?) Plus cost of car 2k it will probably owe you close to 6k. I dont think its worth any more than 7-8k despite being a manual because it doesnt tick any other boxes. Its too decent and expensive to buy for the manual box, and also a bit too expensive to fix up and flick off for profit. Id say its one you would buy for a project and keep or track car etc but not reall a worth while investment unless you can get parts cheap and do everything low cost.

Wheels fully refurbed and repainted in Matty B, new tyres to be fitted today.

Picked up some more wheels today - Style 219M's. I finally get the chance to detail & coat the CSL Style 163's with C.Quartz! NewWheels5 by Christian Taylor, on Flickr NewWheels1 by Christian Taylor, on Flickr NewWheels2 by Christian Taylor, on Flickr NewWheels3 by Christian Taylor, on Flickr NewWheels4 by Christian Taylor, on Flickr

If you don't get a quick reply perhaps contact Brent (BM World) or Ray (Hell BM) either by PM or by phone. I'm sure both will be able to help.

Looking good. Its funny how thick and plump the new seal is compared to the old dry ones.

Did some work on this for a change

Hi all, I bought this car as a daily driver a couple of months ago from Team Mac, and have been learning a bit about it and chipping away at a few things since. The plan is to go to BMW driver training and learn how to drive it properly, then attend some track days. I'm more than happy with the performance and have a bit of a 'wish list' for future parts. Having come from owning a variety of Hondas (and an Audi), it's nice to pick up a car that requires next to no modifications to perform...! The paint is in great condition, and overall the car has been well looked after for it's 77,000kms. The first things on the list to replace were the wheels & tyres. It came on a set of 20" rims, which gave the car a bit of a 'rollerskate' look that didn't really grow on me. Plus, the ride was quite firm for a daily on 25 profile tyres. The rears were 10.5in wide, and just fit inside the flared guards - although it looked great from behind, it simply wasn't practical. It also came on H&R springs, and AFAIK standard shocks - may look into replacing the rear shocks. I picked up a set of 19's in CSL-size staggered fitment (apparently the best standard fitment), and on they went. Comparison: The front kidney grill was already a black-paint item, so that saved me replacement parts. I inherited a fitting p-plate shortly afterwards, which used to reside on a family member's Z3M Coupe. The muffler is branded as 'Supersprint' - turns out to be a pretty good piece of kit. I was initially keen to change however have grown to like it. The only complaint is that it makes a bloody racket when it's cold, but that doesn't last too long I suppose. Excuse the residual crap on the tailpipes in the pic below I want to keep the car standard engine-wise, mainly due to the extended warranty I picked up (and the fact it can out-perform my ability currently). I have noticed there are some subtle nice aftermarket aesthetic parts that can be acquired from Oz, so keen to hear from anyone that imports bits and pieces. I want to stay away from the glaringly obvious carbon fibre bits like bonnet and boot (no offence intended to anyone that has these, it's just not the look I'm going for). Wish list (in no particular order): - Replace the standard clutch-stop with an adjustable item - Fit a bloody euro-sized plinth thing for the front number place - Bought, need to paint and mount when I get a sunny arvo. - Replace rear lip spoiler with carbon (style) lip - Not 100% sure whether I want to do this or not, it's lying in my garage at the mo'. - Carbon front lip (direct bolt-on/off) - Mainly to save the paint at the bottom of the front bumper... it'll probably cost almost as much to repaint the bumper cover as to purchase the aftermarket lip spoiler. - Replace fog lights with HID items. - Replace rear shocks (a top aftermarket brand is apparently the best option here) - Hard wire in a radar detector of some description - Carbon rear diffuser (replacement part) - Re-cover touch surfaces. There's a couple of little chips off the steering wheel, and I don't want the driver's armrest to wear. I'm pretty picky tho, so this is down the list. - CSL airbox (in the distant future, chances are I won't go this way however. They're freaken expensive) And that's about it. Not a 'build thread' as such, as there's no real building going on. I'll update as I install bits and pieces. Suggestions and comments are most welcome.

Probably a drug runner. Sitting at the airport for a few years maybe

This is the pic I saw... I like the look. Nicely understated.

Well, I went and bought it. I intend to replace/repair the engine and use it for myself. It's a nice tidy car. It's been in the guys garage for 2 or 3 years. The upholstery doesn't look worn to me, in fact the car is very straight and well looked after. It appears to have boiled so i will make damn sure that the radiator/water pump are sound. Engine may be rescuable at a very very long shot but will provide good parts if not. I'm actually seriously thinking of selling my 318i E30 manual coupe and the missuses corolla and just having this e46 as her drive around with the young lad car and my "go to a track day" car. Not as cool as the E30 but plenty quicker! I have another project in the garage which needs my attention too. Anyone know of an M54b30 engine for sale? I see bmworld has one for 1700 or so

and I'd buy it when you were done! I was sorely tempted last time, but had no cash. hmmm, I still have no cash, but more available OD #; )

as planned, today my e46 received its 20mm rear Msport bar, ARB bushes, rear trailing arm bushes and delrin reinforcement shims. Also new rear washer pump; w00t! After 4 years without it, I now learn what a clever wiper pump it is on the rear hatch. Every other car I've ever had/rented/driven just sprays the rear screen when you activate the pump. Regardless of what the wiper's doing. the e46 times it's pump to spray in bursts, synchronised with the movement of the wiper. pull the stalk, you get three wipes, with the spray timed so that it doesn't hit the wiper blade. cool! yes it's small beans, but cool beans. The trailing arm bushes were torn, but not totally shagged. good time to replace them. A plug for Page European from me, very good to deal with. Tomorrow, 4 wheel alignment. And then a road test. #8 ) oh, and fit new wiper blades front and rear, rain-x the screen.

cheap on trademe too. $30.00 delivered for 3T pairs. awesome! buy two pair, you'll easily need 'em.

damn. I was going to suggest Elijah buys them. and builds an e34 around them happy days with such a quick sale! good ad, nice snaps. well done.

I like it alot. Reminiscent of the original 18" staggered m3 wheels but definitely has a newer feel to it.

Yes, do a water hose replacement. There are a number of treads on this in that Z3 forum. Yes the Z4 are very nice cars. I have driven a couple of roadsters and coupes. They have more room, better ride and performance. The shape has yet to grow on me.

I currently own 2 Z3's. Love them. Both 2000, one is 2.0L manual and the other is 3.0L auto. I daily drive the 2.0L. So how do they go: - BMW spec's, 3.0L, 228 HP and 0-60 mile/h in 5.8 sec. It's no slouch. 2.0L 148HP 0-60 mile/h in 8.5 sec. Slower then most performance cars but still good for a mid range car. - they corner well, can have a bit of sideways shuffle if you push them really hard. Fixed by firmer suspension and front strut tower brace. - comfortable ride on OEM rubber bushings. Putting Poly sub-frame bushings in will stiffed the rear end for performance driving and give a slight increase in NVH and amplified diff noise. There is an alternative OEM bushing mod to poly bushings. - Economical? both cars average 9.5L/100km around town and 8.3l/100KM on the open road. Both have given 7.6l/100M on long lazy trips when a constant speed can be maintained. - Performance. The 3.0L ticks along at 2,200 RPM at 100 KM/H and has plenty of get up a go when needed. It will kick down from 5th to 3rd and go, or you can flick it into tiptronic and drive it like a manual. The 2.0L is a good daily drive at 3,000 rpm at 100 km/h, nothing startling in performance until you get it above 3,500 rpm. - Parts are easy to get - Can easily fit cruise control to 2000 or later models. Expensive cruise control mod for earlier cars. - recommend only buying a 6 cylinder car, The 1.9's are getting higher KM now and have the same "behind the head heater hose Y connector" failure problem that kills the 318ti engines - Higher powered manual Z3's tend to rip the dif mount cross member out of the boot if you performance drive them. Poly sub-frame bushings control the stresses better to help avoid this problem - really excellent support through international forums, check out http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?137-Z3-(E36-7-E36-8) Especially the FAQ's at the top where you will get to read all about the regular things that need fixing. - My preferred Z3 would be a 3.0L manual. - I just love the top down driving and the curved shape of the car. - Lets face it, the speed limit is 100km/h. Any Z3 will comfortably perform for the normal driver adequately. If you are into faster acceleration, then pick a Z3 with a larger motor. Hope this helps Muzz

Looks good. I think it needs a twin tip exhaust though.

Here you go.

Looking good

no...?

Hahaha. Good one.

I hope it doesn't turn into a... Cluster f**k.Sorry couldn't help myself

I think I sell all my extras too cheap aye haha

Axle stands from supacheap can be had for little money. You will wonder how you ever did without them.

Sorry dude, matte paint just ruins BBS's IMO. Bloody good wheels for the money though

Leather Seat repair? The first place I'd talk to would be European Leather Care in Petone. HTH.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1069985663.htm No idea what this means, however, i am not hating on someones ride at all, i am actually puzzled as to what this ti really is? M3 Optioned, pardon me if i have a giggle this morning, it looks very tidy though.??

what, like the guy with the M5 tuned 545i?

Yes, but what was the car like?

How about a 2000 750i with M-sport package. Colour BIARRITZBLAU METALLIC (363) Upholstery STANDARDLEDER/SCHWARZ (N8SW) 337 M SPORT PACKAGE 775 INDIVIDUAL ROOF-LINING ANTHRACITE 457 CONTOUR SEATS, ELECTRIC. ADJUSTABLE Prod. date 2000-05-04

Talk to Joe @ Eurosurgeon in Penrose Auckland

Can recommend Auto Interior Specialists: http://www.auto-interior.co.nz/home.html they are on Newton Road in Ponsonby, next to Eastern Automatics (another place I'd recommend if you have an auto European car; they are ZF certified repairers). ​I got them to replace a section of leather in my rear seats which had dried out and split... They took the whole thing off and they matched the panelling and original stiching method, from memory it only cost me $260.

Been staying busy. Completed a set of M-Pars for Lewis on here. Completed on 2 sets of BBS LM's, set of RC090 Style 5's and a full refurb on some BBS RS 16" - re drilled from 5x114.3 to 4x100 for a customers E30. Hit us up for your wheel refurbs!

Made a few small changes to the car (mtech I wing, smilies etc) and finally got some new pictures thanks to Daniel Kim. More pictures on my instagram (sean_e30).

Hey all, I'm going to be buying my first BMW and I am set on the E46 ('02-'04) Facelift M-Sport Sedan. Any tips on what to look out for? - I've tried doing a thread search but no luck. It will be tiptronic and most likely the 318i, which I understand is actually a 2 litre engine. I am after one optioned with the Zenon headlights and and the basic suede interior (I prefer this to the leather anyway). Steering wheel controls aren't critical as I understand they're easy to retrofit. I would like the electric seats but could live without them. A delear has told me that an 'M-Sport' and an 'Motorsport' are two completely different cars, with the Motorsport being the better of the two and some dealers try to pass off M-Sports as Motorsports - is there any truth to this? What are the common faults to look out for on this model? Appreciate any advice you might have