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I've been a bit quiet on here for a while. Mainly because of life's many interventions, but also because the 8er has had an irritating ignition issue so has been largely undriven while I slowly hunted around for parts and time to sort it. Anyway, got it running smoothly once more this weekend and took some pics - sadly, because I'm probably going to sell her - and was reminded just how beautiful the 8 series is.

you would be silly not to buy Herbmeister's 330ci

Happens to a lot of people. Me, f'rinstance. Set out with every good intention of getting a job done, then something happens and enthusiasm just goes clean outta the window. I was fortunate and had a couple of very nice chaps come down and help me through the last event of that nature.

So a couple of weeks ago I was approached by a media company asking if Rusta could be used in an Ad for a fairly big beer company supporting the English Lions tour coming up. This morning was filming for this, I'll upload the videa once it's completed and ready

I havent really put much up about this car to date, probably start something here. Build List 2008 135i N54 6spd manual Jap import Standard N54 3.0 6 cyl twin TD03 turbo engine and 6spd manual, replaced upgraded BMW 550i pressure & clutch plate, stock dualmass flywheel, hard gbox mounts and braces. E92 m3 rear end swapped, subframe, LSD, all suspension arms & links, hubs, m3 front arms/uprights/hubs etc. Hard bushes installed for subframe and a few rear arms. 1m genuine panels all round, replaced via factory BMW repair methodologies AP Radi-cal brake kit all round, 6 piston front 380mm, 4 piston rear 390mm, SS braided lines. Full floating rotors on aluminium hats. KW v3 coilovers, bump & rebound set up, front vorshlag top camber/castor plates set up 2deg neg camber. H&R sways front/rear, adjustable end links set up for lowering 245/35/19, 275/30/19 Hankooks to shred for now. 295/30/19's Continental's ordered for rear, 245/35/19 Michelin PSS Cup 2's for front arriving mid June '17. Rob Beck Next Gen turbos, Billet 15T Compressor wheel/RB Bullet nut, TD04 Thrust upgrade, High flow TD04L 11-blade high aero turbine wheel/RB high heat shield, and RB high flow oil drains. Custom turbo outlet pipe, modified SS section. See photo 1. RB silicon turbo intakes, stock filter placements, big filters from Burger Motorsport VRSF 7" thick Intercooler, RB turbo inlet with HKS SSQV blow off valve. Ordered "Colossus" Intercooler to replace 7" VRSF. Now running full methanol integration via JB4 ISO with CM10 nozzle, 60% meth/40% H20. Running 65 additive on JB4, adding meth at 6lb/in2, or 0.4bar onwards once oil is at 70deg C or higher. Cant stress how good the meth kit works, Any flow restrictions, knock detected or avg ign retard the boost gets brought back by the JB4. Previous to the meth kit going in, the IAT, intake air temps, got really high, in traffic would see close to 50deg C. Took a long time on the M'way to get it back down to mid 30's, which would see the ECU pull timing and boost aggression in the mid range. Now with the meth, each time you floor it, you can watch the IATs drop pretty quick, much better repeatability of power. Means you can spin the wheels over 120. Ive tested the car up to 27lb/in2, 1.9Bar boost, but have settled to 25lb/in2 circa 1.7bar. With this it'll slowly pull in front of new GSXR750's from standstill and easily from 180+ on closed roads. I put into the main fuel tank a blend of about 60% mobil 98RON and 40% E85 from the Gull Forest Hill. I get 300kms from the tank as a daily driver. The JB4 ISO is set up as a piggy back to the factory ECU to control methanol and boost and the full data logging which provides a live bluetooth connection, so the phone is a mini dash too. The ECU is reflashed via MHD tuning (free to DL, then pay for each map). I run the hybrid turbo E85 map or the race flash depending on the percentage of E85 is in the tank. Im limited currently on two fronts in regards to the power output of the car. The turbos are at the limit of airflow efficiency, and secondly the High pressure fuel pump and injector flow capacity. The meth spray is adding fuel which Im using to maintain AF ratios. This used to be considered 'unsafe' as there were little/no warning or safety devices that would protect the engine if there was a failure in the meth delivery. With the JB4 safety systems Im happy to move into meth as a fuel delivery device as well as cooling. I limit boost through 1st and second, 10lb then 17lb then 3rd gear gets the full 25lb onwards. Also, for shits and giggles, it has a 2 step installed, so conveniently I can build boost from a standstill, I can get to about 8lb. With flames out the back of course. Installed is a no lift shift, so just bang the clutch and change gear while holding the throttle down maintaining close to the boost you've just shifted from. I have installed anti-lag but havent set this part up yet. If I've 2 stepped anyone I'm sorry, kinda like a machine gun going off in your face. More so now the custom mild steel rear exhaust has been replaced with a stainless steel one. Had the car in for its cert finally at Fraser Cars Birkenhead via Scott. Mostly required lock washers on parts of the car that BMW didn't think needed lock washers. Annoying, but them the rules. Otherwise the information is with NZTA to approve and get the plate on. Early June, says NZTA are happy bar a bump steer test booked in for mid June. Will be fine as virtually stock 1M front end and offset wheels are used with spacers. The next plan is to install the Precision Raceworks Stage 4 low pressure fuel system (running three intank Walbro E85 pumps), independent & larger low pressure fuel supply/return lines, 6 x 750cc bosch injectors and port injection manifold spacer. This will allow a full E85 even E100 fuel in the main tank and likely the deactivation and sale of the meth system. Simply not needed with higher E85 content, if available. An ethanol sensor (Continental) will be installed in the fuel supply line which also gets integrated into the JB4 for complete fuel integration from E0 to E100. This should net about another 20-30kws without another turbo upgrade.......this fuel kit is due early July.....turbo's hmmmmmm.... Lastly, there are some MMP Stage 3 full TD04HL turbo's that Im eyeing up, which have seen 550 rear wheel kw's on full E85. Pushed, these are the limit of the stock N54 engine apparently, circa 900 crank hp. Incredible that its an open aluminium block with this level of strength. Who says 2JZ's are the strongest? Factory forged crank and miele pistons. N55 are definitely weaker engines. Not saying they are weak ok, just 'not as strong as N54's'. However, I cannot stress the amount of misery there is in changing the turbos out, the main reason Im potentially unlikely to do so again. Took close to a week to change out over weekends and nights in the rain, fuggin misery. E82 LCI Blackline taillights added late May '17 and LED bulb change out inside and at all exterior corners. Error free my arse! So its taken me about 2 years to build it in my driveway, bar the panel and paint. Its cost a fair bit less than a real 1M, minus all the mods. Im guessing currently 410-430kws at the rears going from similar/same tune N54's in Aus. It sort of drives like a combination of a lazy boy and a fast motorbike.

Cars going well, just keeping on top of usual maintenance. Finished 6 speed automatic gearbox install, and rewiring ECU plugs to run new type 6 speed ECU. This thing goes so much better than before. Over 2 seconds quicker to 100kph than in standard spec with the original 4.0L engine and 4 speed automatic. Here's a 0-100kph clip of the dash.

clay barring your car will never be the same

here's the link you need to the clay bar, clay bar, clay bar... Okay seriously, The Book of Barry, and if you wanna buy direct... but seriously, IM @Barryn he'll look after you.

It's running a Link?!? That's gotta be worth something, if not pure entertainment for the fact that was their solution to the existing (fairly simple) EFI failing

So I finished my blackout de chrome thing. Looks ok I think. 50/50 on the grille, chrome vs gloss black, like the black but wonder if it makes it look tacky or cheap! Love the smoked out side indicators, they blend in and don't stand out like the clear ones, although the old ones were yellow and sun damaged. Black roundels look ok and quite like the black 545i. Nothing that can't be changed if I grow to dislike and return to factory if sold etc. Turtle wax tar and bug remover did a great job on bumper and mirrors and cleaned it with new foaming gun and microfibre mitts but splitting headache prevented me from even drying it let alone a polish of wax. Comes up alright with just a clean at the mo anyway. Edit: need to grow some balls and motivation to do the DIY headlight restoration and stone chip restoration also. Any tips for wheel cleaning, polishing, care etc

i have one, just a cheapy from trademe but you are welcome to borrow it.

Hey all, it's been several years now, and the 530i is still in the family - thought I'd update y'all on how it's doing. Still flawless, still drives as well as when I did the seals. Good on ya, Beisan Systems! Camera doctor, I only did the seals, but it actually did help the rattle a bit. Didn't take it away, but helped.

Thanks all, had a great drive down the country yesterday with no traffic and perfect conditions. A few things to tidy up - the alternator belt was a bit squeaky, I'm pretty sure the tyres are plastic by this point, and there are a few electrical gremlins. Realised the cluster lights weren't working as dusk fell at Turangi, so got through the desert road and taped a pen light to the steering column cowl. Other than that, and a memorable incident with the back of the drivers seat collapsing right down on the Auckland motorway, a pretty uneventful trip.

After many small issues, not the least of which was a shorn bolt on the housing... The longest oil filter housing gasket replacement in history if finished. In all, I managed to snap the ring connector on my alternator, shear one bolt and drop a reservoir full of power steering fluid on my driveway (and all over my engine bay!) Replaced power steering hoses, reservoir, and oil filter housing gasket and sensors. Only took 2ish weeks.

If it's registered personally your name is already withheld by default for the carjam style searches as the other's have mentioned; if you want to prevent easy access to your name and address for the 1000s of people who have access to the NZTA database through work (insurance company reps, car dealers etc.) you can do it here online: https://transact.nzta.govt.nz/transactions/personalinfoaccess/entry There's a link included which explains the situations in which your info is released.

Booked my cert, 33 days and counting

1000 dollars >insert Dr Evil <

That's awesome, thanks Brent - I'll start collecting the E-39-specific parts while I'm on the lookout for a manual parts car with one of the engines you listed above. Cheers.

Thanks Charl - yes, I'll look forward to enjoying it as much as you do!