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Resurrecting this post from the dead... as there are the shoots of progress starting to come out of the garage. Decided against putting it all back together to race this season, it was really hard watching the 1 Hour Enduro at Hampton Downs on the long track, but there will be a next time I hope. It would have needed quite a bit of tidying and paint etc. even after I had screwed everything back together from the state it was in. Good news was that after months of waiting my shipment of panels for the E30 M3 kit finally arrived from Europe. I was a bit concerned about how well it would travel, being as the panels are fibreglass, so a bit on the delicate side. Thankfully, they were very well packaged, with lots of protection which was just as well as there were signs of some rough treatment on the way as I expected. After finally getting everything unwrapped and un-packed which was a bit of a mission, mainly due to running out of space to put the parts in the garage and space in the wheelie bin to put all the packaging, I had chance to check the parts over for damage and quality. There was only one small impression on one part which should come out with a bit of heat and pressure. Parts are nice and light, which is good for a race car - will see how well the measure up and fit as I go. Couldn't resist a quick tape them up on the car to see what they look like... If only they were that easy to fix on the car properly... now into all the cutting and grinding on the rear end to get the guards and c-pillar extension to fit onto the body. This will be the most complicated part of the whole thing, plus once that's done I can start prepping the shell for painting.

Whoops, I accidentally bought another BMW!! Luckily it was only a die cast model, so not too expensive. It was supposed to be the new E30 M3 Warsteiner race car from the Lifestyle catalogue, but I got the last digit of the part number wrong so the M1 turned up instead. I thought it was pretty cool, especially with the car details, and it it being Piquet's car so decided to keep it. M3 is on back order so waiting for that one to arrive. If I could stop buying stuff like this then I might be able to afford to buy a REAL E30 M3... maybe not.

The Touring had a quick visit to Auckland City BMW to get the Koni Sport shocks installed and a new steering coupler to remedy the dead on centre feel. These items combined have tightened up the feel and handling of the car significantly. I also managed to pick up a set of near new Style 350M wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Back to the OEM(+) look

Been too busy fitting in working on her to get very creative with my cameras, Kyu. It’s on my list, will grab some this weekend ??

Any nice photo of the read end or 3/4 shot?

Went for a drive around the block ? last night.

1 Nov 2018. 258,191kms not so much success on the rear bar install. We had to retreat, will continue. We left the receiver brackets on the rear trailing arms. Having trouble with the bushing mount with the bar; can't get the bolt into the bodywork. We've chased the bolt hole through with an M8 tap to ensure it's clear. EDIT: more detail on the scenario. Car elevated, bar in position with some finagling. At the top (bush to chassis): Brand new genuine BMW bush shells, retaining bolts, 13.5mm bushes to match the bar. At the bottom (endlinks to subframe): Lemforder OEM end links, Genuine BMW brackets, nuts, and elected to use the included Lemforder bolts and nuts (higher grade than the Genuine BMW items I purchased). I used ATE Plastilube Silicon Brake Grease to lube the rubber parts for installation as it's safe with rubber. With the bar in position beneath the car, we placed the bushes around the bar with a thin smear of lube in place, and pressed the shells around the bushes. Then offering the top of the shell into the chassis slot, we'd then clamp the bottom of the shell against the chassis, and offer up the bolt. We tried using a pin-punch as a drift to locate the two holes (chassis and bush shell) together. Each time, unable to get the right location; the angle of the bolt was always off! How do you get this sorted? What trick are we missing? We did mount my new rear badge, after we'd packed the tools and parts away. Genuine BMW part 51141872969.

OUUUU, lots of late nights and weekends coming your way.

Exhaust, a flash, and a BOV is not modding the hell out of

31 Oct 2018. 258,177kms ... more small stuff. I got the rear ARB and hardware ready for install, found my M8 tap (to chase out the factory holes), and got my tools ready for tomorrow. EDIT: A little more on anti-roll bar bar prep. The few spots of scab rust on the bar (to be expected of any used ARB) were treated as follows: clamp bar in vise with soft jaws strip rust using flap-disc in angle grinder, feathering out the edges treat rust (I used CRC Rust Converter) when ready (nice blue-black finish), paint. I used Rustolleum all-in-one Black Gloss spraypaint. About $20 at Bunnings. Thin coat, flash off, another thin coat. I repeated three times with about 15 mins between coats, in a warm-ish workshop (not following the instructions to the letter, mind). The paint flowed-out nicely, didn't run, and hardened nicely. It blends in well with the factory epoxy finish, too. Result! I hadn't even bothered to prep the bar with scotch-brite! I tested the used radiator Jon had kindly lent me (sale or return). My dreamt-up test rig worked, though sadly the rad failed. Leaking at the seam between LH side tank and core, at 15psi. Hey ho, perhaps I'll need to get a new 'un. My better half is now teasing me that surely I'd already exhausted the parts budget for this car? ? Question: Where's the best source in NZ, folks? 17111719024 for M40-powered Manual Trans e30? Here's an image of my test rig. Tyre Tube with hose clamps around apertures, pressure cap on tank, schrader valve on one inlet. Fill rad and test for leaks. Bicycle pump gentle part-strokes up to 10PSI, then slowly to 20psi (the cap's rated pressure - 1.4bar). It made it to 15PSI. Oh well, at least I didn't install in the car then learn. So I guess I should buy a new one. Wish me luck for tomorrow, rear bar install.

nice little article on SpeedHunters on this rather insane F80 M3 engine & drive line refit http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/10/f80-x-e30-modern-m3-tech-meets-classic-m3-chassis/

I originally missed out on buying this Touring when it came up for sale in October (and settled for this instead). It sold within a couple of hours of it being listed on Trademe to a friend of the seller, despite the seller promising me the car was mine after I had negotiated to buy it sight unseen... To my surprise it came back up for sale on Trademe just before Christmas. Once again I pounced, and this time I was successful in acquiring it. So, the car: NZ New E46 330i Motorsport Touring (1 of 4 NZ New examples so I am told). Sapphire Black. 207km. Facelift. Leather electric seats. No mods other than the TSW Valencia wheels (great fitment but not my taste...will be changed in due course). The seller had mentioned that the shocks were due for replacement, and this was confirmed on the first Auckland to Coromandel drive over the new year break. Compared to my lower km E46 325i MSport, the car lacked dampening and felt considerably harsher (partially due to the 18" wheel/tyre combination). A set of adjustable Koni Sport shocks have been ordered to tighten things up and provide rebound adjustability if and when so desired. After that, a set of Style 68's or other OEM BMW wheels will replace the TSW's. Cosmetically the car is in great condition given the mileage. I have started a deep leather clean and condition on the interior (Pears soap method) which is lifting an unbelievable amount of grime from the leather. A time consuming process, but ultimately worth it!

i call bullshit that old thing hasnt moved in years.

As you know Dave it’s a very pleasant place to be so using as the daily, now I’ve got audio is no hardship. Well till the gas station anyway. $209 to fill Thursday, em. I’ve figured if I can stay out of grid lock it’s MPG is pretty good, so if I want to daily it I need to get out of bed earlier lol ? It seems to enjoy the constant use as well, using a little oil, but marginal for 260ks

Cleaned it, still some work to do but coming along, I love the look of the BBSs

Some pics of the headunit and the OBC features. Found very handy and it’s made the car feel very current. My 2006 S8 is feeling very dated now lol

Got replacement genuine speakers from Brent at BMWorld, $20each and in excellent condition. Perfect fit and sound is spot on. I heard it was tricky getting speakers sorted as well so getting off Brent was a perfect solution.

Not trademe, Buuuut...........looks like it may be an M, judging by the wheels/exhaust? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12145897 napier drivers ?