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A project we pulled together over the Xmas break. `08 130 N52B30 Auto converted to N54 6 speed manual. 80000km 130 with a 70000km drivetrain. A bunch of mods from the parts bin to make something unique and a whole lotta fun to drive. Studie AG tuned N54 plus some of our own engine tweeks. AC Schnitzer Suspension package H&R Swaybars Quaife LSD 335i Brakes. Front rotors 335i /Rear rotors E46 M3

Laptoor exhaust (Japanese) Advan wheels (Japanese) Yokohamas, M3 alcantara flat bottom steering wheel, new black hood lining, black grills and badges, ceramic coated, BMW short throw lever, Storm weighted gear knob, Lux H8 LED bulbs, Pedal Haus stainless pedal covers, mint inside and out.

Much prefer the 135 bumper and no not a keeper. Already have to many `keepers`.

Have started sanding down the bonnet and rest of the car now, home stretch Did a few more long sands and guide coats sharpening up the lines and shadows on this panel too, the results are REALLY starting to show now. Its amazing how you think you have it close, and then you put it out in the light and realize things are still warped to buggery It seems obsessive trying to get that line really crisp, but if its not 100% flat and the surface below the line doesn't feather into the next countour, it REALLY shows drastically when the light hits it, a small kink makes the entire side look rippled as. Something about those arches and contours very unforgiving. Having to dig deep though and stick to the process of guide coats / right sanding blocks for the job and grind away at it, and then repeating with more primer runs. I'm pretty much signed off now on the panel work and im in final sand down stage! HERE WE GO

145,500 kms. Finally got around to getting something up on here. In September I bought this little weapon. It's a 1998 E36 328i Coupe in Montreal Blue. Originally a Japan car, but imported and sold by Shelly BMW as an Approved Used Import in 2004. This car clearly has been cherished - it is in fantastic condition. I have been fond of the E36 for as long as I can remember. Mum bought one in Hellrot Red to replace our big and unreliable Mitsubishi Pajero when I was about 5 years old. It was a 1996 318i saloon, automatic, with the standard cloth seats. I think the only optional extras it had were power windows, fog lights, and the digital clock. We had the car about 10 years and did well over 200,000 kms in it. I recall everything falling apart on it: headliner falling down, cloth door cards falling apart, and the clear coat peeling off the front bonnet. But mechanically, it was stupidly reliable. I don't remember it causing her any major issues. My sister, mum, and I took that thing all over the country and it only let us down once (a failed water pump I think). Finally, at about 300,000 kms, it had some major engine issue which wasn't worth fixing. Anyway, that car was my first taste of the BMW world, namely the E36, and I absolutely loved it. I remember cleaning it just about every weekend because mum would let me drive it around to the back of the house where the hose was. Back to the 328i. When it came up for sale I instantly fell in love with it. The m contours looked epic and were a huge upgrade over the stock 16 inch wheels. The test drive only confirmed my love. The straight six sounded mean, especially with the golf tee mod. And the steering felt massively better than the steering box in my 540i. So, I bought it. And I love it. And best of all, it didn't have any clear coat peeling, or headliner sag, or door cards falling apart. Temporary two-car garage... It certainly wouldn't beat the 540i on a drag strip, but that isn't the point. It's a cliche, but the 328i is a far more involved driving experience. While the 540i was comfortable and muscular, the 328i is peppy and engaging.

Actuator seized up and the passenger door no longer unlocks. I managed to finally take it out, free it up and lubricated it, but after a few weeks working it has seized again, so I guess it's time to look for a replacement. If you can point me to somewhere that might have one that would be great too, otherwise it's eBay o'clock for me. Cheers!

From what I researched they're 18x8J +45 f and 18x9J +50 r. Run around us$2400 a set (rims only). For this size rim the retailer is recommending 225/40 f and 255/30r which is what I am running. They weigh just under 8kg.

Anyone keen on a E87 135d. We have an extra 130 ideal for a M57N2 repower.

Hi...The wheels were on it when I bought it in from Japan...I did wonder if it had different suspension considering the previous owner went to the bother of upgrading the wheels and exhaust with decent upgrades, ie not the cheapest or most common. Im not sure on the wheel offsets. but I will see what I can track down. Rear spoiler was on it too, I assumed it was a optional stock fitment? Ive owned it for maybe 6 months and apart from replacing the starter motor its been faultless (touch wood).

Epic. Thank you for doing sh*t like this. And sell me one of those bumpers please.

Oh my lord, the perfect E87! 135i front bumper is a really nice touch. She a keeper Ray?

Absolute weapon! Very cool

haha way too cool. must be heaps of fun + practical now being a hatchback.

Just trying my luck 1 more time on here before looking into the overseas alternatives. Your inbox must be full as I can't message directly. Cheers!

I drove it like an animal to spin brru. I do have some baby 215s old Pirellis on the Rk003s 18×8.5 8.5 kgs rims at rear. Going to opt for 255 40, something cheaper cos smoking& raw instant power was part of the essence of the build. Would like to go 17×10/11 after cam with no alterations of the guard. Like the stock look. 1 major stuff up was hitting that guard🙄i could of made it fit but I was rushing. I hate it!! And will fix it soon. I wont alter the stock look unless i really have to homs. I will take you for a spin soon. Shes Insane brru....as the last guy i took for a drive said more than 8- 10 times. 😂

I managed to get a quote to NZ. was about AUD$39.

3.62 - a number that should roll off the tongue as it should have rolled off the factory floor. Diff rebuilt by KBM with a 3.62 crownwheel and pinion from an e46 M3, bumped from the stock Evo ratio of 3.23. Diff seals replaced with new, all other diff internals checked and cleaned but otherwise left as the Bavarian engineers deemed appropriate. Flex disc (guibo) also replaced at the same time, mine was well rooted. The CW&P that went in apparently had no usage marks or scars at all and my LSD internals were in "great" condition, nice. First impressions are actually quite subdued, it's not a night and day difference but for sure, it is a difference. I think the thing I'm most satisfied with is that it feels so OEM, it's takes nothing at all away from the 'factory feel' of the car, it really could have rolled off the production line like this. But it's certainly more urgent, everywhere. Every gear (perhaps with the exception of 1st) is totally more usable in the new range, it feels like it should have been like this all along. Even 5th at highway speeds allows you to pull instantly rather than wait a bit then pull. At 120 it sits perfectly on 3k rpm in 6th (which is nice because then both the needles are almost perfectly parallel). BMW clearly learnt from the S50 era and certainly got the ratios right in the S54 edition. Chirps in 1st and the change to 2nd are more easily induced but it doesn't feel wild like an unusually light flywheel does, launching and gear changes are no more difficult than before. But an extra gear change to 100km/h so no new records there, it's bouncing at 95km/h in second now. I've had the CW&P sitting in a box for nearly 2 years now whilst waiting for moons to align and I'm glad they finally have, I'm most satisfied. It feels like 30 more hp and lot more torque, weight-for-weight I'd have no problems betting on this against a standard e46 M3 now. I kept the stock CW&P in case I ever sell the car so it comes with all the matching/factory parts. Just don't ask how much it cost all in! 😂 @sweetm3 - time to arrange a drive me thinks!

152,186 kms. Upon returning to Wellington she was due for a WOF. Took her to VTNZ and she passed with a clean sheet. Then, into Auto 38 for new belts and all new pulleys as they were all pretty old anyway. The thermostat housing also had a slow leak, so that too was replaced. Going back in this week for new front wheel bearings. Took it to the Brit and Euro Car Show last weekend. A really cool day with an awesome selection of cars. Will definitely be attending again. [On the way to the show I found myself next to a souped-up classic Mini with a roll cage and violently loud exhaust at a red light. It brought me great joy to put it in my rear view mirror ;)]

151,500 kms. After over 5,000 kms and a couple months, the car was due for a wash. To thank it for all its hard work, I spent a few days detailing it. Pretty happy with how it came out, considering I'm a novice detailer and used just my hands. Before: After: For this I used mostly Autoglym products: shampoo, clay bar, polish, ceramic coating. And plenty of elbow grease and man hours. A Karcher carpet cleaner for the carpets, and some leather cleaner and conditioner on the seats and steering wheel. At the same time I refreshed the cabin and air filters, and boot struts. I had no idea changing a cabin filter could be so difficult. For anyone who hasn't done one of these on an E36, the cabin filter lives under the steering wheel, and requires breaking in two locations just to fit it in place. The instructions I followed said this was a 15 minute job - I lost count once it got to an hour.

146,139 kms. When I got the car it was due for an oil change. I got Auto 38 to give it a good going over: oil and filter change coolant change (genuine BMW) brake fluid power steering fluid fix an issue with the aftermarket alarm (turned out to be just a blown fuse) Little did the E36 know, that after doing less than 3000kms over the past year, it would be doing nearly double that over the next couple months. My girlfriend and I went to Hawke's Bay to work over summer. Over the summer, we did two trips to Auckland, a trip back to Wellington, a trip to Whanganui, and plenty of cruising around Hawke's Bay. During those trips, the car did not use a drop of oil, nor did it even stutter. The only issues it developed was a noisy AC pulley and a slightly noisy RF wheel bearing. It was a great opportunity to get to know the car, and I feel I know it really well now. A few images... One of our first stops: Te Mata Peak Made it to Auckland One of Hawke's Bay's many beaches Waiting patiently outside the Art Deco Cafe in Napier (highly recommend) Doing some off-roading out to the Shine Falls waterfall The car handled everything we threw at it without breaking a sweat. Not bad for a 22 year old car I bought only a few weeks before.

I bought a plastic one from Aus, Mr Body Kit, it’s really good quality and didn’t cost that much. Way better than other second hand options I looked at!

God, Chucked her in the light, letting the shadows show what the guide coats are even struggling to show and she needed a few more runs, nightmare! Why the hell was this panel so warped haha She's good now, moar block sands, and some 3am finishes so i could use some lighting to cast shadows on the area as i was having to move the car around the drive way to use the sun to cast the shadow haha

New high score achieved. Had fun with a sport bike on a closed road in the wee hours

A couple more happy snaps from today ...