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The wife has been borrowing the E46 the past 2-3 weeks driving through a construction site daily while her Audi gets fixed so its been uncharacteristically dirty lately. With the amazing weather, was high time to give her a good going over, also fixed a door speaker and sorted a little handbrake issue. Stopped for an impromptu snap en-route to the Supermarket - its been a while. Just doing a few minors on it now (RTABs / Alignment / Oil) as will be selling it on once I find an overpriced E30 for the next project 😢 I think she knows, was an absolute pleasure burbling around, turning heads in the sunshine, making me doubt myself...

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I've bought three vehicles remotely, employing the services of Car Inspection Services, VTNZ, and a BMW Dealer, respectively. 1. I'd never use Car Inspection Services again, or VTNZ. Though I kept both vehicles long-term, there was plenty wrong with each purchase that should have been revealed by the test. In the case of the first, I wouldn't have bought it if the issues had been accurately reported. 2. In the case of the BMW Dealer, I got a much better report, though there were still a few items missed. I'm very pleased with the vehicle. If I was buying a classic by remote control, I'd have a large risk budget. That is, money I'd be prepared to lose if the car didn't meet my expectations. It would vary with age, cost, complexity of the vehicle. I reckon $5k-$7k5 would be about right as risk budget for an e30 - enough to put some rust right, or panel work, or a lot of remedial servicing. I'd want it genuinely inspected. I took e30 Andy with me to buy my e30 - he knows them well. Or I'd commission Jon from Auto 38 to travel and inspect it, I can be assured of an accurate appraisal. I've photographed vehicles for those buying remotely, it's quite different to good honest but 'catch my sexy angle please' sales shots. Up to 200 hi res files shot on a hoist with controlled lighting (often studio flash) to ensure the buyer really gets to see under the arches, all the leaks etc. A picture tells a thousand words. If you're buying a car you've got to love it. Just like a guitar, the right car will speak to you. You don't shop for your wife on spec, so why shop for a car remotely on spec. Best done in person, make the connection, fall in love with the real thing, not just an avatar.

I did't even know mine was for sale!

I live 10mins from Cambridge so can probably take a look if wanted. Both my facelift E30's never had rust, both NZ new and paint condition says they were probably garaged most of their life.

Cheers, it’s in Cambridge - might cool my heels a touch however and take my time to make sure I get the right one - have a bit of time and money to not just buy first thing that comes along. The FOMO is real though 😬

@bmwclassic Ewww look at the size of those kidneys 🤣

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3061820931.htm Overall good nick, did notice some corrosion on the alu bits in the engine bay so would def need a closer look underneath, and a check over of usual anti rust coating areas.. Looking at 2017+ cx-5 and 2015+ outbacks, maybe the xv and Forrester too. Can’t say there’s alot of enthusiasm towards Audi, VW or Kia, Hyaundai etc. Not in a huge rush so willing to hunt around seeming as there’s f uck all else to do atm 😅

Test drove a 35i x3 and an f48 x1 25i. X3 is a nicer car compared to the x1. Feels more bmw like and the n55 is a decent unit. X1 to me felt more hatch back like but the b48 engine is awesome. Tempted to pull the trigger on x3 but will look at a few non bmw suv’s in our price range to compare.

More E30 goodness from BMW Classic

Through renovating 3 places i have been adding to my list of things to ‘not screw up in a new build’ and near the top is 1000mm wide doorways. These are the largest standard sized doors offered by most manufacturers and cost $24 more each vs the 810mm standard last i checked.

Sadly only have one off street park otherwise would definitely hang on to it. Although I don’t do enough kms anyway to justify three cars anyway, especially WFH / Covid times…

I brought my vert sight unseen, just really wanted a facelift vert. Only issue it had was with the roof but there's been a few niggly things thats failed since but otherwise happy. Also brought a e30m50 off a bloke on here, also fine. Sometimes just luck of the draw

@Olaf Good advice - need to love it - i’m planning on holding the car for a good amount of time (Forever?!?) so shouldn’t rush 👍

Looks absolutely superb!

contact @Autoglym, you could engage him as seller's agent.

"Aero style" or "turbofan" wheels... been used for yonks on certain fast factory cars. I believe they are supposed to reduce drag and improve airflow over the brakes. And yeah, rivet on widebody kits do look a bit/lot ghetto, but they make sense on a race car where being able to replace damaged guards quickly is a a big plus. And I believe the grey car is a race car. Cheers...

Tidy! Keen to see this in person once you've finished. How did the chain guides look?

Way too ghetto looking to me especially with those hideous wheels.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/this-mean-e30-bmw-3-series-is-hiding-a-supercharged-1uz-v8/ Similar/same kit. But looks better. Because it's not Orange. As much as I hate to say it. Superior engine. And that's before you supercharge it.

@Sammo Depending on where it is located there is most likely a bimmersporter that would go have a look at it for you. If it stacks up with records and receipts and isn’t going for top $$ then it wouldn’t be much of a risk I reckon.

@Sammo It really depends - if it’s modified then I’d be questioning the who/where/when/how/what and is it certed, or has it been serviced at all - any records, I’d look at the WOF sheet to see if it failed on anything or any warnings, list of question goes on. I’d be wary of the “no known rust” statement. Some people are just happy to be ignorant of these issues because they know they’re going to sell it off eventually anyway. Whereas, I would actively look for them as I’m a bit more pedantic about a car I want to keep tidy. I’ve viewed several e36s and e30s before buying mine and honestly, I can say that all of the people who said “no known rust” or some kind of iteration of that, I found rust within the first minute of inspection. Granted, some were surface but I’ve found some to have corrosion as well. I’ve even found on an e30 the left side tray in the boot by the antenna filled with water without the owner knowing. Personally, the higher the price tag, the more I’d actually want to check in person as I want to be sure that the car is worth the price. That’s mostly because I don’t have a lot of expendable income and only starting to wrench. If you’re neither of that, I would probably approach it as @BMTHUG would, as long as the seller doesn’t seem dodgy, and has recent WOF and reg. If it’s from someone here that actually posts, I’d buy it sight unseen as most of the members here are enthusiasts and seem to be more trustworthy than the fb counterparts. You could potentially ask a favour from the seller or someone here to have a PPI done, and/or maybe ask them to get you a new WOF with vtnz. In saying that, I missed out on a very tidy one as I was hesitant in buying sight unseen - albeit at the time it was priced relatively a bit on the higher side than market value. So at the end of the day, it’s your money and decision so do your due diligence and go with your gut.

I am sometimes risk averse but after a couple of wines bought my E30, but I had seen it in the flesh and driven it. Also drove that red M Tech2 that went for $62k before settling in to bid with a wine in hand, then being greatly blown out of the water, made for entertainment at least. Reckon there’s enough Forum members around the country to go have a look for you, assume it is out of Auckland otherwise you’d be able to have a Level 3 “picnic” and view while socially distancing. I am not mechanically minded, but the experts here tell me they’re easy to work on if you are, so does it come down then to the “price v rust”? equation as if the body is sound and it’s cheap enough, does the mechanical stuff matter AS much? I can sell you a lovely 4 door 😉 but suspect you’re after a manual and a coupe, which I am now too. @Olaf and @_ethrty-Andy_ and @Ghost Chip what does your experience advise @Sammo?

Well done, great work.

Damn, I'd find it very difficult to sell that car Sam.

I bought a mobile table / bench to dump all my sanders and reno gear on so I could just move it from room to room. Always measure twice .....FFS!! it's 50mm wider than the doorways. So the shed gets another bench