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I'll avoid turning this thread into a mental health journal, but I have not had a good time recently! The missus convinced me to go to hospital last week, a place I stubbornly avoid. I ended up staying for a while... Long story short, I had to have surgery to remove my gallbladder, and I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. I've been feeling less than well for years, but recently it really ramped up with severe pain in my side. I'd been to my doctor, had all sorts of scans and tests, and it was chalked down to chronic back pain. I was always pumped full of painkillers and sent home, not good for the physical or mental health once they wear off. I'd actually quit my job as a builder, stopped playing sport, stopped surfing, and was worried I'd have to stop working on cars because everything was just getting too painful to do. It basically felt like I couldn't do any of the things I'd worked hard towards and the things I loved doing anymore. The diabetes thing, well, the doctor said I'd put up a hell of a fight and done well to avoid a coma with the blood sugar level I came in with, but my body had just given up, but it can all be managed well now. I'm actually relieved to have a diagnosis, and since the surgery my back pain has all but gone. It's honestly gave me so much hope. It's a six week recovery, with the first two doing very little, something I'm not great at. While I was laid up in bed I came across SOUP Classic Motoring on Youtube: Might be of interest to folk. It's really kept me going, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the shed when I can. The reason I've posted this here is that I've had a lot of support from communities of like-minded folk like Bimmersport, and I just want to thank the people that have reached out, offered to help and everything else. Hopefully I can get Mo on the road for Summer, not much left to do there, and then turn my attention to saving the 325i. Bit to do on that one! Josh

Ugh, people that "just put a battery on it and tried to start it". its been in storage 20 years, dont try and start it without first at least giving it a service. E: and then the one that comes in and asks for the status of the cambelt and waterpump. Well, i'd bet the answer is... Old.

Nice purchase @ctho - The E46 Touring platform with the M54B30 is fantastic. I picked mine up a few years ago at 200km and similarly addressed a lot of the big maintenance items. Off the top of my head: Full cooling system overall inc. fan clutch. Valve cover gasket. Koni adjustable shocks, control arms, bushes etc. Steering coupler. Style 350M's with PS4's (came on aftermarket wheels). Gearbox oil and filter (this made a BIG difference). Plus all the usual consumables, misc. cosmetic items etc. Sitting just under 250km now and serving me better than when I first got it.

Newest purchase: E46 330i Wagon bought from @Forrest NZ New 180,000kms It arriving up from Wellington off the trailer Things already done: Valve cover gasket Water pump and thermostat Cooling hoses and expansion tank Intake boots Front control arm bushes Both front door window regulators Front seat panels repaired and re-dye Rear tail gate, rear passenger door and front guard replaced with matching colour panels (previous owner had badly dented them) New Din65 battery (October 2021) Full set of new tyres (January 2021) Replacement front windscreen moulding Cupholders retrofitted Replacement front number plate trim panel To do list: - Full motorsport conversion (bumpers, steering wheel etc.) - New condenser for A/C - Gearbox oil + Filter - Alu cube trim swap - Chrome delete + Tints - Style 135 wheels - Suspension refresh - Manual conversion? - Full respray post M-Sport conversion

Thanks @adro; cosmetically its not perfect but it looks good from a distance 😅. There's a chance I might be selling the E46 soon as I purchased an F11 last week for daily duties. Just need to figure out if it will become surplus or if I can justify keeping it based on use. If I do end up selling it'll be listed on here first.

I wonder if the 60k vert will change his price based on this listing

Not sure, an E30 on standard springs looks like a startled cat, could be the originals that have sagged a bit over time as the ‘vert is a bit of a lardarse. Another one I will be watching intently, for valuation purposes.

5 years driven on salty UK roads

My goodness, an E30 on stock springs. Wonders never cease...

I think the vert's kept going for longer pre FL?

This. I had a similar story trying to buy an e30. Negotiated with the seller, wouldn’t budge and mentioned that if I was wanting to “secure it then <insert price>“ is what he’s looking for. Ended up biting the bullet and agreed. Asked him to send the list he said he was compiling of what was done to the car and also when I could pick it up. He then replied that he’ll suss it and “go forward from there”. After a bit of back and forth I got told to “take it easy” and we’ll “sort things out over the next few days.” Two days later I get a message saying that the “previous owner wanted to buy it”. I told him it’s up to you what you do. Then the next day he mentions he has another guy ready to buy and then a few hours later told me that it’s been sold. Told him that I had a feeling it was going to happen (could tell straight away from how he replied when I agreed to his price) and mentioned that we had a deal but I guess money talks, to which he then says that he’s “super sorry” and that it was “tough to let it go” and that the new owner has “promised him” that when he comes back to NZ (he’s overseas) “he will sell it back no questions asked” Probably played everyone to try push the price higher and higher. To be honest in these instances, even though he wasted my time (thankfully nothing more), I really am more thankful that I dodged a bullet. If that’s the character of the guy selling, I don’t want to buy anything from him.

I have type 2 - have to manage it but my doctor caught it early. Too much stress at work plus cakes every week (failing project needing support) did it for me. I'm now classed as pre-diabetic, and retiring has really made a difference. Keep on going!

Exactly, there is a process you should go through when bringing a car back from storage. Especially after 20 years!! The photos of the tyres made me grin - at least 20 years old fit for nothing but the bin. Will be interesting to see what it goes for, aka is someone else going to bid more than I want to pay for it..?

Fine taste in cars you have @ctho

haha thanks it's getting there!

Car batteries do not take kindly to being totally discharged (like in the clock stops working). You really need to get the battery tested. If it is old and tired it may only be taking a surface charge. It will look like it is fully charged when to you test it with a multimeter, but it may only have enough stored charge to start the car once before going flat. A battery shop or garage should have a load tester that will check that for you in a couple of minutes. Cheers...

I'd like to argue that cleaning up rocker cover and removing the Cosmoline residue would actually take away some of its originality. It attests to how well it has been kept over the years.

Try Chartwell Panel and Paint. We use them for our work and they appear to have very reasonable prices for their work.

X

I bought an E30 ~10 years ago after soley owning half a dozen E34\E32's. Everyone was talking about them then and most of this board owned one in those days. They were great cars for money back then (still are minus the money part) but no BMW really else drives and looks like them whilst still being available and mostly financially obtainable. If you think E34 are under valved go look at E36 Ti's prices, basically the E30 driving experience without most of the common issues. They just happen suffer from not looking very good for a BMW during 90's and not many 6 cylinders made, otherwise they would probably be far more popular. 3 series will always be more popular than 5 series for smaller car reasons, lower numbers of 5 series manuals doesn't help things.

It occurs to me that some of the ideas expressed in my post may be a little old-fashioned! For those of you who’ve found love or more through technology, whether use of avatars, swiping left/right on Tinder/Grindr/Bumble etc I meant no disrespect 🙂 Down on my knees with some grinder action in the kitchen 😎

Snow foam pre wash and 2 bucket method is the safest way to maintain ceramics (even the spray ceramic coatings). Duration of these will vary, and you can often layer the products so continue topping up as necessary. With the maintenance side of things, it's super important to wash an area twice carefully than once with pressure on your mitt; and make sure all your wash and drying equipment is clean or you're in for some disappointment. Regarding brands; you're never tied to a certain brand. Even professionally applied ceramic coating lifespan can be extended with regular wax or sealant top ups. The boffins often say don't wax coatings as it can reduce their effectiveness (by covering them with another product) and whilst they're correct there's a factor we endure quite severely here in NZ that reduces coating lifespan; UV. Regular top ups with ceramic spray sealant will fill the low spots and increase lifespan. In terms of drying; as ceramics are super hydrophobic you can often dry a high percentage of the vehicle with low pressure water (top to bottom, straight from the hose), then dab the remainder with a drying towel or even better yet air dry with a master blaster or similar. Side note on ceramic sprays. Ceramics crystallise and form a hard layer (which is how they work; professional ranges cure with heat, time, IR or a combination depending on the product). Albeit heavily watered-down, spray ceramics use silica dioxide (Sio2) and as such still harden. There aren't many studies released here on the effects yet, but I'd recommend not inhaling the residue while you're applying. From what I have read the retail range risks are low, but still present. See here for more info: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/silicosis/#:~:text=Silicosis is a long-term,that can be easily inhaled.

Replaced the valve cover gasket and spark plug gasket with new OEM replacements. Added a spot of black rtv in the half moon edges as per bmw instructions. Remaining issues only the indicator stalk for replacement and possible new drivers mirror to get fold function back. Will give it once last chance on here once at an appropriate lockdown level and then trademe it. I cant wait for “would you take 3k cash today!” As if 3k potatoes tomorrow was the alternative.

Buy me

@Timythenerd Any updates on the V12 E34 Touring by any chance?