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218,500 km oil change time! Super cheap had a sale in the weekend. I managed to score the last 7L of HPR 5W40 for $91. Thanks to @Mikan for the stash of oil filters. I do like how the Mann filters come with the o ring and crush washer. Edit: I should add that I am absolutely thrilled with where this car is at now. It’s finally at that point where if you drove it and had to guess the mileage you wouldn’t believe it’s done 218k. I also prefer to drive this daily over the E30 now. I think it’s the steering rack that gives it the edge.

Some cool stuff to add here. New alcantara wheel. Went with royal steering wheels from the UK over someone like Cobywheel cause I don't like the way they just wrap over an original. I wanted to retain OEM thickness etc. The other option was one of the European guys on ebay but half of them can't use the stock grey 9002 alcantara and use 9040 which is much darker. I already have 9002 on the gear/handbrake levers and boots, so matching was important. Not to mention the ebay guys are significantly more expensive. Went with black stitching instead of the tri-colour. Not my thing, and I have black stitching everywhere else. Overall fairly impressed given the price. There is some slight bunching at 9 and 3 on the wheel but pretty good. This section in particularly is rough on the cobywheel and was the reason I was looking elsewhere. The cobywheels have loose material hanging off here because they are just wraps. Other than that over the last few weeks I have rebuilt some sedan sliders and mounted the recaros on those instead of coupe sliders. Significantly more travel on the passenger side and makes rear seat access better. Unfortunately I fried my phone and lost the photos but I just cleaned them down and painted them gloss black. I also decided I would have a go regluing my A and C pillars which were sagging (again lost the before photos). I had seen people suggest using a glue stick. I was sceptical but figured if it didn't work I would just replace them anyway. To my surprise, it worked super well and they are still holding pretty firm a few weeks later. We will see if they survive the summer. Replaced the headlight lenses and removed the angel eyes. Photos don't do justice how much of a difference fresh lenses make. Before: After: Replaced all the window seals for fresh ones since the old ones were dry and disintegrated, and a fresh center hood grill as well (lost the before shots but they were knackered). In a happy place with the car for now. Time for a breather.

Good eye. Sure is. Was using it as a daily driver when I had to commute pre-lockdown. V6 Manual, cool little thing and bought it for jelly beans too because they seem to be worth nothing.

130i registry has been started https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/134BvssGMK7jqiTlNn9AUErBILKyMdSpQY2enh6CRrEI/edit?usp=sharing Early days, will get updated and made less crude as it goes.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/3353403083 Doesn't get any better than this as far as I'm concerned

Put mine in. Could put the previous two in but I'll leave that to the owners.

Still stuck in header fab land ... now 4 out of 6 tubes assembled however. Onto the most complicated one of the lot, the dreaded cylinder 4 ... or as I call it 'hell tube' At least I have cut all of the segments on my day off today and can start assembly tomorrow. Will be 3D printing some 'helper jigs' tonight where I have bends that meet other bends at an angle etc.

$22k was my planned starting price for a TM auction if I decide to move my N54 powered 130i on after completing the maintenance (specs in Chris's google docs file). Fully certified too.

I had the same experience with mine. One of the greatest engines ever. What excellent taste you have!

@Harper that interior is A+++ standard and so nice

Is the 'low baller' still about? Now's his chance!

Relisted - now an auction. Even lower starting price at 60k https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3357358051?bof=71RVdfKh 😶

it's ludacriss 😂

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/123d/listing/3355336265?bof=ahesLbra 123d manual nz new

Plan was for some track days, but mainly weekend fun car. Got the quote back from Birds including the suspension upgrade kit, 3025 pounds delivered, or around 5800NZD, then add 1200NZD customs, so around 7k all up in parts. Not really worth it in my mind, be better off financing the difference to get into an M2....... now thats an idea lol.

I absolutely hate how rounded and bubble like modern cars have become.

A milestone today, one side of the headers completely tacked up and ready for finish welding !! So much work ... can't wait until they are completely done. Onto some pics ... pretty self explanatory, the first is all of the pieces for the last tube on this side.

You should enjoy it, these are a nice steering wheel. The rim thickness and smaller diameter makes a huge change. Also the cruise control and sound buttons are very economically placed. Some manufacturers get this really wrong but I reckon BMW nails it with this steering wheel.

Love how focused this build is - no faff and bling, just quality bits to make the car better 😎

True, but making a low-ball offer before even seeing the car is almost offensive. Once you've seen and tested the car is the time to start negotiations, possibly an "are you flexible on price?" before you view. Especially with a crock reason of "track-days will upset most purists"... i'ts an M car, not a Toyota Vitz, it's SUPPOSED to go on a track.