Leaderboard

It's been a pretty quiet time lately. Winter, and recently Covid, have slowed me down. A sunny day yesterday in Welly, I thought I'd take Grey Thunder to run a couple of errands (recovering from Covid is taking some time), and I'm glad I did. I grabbed a phone shot of it parked in the sun, sporting the recently-acquired 15's. I think it's looking pretty spiffy! The extra half-inch of track is useful too, my initial impression is that the 15J7 setup better suits/matches the 14.5mm rear bar. Happy days. Now, to keep on with Covid recovery. Nasty business.

Got the newly acquired e39 running and driving again! After an oil change, radiator top up, replaced the seized fuel pump and new filter, drained the old fuel out and got some fresh stuff in it fired right up! Did find an air leak pretty quickly, but fixed that easily enough and took it for a test drive and runs like a dream. Gave it a good wash in the weekend to clean all the moss and spiders off and out of the door jams, and is in need of a good cut and polish. took it for a wof today, and just need to sort the abs issue, which is a code 48, faulty valve, rear right, brake shudder, which I’m guessing rotors need skimmed/replaced, broken side mirror to replace, and sort the fog light that points skywards due to an Ill fitted bumper trim. Not bad for sitting for 7 years! Needs a few other bits to tidy it up like dash cluster bulbs replaced, passenger mirror glass is all foggy, and was going to swap the stereo over for an android based one that looks almost identical to the old one, but has a heap of other features that will actually work, unlike the tv and navigation is currently has. Oh and maybe upgrade the 16s to something more exciting…

Thanks team! @E28E30, @freaknout, @balancerider. Plenty more work to do on it. Tacho was misbehaving on startup yesterday, working like a switch (1500 --- 2000 ----1400...) until the car had warmed up. Time to get the cluser out, go through and re-flow all the joints, replace the cluster batteries. Next month it's time to go through my parts inventory, and get through some M42 planning. The things rattling around in my head (in no particular order): Order new exhaust in preparation. I have 3M caulk for replacing internal plastic weathershielding behind the door panels, and get the plastic. Still need to make my mind up about the M42-purple tag conversion hose/pipe setup from UK. Maybe paint the 4.10 diff and get new seals for it. Get the exhaust manifold blasted and coated, clean up and paint a valve cover - Silver or black? And get a bit more prep for Coil-On-Plug setup. I rather like the idea of a valance and extended bolts to retain the BMW valley cover with Coil-On-Plug, so there's a bit of research to do there. And I still need to get a Barina/Corsa linkage, and get a local driveshaft shop sorted for doing the work to make the purple-tag to Corsa linkage. I also have sound deadening to do in the rear, and install the late-model parcel shelf & hi-stop brake light, and the premium rear speakers. Put the FL RF door trim on, in place of the PFL one that's there at the moment. Source fabric for upholstery refresh - it'd be good to get rid of the ugly seat covers. Finally put a BMW Car Club sticker or two on it. Figure out when the right time to put the iS sticker on. PS: driving a 32 year old car with a silky-light clutch, very good brakes and handling, zero rattles or clunks, is very satisfying.

Also true of old(er) Land Rovers - Series and Defender prices are way, way up. Diesel-engined Discoverys command a 100-300% price premium with asking of 5-figures (up from $2-6k 18 months ago), and Classic Range Rovers have gone from little more than scrap value to $6-10k+ for a <ahem> "project". Any of these are only $20-30k and 100s of hours hard work away from being a nice $20k vehicle.

no, it's an 80's/90's car thing. Check out Toyota Supras, Mitsubishi Starions, RX7s and see how many moonbeams you need for that kit.

Looking forward to having another drive over the holidays if you're around...

The bids are starting to come in on this one now, she’s up to $31k still not reserve met, be interesting to see where this ends up bid wise and where the reserve is set. 🍿

MTOY is now TIER. I had this plate on another car for a while, but time for a change. I like 4 letter plates. Also has a new water pump. Plans are to actually drive this car; it has travelled around 1,000kms the past year, and barely any of it with me driving. Next up replace the brakes. It's running CSL rotors, calipers and textile pads but they're getting a bit low. Likely going to do Stoptech bbk.

Rust and/or jacking damage has been a bone of contention with many E30 WoF inspections I would imagine. I know I have had discussions with various inspectors over both my ‘vert and race car as to whether what they were looking at was structural or not. In the end I found a sensible inspector and used them whenever needed.

xHP trans tune doing its thing....

If that was dolphin grey I would be all over it. I might even be tempted if the reserve is not too silly. Couple of funny things going on with it would need looking into, Tech 1 s/wheel on Tech 2 car and headlight wash system half removed - possibly something to do with the funky screen wash system in the top of the bonnet.?

I sold a garage full of E30 parts for $500 just over 3 years ago. And two coupes at about $1500 the pair... At the time there was no choice. We were moving and it all had to go. 😢