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When it comes to controlling how people behave, new rules and laws only affect the people who actually give a sh*t about rules and laws. The small percentage that don't care (who are actually the target) simply continue to do what they have always done. Legislators know this, but the government being driven by public opinion and politics, continues to believe that the all and any social problems can be solved by dumping money on new technology and passing new rules and regulations. This is how your freedom gets eroded away. One unpopular (but surprisingly effect solution) is to simply put some effort into using available resources to enforce existing laws. Certain "clubs" are now getting some heat after many years of being allowed to proliferate by weak-kneed politicians. Just goes to show what can happen when a problem gets big enough to turn public opinion against a do-nothing government. Cheers...

Yeah its appalling out there, numpty in the 323 was sitting in RH lane of SH1 (on the new autobahn..) going from braking hard when he saw lights in distance and freaking out, to driving off the road, to going well north of 160... then he tried lining me up for a race, which resulted in the bird. Was thinking afterwards, is the problem our weetbix license system? A big chunk of my job is carrying out checks on UAV pilots, making sure they know the rules and can fly, and its my name and reputation in the industry (and with CAA) that goes on their certs. If I think they are plebs and are going to go out and be cocks afterwards, and I am not happy to have my name on their cert if something went sideways, I dont sign it. I dont think the same sort of system applies with cars? Are the people clipping tickets doing drivers tests directly accountable for whom they are signing off? Other issue is obviously those who just simply dont have licenses, different problem to solve there..

Yes, for a proper review of your listing we are going to need material to work with. So inflated price, rubbish images, overly opinionated "my car is worth this take it or leave it" replies to questions, and make sure you blur out the plate in the images and then add it in the listing text. Don't forget that you will be taking payment in any form of digital coin, swaps for land, and please put forward the heart felt sob story of why you are selling this beloved car.

Definitely recommend FCP for suspension components. Their customer service is outstanding and freight times are pretty good at present. E39 feels like new after a refresh.

I want a GR yaris bad...

+$50 Ive been trying to get a Simota intake, no one has any in stock, not even Simota factory answer me.

.Some progress, decided id waited long enough for the rain to stop, so pulled the diff out of the car, on the side of the road, in the rain. Not the most fun I've had working on my car, but managed to get it done. Some of the bolts took a while to take out, probably should have just removed the heat shield. Dropping the diff down in a controlled manner was tricky with only 2 hands, 1 of which was needed to operate the jack, slipped off the jack a bit and crushed my hand slightly but luckily it wasn't quite as heavy as I had anticipated. Diff goes to Kayne Barrie early next week to get the Mfactory LSD and new seals put in, in the meantime I will try replace the diff bushings. And then ill put it back in the car, fill it up with some fresh fluid and see how it goes. Made a tool for the two smaller diff bushings, just a pipe, some plate and a threaded rod, should do the trick, then put the new ones in the freezer and they should go in easy enough. Thinking I will probably be able to use the subframe busing tool for the large diff bushing.

Topaz is now largely stripped down and now attacking the very old stone chips on roof that have rusted a bit, had to get severe with it, and a bit of filling to do...

Hi everyone! My e90 right rear window regulator seems to be fully shot now I put the window down and now it cannot go up at all. when it was starting to fail it'd stop halfway so I could atleast push the window back up with my hands but now its fully stuck in between the door. Does anyone know the rough price for replacing the regulator from a mechanic and which mechanic to recommend? or if the job is relatively easy to do DIY where is the best place to source the part.

Hi Everyone, I recently became a member with this beauty of a 2000 528i e39 (factory manual). Drove her up over the weekend from Christ Church to Auckland what an experience. Let's just say fun, but also some temper tantrums along the way. However, I wouldn't have it any other way. I am just wondering if any one was scrapping similar projects, had old parts they wanted to get rid of, or sell etc... I am not looking to build a race car but just improve her a little bit e.g. strut bar, exhaust (something low key), improve the suspension, improve the gear stick and some of the parts, headlights and potentially a body kit(still hesitant on this one). I know Rome wasn't built in a day and it will be a process but any help and advice I would appreciate. I have been doing my research but so much options and most of the 528i post in this forums are kind of old seems like they are forgotten about or every one go straight to the big brother the 540i. I look forward to hearing from you soon Cheers

Something odd has taken over my brain and I'm actually thinking of going FWD. Current contenders are R56 Mini JCW, Fiesta ST, or perhaps a Megane RS265. Audi S1 another possible choice, but I think the 4WD detracts rather than adds to the appeal for me. I hired a Megane RS265 over in Australia a couple of times several years ago. Did a few thousand k total. Was absolutely blown away by how awesome it was to drive on a good road, probably the most exciting car I've ever driven, but I don't think it would be a great daily driver round town. That's what first got me switched on to how much fun a FWD car can be. Given that I drive ~80km per day on my commute too then something a bit smaller and more efficient than the 130i is pretty appealing at the moment, hence the JCW or Fiesta ST as options. Of course I could keep the 130i as a weekend car and get something small and boring as a daily. But with 2 kids, I don't really get that much weekend time to enjoy driving anyway, so I'd actually rather have the fun car as a daily when I'm on my own then something boring/electric as the weekend car when I'm just driving them around places. One of my previous cars was a Mk6 Golf R, which was fast and it was fun, but not that involving to drive, the 130i is on another league for driving kicks, and it also made me realise I'd much rather be driving a manual car every day than auto or DSG...

and when that all fails you can always fall back on the classic noddy line "Won't be re-listing\keeping it if it doesn't sell"

Cool, will definitely keep that in mind. I actually have pretty much all the original parts sitting under the house still too 😅. Plus other new spares that i haven't even fitted yet! Will see what happens in the next little while anyway. I need to go and test drive some of the possible replacements I have in mind, maybe that'll spur me into keeping it anyway 🤣

Haha if I had more time and space then putting it back to stock and selling all the parts separately would probably be the best option, but I'm sadly short on both space and time!

Epic as always.

A long time between posts means ... lots of pics and progress Had the 3D printer at it again making some custom functional parts again. Made this cover for the hole in the trans tunnel where the Serial Nice CD999 shifter comes through. Got a hold of a rubber shifter boot courtesy of Mitre10 Its not fantastic but should get the job done for now. Next up was the mini project of making a home for the 5 gauges i'm running without having to use an A-pillar or steering column mount. With a bit of luck this will look kinda fitting with the interior style. Decided to not carry on with the remake and 3D print but instead to modify the existing console. First up was to glue the existing flap closed with some of this JB Weld goop ... used hot glue on the back side for initial location. Once dried i sanded flush or slightly less than flush. Next up used some Isopon plastic bumper filler to fill and contour ... this was pretty good stuff. Did about 4 applications to get it looking fairly good. Once happy with the shape I drilled the holes for two gauges not catered for in the top piece (Ebay sourced). Gave it some painting with Dupli Color Vinyl and Fabric and it was looking pretty reasonable. May change when its in proper sun light but can always re-do or wrap it etc. The final product looks pretty cool, white illumination during the day and amber at night which ties in with the rest of the console very nicely. Also here you can see the fake leather shift boot installed topped off by the auto selector knob Got all of the new fluids at last !! Decided to go with the Redline products ... trans oil, diff oil and power steering here. Another milestone achieved in getting the radiator sorted !!! Canceled the Chase Bays item i had on order due to crazy long lead times (ordered April, shipping in September ... maybe). So got a unit from Fenix which was their race 56mm edition for a Holden HQ / Torana It would have gone in with minimal modification if the oil tank had not being in the way ... alas it had to get 70mm taken off one end. This proved very useful however allowing relocation of one of the ports to work beautifully with the oil tank in place. Also got two temp sensor ports installed along with a drain bung and mounting tabs where they needed to go. The filler neck was also removed as the Nissan VQ filler is engine mounted. Made another 3D printed item to mount one side of the radiator to the stud thats in the cross bar thingy in the front. Will be in interesting to see how it holds up. That about brings us up to date ... current mission is getting all of the plumbing sorted. Have done most of the -6 line for the power steering and will start on the oil system as soon as the tank is mounted with its final brackets etc (waiting on laser cutting).

@qube I think you're getting confused with the 'non plug in hybrid' pre-facelift ActiveHybrid3. All of the post facelift 330e run B48+electric motor. @digginz fuel economy without plugging in sounds poor on these, real-world range apparently ~30km and make sure your warranty covers battery and motor otherwise 🤑 if they go wrong. F3x chassis is pretty good though and the mid-2016 models onward will be able to have native Apple Carplay.

Cant go wrong with OE stuff but id probably skip the bolts though. You'd definitely want to add trailing arm bushings to that list given they take the most abuse. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-bushing-outer-e36-e46-33326770786 and limiters https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-bushing-reinforcement-spacer-set-093031010 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-ball-joint-e36-e46-33326775551 - You can use 2x of these for rear outer and lower(upgrade used by M3's) instead of https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-bushing-outer-e36-e46-33321136311 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-bushing-rear-lower-inner-oem-33326770824l & https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-bushing-rear-upper-e36-e46-oem-33321092247 - Don't think these really wear that much and aren't easy to do. First bushings are very hard to press in\out without correct gear. Second ones may require the diff to be lowered on L\H side and are bit of a pain to torque (E46 anyway, not sure on E36) You could also do the subframe bushings and have the trailing arm and subframe reinforcements welded in if you really wanted to be thorough

What you should do is part it out and Auction all the parts to members of this particular forum thread only.

Hey Boston.. Regarding the suspension kits from FCP I can recommend them I bought one for the E39 and it turned out to be really good just make sure you get a reputable brand and all the brands on there are. I’d also recommend getting the most comprehensive one you can I didn’t and I’m gonna have to go back in and do integral links and rear wheel carrier bushings are before Christmas But it’s also easy to go front and rear separately so that helps

Very detailed thanks for this Eagle, I definitely had a look at your post a good couple of times (I have been eyeing this and other forums for sometime before buying). Yes a full suspension over haul will be loading :). Also I appreciate you and Miles taking the time out to speak and help me. As requested pics now attached :). Not shown here but cup holders unbroken, but other parts like radio and climate control buttons (some) unsticking haha we have a love hate more love tho

163,217 kms. Long-time no post! I’m still loving the little E36. It has been so good to me and puts a smile on my face every time I thrash drive it. Living in Kelburn and working / studying in the CBD means that I rarely have a reason to take it out of the garage (except for the weekly grocery shop), but I often find myself driving it just for the sake of it. Updates since last time Replaced the original perished windscreen cowl / cracked windscreen / old wiper blades Before After Replaced broken fog light bracket (absolute pain to change!) and fog light bulbs Dent Magician removed a couple minor door dings (ding free now) Brake upgrade – installed E46 330i front brakes and 328i rear brakes / new brake pads / new rotors / rebuilt calipers / fresh brake fluid Basic maintenance (Oil changes, filters etc) Couple WOFs, including the obligatory “she’s pretty tidy” as the inspector hands back my keys Fixed squeaky seat and steering wheel Replaced rubber gaskets around both rear quarter windows. [Until I screwed up the driver's side when I was reinstalling the window – I over-tightened the b-pillar bolt and snapped it in half. Unfortunately, the window is designed so that the bolt is glued to the glass. I think the best step forward is to find a replacement rear quarter glass. Any ideas?] Regular cleaning, finishing with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection Multiple road trips, from Waihau Bay over the summer break to a recent trip with the BMW Club to Castlepoint, without any issues. Surprisingly, it hasn’t used a single drop of oil in my ownership and doesn’t leave any puddles in my garage (in stark contrast to my previous E39 540i) Chocolate Fish with the BMW Club (photo credit to @TermiPeteNZ) (Photo credit to @adro) Castlepoint with the BMW Club Southward Car Musem Coffee and Cars Summer road trip to Waihau Bay Featured in the BMW Club Dixi magazine Me, an amateur model (photo credit to @Olaf) Been naughty To do (short – medium term) Fix small power steering leak Replace bonnet struts (I discovered this was an issue when replacing the windscreen cowl) Suspension refresh – I have a Vogtland suspension kit (front / rear springs and shocks) for the car, but I want to do a more comprehensive refresh at the same time. I would like some advice. I've been looking at the kits on FCP Euro (such as: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-kit-8-piece-e36-e36cakit8l; https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-bushing-kit-lemforder-33306852895kt; https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-sway-bar-bushing-kit-lemforder-33551138104kt). What are your thoughts? I'm happy to be educated. The aim is to freshen the suspension to OE spec, with a "do it once, do it right" attitude New front tyres Fix the slight squeak when cold – suspect belt needs replacement Replace the passenger door actuator so that it locks / unlocks on its own (and I don't have to, embarrassingly, lean over and open the door for my passenger, asking them to excuse it as "an old girl" ) – I have the new actuator but have been procrastinating To do (longer term) Manual swap Rebuild and install purple tag steering rack Repaint front bumper Replace scraped front spoiler Paint correction.

Bit of a late reply, discovered I'm not getting notifications from bimmersport at all. Definitely my old car, lovely drive and @Brianr70 is a great guy as well!

Drove from Opotiki to Auckland this evening, the number of drunk/high c**ts driving is genuinely scary... The methhead in JYD178, e90 323, I hope when you kill yourself you dont take anyone else with you.