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Ended up having no luck with the exhaust manifold gaskets. Pulled one apart but the indent pattern is different between the two so gave up. A few more shops should be open tomorrow so will try my luck but pretty much resigned to dropping the engine in without them attached. Put that to the side and got onto fixing up the steering coupling. Somewhere along the line it got gifted with this masterpiece from Ireland Engineering. Can appreciate the intention behind it but what an absolute piece of sh*t it is. I suspect it would be around 4-5 years old but already very soft and insanely squeaky. Video: Ireland Engineering Steering Coupling Compare that to the stock 20-year old rubber one from the engine donor car that still feels solid as (the cracking is coming from my wrist...) Video: Original Rubber Steering Coupling If anyone thinking of doing this "upgrade" ever happens to see this - DON'T. Got the parts nicely cleaned up, put a dash of white lithium grease on the pivot points and bolted the thing up. Did have to drill the holes a size bigger to fit the M10 8.8 bolts. Was going to put the heatshield back on to make it a bit less conspicuous but that was just too mangled up to be of any use. Haven't looked into what the cert/WoF verdict might be on it but can easily throw on the original spare coupling if they deem it an issue. Otherwise, the freshly cleaned heat shields all bolted up, pretty much set for the engine install. Have a mate coming around tomorrow to help with the manoeuvring. Really regret not getting the AC system drained prior to this whole endeavour as that'll be a bastard to dance around but... will manage. Tomorrow is the day.

...Because it IS a different colour, that's how the Japanese M-Technic 320i / 325i's came.

the Japanese sale brochures never mentioned colour, but given a keen eye, I believe the colour combos are: Delphin grey body / Vulcan grey kit Lazur blue body / Atlantis blue kit Lachs sliver body / Vulcan grey kit Diamond black body / Vulcan grey kit

🤔 I wonder if I can pick up a ratty E46 M3 for a daily...

Cleaning the garage out and found these! Covers for the front foot well speakers and a battery tray. I think the speaker covers are off my old M3 and the battery cover from an old sedan. Its a small miracle that the covers are fully intact and none of the clips are broken. Free for collection from Greenlane, especially if you bring the car it's going in!