Leaderboard

You can tell US style FTPs as they have orange indicator lenses. The Euro style are ‘tinted’. As this is a NZ new it should have the euro style ones, which are way better IMO. Looks like the ones on this car maybe US type or are aftermarket - but I’m not aware that they are available as aftermarket. Here’s a pic of a couple nz new examples for ref 😎

saw this one on marketplace and seemed like a good deal, especially a good candidate for a track build, strip the interior, get a cage welded in, an FIA seat, some decent suspension, bushes, Swaybars and an LSD and it could be good fun even as an auto.

Updated.

There was a stock road going 130i auto at Manfield yesterday. I think it was doing 1:29's. Which is not bad for a road car. Tyres looked econo too. I wish the BMW race series had gone with 130's rather than the E46's they settled on. If I didn't have the E34 I would probably look at building one. Simple, handles well, cheap parts, common easy to source parts across multiple platforms, and quite quick. As seen in the video above.

I saw you there @Jun just as you were leaving, fantastic car fella

We went to today’s British and European car day, nothing too exciting happened today. I guess the car was happy as my wife was there with it. more photos and videos here of the event: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pxbC9tMnpHcFaxUZ7

not a bad idea, however due to the geometry of the cage and car, you wouldn't be able to get it into the car after its assembled, has to be welded together in the car. In other cars, with other cages it may be possible. There is a company in AUS who do bolt in powdercated cages, but that isn't MSNZ approved.

I'll ask the dumb question then, as the challenge of painting an installed cage has come up a few times recently, why not have the construction (welds etc) inspected with the cage out, paint the cage whilst it's out, install the cage, have the installation inspected, and then touch up any required spots? Or powder coat the whole thing out of the car?

can help if you post to wellington

Bought this tonight, will post some better pics tomorrow. Was always curious about 130s so thought might as well buy this one seeing as it seemed to be a pretty decent deal (cheap), hopefully it’s not too unreliable. Not sure what I’ll do with it yet, might drive for a bit and fix the major cosmetic things (front bumper is rooted) and then hopefully sell on for a little profit, which I’ll use to tidy a few things on my E34. Was also thinking of using it as a track/novice competition type car but wondering if that’s a rabbit hole I should avoid going down haha Has Style 216 wheels which are neat. Otherwise just regular 130i things. LCI, M Sport, Le Mans blue, Auto, etc

Powerhaus did more tests on our car. 2nd TK test, mechanic said our car did not even change the color, better than most cars he tested that didn’t even needed head gasket replaced. Overnight pressure test, no leaks. Test drive, etc. I told them not bother with a compression test, too impractical. My amateur fix has been inspected by the pros, we are clear to drive it 😅 I remember talking to Pete during the day while he gave me a ride home. I hope this is just a great story we can tell folks and our grandkids, it’s well worth the cost an expansion tank and some coolant. It seems to be a great story for a movie: me, Pete and Andrew didn’t script this… its a true story. So far it seems to be our car lives on, maybe the next custodian of the car can still bring it on the 100th BMW M anniversary day. Hope they read this story and remember to make the car happy or else it might try to kill itself again.

Date:28/12/2022 First test drive after replacing the expansion tank. So far everything looks good, very stable coolant temp at 79C as spec.

Cheers Kyu - that's great to know... and yeah - some pics...

Friend got his 318is back for the panel beaters. Brand new OE fender, fender lining, side skirt, trims, side indicator and engine mounts, all repainted with a 2nd hand door. 7k bill (paid 10k for ~14 year ago). Very lucky it was through an unusual insurance outfit and wasn't written off. Getting hard to find tidy ones these days.

Recruiters who briefly scan a CV, interview you, and then tell you they have people more experienced. When challenged they tell you they didn't know... (And incorrectly spell your name .) IT'S ALL IN THE CV AND COVER LETTER ! 🤬

Got some photos from Ray (Chubb racing Ltd) who's doing my rollbar/halfcage, its looking great so far, really friendly/helpful guy would definitely recommend him to anyone looking into getting any sort of cage done, all to MSNZ spec.

It has been an uneventful few months. We still love the car. Really a Sunday car, I find the experience to be very visceral now, as our daily is a Model Y. So jumping into the M5 I can just hear everything especially the V10 intake sound. Contemplating on some minor mods, but it will have to wait. Here it is a few weeks ago at Southward Museum where it may end up when our custodian duties are done a few decades in the future

Digging this old girl out. Has not run since 2015. After living overseas, multiple delays acquiring a property and building a shed, I finally have somewhere to work on it. Goodbye container. Will get an entire new look I think. Though unlikely to race in the BMW series again. More for hill climbs and club events at Manfield.