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Also swapped over the rear hatch. Absolutely miserable job. The wiring harness and rear wiper fluid feed tube is probably routed through the hatch before the rear glass is bonded on from factory. Feeding all that through the tiny passage took an entire weekend. I wish I was joking. But I did eventually get everything through. I wired in a new loom at the same time for the FZV module that runs to the GM5 so I can convert it to use a radio frequency key. Some cleaning: And all back together. Old one for comparison, very subtle difference but I prefer it: Wiper deleted at the same time. But went through the trouble of routing the wiring and feed tube through just incase I ever change my mind, its a simple bolt it back on exercise. The hole is temporarily plugged with a hideous black generic one while I wait for the factory delete plug which will be colour matched. A lot of work for something only I would ever notice, but now that it's done I'm glad I did it.

Way behind on updates on here. Main development is the engine is out. Because I'd already done all the prepwork in the weeks prior, the actual pulling the engine out part took maybe 15 minutes. So easy pulling it out the front. Started stripping things off. Going to be replacing just about everything. Quite a lot of perished rubber/vacuum lines/o-rings. 90% of these are probably driving around with pretty significant vacuum leaks. I wish there was a decent RHD catless header option for these that wasn't $3500. Every time I see them it hurts and these are the EU2 version which is probably the best iteration. Compared to the S54 headers these just look so lame. Took a look at the bottom end bearings since I will be replacing the rod bearings. Most of them looked about the same. Had a look at the top end. Surprisingly clean. Vanos will get rebuilt and valve seals replaced. Cleaned up the block and sump a bit. Modified the auto trans harness by chopping the connectors off and stealing two of the wires for the manual reverse switch. Spliced the other end into the relevant connectors so the reverse switch is all wired inline with the factory harness. I haven't spliced in the gearbox connector yet since I don't know what length it will need to be, I'll have to do that underneath he car. Loads of parts on order and lots of cleaning to do. I was probably hopeful with the before Christmas goal but I think early next year the engine should be in and running.

Looking good! Hope you'll snap out of the 91 octane habit once the new engine is in though

Haha yep. Amazing what EFI can compensate for. Carburetors just sh*t the bed if anything is off. Not sure if he is still in business but Bertz customs in the UK appears to be the best price vs quality ones i ever saw They were about ~1500NZD for memory + shipping. Every NZ new or UK import BMW ive owned looked like this, asian ones werent bad per se but generally never as good (much darker).

Ive got a cloth sport ones in my E36 that isnt as bad as my leather ones but its still not that great. New bolsters may help, most seats have been quashed\foam has failed to some extend. Ive never had an issue with E39 ones, but @hunter redid his alcantara ones and they are noticeably more comfortable and support much better than worn stuff thats around. Yeah need a cert for seats (seat belt anchor point changed iirc). There are bases that use a modified stock\base rail (Brey-Krause) but they are cheap and not sure if they would need to be certed or not. I just take my out for the WOF since its easy in a coupe. Current one me close to 1k seat+base which is fairly cheap considering what @Harper and others have spent. I dont care about passenger one so it made it much cheaper I think the genuine E46 base\rails for Recaro seats are hard to find now, the place in Japan i got them from delisted the drivers ones ordered it. NZKW do their generic E36\E46 one and im sure there are other around. Its a bit of mission finding and figuring out what you want and not usually cheap, but once you find the right seat its like your favourite pair of pants etc.

Done all my rear BMW ones with this - https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/tools-repair-kits/repair-kits/listing/4429644283

Date: 22 Nov 2023 Distance: 208,921 kms 1. Rack boots & Oil Service Replaced both rack boots with Febi kits (32131096910). A shitty job made easier on a rack, somewhat easier when the Repco balljoint splitter is used. Oil service (because why not, and largely short running since January) with a Mann Oil Filter (11427512300) and Penrite HPR 5 (5W-40 Synthetic). My thanks to @Autoglym for working through the job with me. Thanks also to Jon for the "More(y) Orange than Donald Trump super-sticky grease recommendation. Brilliant stuff. Fig 1: A Nice Rack, yesterday 2. WoF re-check and WoF Secured WoF for the next 12 months. Now it needs a bloody good clean.

Got back from a round trip down south and up the West Coast with the parents last week, clocking up around 2,400km across 6 days. Threw in the old stock rear springs beforehand. Whilst it didn't completely eliminate the rubbing, it isolated it to only the harshest dips in the road when catching them at high speeds, but overall much better and meant I could drive with way less stress and way more confidence. Considering this was the first road trip I've taken the car on with 4 adults and a bootful of luggage on board, I can't really complain about the little rubbing still remaining. This was an outlier of a situation and with 1-2 people on board, I don't think rubbing will be an issue on the stock springs. Some absolutely amazing roads out there and an absolute ideal place to put the car through a proper stress test after the big rebuild. Some small issues aside, the car performed perfectly and effortlessly ate up the km's. Queenstown - Glenorchy is still my favourite bit of road in the country but also enjoyed experiencing the Queenstown - Te Anau and Wanaka - Haast routes for the first time ever. The folks loved their first time in NZ as well, saying it felt like they've been to 5 different countries in the short time here, such was the variety of landscapes behind every new mountain ridge. Good good times.

Had it in my e28, its just an open diff but that super tall ratio might be interesting for someones project. Or an economy build. 188mm, so if you swap the backplate with your original (which you will have to do, I have a z3 one that is slightly too tight just as a cover) you can fit it to anything that takes the 188mm diff. Has two new output flanges on it though again you might need to swap them around (they just pop out). Location: Wellington Price: $150