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Seen this car many times over the years. Always well kept. Seems way too cheap. 1989 BMW 535i Alpina B10 https://www.trademe.co.nz/4686601122

Let's try that again... Date: 20-31 Apr 2024 Distance: 211,112 to 211,118 kms 1. PCV Refresh, Starter Motor replacement. Starter motor precautionary replacement - it was developing a rattle, showing it's age. Refresh the PCV system as it was last done in June 2014, no sense in re-installing old parts after the Starter Motor replacement. Full PCV service kit installed. Fig 1: Journey into the beast - intake manifold removed 2. Front of motor accessory drive refresh Some rattles around the front of the engine. It's at least ten years since we did the whole lot (belts have been replaced) tensioners, pulleys etc. OEM INA and Conti belts. Fig 2: new bits ready to install Fig 3: Nice new fresh front accessory drive kit installed 3. Rear Muffler Replacement Mid mounts and rear mounts replaced as 22 years old - that rubber was looking cracked and crispy. We'd had the muffler off a couple of times and Jon had noticed the rust on the top of the box was advancing... it was getting a little raspy, though interestingly hadn't raised concern through the last couple of WoFs. BMW OE was a bit pricey for me - notwithstanding it's a quality stainless steel product... over USD1000 and back-ordered. I sourced an OE pattern ANSA unit (yes, they of the OE to Ferrari and Lamborghini fame, amongst others) from Rockauto... it's not apples-with-apples being aluminised steel, yet even included chrome extension tips that my original unit didn't have (BMW tips are USD80 each!). Fitment is good Jon managed the dissimilar metal weld between the stainless pipe and the new muffler with aplomb. Fig 4: I'm very happy with that. A weld, yesterday. Fig 5: Didn't Wesley Snipes have a strapline: "always bet on (Bogan) black."? The sound is nice - it's quiet enough, similar to the old one and my impression is it breathes better - perhaps the baffles had choked things up in the old one? The rasp of the split box is gone, replaced by a bit more of a muted rasp when the loud pedal is opened. Happy days. Figure 6: New box in-place. 4. Rear ARB Endlinks, ARB Bushes, Shells replaced I'd noticed the shells were rusty when it was last on the hoist. We were replacing fronts and as these are the same age, time to replace them too, Genuine BMW bushes. 5. Front ARB Endlinks, ARB Bushes replaced Clunk in front suspension on compression over bumps. Now eliminated, and steering is significantly smoother. Bonus! 6. Coolant top-up, Pressure test TOK Jon found the coolant down by nearly a litre - I don't think I'd checked it cold since water pump replacement. A top-up and precautionary pressure test revealed sytem is pressure-tight, no leaks, Test OK. 7. Replaced insulation - cable bunch passing the oil filter housing We'd seen that a couple of services back, something I should have done. The flexible conduit/shielding breaks down with heat exposure and leaves the cluster of wires exposed. I conceded and asked Jon to do it. Fig 7: lovely new flexible conduit. 8. Observsations I've a few things to monitor or source. moist Power Steer reservoir. It's 12 years since that was replaced - rather than do the O-ring, will replace the whole thing moist HP PS Hose (pump to rack). I have a very good used one on my purple tag sourced for the e30, so we'll use that as replacement. The e30 can have the UK purple tag-in-e30 hoses. Bung on PCV valve Source replacement front ARB (it's getting mottly beneath the bushes). YYmm P/N________ Squeak from front strut persists... sh*t if I need to do strut mount bushes and spring seats again (it's 8 or 10 years already) I guess that's Konis or Sachs M/Sport and Msport springs... a decision for another day. Alternator bearings starting to rattle. Monitor. Steering - monitor. Play upper steering UJ/lower column? Fig 8: A 22 year old 212k km alternator, in-situ Summary The car is purring, and feels really nice to drive - my better half grabbed it as soon as it was back, and later commented it drove really well. So we're back to a solid place, though more to monitor. All work carried out by Begley Motor Works, Marton. Top quality, top service. Worth the drive from wellington, always a pleasure to catch up with Jon and Keren. You should go there too! Images courtesy of Jon at Begley Motor Works. Next items list: Replacement diff (e46 medium case) 3.46 (including the two small bushes, input and output seals, fill and drain bungs, oil, rear cover sealant) Clean and rust paint the surface rust on rear subframe Source 24mm front ARB p/n 31351094542 New sunroof seal (Part ready to fit) New speakers in front - consider a new head unit with screen, fit rear camera? Maybe install that Msport steering wheel with the stereo integration - need post-Takata airbag.

Oh my! Can't say I had, although not for lack of TM trawling sitting at home with a fractured pelvis... My spacers arrived yesterday, so as soon as I'm slightly more mobile I'll list the E90 for sale (with brand new brakes, natch).

@Neil McCauley assume you’ve seen this? All ready to tow with factory electric towbar https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/335d/listing/4690130959

HPR 5 5W-40 6L jugs - $60 @ Repco https://www.repco.co.nz/oils-fluids/engine-oils-fluids/engine-oil/penrite-hpr-5-5w-40-engine-oil-6l-hpr05006/p/A1220550

Thats rad, I'm betting you've got the label printer and made little bin locations in the garage / under the sink / above those extra pillows in the hall cupboard nobody is sure about etc 🤣

Someone is going to buy that and press it into service and find out why low km cars that have been sitting around for decades arent a good idea. The tires alone have a date code of 5206 on them, which makes them almost 20 years old. That should be illegal to wof/sell.

This nice Daytona Violet?? 323ci at Westfield Newmarket today

So yesterday I dropped round to @Cement's house to pick up the CD stacker he kindly offered me. @Michael. was there as well, so was great to meet them both and talk BMWs and see their amazing cars 😍 And today is the final day of my summer holiday before I head back to work. This morning before it got too hot I finally got around to doing the work on the rear seat. First up I removed the black leather seats and bolsters, and then I was able to install the rear seat sound mat that arrived a couple of months ago. It fits really well and was no problem to install, at less than half the weight of the rubber/butyl one and not likely to disintegrate like the original I'm very happy with this: You can see there are a couple of cut outs that aren't needed on the M3, presumably they are for the E46 compact or similar, but aside from that it all fits in very nicely. I was then able to install the G7AT interior (which I've been cleaning and drying over the last week) from @M3_Power and now finally have an (almost) matching interior. I took the covers off the headrests and put them through the washing machine (gentle cycle, no spin) and wet vac'd the bolsters, seat bench and backs. The bolsters needed new clips at the tops, as they seem to ALL break. I ordered new ones in one of my orders last year, so had these on the shelf ready to go. Originals were black, these new ones are white, maybe they're also stronger 🤣 Then it was just a case of putting everything in, and soon it was all done! (apologies for the terrible photos and dusty car, am rebuilding a retaining wall at the moment and the clay dust gets into everything). I also got to take the car for a drive today. With the work I've done on the drivers door, and the cloth rear upholstery, a good 90% of the rattles and such that were present in the car seem to be gone! I thought there were going to be a bunch still to hunt down, but appears I have one in the dash by the drivers door, and aside from that any other noises were pretty infrequent! Now I just need to give the car a good wash!

E36 M3 3.0 euro. Coupé - Atlantis blue. E39 535i limo. - orient blue