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Alpina D4S in Tokyo. Car culture here is awesome, heaps of late model Mercedes C and E class and Volvo estates, not so many BMW’s and Audi surprisingly but gives me hope that RHD wagons will still be available even if NZ New are all SUV’s

So I’m getting that I should sell my car for a lesser price and just buy a manual car. Thanks for the help and the insight.

Having a big tidy up of the garage to clear the decks and get stuck into the ‘vert and race car, and maybe get a few $$$s towards costs of them! Genuine BMW solid metal 3 Series key-ring, new in box. $20 One sold, one left M5 key-ring, not genuine BMW, locally made for a model launch, new in box Sold BMW Motorsport Heritage collection key-ring, weighty metal and leather, brand new, boxed but slight damage to outside of box (shown in photo) Sold

It's very noticeable. It feels like a normal manual gearbox now.

DMF's normally fail before the clutch, you'd be silly not to replace it at the same time.

You purchased at the peak I'm afraid. Sell yours cheaper. Buy James' manual which is a pretty good price. Some of the pricing on Trademe is just wild.

One video and done!

Hasn't sold it yet and likely wont at that price. Its a mid 30's car at best given the likely lack of work done to it.

Throw Penrite Progear 75w90 in the box and bobs ya uncle, only real downside is you have to be deliberate and slow when shifting if its freezing out and box is cold, after a minute or so its fine and continues to be even when hot.

Finally installed the new coilovers which have been sitting in a box for a few months !! Very happy with them Can still go a little lower than it's currently set to. MCA Pro Sport's if anybody is interested.

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.

17inch OZ Futura 17x8 et32 17x9 et32 5x120 Fully rebuilt and purchased from Europe couple years ago. New lips bolts etc Very good fitment for 3 series (and probably others). Bang on for stock body e30, e36, e46 etc $5500 Located Dunedin. Happy to ship at buyers cost

Give you 3k.

Picked the manual 130i up today. It's pretty neglected. One NZ owner. Typical NZ A-B owner that has done the minimal it's entire life. I do have a ton of receipts for it though. It is the grubbiest BMW I have ever been near. Thick grime on all surfaces that you would touch. I went through about a dozen wet wipes just cleaning the gear knob. Yuck. Clutch is gone but I was able to drive it over the hill without it slipping much. Will decide if I go single mass or dual mass once I decide what I will do with it. Paint is neglected to hell. I did a quick spot check to see how it would react to some cleaner wax and it came up not too bad. So will cut and polish the car. There are dents and some shitty paint from a cheap repair on one of rear quarters. Car has been sunbaked so I will replace a bunch of common trim bits. Standard oil leaks. Needs a new steering wheel badly. But other than that there are no vibrations, suspension is better than my white ones. Engine seems responsive. Good deal for $3K. It's the black one BTW. Good from a far, far from good.

That was quick.