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Thanks David, yeah I've got a homegrown four channel CAN bus translator based on a PIC32MK that I'll be using at the core of this project. I've been extremely slack with keeping this thread up to date, so time for another update. Since the last post, the gearbox crossmember has been finished. And fitted to the test chassis, alongside the modified propshaft (135i gearbox flange, retubed, E39 540i from CSB backwards): Onto the next job, creating a custom coolant hardline between the coolant reservoir and electronic thermostat (still needs some brackets): While on a roll with bending up hardlines, an oil supply hardline was fabricated as I didn't want to have -AN fittings visible off of the oil thermostat. For this I also machined an adapter fitting for the oil thermostat. The coolant and air conditioning hardlines I had been working on previously were also finish welded: Next up was making the N54 engine loom use the E39 e-box grommet: And the shift linkages were modified: (Not quite sure where the selector rod photos went unfortunately) Propshaft had a fresh CSB and CV joint installed: I'd also performed the typical maintenance on the N54 I'm going to be using, namely replacing all of the gaskets I can easily access (valve cover, sump, VANOS solenoids, etc) and injector decoupling elements. New spark plugs and coil packs (standard N54 items for now) will also be used. Looking nice and clean in there. Nice and clean down under too. The next major hurdle was fabricating exhaust downpipes; there's not a lot of room to work with unfortunately. The vehicle will need to keep the catalytic converters for passing emmissions testing during LVVTA certification, so those were extracted from a factory downpipe set. To complete the factory-like look, some small brackets were designed and 3d printed: And laser-cut and machine folded: Welded on and oxygen sensors added: I'm extremely happy with how these downpipes turned out; they're currently off being ceramic coated (in an effort to keep under-bonnet temperatures down). A few months have also been spent working on electrical and electronics, starting off with a jump-start terminal. The E39s all use engine-mounted jump-start terminals, while the N54 never came with an engine-mounted jump-start terminal - all usages of the N54 have them mounted on the chassis. For this, I designed and 3d-printed a jump-start terminal that will attach to the intake manifold: And finally printed out of PA-CF: Mounted and wired in the fuel pump (EPKM) module: Designed a replacement case for the Comfort Access module, allowing it to attach to the same bracket as the factory E39 PDC module: Created an adapter loom for between the E39 X6001 and E9x X6011 / X6021 engine connectors: The wiring is still ongoing at this stage - chipping away at it slowly.

Time for another update 😊 Some progress has been made on fabricating coolant lines. The current intention is to use an E39 diesel coolant reservoir mounted on the intake side of the engine bay, freeing up room on the exhaust side for the DSC module and vacuum reservoirs. Two aluminium pipes run atop the intake side chassis rail, one for the coolant reservoir to the heater core and thermostat, and another from the radiator to the heater control valve. The next step is to fabricate a hard line to connect these up to the thermostat. In other news, the final exhaust-side engine mount arm has arrived from manufacturing. Test fitting looks good, with only a small shim required on top of the engine mount to raise the mount up slightly, due to there being more compression in the engine mount than anticipated. With that in place, the gearbox mount design was finalised, propshaft angles were checked and the design sent off to be manufactured.

SOLD Located Whangarei 330i Msport with full bodykit 140k Kms Auto(tiptronic) 3.0l rwd Fresh WOF and reg Genuine Alpina wheels (bad curb rash) Mishimoto air intake Phillips Head Unit Sunroof and alcantara seats (great for summer!) Spare set of factory Msport wheels can come with the car Since owning I have replaced oil/filter, 6x spark plugs, L/R front control arm bushings, rocker cover gasket, camshaft sensors, battery and alternator Cons Occasional rough idle, the engine light comes and goes with it. Passenger side front window not working Power steering has seen better days, unsure of cause. All round decent condition with a couple goodies. Shouldn't cost much to get back to perfect, could fix the remaining issues myself but running out of time and need the money. Still drives great and is a lot of fun with plenty of power. Lots of aftermarket goodies for these things so plenty of potential. Price is open for negotiation, and I can deliver within the upper North island for the right price.

Gday everyone, introducing myself here on the forum. Ive recently acquired this beast of a car however it is throwing a 30ff code which has been diagnosed as the wastegates. Im just wondering where everyone sources parts from? Im new to the bmw world but have wanted one ever since i drove one for the first time when i was 15. Mainly after the consumable parts that i need when removing the subframe and turbos, exhaust manifold gaskets, studs, the bolts im meant to replace when disconnected the steering components(name evaded my mind) Any help is much appreciated Planning on tackling the job over my Christmas break when i can leave my car in the factory in bits

The 130i failed its warrant due to a blown shock and the pads were contaminated from the oil from the shock. I decided to go all in and give it a glow up. BTW 3d design suspension is made by Ohlins. For those that remember my old 330ci, it had 3d design suspension, and was pretty sharp handling wise.

those rotors look good John, nice work.

Non car things over the weekend. Small bikes instead. Massive amount of fun. Syds Run 2024 in Christchurch. A charity run for leukemia in the name of the guy who started this event. Syd. 560 odd scooters and small CC bikes. I've been two years in a row now. Syds 100th Birthday (RIP) would have been next year. They reckon there is going to well over 600 bikes this time. Buy a sh*t bike, chuck on your battle jacket and join the fun. Live your Pest Life. I have a 1978 Yamaha Chappy LB80 which is a laugh.

Damn just ordered through ECS, hopefully the express shipping gets it here in time Yeah bro build is on here, cant wait to get it going mint again and add some of my own touches

All done. Not 100% sure on the ride height, I may take it up another 5mm. It is 1 finger width between tyre and guard. I will say the Bilsteins have decent ride quality, the bumpy roads of Whitemans valley were well taken care of, and I note the bump stops were near new and quite firm.

Awesome thank you very much, ill have a look Cheers man i appreciate that, as soon as i saw it on trademe i knew i wanted it. Hopefully have it boosting asap

realoem.com fcpeuro.com & ecstuning.com are your friends If you're on faceballs - "BMW 130i owners unite" is a great resource as well. Nice car, I was tempted for a bit to buy it and parts rob for mine!

Making me think more and more about going Tech1 on my vert…

Made me search up some old pics. Unfortunately pre-2015 are all photobucket so have watermarks (they're on the first few pages of this thread if you're interested). It had 20in Work wheels originally which I swapped for some BBS LM reps in 2012 or so. Still have all oem parts in storage (including all the oem wheels). This car is like lego, which keeps me interested over so many years. Although my interests have changed of late to much older cars from a different German brand, this one remains...! It has outlasted a lot (and was a bit touch and go for a while there whether I could keep him).

Sorted out today by Elite Wheels (thanks @Gaz!). 5 stars - would recommend. Dropped off this morning, picked up this arvo. Just need to get some new rubber on now (not related to pothole - just old and shagged).

Reminds me of this scene, such a funny series from back in the day 🤣

Removed, sanded and repainted the “clip-in” roof rails on the 540i this weekend. All the clear coat was coming off, amazing how one tatty component can lower the town of an otherwise tidy(ish) car. Also replaced rear windscreen rubber gasket, used a cheap eBay one but not super happy with the fit, might need to pull it out and replace with genuine.

I polished the headights using a fine compound on an orange foam pad, and the problem is now fixed!

EV company car for the win! Zero fuel bill, RUCs paid. Also next to no brake dust as regen braking is used 99% of the time for single pedal driving (wonder what old 3pedals would have to say about that) so don’t have to clean alloys that often. Amongst other things 😜

Started this project almost two years ago after I sold the 850i and finally got the car road legal yesterday (cert, WOF and rego). The goal was to build a very fast, comfortable tourer that I can use for daily driving, which meant retaining the automatic gearbox, ASC and AC - which all turned out to be pretty complicated!! Had a lot of help from a bunch of people but a big shout at to Brendon (Assault) and Westy as this would just be a paperweight without them! Car has an M62b44 (non-vanos) drivetrain with custom sump mounted to a modified front subframe. Gearbox is a 5hp24 tiptronic slushbox from the same donor car as the engine (97 E39 540i) with modified driveshaft. It has a bunch of other interesting mods and, at some point, I'll document everything we did to get this thing working. As far as I know, it's the only RHD M62-powered E36 in the world with auto, ASC and AC!!