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For shits I asked ChatGPT to value it for insurances purposes. Wasnt too stupid to be fair as it did nuance between various things (including the NZ market, it looked at trademe and bimmersport!) and valued it at 31k insurable value, that's cost to actually find one similar, then all the parts on it (try find some Recaro SP-DCs, or at current exchange rate you wont get Birds B1 kit here for less than $7k).... I told it insurer isnt going to buy that For sales prices It figured 18k if found the right buyer, 12k to sell "quickly" on market to buyer who wanted a sorted manual, if it was just stock NZ new manual its 8ish in average condition at 300k. After some prompting, got to 16.5k insurable, which is about what I think it should be insured for. Did a surprisingly thorough job with little prompting, just images and k's.

Hi all, I would like to introduce myself and present to you my pride and joy, which may potentially be the very first clubsport ever produced, production Munich April-June 2002 in carbon-schwarz (m individual colour) it was brought to me in fairly rough shape and I've managed to keep it alive and healthy while I start my own business and find the time, energy and resources to restore this vehicle to its former glory, yes it is an SMG 1 and yes it drives and shifts okay, will be following Eagle's protocol and attempt to restore it with the same attention to detail, your work is incredible! IMG_20241208_204320.HEIF

The LS7 was more like $12k upwards as a crate motor. Double the torque, nearly double the horsepower and about 25-50kg heavier (depending on what you read.

Where's the fun in that ? Why does anyone build a project car ?

That engine swap is sacrilege if it was by choice. However if the S54 grenaded itself, or somebody hit the money shift, an LS7 in the US would be a reasonable, and much less expensive replacement. A crate V8 only costs a couple of grand over there.

I have my M3 with Swann under "Classic" cover (currently "laid up" so it costs almost nothing a year) and the M2 under "Modern Classic", they just asked me for the value of each (edit: and photos) and set the premiums to match, no arguments. They have great benefits too, agreed value, first refusal on write-off, choose your repairer, track day uplift, roadside assistance, etc. The M2 is insured for more than I paid for it and they were fine with that. Edit 2: I had to select an annual mileage option, I think I had 3 choices, <5000kms, 5k - 10k, 10k+ IIRC. And they were literally 60% of the cost of State, AMI, and half the price of Star Insurance who are recommended by Hampton downs but seem uncompetitive across their product range. Might pay to see if they'll cover your 130 under their modern classic coverage, agreed value. All said and done though, I think much more than $12.5k for a 300kms 1 series will be tough, regardless of how well sorted, and looked after, it might be.

Happy to recommend Classic Cover, got my E46 insured for $15k with them with a $250 excess and $600 premium (including roadside assist). At the same time AA were only offering up to $6.7k cover at nearly double the premium with a $500 excess. For further comparison, got the car evaluated with NZVV (Christchurch-based so probably not much help in that regard), initial valuation cost $200 and every subsequent one is $100.

I just had a look rather than relying on my memory. www.classiccover.co.nz 2007 130i Estimated KM's per year = 20,000 Sum Insured: $10,000 Excess: $250 Premium: $775.43 There could be some discounts in play as I have 5 cars and 2 motorbikes with them. I have also had a claim with them due to rock damage on the Merc. And am about to claim again for my poor bumpers witch got split by a ute parking into me. Double Edit. They also cover my race car. Under a "Laid Up" scheme. It covers the car in the garage with all its spares and even while being transported to events. And it's less than $300 for over $40K worth of stuff.

IT has cruise control!!!! (since it's not NZ new). But, no airbags 😞

It's because you haven't fitted the carbon intake in those photos. How does Classic cover work in this situation? I just called them and said my E55 was worth the higher end of what is around and they accepted it no questions asked. Even my 130i is insured for like $9500 through them. Obviously I am paying a premium they are happy with to cover that high.

Yeah I had the same thing re insurance and valuations with mine. BMW dealer did my valuation, for free. Just went in and chatted with them, they were happy to look at it and write a valuation.

Would love to see this when you do.

Another 6 months, and thought is might be time to check in with another update! As ever, car just continues to go and go, and nothing to report in that department! another few trips around the country including a trip to Hawkes Bay to the Wheels on Windsor event (parking alongside the GH Automotive fleet), and to auckland and back last week. I much prefer to take this car than my F15 X5 M50d, which im sure will be a surprise to those that havent owned one of these E46s! In my last comment, I mentioned that it had a very minor incident with a guy giving it a wee nudge: At the time, i just left it, because the minor scratch just added to the patina of the car, the body was very very straight for the age and milage, but paint clear coat gave up long ago, and really couldnt be bothered with going any further. I told the guy that at the time too, he was already going to have enough costs! However, I got an email from my insurance company, saying that a claim had been made, did I know anything about it, and what was my version of events. So i told them all about it, and said I was surprised to be getting a call since the other guy had no insurance. What actually happened was I was waiting to turn right, and he came from behind and tried to squeeze between me and the curb, and hit his front right bumper very lightly onto my back left door. I cannot believe how much his car completely fell to pieces in the process, with just a few scratches and not even a dent on my car ha. Apparently, he made up quite the story about how it was all my fault, and that I turned into him! The part he tripped up on tho was that he mentioned something about seeing my brake lights, which of course if I came from behind would be impossible for him to see. Now those that know me know that I am a very reasonable person, but if you try something on with me, I will show you no mercy. So as they agreed I was not at fault, I told them I want my car fixed, and he can pay for that bill too. Remember, he has now been found at fault and with no insurance lol. So, like that, the left quarter panel and rear door were approved for paint, as well as a curb on the M parallel I really couldnt tell you if it was there already or not but hey. Got quotes, but two different body shops both said because the clear coat was stuffed and to ensure a quality repair, they needed repaint the entire left side of the car, which is many thousands of dollars. I figured insurance would back out at this point, but the repar was already under way. Of course, at that point, they may as well just repaint the whole thing, so I paid for on the other side, so I got a full professional respray for half price! The funniest part is now both the young fella and his father gave me the death stare every time I drive past them, so I usually give them a nice friendly smile or wave to thank them for committing insurance fraud and paying half of my respray. Thier brand new merc is still sitting in their driveway pride of place with the front corner stoved in ha.

Car is currently stripped out. Engine / transmission, full wiring harness, interior, dash etc. Car came non aircon from factory and has the horrible dealer fit aircon system where they just cut into the heater unit and stuff in a condenser and add an extra blower along with ugly wiring in the engine bay and extra holes cut into the fire wall instead of using the factory stamped cut outs that cars with aircon would use. Overall a useless / ugly system that doesn’t blow cold anymore and can’t be recharged (R12 gas). Managed to find a new unit for a non aircon pre facelift car and promptly pulled it apart and reapplied new foam to all the vents along with giving all the plastic a thorough clean and the wire cables a good greasing. All the foam in the unit (like all units of this age) was disintegrated and don’t create any form of a seal so good to get this done while the car is in bits. Fitted new o rings and resealing the pipes the come out the side of the heater core as well. Wiring for the unit got stripped of the old loom tape (along with the rest of the wiring in the entire car) and new loom tape applied. Doing a huge amount of other work to the car at the moment so more of that to come.

I installed a new diffuser today that hides most of the "cow udder" effect of the M2C exhaust. Probably should have removed the bumper because I broke the stock one during removal (very surprised at how brittle it was!). Not too much of a concern, it's an inexpensive part and I quite like the new one. This is just a plastic one from China, fit is good and tight, installation was easy enough, the plastic is arguably more durable than the stock one. Hopefully it doesn't melt! 😭 Old: New:

Love the thread bud! love the car too! SJ from Apex here she sure is a beauty

$172 for insurance valuation, and its just not high enough to cover replacement, very frustrating. Im not planning on ditching it, but there is no way 12.5k would cover replacement. 12.5k would probably cover parts to bolt to another 130! Anyone got any ideas on a valuation service? I could keep going through the phone book and finding people who just look up values on tardme and the k's on it...