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Hello fellow BMW lovers! Yes... that's right, better late than never... I'm from South Africa and have been in New Zealand for roughly 9 and a half years... now a full Kiwi. I've been crazy about cars all my life (since a little boy) and now at the age of 22 that passion still runs deep inside of me. After I finished uni two years ago I found myself working at a company with a name well known across NZ in the motor industry... Armstrong Prestige. I've been a full time Sales Groomer there for two years now and my roll is to get everything (from new stock to sold cars) in mint (showroom) condition, as well as the odd delivery up North every once in a while. I absolutely love working there and have driven some pretty spectacular cars in that two year period... from the little Audi A1 right through to the latest full blown Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Cayman GT4, Audi R8, RS7, RS6, RS3, McLaren 570s, Ferrari 458 Italia, F430, RR Ghost, RR Phantom, Bentley's, Merc SLS AMG, C63s AMG, E90 E92 M3, F80 M3, F10 M5..... just to name a few (the list could go on forever, but I'll stop there for now). I've built some good relationships with a lot of our top customers. What's my goal... to move up into Sales and sell some damn cars. My 1st car was a 95' E36 328i (a Christmas gift from my parents). Bought the car stock standard, the mods started when I started working. The engine remained stock standard (apart from the K&N Air Filter). As for the body, I turned it into a full on M-Sport replica... bumpers, side skirts, E46 M3 18" wheels, angle eyes, clear indicators all round, as well as a full leather interior swap from a E36 318i M-Sport that was traded at my work, but before they could wholesale it away my boss gave it to me for $500... the whole car, low km's in decent condition... so a steal of a buy really. I owned the E36 328i for roughly just more than two years... until I started itching for something newer... and along came my 2nd car, an 06' BMW 130i E87 M-Sport (which I bought for myself). The 328i is now my dad's again. I've been in the 130i for almost a year and damn it is a fun car to drive. With a 3.0L Straight 6 under the hood what is there not to like about it. I've done a few small mods here and there to it but over all loving it just as it is... actually I'll continue to do things here and there to it. Details for those who want to know about the car listed bellow. 2006 BMW 130i Le Mans Blue Metallic 1st gen idrive Heated seats 18" 135i M-Sport wheels (17" M-Sport previously) Black line tail lights BMW Aerodynamics package boot spoiler BMW black grills BMW Performance alcantara gear knob boot & hand break boot 1M bi-xenon headlight upgrade (only E87 in NZ with 1M headlights as far as I know, I might be wrong) LUX H8 V5 LED Angle Eyes Genuine black ///M rear emblem (bought on EBAY from a German based BMW dealership for $70... $150+ if bought from Jeff Grey BMW (now Winger BMW) Tinted windows K&N Air Filter That's the list for now... and sorry for the massive new member intro. Enjoy some photos bellow

Hey gents (and ladies, if there are any), I actually signed up to bimmersport.co.nz in March 2016, but due to loooong working hours I really have not been on this site at all. We're originally from South Africa (migrated here in 2007) and we love NZ. Yes, we miss our families every day and SA, but we love it here, with Wellington's wind and all. I do, as I believe all/most people on here, love my BMW cars. I also love almost everything motorcar-related. When we lived in South Africa, my 1st BMW was a 1990 E30 325iS (South African 325iS comes with a 2.7L engine) which I sold for next to nothing, as I did not know that it was worth a lot more, hence the reason why the chap who bought it from me, grabbed it immediately without asking any questions. That's now water under the bridge. I then bought my 2nd BMW, a 1993 E36 325i auto. After it was stolen in Johannesburg, I bought a 1998 E36 328i manual, and I loved every second in that car. Sadly left it behind (sold it) when we moved here to NZ. Bought our 1st BMW here in early 2008, it was a 1995 E36 325i auto, then bought a 2005 E46 330i, then sold that and now I drive a 1995 E36 328i auto. I miss my 1990 E30, but my wife misses the E46 330. :-) My dream BMW would be the E30 333i box shape. Google them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E30)#333i My current BMW started out as a normal E36 328 (first 2 pics), but have since had a make over (body only - see last 2 pics) with a Motorsport body kit (and side skirts, but don't have a pic of the full completion yet). Only wish I could afford to have it converted to manual...sigh...why are conversions and manual Beemers so expensive in NZ?

+1 this the 130i is all class Great to meet you yesterday Bryan. You're lucky to have driven such an amazing range of vehicles - just awesome. Most comprehensive set of new member pics I've seen too!

I spent today connecting up the Power steer lines, fuel lines, refitted the radiator and hoses. Also mounted the remote oil filter and started to make some of the oil lines. Car is back on its wheels as I'm taking to a mates workshop tomorrow to start making up the oil tank.

Good test day at pukekohe yesterday. Getting to grips with the car. Had to learn smooth braking as put it around once under braking. Brake bias needs a little more work before before I'm happy to push harder. Few things to do like get drivers seat lower and general stuff

Also recommend using eBay and importing yourself. Did that for mine, be prepared to pay 2k+

Merry Christmas to me... After 2 visits to view car, I made the offer and it is mine... a 3rd trip on the buses and trains to Auckland to drive it south.. I'm essentially the 3rd private owner, last owner 10 years, with a pile of receipts... So far it's had a damn good clean (wasn't even vacuumed), 2 oils leaks fixed (filler cap and sump drain plug), the lights sanded and polished, the interior mirror glass replaced, and more parts on the way... and more and more cleaning and detailing.... Drives good... mostly everything works... but got a big list of things to do.... wheels, emblems, windscreen trim, fan clutch, filters etc etc.

E46 S65 M3 Touring E34 535is M54B30 repower E36 2litre for the track 1502 2litre Alpina powered having a makeover 1990 NZ new M Sport getting a makeover/2.8 M20 stroker repower E21 M52B28 repower

I've built this 135i into a 1M over the winter in my driveway. It has BMW factory 1M steel panels all bought new frpm BMW NZ. Changed out panels and rear guards using BMW factory repair methods, using BMW rivets and special rivet machine and epoxy. Runs all the right M3 parts, subframes, big d. shafts and LSD diff but has plenty of upgrades too. Basically take the entire 1M parts list and buy them and swap them to the 135i. I haven't worried about inside so much. Full bolt ons, 9" intercooler, intakes, catless, 3" exhaust, RB Next Gen turbos, cold and hot side intake pipes upgraded and modified, MHD E85 flash, JB4 G5 Iso, making around 650hp with meth and running E30. Stage 2 LPFP. I't runs 27lb boost. Meth installed over the xmas break and controlled via the JB4. KW V3 coilovers, vorshlag top camber castor plates. AP Radi-Cal brake kit all round. H&R sway bars, adjustable endlinks, Harder subframe bushes and most rubber parts changed out for Urethanes. 245/35/19, 295/30/19s. Manual 6spd. Upgraded clutch & plate from 550i. Carbon CSL boot lid. I've done all the work apart from the panel and paint in my driveway, head torch on my head, in the rain, frequently at night. Been a long slog, but worth it. Daily driver. According to BMW NZ this is NZ's first 1M clone. The way I treat cars and drive them, I couldn't/wouldn't modify a real 1M, nor could I afford one.

So just that everyone knows...I am Bryan's dad. (He's still sleeping and will most likely reply to everyone's comments later today.)

Welcome Charl and look forward to meeting you at the next meet!

Welcome, tasteful mods there

welcome! lovely car! i have a black msport 130i love the roof spoiler. did you add that or did it come with that?

welcome, Bryan!

It doesnt appear to make any difference.

that had me laughing out loud. the e65 is a bit of a two-bagger, right? I've looked at them many times, and then.... face-on, they're like Lyle Lovett said in that song. "she was ugly from the front, she was ugly from the front, she was ugly from the front..."

Hi Hayden, Thanks for your kind words. I'm not sure about the SA cars that are on trademe, as to how they got here, but you could be on the money. As for manual conversions, there a chap on trademe who is selling a full manual getrag gearbox for $1100 (and $1550+ for ZF). A chap on Facebook here in the Hutt has quoted around $800+ for doing the job (I don't have the knowledge). Then I am aware that one can't just go ahead and do the conversion as sometimes the computer does not "talk" to the gearbox, or vice versa. We live in Grenada Village and I work in Wellington CBD in Willis Street. Cheers.

This is a problem I'm sure a lot of people have to deal with - we have. It continues... Miss M starts Uni next month, but will want to come home at weekends or we might look at moving to Taranaki.

Nice car and interesting to read your history. There seems to be the odd SA car on tradme. Must be a few expats bringing them over. Keep an ear to the ground re: manual conversions. No way they should cost $1g. That's wrecker inflated prices imo. Where bouts in Welly are you? I'm in Kapiti but work in town. Cheers

I'll take them mate . I'll pm you

The Japanese Market BMWs are not made in Japan, as is a common misconception down here. They're made for the Japanese market, in the other manufacturing plants such as Munich, Regensburg, Dingolfing, etc. depending on model. As an example, my '02 e46 Touring is Japanese market, and was made in Regensburg. It's as much an issue with deferred maintenance (or in the case of e36's - the GM transmission rather than the ZF of other markets) that earns the used Japanese market imports a bad rep... and after 15 years here, they're either neglected (continuing the Kiwi tradition of deferred neglect/no maintenance) or resolved (through remedial maintenance) by careful owners. /rant

simple buy cheap plane ticket , fly up and have a awesome road trip back down:) then sell the 540ia , im telling you will be a lot cheaper and less hassle in the long run have converted a couple of e34 540i etc and its not a cheap exercise

cant offer any help but hopefully you can get it sorted!

Yes same box just different bell housings. I have heard of people cutting the front part off then getting the front part of a v8 bell housing (from a auto box) then having it welded on to the rest of the bell housing. They also run plates from the front of the bell housing to the rear so its quite strong. Just an idea!

I have a 6 speed from an E46 S54 M3 . There are several options so it might be worthwhile giving me a call on 021 449 242.

the car would never die,the box also.try your luck on ebay way better than NZ market.

just buy my car comes with free box http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1246424243.htm

So my mechanic tidied up all the wiring, removed all the crap I didn't need (there was a lot!) and traced the smoke back to inside the cluster. Installed a new cluster and it's fine now, although will be keeping a very close eye on it.

You have an E60 or an F10, you need to use BMW software to reprogram. Try Guido at the BMW workshop on 317 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1245

On the edge of SE London - suburbia, but 30 minutes commute to the City. Best of both worlds. Another one of ours

Hi Olaf, thanks for the welcome. We've owned 4 E36's now. This one was a manual 328 we had in London.