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And can tow a crappy hirepool trailer with a full weight (minus rust) E30 on it and still make 9.7L-10.5L/100kms

Wow, a blast from the past reading this post. 7 years later, I've launched a NZ version of the website. Just posting this here for those who find this post in the Archives. PM me if you have trouble finding the site in Google. (don't want to be flamed by overzealous rule-fiends for advertising) FYI the lighter weight material, Inconel is now available for selected exhausts on the site (they are listed as Inconel exhausts). Eg. Porsche headers, and some Ferrari exhausts. Mike

After my nightmare experience with a cowboy mechanic, who wasnt even cheap, and repeatably screwed up my car in multiple ways (dodgy brakes, installed dodgey, BS talk, and flat out lying to my face) and then forgot to do some pretty crucial bolts up, resulting in a change of underwear at 100kmh.... I wont mention names here, as he still has the ability to make a mends, failing that I shall offer a public reaming! A massive shout out to Botany Motor Worx and Nick at BM Workshop parts department for hooking me up with some new brakes for the E87. Thanks heaps, appreciate it. Its so nice to be able to slow down without shaking my fillings out. Keep up the good work, I will not stray in the future! I dont know about these style 269s, but at least its better than cracked ACS Type IV!

Cant you just use a small pump from the top?

This reads like something you could take to the disputes tribunal. That's nuts.

Yeh was very lucky was the top bolt and not the lower one, had only a few threads on the lower one left before it got really exciting.... Bit of a timeline of the expensive experience so far First visit - Brakes, Plugs, Coolant flush and replace (asked for bmw coolant, N52 electric water pump scares me). Even specifically asked for good rotors and pads, not cheap sh*t - $2500 One week later : Massive brake shudder and squeeling, nasty to drive. Also noticed nasty apprentice marks on the wheels from a rattle gun with too short a socket (that was enough to make me decide not to go back). Mech said it was probably my driving style causing the rotors to warp. Got front tyres replaced (sidewall damage unrelated), Tyre guys had to use a power bar to remove front wheels. Second visit to Mr Mechanic - Replaced front rotors and pads (for free, his supplier replaced) Next day the caliper bolt fell out, left me on side of road in Ngaruawahia at 8am. Found local mechanic who cut down a bolt he found and resecured caliper. No response from Mr Mechanic, other than "Sorry! It was the apprentice, shall give him a talking too" . Didnt even offer to pay for the Mechanic in Ngaruawahia. Decision made to really never go back. Week or so later, we are back to massive shuddering and squeeky brakes. No response from Mr Mechanic for few weeks after, Got rear tyres replaced (tread wear), Tyre guys had to use power bar to remove rear wheels (there is a theme here...) Mr Mechanic then responds with he is asking BMW whats going on (BS Im guessing), and ensures me he doesnt use a rattle gun on wheels, they are torqued as per BMW specs. I get the legends at Botany Motor Worx to sort it out, just want to be able to drive (to work) and not swear every time have to slow down! - Rotors are not Brembos, I had my suspicions due to the amount of rust they accumulated in just a few weeks! - No antiseize copper/anti squeel coating - Missing caps on LH caliper - Busted rear wear sensor, front sensor not replaced - Coolant is just generic antifreeze (this really pisses me off, even more so than the bolt falling out hahah) - Two wheels cracked. So im up to about $5000 so far, and 3 days not earning money!, to get a fairly basic service and brake replacement done! Trust me if I could do it again, it'd go straight to Glenn (and will do in the future!).

When I had my '88 E34 535i I got 17MPG/17l/100KM (from mostly city driving) so yes it is thirsty for the level of performance. That's similar to my V8 X5 (currently showing 16) but less than my E60 M5. When Greg had the M5 his average was 17-18l/100KM but he did a bit more distance/motorway than me - I daily my M5 a day or two a week and a bit of motorway in the weekend and it averages 20. Regarding range - on our big Taihape-Napier roundtrip from Welly my M5 used 3 half tanks with a mix of enthusiastic driving and cruising.

Sorry. I meant `I don`t bother looking`. Sport mode is permanently on in all my M cars. Last time I did look it was 14.something litres/100km

Yeah a fair amount of bits to sell, someone has there hand up for CP/BOV/7" Intercooler already

It is not the first time and probably will not be the last time someone somewhere leaves a caliper bolt loose. A couple of years ago an E70 was brought to our workshop from another shop to diagnose an issue they were having trouble with. One of my colleagues was road testing the vehicle when the lower caliper bolt came out resulting in the caliper rotating around on the upper bolt then punching through and locking the front wheel. Luck would have it that is was under 50kph and no crash resulted. There are no excuses for this sort of event other than human error. What is highlighted from this incident Jacko has been involved with is the poor handling of the situation, surly any reputable workshop would have fitted new OEM brakes at no cost along with a sincere apology at the very least.

Nick and I were pleased to be able to help you Chris with the situation you were placed in. Don't go overly hard on the inexperienced person who did the work. He'll end up broke or fixing wheel barrows... and loosing friends

its been a while The e30 has changed a lot since my last update. Ill try to keep everything in order.. We'll start with my 1st ever drift day on the track which was the 28th of May last year at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park . Tragic. With no real prior experience and not really having a clue about what I was doing, it wasn't until the last lap of the last session I linked the drift section. (Again, tragic) But sure enough I left the day with a chip on my shoulder thinking I was the absolute sh*t, next drift prodigy. I immediately signed up for the next drift day that I could afford, which was in July last year. Boy, the humble pie came swift, and still no power-steering. As I said. I thought I was doing great and going into the next drift day at hampton downs club circuit I was super excited to show off my skills. But then I drove with some people that had a clue. The skill gap was YUGE. I found my self pushing harder and harder to keep up with them, but I still didn't really know what I was doing. Rather than being in control of the car, I was just reactive after the initiation. Basically the car was driving me. And of course the e30 took a bit of a beating. I lie. It took a f*cking hiding. sh*t video for lols Yep, I drove it to Hampton Downs, did an entire drift day. As I was exiting the pit for the last session of the day... BOOM! Rear wheels lock up and I couldn't find any gears, the getrag 260 had enough. No trailer, no way of getting back. Thankfully Sam from Hellbm didn't break his car, so we put my e30 on his trailer. Again, my friends save my ass. Not much went on for a while. It was a rough time for me. But my wife graduated! YAY! Will update in a bit. Need food.

Probably a poorly skilled driver, on wet wintery roads, driving beyond the condition on bingobong tyres.

M10B18 and an auto box. Drive it around Auckland... You're stationary most of the time anyway - no one will know! Does look lovely.

So got a very nice surprise today. Had both the powder coater and machine shop call saying all the parts are ready for pick up. Sorry about the bad picture as they were taken with the parts in the boot. Block all nice and clean now, broken bolts taken out and no need for a resurface as it was straight as. Flywheel resurfaced and lighten, now down to 10.4kgs I should have weighed it before hand but say it must be atleast 3-4kgs taken off. and Rocker covers all coated gloss white and underside unpainted. Getting closer to getting this thing put back together. Will be taken the block to the engineers later this week to get measurements to help with fitment for the ITB setup.

Update. Been a bit slow over the last couple of weeks. Fitting off the brakes from peddle box to the front brake lines and where it meets the rear lines. Running the lines through the bulkhead and tiding it up. I've used lots of braided lines as the peddle box is adjustable not the drivers seat. Fitted a pressure switch for brake lights. Expansion tank install in the water system, I plumbed this into what was the heater inlet and return. Oil cooler. Radiator' power steering pump and lines. Ready for liquid's , If all goes well I may even have it running over the weekend. Pics