Leaderboard

It's nice. Mind you, if I had my hand on my wallet for $33k, I'd be spotting things like: paint chips along the bonnet leading edge and a very deep stone chip near the badge, bonnet alignment off, a worn-out gear lever, worn-out pedal rubbers, no caps on the wiper arms, very poor alignment of the bootlid left to right (where it meets the tail lamps), gash at bottom of rear bumper/apron at right side, poor paintwork on the valve cover, dashboard cracks, no aircon ... and I'd be thinking "hmmm, I know what one of these looks like in primo condition. And how much they go for. I'll try at $25k and spend the money to eliminate all of those points". I've a lotto ticket for tonight. Let's see how it goes!

So I rolled my 318ti rally car during the Taupo 2WD rally a few months ago. Not the best way to end an event that was supposed dto be a test event... I’ve crated a page on Facebook so people can follow the rebuild and the journey to leadfoot in February 2020. search for “Road to Leadfoot 2020” to find it if your interested in seeing the rebuild and on board video etc rolled off the road at approximately 140kph. https://www.facebook.com/BMWroadtoLeadfoot. Not sure if that’ll work? Here’s a few photos of the damage... about 80 days left to the big event!

Damn, this would be a fantastic weekender for me... hopefully I'll get a job quickly in the new year - though I don't doubt you'll find a home for it sooner, GLWS

Some truth bombs dropped. Shitty compact SUVs, screens for africa.

Mine was 1k all up (for an F30 version including all electrics and freight to Wellington) though so perhaps a bit less for an e90?)Last I checked they had a red 335i touring with a towbar...

OMG. 5 sleeps till E30 Mega Meet.

Just thought I'd update this. I've bought everything. I got blacked out side markers, blacked out 335i Badge and a set of bulbs to make the front "angel eyes" white, not yellow. Thanks for all the ideas, although I didn't use them.

Yeah should be ok. Probably worth bring your own containers\boxes etc as its not very well organised and boxes are quite old and getting weak. We can sort the finer details out via PM.

Sooo, put the factory air box back in and went for a good drive but still has the hesitation, so will swap the exhaust out and see if it’s that. But while I was out I hit a hare, again, and did a bit of damage. So ordered all new bumper trims and the oil cooler mount since that broke and was dragging on the ground. Tried to get a new mesh grill but is nla from Bmw, so eBay it is. went to fit parts yesterday to find the oil cooler is probably just about to blow through where it was scraping on the road, and in trying to refit it was struggling to get it into place. Then found that the bottom of the radiator is bowing down and bent, and the fins are rotting out. So looks like I’ll need a new radiator and cooler, and might as well replace hoses and mounts while I’m there. Uggghhhh.

So cleaned and welded sump and rebuilt oil pump are back Pump has a nice big bolt on the end of the replacement hardened shaft holding the new sprocket. The inside of the pump was in good condition although the mechanic found a couple of pieces of what appeared to be from the chain tensioner in the oil pickup! Next step is to remove the oil deflector and start on the rod bolts. While I procrastinate about that job I tidied up the valve covers.. Not perfect but looks way better for now. Also thinking about tidying up the brake callipers and paint them high heat blue maybe even put some Motorsport stickers on underneath the clear coat. Anyone done this and what kind of result did you get?

Hi Jon lucky you in that the wiring was already their for you. Have not long retro fitted a 6 CD stacker in my Compact had nothing. Make sure you get the correct mounting bracket for you vehicle. Is this of any help 6 CD Stacker retro.docx

And over-priced IMHO. None of these 30k+ e36's are shifting.

Today I worked on a couple of smaller items: 1. Steel Wheels water-blasted my old steel wheels, if only to make them cleaner for handling. 2. Alloy Wheels no's 5 & 6 Washed, Scrubbed, and water-blasted the two additional alloys. They'll need dressing, as they are corroded inside the barrels. I figured I'd need more paint, so I went to the paint shop to buy etch primer, more primer surfacer, and more colour. They suggested I visit the sand blasters, and pay to have them stripped. One of them needs welding, so they'll go to the wheel repairers next week. I don't expect to complete in time for E30 Mega Meet Additional basket weaves getting the green snotty kiwi wheel cleaner treatment before water blasting. "Here we go again". "Will the circle be unbroken". Detail shot showing gash on the inner rim, and some of the lighter corrosion. Rim Repair specialists next week, after sand blasting. 3. Rocker Cover Breather Hose My christmas present arrived from Germany. p/n 11151727851 So I fitted it. 1/4" drive set a boon, here. The old one was completely baked, 30 years of temperature cycling. 'ere's the new one fitted. Nice supple rubber; the old one was essentially thermosetting plastic. Viewed from above (from left side of motor, front of car to left) - Breather clip is closest to bottom of frame. It's a bit bloody tight in there. You get the idea. I may have over-tightened it.

Well for $250 you can get it repaired professionally and that's less than the retail cost. Unfortunately you're going to need to chalk this one up to experience, as AJ says you can't reverse into the van, regardless of its speed. It would be a different story if the van hit you but in this case you hit it and are at fault. Since you're at fault and they're offering a 50% discount I'd take option 2 and run. But before doing so get explicit confirmation that the van driver has actually denied liability and it's not just a matter of the insurance company or your broker trying to be expedient. After the claim is settled move insurance companies to one that will NEVER touch your premiums if you have a no-fault claim, that's BS.

It was quite an experience. And there is still one of my plates out there somewhere.

All sorted have confirmed purchase with Nick - m325i. Much appreciated with the swift responses all! I'm going to enjoy being a member of this group as I don't like to f**k around with deals. Jon

So I took the sump and oil pump into Speedfactor (Tauranga) big ups to Evan & Bradley for there input. Have decided to get the oil pump strengthened with hardened shaft, sprocket and bolt (rather than the small nut holding it on). We took a look at adding the baffle kit but with the S50B30 it appears to be baffled already out of the factory? Even the flaps to control surge during long\hard cornering are there. Given I will not be racing the car (and could add an extra 1/2L of oil if I do take it to the track) it seems an over kill to add the aftermarket baffle kit.. yes.. no? We did find a small crack which I am having welded. Received big end rod bearings and bolts. A bit nervous about putting these in but I guess if I follow the instructions and use a good torque wrench I should be ok.. right ?. According to Pelican https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/101-Projects-24-Rod-Bearings/101-Projects-24-Rod-Bearings.htm this should be straightforward. It does mention to measure the journals or should I plastigauge even if the old bearings don't look spun or too worn? I'm 99% sure engine hasn't been out and crank ground. I will be putting the ACL race bearings standard size which run greater clearance +.001 out of the box anyway..

Slowly been doing bits and pieces over the last year. Had a new exhaust fabbed up by a mate (JDL Engineering Timaru) with supersprint rear added later as it was just too loud as it was. made a cold air box with insulated panel that seals to the bonnet, and a big fram filter with air ducted from the brake duct, but has given a flat spot around 2.5-3k, tried to space it out from the airflow meter but no real difference, so might be going back to the factory box. Does sound good though. been putting up with a squeaky belt idler for a few years now, even though it was replaced a while back, it has finally got the better of me so replaced it with a genuine one this week which sorted that out. Hopefully lasts longer than 15-20k the last one did. also replaced the TPS since it’s in the service book to be done at inspection 1 or 2 this week so that’s done. The drivers door has always needed some extra force to shut so sorted that out too. And lastly, got some Inpro smoked tail lights on, and reminded myself to get the genuine ltw Wing sorted and on I’ve had for a few years now. So has been a busy week!