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Got my alignment today at Wairau Alignment, getting ready for cert, he did unfortunately confirm my Tie rods are shot which I suspected and made the alignment tricky so another item for the to-do list... Steering feels significantly better which is nice, should be great when I change the Tie rods and get another alignment ? I don't have camber plates so was a little concerned at being able to get it close enough to factory specs for LVVTA certification which I'll be doing ASAP. Rear camber was no issue but front camber was borderline at my current ride height which is low but not silly IMO. Front Left -1'04' (spec range -1'03' - 0'23') Front Right - 1'32' (spec range -1'03' - 0'23') Alignment guy seemed think while not ideal, this would pass cert (within 1/2 a degree of stock range) so fingers crossed! Really don't want to have to buy camber plates as well...

Bit of a long post this time, but there is much to update on! Firstly, there is interior updates 4, 5, 6, and 7 (ish)? As I hinted at above I'm adding more alcantara bits through the interior. The inspiration is the 1M coupe, and the goal is to pretty much replicate the complete 1M interior in the 130i, which means getting rid of the textured aluminium completely (which I've never really liked) and swapping it either for alcantara covered parts, or matte black plastic, exactly as in the 1M. I am also going for the orange stitching where I can on the alcantara. I haven't got all the bits yet (more coming), but so far this is where I'm at... Alcantara door pulls on all 4 doors: Genuine 1M handbrake boot with smooth leather handbrake handle, Genuine 1M gearshift surrounds, gearknob and alcantara shift boot. I have also replaced the ashtray with a wireless Qi charging pad from Inbay, so no more charging cables runnning across the centre console! Next up I have been doing some upgrades to the ICE. My car was optioned (or not optioned, if you will) with the base audio which sounds pretty crap. Considering I seem to spend 1.5-2 hours a day in this car on my commute, a better sounding stereo was well overdue! So I have added in the following: Focal 4.320 4 channel amp, plus the Focal BMW IMP 2.1 wiring harness, just to make the install easier. This makes it plug and play in newer BMWs but given the age of mine, I installed it exactly the same way as the factory Alpine system is done, by splicing into the existing speaker wiring. So now the front door speakers, and under-seat subs are run off the Focal amp, and the rear speakers are run off the factory headunit E8X/E9X Logic 7 tweeters. I chose these since they are a factory part, the fit directly into the existing (empty) tweeter pods, and plug into the second socket on the factory door speakers. I actually think the base door speakers are fine for the job they do, they just need tweeters and proper amplification to get the most out of them! If you can get them second hand off ebay too, it is a relatively cheap upgrade One thing that isn't up to the job, in my opinion is the factory under-seat subs, so these have been replaced with "GRS B200-4 ASD Series 8" Glass Fiber Subwoofer" which I managed to score from parts express at 75% off on a clearance special! Now there is actually some proper bass to be felt from the system, and since these are designed for BMW, they fitted perfectly into the factory enclosures, and the factory wiring plugged straight in. Suffice to say, it sounds WAY better now, definitely of the quality I expect from a BMW now, and it is actually enjoyable to turn the volume up loud finally! Amp (currently mounted on a piece of Rimu, because that's what I had lying around ?? One of the subs fitted in its spot: Logic 7 tweeters: Last but not least, I got sick of looking at the phone mount stuck onto my centre air vent, which I always used for google maps, so I have added in a wireless apple carplay system from AliExpress. This is an add on unit that connects in to the existing CCC idrive, so it still has all the original idrive menus, but holding down the menu button, while in the aux audio screen opens up apple carplay. Since it is wireless too it means I can just leave my phone on the charging pad in the centre console, and no ugly cables to plug in! Extra bonus, it comes with a microphone for hands free calling, which i've mounted on top of the A pillar trim, and the steering wheel controls work to skip tracks etc when playing spotify/podcasts etc. Obviously there's no touch screen so you navigate around using the idrive controller. Probably as expected for a system like this it isn't 100% bug free, and does occasionally glitch or freeze, but it still has massively improved the car for the daily commute, so I am stoked with it. So as of now, the only piece of aluminium trim I have left is the one in the middle of the dash. I have ordered a replacement in black alcantara with orange stitching, as well as another gauge pod in black alcantara with orange stitching to complete the 1M package. Hopefully they come in the next month or two, and hopefully they are actually the correct version for RHD unlike the last one I bought. While I was coding in the new cluster (a couple of posts up), I also finally got around to coding in the SPBR option for the M performance brakes (or the 135i version of that I have). Can't say I can feel too much difference to be honest, maybe a fraction sharper at first bite, but that could just be my imagination?? Anyway, I'm sure the coding option is there for a reason so good to do it finally and have it as it should be, Lastly, the car is getting new rear wheel bearings, and rear axles fitted later this week, to hopefully (really really hoping) cure the high speed vibration the car suffers from currently. Will get the harmonic balancer checked at the same time, and the car will get a full condition check before taking it to my/its first track day on Sunday. Can't wait! That's it for the updates for now. Hopefully it runs well at the trackday with no issues, then I will try and make it to the next Auckland meet the week after that, if it is on.

Big shout out to Jacko for taking time out to look at the 130i and provide such thorough feedback. Managed to negotiate a price and have secured the car Have a list of jobs to do over Xmas, will no doubt be asking some "how to" questions on the Forum Cheers, John

Currently searching for an E38 either 728i or 740i/il with decent specs and in decent condition. Closer to Christchurch the better and budget depending on vehicle.

Hmm we prob should have the For Sale section locked so you need a mod to delete a thread. Makes it a good archive. At the moment it is like BookFace. A black hole that sucks up info and destroys it.

It'll be a good start to a project car, it appears to be straight and honest just needs some love. Elbow grease, a DA, and swinging of a spanner will solve a lot of it pretty simply. With things like the tyres/shocks they just become good excuses to upgrade! Reality is half the 130s out there selling for over 10k will have the same faults, just owners that are none the wiser. Should do an experiment, run around all the 130s in dealers yards and look for oil leaks and green coolant. $50 its more than half of em

And it's a much more practical storage pocket, even without charging, than the BS ashtray!

Picked up this e39 a wee while ago. Has a bunch of ac kit on it, had the timing chain done, and is manual. Only known negative at the time of buying was that the sunroof might leak a little and the diff is starting to get noisy. Got about 8 months of enjoyment out of it. Then the brakes started getting very spongy. Got that repaired- it was the abs. Unfortunately the abs doesn't work, it now has a solid pedal though. I was also told they couldn't scan the car and they believe some wires have been snipped behind the dash. Had a few others try scan it (thanks everyone) but nobody had any luck. The car was parked up for some time after that, during that time the sunroof leaked into the drivers footwell. My current list of problems is as follows: -replace windscreen trim seal (have a new one just need to install) -passenger brake light stays on -passenger tail light wiring suspect -not scanning -airbag light not coming on -coolant temp not correct on gauge -abs light not working -abs not working -diff noisey -front bumper grill drivers side broken -lumbar support drivers-motor goes but no movement -clunk in front suspension - possibly the garbage power flex bushes I installed -oil change -surface rust from water leak -washer fluid bottle leaks -needs a clean Ultimately I'm looking to sell the car (too many cars). If someone wants to take on that list of problems I'd let it go for 8k. Otherwise I'll slowly fix it up and try and sell it for a considerable amount more.

Thanks! Yeah sorry I only just managed to figure out what was happening with the orange stitching version and hadn't thought much about what to do with this one. I may have something else you might be interested in though, I'll send you a PM later

Don't forget the apathy of drivers towards temporary speed limits, which i the case of chip seal especially serve to allow the tar to rest and cure. Speeding through fresh chip seal (even if only doing 50) is enough to cause the tar to lift, and the seal doesn't last nearly as long as if it had cured correctly. The fog lights is mostly ignorance I think, they legitimately have no fkn clue they even have rear fogs. Button got pressed one day and hasn't changed since.

If its for insurance purposes, a valuation would be your best bet. A lot of 'small print' in most 'agreed value' insurance policies. If you're curious on its market value, condition and big ticket maintenance would factor but SMG would probably keep it around $30k. I would think high 30s to low 40s would need to be for a lower km manual post 2003 in more of a 'hero' colour.

i got in touch with a valuer as suggested on here. He wasn't aware of a some recent sales, (and was more hyped on some recent e36 sales). I basically got him to say how high he would go, and he was at $30k for what is essentially the same spec. He is not going to add value for the valuing adding maintenance. I have mine at $30 agreed - but agree that it would likely sell for more. I am with Star and is restricted to less than 15km p.a. Be keen to hear other's views...

Hello, Im new here, just bought my first bmw. A 2007 325i m sport touring. Its done 81,000km. Loving it so far, so much fun to drive. Heres a few photos i took the other day. Needs a few little things sorted out but i am getting that done next thursday. Cant wait to take this thing on some longer trips and backroads.

This one has the exact same stampings on it as the factory one I removed from my car, so definitely not a BMWP one

Yes 335i's will do that especially when tuned.

I bought it for 3600, fairly happy with it as I found full service/inspection history (mostly at the dealer) going back to 2001 in the glovebox and most of the common issues have been addressed, cooling system and ccv done in 2015, ac evaporator done this year, spark plugs/brakes/tires all done in the last few years as well etc. Might do a progress thread in the showroom section, probably not much interest in a non-M but I plan to do some work on the interior to make it a bit nicer.

18 10 0 443 576, 18 10 0 208 802 was the supersession.

The one that some of us would have seen listed for sale on the forum not long ago was definitely KIWI1M and correlates to the one I posted a photo of in this original post by BMW Manawatu. Not sure what HNQ984 is, must be a different example.

Hope you got a good price, needs at least 3k in thrown at it

You cant vote for less money to be spent on roads, and then complain when less money is spent on roads.

Yep, that interior looks a special place to be! The gear knob matching the piano trim looks awesome. Have you thought about caramel boots?

enough pussy-footing, go straight to PSS10's, you won't regret it!

That is looking amazing, I still get blown away by that colour combo every time you post more photos. Think I need to get me some of that waterless wash you use too, my car has gotten FILTHY! Although I think I heard they may ease the water restrictions at the end of the month? ?

Looks amazing mate - need to bring it to the next Auckland meet!

https://www.inbay.systems/en/product/charging-compartment-for-bmw-1-series-e81-e82-e87-e88/ Although I bought it off ebay, so have a look there too. Only thing to note is that it is meant to fit onto centre consoles that don't have an ashtray, so if yours does (i assume most do) then you also need to buy the storage tray to replace the ashtray (PN 51 16 7 136 190), and removing the ashtray and fitting that pretty much needs you to remove the whole centre console so kind of a pain in the ass. Considering I was swapping so many other parts over though it didn't really add any significant extra effort for me though

Thanks! The door pulls aren't a wrap, they're factory BMW items for a 1M. Probably the most expensive possible way of doing it, but quality is awesome and they fit perfectly! Part numbers are 51418051245 and 51418051246, and they are a direct fit on E87 door cards (for LCI at least).

Quality work Matt, I like the direction you're heading. I'm starting to get audio envy even though I'm no audiophile. As a matter of interested, what did you wrap the door handles/puller in and where did you get it from?

That is a very accurate description of roads in NZ, they seem to be getting worse as well. Even when they are “repaired” it just seems to be a half-arsed patch up job.

@sjbglobal Get amongst it

thanks guys! I haven't got too much planned for the moment because im pretty broke right now and want to put some money aside so I can maintain it properly and for when the water pump/thermostat fails. But I will put some roof mount bike racks on and am getting my apple car play headunit fitted soon as well. Transmission service getting done on Thursday.

@sjbglobal I will be selling my car soon. Its a black msport 325i touring if that interests you.

Just finished replacing mosfets on another dme. Only one was blown (open circuit) but replaced all 6.

Just watched that update, and you can tell the difference in their attitude and enthusiasm compared to the sponsored sh*t

thank you! im loving it so far, and its faster than i had expected because a lot of people told me 325is were slow, maybe they have driven too many 335is.

I heard the Munich facility is doubling the floor area to deal with production of new kidney grills.

Don't forget the e23 in McFlys driveway...

That whole website is a joke. The prices are ridiculous.

Maybe only driven on nice days then? Just joking

Feckin' roads. Y'know - the slippy slidey loose gravel bit that's laid around the potholes. A little bit of rain and there's a hole where my left front wheel would run. Dark, rain, can't see the hole and ***CRASH***. One lightweight forged alloy with a split in it. ? Of course, they're rare (isn't everything when you need it?) and because it's forged, it's apparently more difficult to repair.