hotwire

Brilliant work!! Wish I could draw like that

A little more than that, the vehicle - engine loom is also a different plug set up so one or other needs splicing in. Also - make sure you also get the Motronic ECU.

Snapped!!!

Yep, Pheonix Yellow - Love the colour - suits the E46, hard to imagine on the bigger cars though

Yea fair call - my slip up. Contradicted myself somewhat

Cant remember if Ljet M20 has a bleed screw in the thermostat housing, the later Motronic does. If it does - bleed through that. If not - I normally 1/2 -2/3 fill the system, heater on & get engine up to temperature allowing air to bleed out - then fill up as required. They can be a prick for airlocks. Unlikely though if the cooling system hasn't been touched. Is it using water? - Could be thermostat They are common for head gaskets when they have been overheated -have you checked the oil for water in it? If using water - could also be consumming via combustion & not into oil. Also - M20 engines are belt driven (& interference) so make sure belt is replaced as per schedule

With respect - as already said - take it to a mechanic - & obviously a better one than last time:- Your fault description is rather vague & it sounds as if you will be stabbing in the dark in trying to diagnose it. If no trailer option then tow it carefully One thing to check first though - is the engine siezed?

Yes, behind the bulge as stated. The monitor in the front is just a dumby - all the control units are in the boot area

+2 Fog lights. As already stated - when set CORRECTLY they will NOT dazzle oncoming vehicles. They are a permanantly dipped light casting a flat horizontal beam & when set correctly the glare ouput on a beamsetter is no higher than dip headlight beam. Problems arise when WOF's don't check setting properly or inconsiderate people fit driving/spot beams in these spoiler holes where they are an uncontrolled light output. In all my years in the trade I have seen several fog light rule changes. Early eighties - when fog lights came on you had to lose all other headlights (dip included) but retain park lights. Then after 87 & the mass flood of Jap imports fitted with factory fogs & operating independently of headlights - saw the powers that be change the rules to allow these cars to comply. However when retrofitting fog lights - the old rule still applied. Nowdays a vehicle can have a pair of fog lights independently switchable, along with dip beam headlights & 4 high beam lights (this can be 2 factory H/B & two driving/spot) + 2 daytime running lights if desired Their ruling does state fogs to be used only in adverse conditions - very grey area I reacon - what defines the cutoff for judgment of adverse conditions? Love to challenge that in court:- Surely the more light visable the better (assuming non dazzling) - more concentration should be aimed at consistant enforcement of lamp types & correct setting of in the WOF inspections

At work - Have dealt with Robinsons Instrument Services with these dashes before

Interesing reading. So Nick - what part did you come back & edit - the at least 75% of people will try & lick their elbow? For the record - I did - try - that is

Yea came in on that this avo - big balls for him to be doing that - takes a lot of trust in the old man. Vicki didn't do a bad job either:-

Love the colour! Suits it well. Good on you.

+1 End of story!

Welcome. As has been confirmed. NZ cars were generally fairly sparse with electric goodies. Some later ones with TV & semi wired ready for nav Typically Jap origin for these bells & leather & then convert radio (if necessary -if before 09/01build) & nav to run in NZ. I can help with this:- As you say Jap motorsports don't often have leather or TV /Nav. If you can get a low milage Jap one with a confirmed history then you can get good bang for your buck. Always nice to have one with all the goodies & working. You can add Bluetooth, DVD system, Ipod & all intergrated into the vehicle system TV can be programmed for "in motion" too. Though reception can be an issue in outer areas If Jap - 01 onwards best - they are facelift, usually prewired for phone (where factory Bluetooth is more easily fitted & if late enough that year - will have world radio tuner fitted

Common problem!

Have covered this before: Do they only not work when the door is nearly shut - interior light turning off? Is this consistant? Do the mirrors & fan not work either? If so - the unloader relay is not working -K7 from memory. Check for a loose /disconnected black wire (from memory) at the starter - this is the wire that earths the relay to allow those circuits to operate

More involved to put back together. Cant start when not in car - starter mounts to bell housing. Quick rundown: Yes replace rings, big end bearings & maybe crankshaft bearings (depending on condition) Need to check /measure bores for wear - no point of replacing rings if bores are worn. Yes replace all gaskets Check oil pump Check water pump Head should be checked/tested/ resurfaced/skimmed if necessary. Valve stem seals replaced Should replace head studs, rest ok Replace any hose etc that are suspect

Yep, totally agree - the E36 when new was certainly breaking new ground over the E30 & arguably much better but now being an in between model has lost some appeal while the E30 has gained a cult status. I can't really see the E36 doing such a thing -nor later models for that matter in years to come. I guess time will tell:-

Yep H1

Some early 318/320s had sealed beams (NZ new inc) Easy to tell, the front of a sealed beam is convex, the semi sealed is realitively flat. In the semi - you can see the bulb inside - the sealed will have a filament. In the sealed beam the wiring plug will connect directly to the terminals at the back of the lamp - the semi will connect to the bulb

Have driven plenty of of both E30's & E36's - both great cars I reacon & the 36 a natural progression in development. That said - IMO - the E30 is a classic which I love (facelift tech 2 & M3 cars specifically), the E36 I think as comparibly boring in looks - no offense guys even though a good driving car. Both, as all cars, have weak links - E30's - cracked dashes, broken sunroof & window winders, broken glove box latches to name a few - all common failures but equally E36's with hood lining down around the ears, door trims falling apart, heater controls failing are all common. For me its E30 or an E46 which I reacon has regained style body wise

Probably depends on steering wheel fitted - some do need removing - been there- done that

Dash problem - could be an earth fault to it, otherwise probably an internal fault. Indicator - Does the switch feel sloppy or over sensitive in switching on that side? Removing dash - easy - but you do need to remove the steering wheel.

In the 320i Allow an hours work max - whatever their rate is.