Mark Babb

Thanks for the above advice ..will check tomorrow and let you know how i get on. Mark

Not sure if any body has any suggestions, but electric windows/mirrors and heater fan have stopped working today. i believe they are all on a seperate fuse however after checking all fuses all appears ok. seems a little strange all 3 things have stopped at once so just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction or is it a job for a auto electrician. any advice really appreciated Mark

Top company with a great reputation.... offices in Australia i believe. Hope to be using their services with a new media campaign in the new year

European Auto spares in Manukau will have one for sure. I get all my spares for my BMW there.

. Yours...or atleast you can have first refusal. I,ll be free most of tomorrow during day (On the shore) 021 511116. Thanks Mark

Brand new E30 manual steering rack for a 320, but assume it will also fit 318. Cannot recall exactly how much i paid but guess it was over $100. would $50 be too much to ask? Mark

I saw them in person last week...They are in excellent condition and look amazing. Probabaly the nicest wheels i have seen for an E30 that will bolt straight on without mods. Whoever buys them will not be disappointed.

Try Ernst from Bavarian Motors, i purchased a flywheel from him for an M20 engine, had it machined/balanced only to find it was not for an M20 but M30. I left it with him as i had no use for it, so should be cheap.Thanks Mark

Happy to buy both, but if you want to give me a price for each seperately then thats fine too.

Thanks, if you will take $500 and the gearbox is the correct one then i am happy to buy it from you. Mark

Hi if the gearbox is the 240 i'd be happy for first refusal. is the engine a FL model ?Thanks Mark

I have a stock ECU for my car (E30 320 FL) which was originally Auto, with cat and ozy sensor, however it has now been converted to manual, cat removed along with sensor, would there be any benefit in reprogramming the ECU for these changes and if so is it something that a BMW agent can do. tHANKS Mark

Hi All, I know Keith Sharp the organiser fairy well, the problem he had was trying to get companies to either exhibit or take larger stands as it was as you say the first event. However he has booked the ASB show grounds for next year and every company that i spoke with did say they will be taking larger stands and showing more display items. I know "Superchips" were very busy as was a number of other companies. A1GP will be having a much bigger display, Andy from Race FX will have 3 stands showing his BMW M3 GTR and BMW single seater. Also being at the Show grounds more outside activities can be had such as Motorbike stunt displays etc. Hopefully we can have a greater presence with the BMW display. Bimmersport banners, video play, a couple more of the race series cars along with drivers etc. Apparently it does take up until the 3rd event before it really starts to take off, but rest assured next year will be even better again. The GT Radial Girls were pretty Hot, but i reckon we can do much better.... any suggestions... Dave!! Surely there must be some Good looking Bimmersport members who would be happy to promote for us next year. Just remembered Gavin from Hi velocity is taking his complete rolling road set-up next year and will be having cars every hour do a run on the rolling road, having that F40 replica or the Mclaren Race car would be a great thing to see on there. Even one or two of the BMW open series race cars would be good Any suggestions and i would be happy to pass onto Keith. Thanks Mark

Just for the record, the E30 BMW race series is brillant, well run by Conrad/Mike and Colin, a great bunch of fellow competiors...just keep away from Ken . I can honestly say from all the years of racing from back in the UK and in NZ this series is by far the best racing i have ever been involved with, and a true credit to the little E30 bm's.

Hi Evan, thanks for the kind words, judging by some of the damage to the BMW's at the w/end maybe i should have kept the car i sold you after all...just in case. Anyway i suppose that was always going to be envitable with such a large grid and different levels of race experience so early in the season. I have decided i just can't bring myself to sell the car as your are right i have spent so much time and money on it. i guess i was just feeling a little flat after the w/end as i put so much focus and energy in wanting to win the opening round and then when i got home and found i had about 20 work related emails that needed addressing urgently that night i just thought ..arrggh to much pressure, dont need this. Anyway i have taken a leaf out of most womans past time....shopping therapy, just spend more money on the car and i will feel ok. Lap timer from Conrad, Rear brake callipers overhaul and a few other ideas i have. Thanks Again Mark ps the car will be on show with the BMW pace car at the motorsport expo this w/end at the telstra clear stadium.

The series is Brillant and have made some great friends, Guess the reason for selling is just me...My work is almost a 24/7 job and i find it so frustrating not having the time to spend on my motor racing. Maybe next week i might come to my senses but in the meantime there is a great opportunity for someone to take advantage of my moment of weekness

I may live to regret this, but after winning the opening round this weekend i have decided to sell my E30 320 race car. The standard of preparation to this car is extemely high and can be supported with receipts in excess of $50k (thats scary..just dont tell the wife). I have taken the view that when building a race car it has to be the best of everything. i spent $25,000 with Race FX alone just in basic preparation, but everthing has been detailed carefully including the underside of the car. It has a brand new "Bruce Manon" engine fitted last week prior to this weekends event so probably still has a little more power to come from the engine, however the car still managed to win the seasons opening race with a very competitive field of cars and drivers. Out of the 2 full events the car has entered it has one both events (Jan 07 and Sept 07). I accept it is possible to build a race BMW for approx $15,000, however to build the best available and have a front row car that is realiable and consistent then more time and money is required. Many people who have seen the car always comment on the high standard of preparation, however it's all the small details that add up. The engine bay alone could be mistaken for being brand new. The car will be sold with spares including wheels and brand new tyres. This is a great opportunity for someone to purchase a race proven front row E30 BMW with no further expense required. I believe the asking price of $20k is reasonable considering the amount spent and results achieved. Please ask if any further information is needed.

Think i've found the problem with rear calipers dragging... the retaining springs that fit over the calipers and stop the pads from vibrating actually was holding the pads against the disc, hence getting hot etc. After doing a little research it appears other E30 drivers around the world have had similar problems with no real soloution...Only taken 12 months to find the reason and 3 sets of pads...may have just gained another 4/5hp as well...or wishfull thinking.

Thankyou, actually when the car was built over at race FX they told me only recently that you can adjust the rod from the brake pedal to the master cylinder to take up free play. apparently this is what they did do, but what kinda of confused me (not difficult) is that i thought if it had been over adjusted the front would also be dragging too. anyway thanks for the advice will check to make sure there is free play.Mark

God i just can't hide from you can i... actually i dont want brakes..thats my problem the rears are just dragging on constantely, always have since the car was built...just imagine how much quicker i could have gone if they had freed up...reckon a 1.15 could have been achieved.something is applying pressure to the rear calipers just enough to heat the discs up and destroy the pad material. drove up the road for about 10km today, did not use brakes and yet when i stopped rear discs were hot and yet fronts were stone cold. guess i might have to check out master cylinder or this brake bias valve that someone mentioned is in the line. actually are the rear calipers the same for 318/320 and 325.? might aswell replace nothing lost i guess. Thanks for assistance Mark

Hi Ollie, i have a spare FL head and camshaft from a 1990 320. happy to sell the camshaft or complete head fully assembled, what ever helps, open to any reasonable offer. Over on the shore in Alkd. Mark 021 511116

Ever since i built my E30 race car last year i have had an issue with the rear calipers dragging on, to the extent that i have gone thru 3 sets of rear pads. They just get so hot and brake up after each race. These calipers have been completly overhauled and the handbrake shoes have been backed off so much that it does not actually work anymore, so i can elimate them. The front pads are just fine with no heating of the discs when driving normally on the road, but just after a few km the rear discs get really hot... someone mentioned a while back that the E30's (320 FL) have a bias valve in the line somewhere?? could this be faulty? any other suggestions would really be appreciated. I also had an issue with the rear bearing grease flying all over ther inside of the wheels...this i guess is due to the rear brake/hubs getting so hot that the grease sort of melts under the heat and easily passes thru the bearings. Thanks Mark

Couple of pictures for those interested. Thanks Mark

North Shore Auckland. will try and post pic tomorrow.As you can see from my race car pic i am extremely fussy when it comes to condition of cars, this car has no dents/scratches and is free of any rust. the reason i decided to buy it was due to the colour as it looks really nice in that light metallic blue. However i bought it on impulse at the time with no intention of ever driving it ( i have 4 other cars already) Just see it as a shame having such a nice car just sitting around not being used. Thanks

1990 E30 320 2 door, Manual conversion by Ernst at Bavarian. Finished in light metallic Blue. 126,000km. New WOF. very good condidtion throughout, $4500. Contact Mark 021 511116