M3AN

How have you mounted it? Did you bolt the bracket to the tray? I've always wondered about the front (pass) seat mounts that were an e36 option back in the day and whether they'd still be okay.

^ wow lol.

I know naught about these engines but I doubt you could stuff up the sensor by getting coolant on it. That you had oil in you coolant is interesting... does the oil cooler have a water jacket? Otherwise I'm not sure how the oil cooler could contaminate the coolant. Anyway, with any boost pressure fault be sure to check the wastegate is closing correctly.

Over the last few days... Pulled the aircon compressor out of the 328, it's dripping fluid and aircon has never worked... was already missing one mounting bolt and one of the remaining three sheared off as soon as I twisted it. The bottom two are easily rotted way down there. It's unlikely to ever go back on, might remove the tensioner from that side also as well as the rest of the aircon gubbins. Got the steering wheel straightened on the M3, it was a tiny (but annoying) bit off after the last alignment (for the new steering rack). Called the shop and they were like 'that's no good, bring it straight in' and it took less than 10 mins. Happy. Re-hung the exhaust on the M3, the tips were hanging too low (for a number of years, since I had my diff seals done) and now, after using a different hanger mounting hole, are perfectly aligned. Happy with that. Still chasing some front end imbalance on the 328...

Yeah, attach them to your shocks - for all sorts of reasons. Might as well get adjustable links, that'll make bar adjustments quicker and more granular.

I see you have the sway bars mounted to the control arms... do your shocks not have mounts for them?

I wonder if you do go and have a look if you'll drive up the driveway, see the car sitting there all nice and clean and then the owner will open the garage and go "ta-da!" and the second one is sitting there for you. Two 3.0 M3's for $38k seems about right.

Looks good, pity it's a sedan (that's M5 territory in my mind). Without knowing the market $25k seems like a sharp price to me, almost worth picking up just to have some fun, surely they're not going to be worth less than $25k in 12 months? GLWS.

I'd be quite surprised if an M5 didn't require 98 at a minimum. Of course if you keep it under ~4000 rpm then it probably doesn't matter (and you probably shouldn't own an M5).

How are you getting 98 at Caltex?

I was going to mention the paint... ?

I thought very few (if any) 16's would fit but they're nice wheels... @Aaron is down your way (Christchurch, not Hamilton), he may have some ideas/pointers for you.

I like how they keep saying 'come and see the car' to see the value yet won't tell anybody what amazing sh*t you're going to see. Seeing it in person isn't going to up your value perception by 15 or 20k... Still dreaming.

Yeah, I've seen that, don't you think they seem impractically broad? Pretty much every part manufacturer becomes an OEM for every part they make under that definition. I don't think that's how the terms are commonly used, even if it is the proper definition. Clearly it pays to check precisely what somebody means when using those terms!

I'm not sure those definitions ^ are valid... my understanding... OE = Original Equipment and WILL be branded by the vehicle manufacturers and is ONLY available from the vehicle manufacturer or their agents (and not direct from the part manufacturer or their agents). ALWAYS has a BMW (in this case) part number. Warranty, returns etc are via the vehicle manufacturer (or agent). OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer that makes the SAME part for the vehicle manufacturer but is selling the equivalent part direct (or via wholesale) and is NOT available from the vehicle manufacturer nor does it carry the manufacturer logo. NEVER has a BMW (in this case) part number. Warranty, returns etc are via the part manufacturer (or agent). In BMW's case all OE stuff will be branded by BMW and will satisfy BMW's QC requirements. The same part direct from the manufacturer is an OEM part and will satisfy the manufacturers QC requirements (which may or may not be the same as BMW's). So I agree with parts of the previous posts... unless the manufacturer is cutting corners an OEM part should be identical to an OE part except for the branding. In fact some OEM parts will be better than OE parts because as time passes design and quality can improve. Some dodgy vendors claim OEM because the manufacturer produces some (any) part for the vehicle brand... well that's NOT OEM, that's simply a copy or "rep". It certainly gets more complicated if there are multiple OE suppliers or one supplier offers more than one version of a part but the basic principles still apply.

Why does a CVT even have a gear shift?

Ouch.

Well, in this case he was going to pay the $350 anyway, might as well get new blades and filters thrown in. But I agree, some of those prices seem excessive but probably explainable if they're sourcing from BMW NZ who have ridiculous parts pricing.

Function 1 - Steering Function 2 - Horn Function 3 - Airbag ?

Those white dowels turned my brain to fudge. You insert them from the outside and then grip the inside (square portion) an twist them 90* to lock them in place... much easier with the spoiler off.

Is that the cost for blades alone? Surely not? ?

That looks nice and clean, I like it.

PM sent...

That's a grand idea actually.

Sweet, badge is yours and I'll take the hood struts. Will follow up with a PM later on, cheers.