M3AN

Nice touring but $70k seems crazy money for a pretty nothing-special car that will only be worth, what, $20k in two years?

No reserve but caveat emptor! Looks manky, might be okay for sub $5k? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/2886190177

Welcome Flynn, that looks like a pretty sweet example if I may say so and it sounds like the trip back down to sunny Nelson was a blast! Props on the new toy, lots of enjoyment ahead, the e46 is a fantastic chassis.

Sweet, thanks. And I'll return the favour if you want to give a sporty slush-box a shakedown.

This isn't going to be helpful but... You live in Queenstown, it's summer, you have views like that. Forget the top! Park it up inside during winter. 😉 This might be more helpful... BMW's instructions... increment the file name from 01 up to 15 First: https://www.davesanthology.com/public/images/automotive/random_pics/Z3_Soft_Top/01.png Last: https://www.davesanthology.com/public/images/automotive/random_pics/Z3_Soft_Top/15.png Of course any BMW main dealer will also be able to do it for you but I'm not sure if there's one in Queenstown or the cost.

Sorry you had to pass it on but I'm glad you're happy with the outcome. IMHO that was always one of the best looking cars here on BS.

I'm not one for all the stuff you're doing but I like your style and the fact you own it.

Quick update a few weeks in... I'm really impressed with the grip, traction, noise and feedback of the R003's, they're quite epic, better than I expected. The absence of any form of rim protection, after 15 years on Goodyears, is a bummer though and they have a quite 'round' profile compared to the 'square' look of the F1's so look a lot thinner. But, at ~$300 a corner I'm not sure I could do better considering they're 225's and 255's. Thinking ahead, I have an M3 26mm front ARB, what size rear should I go for (considering I have an LSD)? Whiteline any good? They're cheap. 20mm? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/suspension/listing/2883012426 16mm? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/suspension/listing/2875177428

LSD I'd guess but Adaptive Xenon's would be up there.

It's probably worth considering replacing the lower three in your pic, I don't think it's that difficult/expensive. As for the top bit that runs the length of the car, I Plasti-dipped my E36 ones years ago and they're still fine, some people just paint over.

But halogens... And how can they be worth the same as a 130? 😮

Perhaps start looking for a replacement whilst you wait for it, it might be cursed! 😢

It started dumping transmission fluid whilst sitting there? And they offered to cover the excess? Seems odd but I suppose if it costs you nothing...

OMG, that's beautiful. Even with the handicap of the grey dash that's one of the best examples I've seen in NZ. I'd paint my M3 in that colour.

Nice to meet you today John and I'm glad the car got a clean electronic bill of health. You negotiated yourself a good deal on that one, a bit of TLC and it'll look as good as it sounds (which is fantastic). Safe travels. 👍

Fair enough, as I acknowledged, if you have enough work to turn customers away then you can charge what you want really. I imagine there are lots of people that aren't that lucky though and charging extra might not be a tenable option for them.

I did the full cooling system on my e36 M3 and my 328i and for both it was cheapest to import everything via FCP Euro, OE Behr radiators and all. ECS do tend to be more expensive in general than FCP but I'm sure that they have better deals from time-to-time, would pay to cross check. No point in importing coolant though, just pick it up from Repco or Supercheap. Despite what some would have you believe, the BMW stuff isn't unicorn semen.

100% agree about (not) complaining! If you agree up front then it's a done deal. I'm just interested in the circumstances where somebody would charge milage+travel time+normal hourly rate. That seems extraordinary to me but I wonder if I'm missing something.

Interesting. Does that apply for all jobs or just out of the way jobs? I'm not being judgy but if, for example a plumber, wanted to charge me either I'd just call another plumber, or sparky, or builder, or etc. It's not like there's a shortage of any around me. Out of the way, as long as it's an 'extraordinary' fee sure, but normal time and miles is a basic cost of working right? You can't do the job if you can't get to the site, my employer doesn't pay for my to-and-from work travel time or mileage. And if people have enough work that they can afford to turn down jobs then it's a non-issue right, you pick the most lucrative jobs regardless of location, you shouldn't need to add additional fees. I'm fascinated a little by this, perhaps being a city lad has just never exposed me to this reality?

Yes, yuck, they're e9x design and look terrible on an e8x, avoid.

The complexity is that it's not only an PFL/LCI thing, it also has to do with whether you have a motorsport bumper. All E81/7 motorsport bumpers, regardless of the year of the car, have pointy corners... this does not apply to E82/8. Also, LCI is confusing because there were two LCI's, one n 2007/8 and the other in 2010 These will probably work, no idea on shipping: https://marsperformance.com.au/Matt-Black-1M-Style-Front-Kidney-Grille-BMW-E87-E81-Hatch-Pre-LCI-04-10 https://marsperformance.com.au/Gloss-Black-1M-Style-Front-Kidney-Grille-BMW-E87-E81-Hatch-Pre-LCI-04-10 Note they're for a "PRE LCI 04/2010" - lots of confusion. The Schmiedmann ones also obviously fit (I have them) but unless you're combining shipping they're prohibitive.

Sweet, probably lines up with my brake swap. Are you planning to come to the December meet?

Done ? when do you need it?

And it's a NZ new SMG, not many of those around... pity SMG one, whilst technically delightful, was absolutely awful.

I have a hub puller if that's what you need? @zero might have the bearing tools he lent me?