M3AN

Batteries on new cars need to be registered if they're replacing the same capacity battery, there's additional coding required if the replacement battery has different specs. Both of these only apply if you're changing the battery though, not just charging it. @m325i - you'll probably need a charger with a restoration mode, like the CTEK (which are the favoured chargers on the market).

Solved:

I picked one of these up the other day and can confirm it's legit. CTEK MSX5.0 (5A) normally $190-$250 (Repco Link) Currently available for $139 including accessories (Repco Link) I don't think you'll get a better bargain than that for a CTEK, my M3 loves me for it because of the really low amperage maintenance mode. For those wondering, 5A is fine for even a quite large vehicle battery.

All good, thanks mate, I picked up a cheepie from Repco the other day. It's not the perfect tool but it did the trick. 22mm FWIW. I could have used a spanner since it was the easy to access sensor.

Between lockdown life and it being up on stands for a couple of weeks I've not done enough miles. I'm going to use it this week as much as I can so watch this space.

It's running seriously sweet now, the replacement O2 sensor worked a treat, no engine codes. ? I took the opportunity to clean the VANOS solenoids and filters and they came up primo, a perfect match for the fresh oil. I took it for a spin this afternoon and damn it drives and pulls nice now, it idles dead even (@650) and pulls cleanly right up to redline and you can really feel the lump of torque come on mid-range. Valve cover gasket has been replaced recently too and it's weeping slightly from the sump gasket as expected but no proper leaks. I agree @qube, I have a Bimmersporter with first option, if that doesn't work out I'll bump up the price and put it out there to see what happens.

?

There's an Australian company offering full DME refurbs with a warranty on TM at the moment, I have no experience but if that's the problem it might pay to send them an email.

You must use e46 inners or machine them (as I did) to allow for internal venting. Neither e30 nor e36 inners are compatible with the e46 rack venting mechanism. For outers, total length (inner+outer) comes into play. So you want approx the same length as e30+e30 with the required e46+???. If e36 and e30 outers are the same length you can use either, if they're not then you'll have to work out what gives you the same overall length (or sacrifice alignment adjustment). For those that have used inners without venting grooves on an e46 rack you're going to blow out boots and ingest volumes of crap that will ruin your rack in short time.

Holy crap, given how much Orange Wolf components are on this car I wonder if this is the LSD? ? https://www.gulfstream.co.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=55 NZ$3,840 ?

I don't need 2, let alone 3! If you want to swap that intake for a stock one with BMC filter + cash your way send me a PM, you'll likely get more dosh that way than installed on the car. Regardless, GLWS.

I got the car back last weekend with a permanent exhaust/emissions light on the dash, computer said O2 sensor. Cleared the codes and it still fails the start-up check. INPA live values confirmed it was Bank 1, Sensor 1 (thank god) so easy to replace. I swapped over one from my black car today to confirm that the sensor was the actual problem rather than power or ground and confirmed, code cleared and didn't come back. I'm soaking both (one from each car) in white vinegar overnight and will put them in the ultrasonic cleaner tomorrow and test again. I'd actually order an inexpensive one from Ali now if I had any confidence it would arrive in less than 10 weeks. Otherwise a Bosch from FCP which I know will arrive in a few days. I'm undecided what to do in the interim but if cleaning doesn't work I might put the good one in this car and use it as my daily until a) the other O2 sensor arrives or b) I sell it. Current price is $7,600 - up $100 from earlier because of a fresh oil change and filter (so effectively free labour). I will chuck in some aluminium pedal covers for that price and somebody might even be able to haggle a good deal on some LCI taillights.

Welcome Richard, and let's get some info on that E82 conversion please! Evo's are going for similar prices here as they are in the UK so if you're planning on selling it there's no point in going to the expense of shipping it here. If you don't have immediate plans to sell it and want to drive it here then put it on a ship. Unless it's rusty which is a particular problem with UK imports, it simply won't sell in relatively rust-free NZ unless it's to an over-excited mug. If it's rust free and in good condition it will sell quickly here for NZ$35k+ based on recent sales but you'd also get GBP18k+ pretty quickly in the UK.

Google Maps with nav is the biz on these screens, just make sure you download your offline maps areas first. And it looks like your vents are gross like mine were because BMW used an entirely unsuitable material. I used some back-to-black trim restorer and cotton buds to do mine, others remove them and paint them.

No, it replaces the OEM one and if you trust Google's Japanese, it's 'better'. lol ?

No... possibly something to do with the crankcase venting??? Edit: solved and boy they make some purdy stuff... Google translate works okay. https://www.gulfstream.co.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=127 Doesn't seem to have done much for my fuel consumption though! ?

What might this at the back of my engine bay be? It's etched with 'Orange Wolf' (same brand as my exhaust and coilovers) and has a directional arrow implying it's a one way/check valve. Edit: solved - https://www.gulfstream.co.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=127

Ali one ordered but PA one sitting in my cart just in case... and now I hear water restrictions probably through October wtf.

I've never heard of the e36 problem to be honest, what is the cause?

The Bosch I got actually comes with one, very similar if not the same as the Karcher unit, about 600mls. It's just that I've read many reviews that suggest all of the stock ones suck compared to aftermarket equivalents. This remains to be seen of course in my case. I was thinking that if I can pick up a brass unit for ~$25 from China I might as well try it, but I'd be disappointed if I got the wrong size and later regretted that 25 bucks simply because I didn't ask about the size. But your note has been helpful, it seems like I wouldn't need the bigger capacity, cheers.

You're not going to have a problem on a RWD with a staggered setup, pretty much every high horsepower RWD depends on a staggered setup. You only need to be concerned about rolling circumference and you can be miles out before that will bugger with traction control which, in most cases, measures the difference across an axle before it does front to rear.

Thanks for the suggestions and advice @All - what capacity for a medium sized car, is ~600mls enough or better to go with 1l? I don't fancy a refill mid foam.

Yeah, screen comes off but IIRC you need to install it with the screen attached.

Well good luck! ? The back screws got me too, in the end either a long torx driver or a flexible shaft did the trick.

I searched unsuccessfully, if there's a related thread please share the link... I pulled the trigger on a pressure washer/water blaster and, even though we can't actually use outside hoses in Auckland at the moment, I clicked and collected yesterday. I must admit I'm fawning a little, I've been wanting one for years and it's now been sitting in my lounge since I got it. ? It came with a detergent container that's meant to foam but I've read that pretty much all of the included ones, regardless of brand, are really quite inadequate. I'll try it out for sure but am seeking opinions on upgrades. A quick look suggests a plastic bottle with a brass nozzle can be up to $200 which seems mad to me. Any suggestions? I can use Bosch or Karcher fittings or 1/4" adaptor isn't out of the question.