318isCoupe

There was some pretty decent evidence given to me by someone who's apparently seen the engine that it is not a genuine M3 engine and most likely a dressed up M50.. someone else appears to have pointed this out in the current auction also, so for now this plan (with this particular engine anyway) is on hold. Still quite keen to do a swap to maybe even just an M52, but as 3pedals has pointed out.. I need to get the suspension & brakes side of it sorted before I rush into something. Would probably rather M52>M50B30 US M3 engine anyway in all honesty, as parts are so much more available and as 3pedals has shown, the 47hp power difference can be recovered reasonably easily. However, would much rather go M54 or S50. Have another project to finish first though so I don't want too many jobs (and bills) on my hands at once. Thanks for the help though guys.

Don't worry, at the rate I'm going I reckon I've only got 20 years or so left in me too.. So hopefully Internal Combustion engines running on petrol with big turbo's hanging off the side of them will outlive me..

Testing Testing Testing Edit: Worked.

Pretty sweet how that can of whipped cream actually ruptures and takes off in another direction.

Extra protection against leaning out?

That's up to the company, If they believe there is a benefit in you having their number plate surrounds.. and not just free advertising for them. Then it's ok.. But in this case it doesn't sound like there's any benefit to you.. unless your old numberplate surrounds were faded and worn (Personally, I prefer just having the number plate without a surround) If it's a company policy or the norm to change peoples number plate surrounds without their consent.. which it quite possibly is, Then maybe you should ask them why that is. Maybe try and convince them to give you cheaper services in exchange for the advertisement space on your car?

Happy Birthday Brent. Have a good one, how old?

After you've got it sorted, tell your brother to stop downloading porn and you'll be sweet.

In all honesty I don't think a manual is a manual if it doesn't have a clutch you control with your left foot and a gearstick you move in an H-type action to change between the gears. That said, it will be interesting to see what happens with SMG style technology, as long as it's as far away from "tiptronic" style gearboxes as possible..

Number plate surrounds are easy to remove. I'd definately want to keep a positive relationship, especially with your local dealer. Coombes Johnston has always been great to me, better than other mechanics who've done things like disconnect my alternator, burn out fuses and forget to re-attach bits of trim, indicators etc. For some reason last time my car was serviced my mechanic decided to take my kidney grills out and they're still not sitting right.

Teh L33t cooling system. Who needs nitrogen or watercooled CPU's with a fan that size. Phone fetish? I've got that laptop too.. fairly decent little machines.

That sounds like Ben's car to me.. Last I heard He was making somewhere close to 500hp atw and running a low 11 1/4 but He kept breaking drivetrain components.

What are the rules on fuel type though? Because you'd probably have to keep a turbo E30 diesel.. saying that, I've seen some pretty nuts turbo diesel ones on youtube.E46 318i Auto.

AVG is ditching the free edition in the end of January. So get in quick!

http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com

That is THE coolest friggen thing I've ever seen. How much? Edit: intercooled option for both M20 & M30 seem to be around the $5500 USD mark. Would be pretty awesome though.

I know that Ben's was one of around 4-6 in NZ and He thought one had just been written off, lighter and more powerful than the normal VR4 from what I know, had recaro's from factory and almost no electrics, no sunroof, tighter ratio gearbox is all I know, they have some engine differences to the normal VR4 but I'm not sure on them so I won't talk about something I don't know.. Ben's had about 20k spent on it too, was fairly quick.

There's 2 in Tauranga.

I fill with either Gull 95 or BP 98, and on a full tank I can get from Tauranga to Auckland and back with about 50km in city driving too (so around 500km total) and by the time I'm back my gas light is on well and truly. The 318iS is probably more economical around town than something like a 328i.. But not at all on the open road, Have to be sitting on about 4000rpm to get up most hills without slowing down, foot to the floor going up the Kaimai's and you'll sit at 100k and take about 2 minutes to get to 120k sitting at about 5000rpm.. So yeh, dead slow. 140hp 318iS vs 130hp Opel Vectra, you'd be a fair bit lighter than me and probably not have the moonshot gear ratio's.. So It'd be an easy win on your behalf, I get smoked by diesel wagons, people movers, paraplegics in wheelchairs..

e36 318i auto Haven't driven one, But I'm guessing it's probably not a whole lot better than a 318iS.. especially in auto. e36 318is auto ~$90 to fill, 550-600km per tank, absolutely dead slow and dull to drive.. alright on corners though. e36 325i manual Would pick this over the 318iS ANY DAY.. even if it used twice as much gas, But I'm going to guess that the fuel economy on a manual M50B25 325 would be VERY similar to an Auto M44/M42B18 318iS

Good luck with this, One of my friends who used to live in Tokoroa had a special edition VR-4 Evolution RS that was stolen and recovered (Guessing its one of the other 4, He'd said He knew of another 2 in NZ) Nice cars.

Dinan or Active Autowerk in the states are probably who I'd use, Easily take the E46 330 to power levels exceeding an M3. It'll be a 5 figure job though =]

Bet it does sweet skids.

Can't wait to see one! Heck. E39 M5 engine?

Are they making a 335 touring?