CamB

Oh I dunno - on the (rash) assumption that people will try and use the search function in the future I reckon there's value in questions being asked and answered through the forum.

I think that's BYO-only at the F:SAE workshop. I like the article, and agree with the suggestions in the posts above.

Drill it out - only takes 5 mins. Last time I had to do it, the head came off leaving enough bolt sticking out to undo with a pair of pliers.

Ooooooooh, I see. So it means a purple OR yellow car.

Doesn't it need to be purple for this to hold true?

Watching with interest to see if there's a better way. My crappy solution: - get electrical wire, strip - use a couple of strands twisted together to poke into nozzle (from outside car) Not an elegant solution, plus it seems to just push the crud out of the way as it tends to block again reasonably soon afterwards.

Mmmmm, dish

If the place in Wairau is Cool Car, I had the M3s aircon refurbed there (pump was knackered). Dave, who owns it, is 100% honest IMHO.

Nah, I don't just sit in front of the computer looking to make trouble (I also don't sit in front of it enough to see I needed to edit my post, so sorry!). FWIW, I would have thought that a few people would have had more tact than to (effectively) tell crazyarab he sold his car for too little (which I don't think he did).

TBH, I can imagine - it will look truely stupendously awesome (although hard to pick difference from a mint $15k one). Then once you have driven it a few 1,000 km, it will actually be a $15k one. What's the point? Unless its not going to be driven (and that's definitely a waste). (edited further, to be even less controversial)

I reckon $15k is about right. While you'd spend way more to make an average one mint, that's sort of irrelevant. All that matters is how deep the market is for an excellent condition M325i. I don't personally think its that deep, and I think you did well in the current economic environment to find someone willing to part with the right $$ for the right car. (edit) And very interested to find out what the replacement is!

The photos aren't your best work - I honestly can't tell if they look good or not (suspect yes).

Hmmm, I could buy an E30 V8 for those $$$, which I suspect is what you want to do

Looking at the website, they look to be TUV approved, so they're probably safeish. That's not the same as "good" though. Could be crap shocks. You need 51mm struts. They will need a cert. Look kinda rangi sitting on the original perch: http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11158

They're FWD with a good diff.

Tyres for 20s aren't cheap for a start - I thought the price was fine. Are they really going to try charge $90k for it? That's criminal. Should be about $70k, based on overseas relativity to other Foci and VW/Renault etc.

Find a cheaper dealer. My spare key was less than that.

Sounds like it might have stuck. So with the heat shield tape, did you stick it to the existing stamped steel/alloy (don't remember what it is) heat shield?

Yeah - wasn't imagining you'd go offroad on the 18s either, just wondering whether you'd be keen on 20s on shingle. I'd prefer more sidewall...

I do struggle to keep up with the car changes , but don't you want to be able to drive up and down gravel roads with a jetski on the back? Are 20s the best option for that?

JiB's got some. Needs a cert. Askt he certifier what he'll cert - it's the safest.

E36 Supertourers were all 4 doors - not sure I can even think of an E36 coupe factory racer. But that's beside the point - I agree with you. I can't see any decent reason for a sedan to be worth more than the generally more attractive coupe. Its a supply / demand thing.

Buy the H&Rs. This isn't quite right - the Koni's used in the GC kit are special shorter ones (I expect they're for something else, but revalved to suit an E30's weight etc). As they're shorter, you can shorten the struts and still have the springs captive.

I am sure one of the M30 experts can chime in, but I'd expect your best performance upgrade is to stick the later, more powerful 3.5 litre M30 in. The T28 is barely big enough for 3 of your 6 cylinders. It'd be like a butt plug.

I would only spend $160 on a pre-purchase once I had agreed a price for a car, and was certain I was going to buy it (ie subject to what comes up in the PPI). Other people will potentially buy into the dream on a raffle of your car (ie, expected value < cost of ticket). You only buy a lotto ticket for the dream ---> its pretty average odds -- but lots of people buy them every week. I'm not that guy, that's all.