Kodachrome

Well BMW in the UK were no use! Ill try BMW Ireland (and the import authority people) and failing that will have to take my chances with one of those pay for COC places..

I dont have personal experience of the 330e (but do of the I8 which is a similar hybrid) Autocar in the UK rate them highly, even on long range trips. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/3-series/first-drives/2016-bmw-330e-iperformance-sport-review Its worth noting that all of these hybrids regen when braking or coasting down hill, its not like on a long range trip you are only on combustion. Also "long range motorway driving" in NZ is kinda like extra urban driving everywhere else due to low speed and bends and hills and traffic. I think the 330e would be great here. The closing statement from Autocar is interesting:

My E28 when down in Blenheim recently: https://imgur.com/gallery/ckEK61W

There are a ton of things regarding importing into Ireland, espeically from outside the EU. One new rule thats came in since I was there is the requirement for a European Certificate of Conformity (incidentially I think NZ had/have such a requirement for some imports too). Since it was a UK car originally I emailed the UK BMW email that deals with this ([email protected]), I heard it takes them weeks to reply though. I can manually create a CoC on the Irish revenue site for the car.. but its like a hardcore 10 page document with really obscure trade agreement and manufaturing specific detail. Way more data is required than I would be able to get. There are services you can pay (EUR160 a pop) to make one for you, but rather see what BMW say first. Aside from this, Ireland is mostly concerned with paying VAT and Customs, which if I care enough I can be exempt from as a returning citizen and also Vehicle Import Tax (VRT), which again I can get an exemption for but in this case its only EUR200 as the car is so old. Ive paid EUR10k before for newer things, its a % of the current value! I don't think there is the rust paranoia and other odd import inspections NZ has as Ireland has a more robust (and annoying) annual Vehicle Inspection, they dont tend to freak out about safety at the border point. They certainly wont be moving the car around the dock repeatedly at my cost and then gassing it like my E31 had to do when imported here!

Giving these away now as fitted e36 seats in their place!

Ive just completed fitting e36 front seats into the E28, so I have these spare. They are in (IMO) excellent condition. They are the ones I refurbed with new foam and cleaned the fabric: Just the front seats. Free (though a 6 pack of craft beer wouldnt be turned away), pickup from Wellington. Otherwise I have no room to store long term so they would sadly have to be dumped.

Lol, you guys watch too much TV. Yeah Im just trying to plan how to legit and easily get my E28 from here to Ireland. NZTA replied to my email, their advice (though I dont know if this is everything): - Get a "replacement" Certificate of Registration (cost $9.10). Not sure if I had/have one of these, what do they look like? Form for replacement is here: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/application-for-replacement-certificate-of-registration/ - FIll in form MR15, Application to Cancel Registration at AA, VTNZ or Vehicle Inspection NZ. Cost is also $9.10. Ive imported loadsa cars into Ireland, but never from outside the EU, which I think will be trickier. The massive time lag (ship transit time) will likely cause some confusion as it will appear as a gap in registration, but unavoidable. This car came from the UK originally incidentally. For its 40th I might try find the original BMW garage if it exists and take it over to the UK and take photos. If the UK still exists post-Brexit and allows foreigners in of course. ?

Whats the point though? I see you guys with similarly new N54 B30 engines.. an engine with forged internals that can do 500bhp on the cheap looking to more to a more "commodity" engine if its anything like the N54. I dont get the attraction?

Lots of info on importing, which I did when coming here, but taking a car out? I would need to show ownership and usage. Maybe even official export docs too. Usage is fine but actual ownership is hard to show given the system here is mostly online?

Wow there is something not right with yours then as mine is nothing like that at all.

You should report people all the same tho!

TM catch and act on people doing this all the time btw.

Probably. I drive the e28 more but the 130i we have punches waaay above its weight. Sounds, handles and goes excellent.

So what's actually sold and what's left?

Lol, indeed, good catch

Any chance you want to make me an amazing offer to sway me from my M62B44 conversion plan (to e28)? Have a look at this to see what I'd need to put an N52 in a diff chassis (ie engine, ECU, cas, key, all manual conversion bits) etc: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F143207919714

50k reserve??? I had a 540i Daytona Violet MSport 6speed manual, LSD etc that I bought for pennies. It wasnt a great example but jesus christ. Is there a such thing as an "IS" model in an e34 anyhow? Or is this just a nice way of saying MSport?

Ah I see. Prob a bit too much for my needs. Weighing up proceeding with a minty manual V8 M62 transplant for my e28 or going for a more locally attainable and much cheaper manual m54 swap. I have the engine earmarked already but not yet paid for.

What's happening with the M54?

255hp is nice without boost though. That SC kit is pretty nice anyhow.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-2420120253.htm?rsqid=9d2ea1d83ac84728a40712039c8c1b86-002 But its not "fully intergrated", the front arches just end out in mid air!?

You still selling m54 parts? I might ditch the V8 idea for my e28 and go this way. The V8 gearbox prices are simply not worth it. Fekzen in Sweden are selling standalone conversion mods for BMW ECUs and their m54 one is 255bhp on Dyno.

Seriously, does anyone want these? Reserve is $35. https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=2419792270&ed=true

Cool, can you PM me an asking price?

Heh, and are you looking at selling it?