aja540i

My e36 coupe had a similar mishap, was insured for 2.7K, my panelbeater asked if I wanted to write it off or save it because it could go either way!! I decided to save it.

I would cap them just to stop crap getting In there In case you need to use It one day.

Places like the shock shop have a machine for testing this, might be worth a phone call.

You might be showing your age a bit there Graham!

So when he says every extra, he means fog lights and a boot spoiler?

2 never used pairs of bmw toolkit pliers, $10 for both.

Zinc electroplated some parts for the E21, and because I am a modern sensitive man I didnt even do it in the kitchen sink!

Gave the e39 a wash and clay bar, then drove home from work in the rain

I belive the gull 98 is about 10 percent ethanol as well.

I ran a tank of gull blended 98 through the 540i and It ran like a sack of broken ar5eholes, havent touched It since!!

If you are getting the block honed you may end up having to go oversize pistons, which will mean new rings anyway, but It Is always a good Idea to replace wear Items whenever a motor Is apart.

Yeah, grilles are in (brand new geniune)

Yeah, looks like It was the only bit worth having.....

Any way you can get the belt to wrap further around the pulley? More contact between belt and pulley should reduce slipping, maybe a larger tensioner pulley?

Have put my spare wagon back on TM ... Will take $8500 from BS member. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1163816630

Finally got around to painting the cover for the towbar cut out on the M5...

So, more than I paid for my house. Seems a reasonable price for a unicorn!

5 stud wheels, Interesting...

From what I have seen you wont be able to skim much, if anything, off the head before a valve kisses a piston, unles you cut bigger reliefs for them. The M42 has knock sensors and unless you are going forced induction the oil squirters shouldnt be necessary, why not just drop the M42 straight in? I have match ported and polished mine, there is a bit of room for improvement there, but the cams will make the biggest difference. I also made custom headers as the factory ones are a bit too small for my liking, and they always crack at number 4 pipe where it meets the flange. The 6mm /7mm valve stems diameters dont seem to make too much difference, but the 6mm ones leave a tiny bit more room for porting. Also, the valves are sodium filled so dont cut them in half! (Sodium can explode on contact with water) Good luck

Yeah, I would be keen too, but its the wrong colour!

Welcome to the forum, I think that is possibly the cleanest e39 engine bay I have ever seen !

2 door or 4?

Nah, just carry a spare one. Murphys law says If you have a spare part, you will never need It!!

Have you been offroading in it? I would suggest getting it towed to a nearby reputable mechanic. Where is it?

Yeah, I knew they did a 318, didnt think there was an Injected version though.