aja540i

On the home straight...

Started on the merge / secondary pipes, all 51 od, made another former to shape the ends

It's also an auto, despite being listed as a manual!

You should be able to buy it from BMW. Not cheaply though.

Wouldnt hurt to check for vacuum leaks between AFM and head as well.

I guess I'm just being realistic about my abilities, in a 500hp car with a 7 speed gearbox, if I want to go fast I accept that the smg box does a better job of swapping cogs than I can, and if I don't want to go fast it might as well be in automatic mode. There is no situation I can see that would be improved by having a true manual box in that car. And trust me, you can have fun in a 318is if you want to!

Also depends on the car, my e36 318is is good fun as a manual, would be total sh1te as an auto, the M5 with smg is farking glorious, I would probably be scared of it as a manual, and it wouldnt be as fast. The e39 540i was good as an auto (while it was working) and is really good as a manual, though not much fun in traffic!

I should probably say no because I have so many things of my own I should be working on, but what do you need done?

Would be nice but not really possible with the steering shaft going right through the guts, just aiming for a bit more flow, and the old manifold was leaking anyway.

Nice car, but dont forget it has bit more mass than the VW, and quite a bit more power, and is rear wheeel drive! You shouldnt have any trouble at all getting the traction control light going on the absolute sh1te roads between Auckland and Northland, but I would suggest maybe doing some homework on replacing the run flat tyres, they dont seem to do well on our "unique" roads, and if its any indication, they didnt fit them to the M5. I believe that the ASC activating kills the cruise control, and personally I think youre a bit optimistic hoping to maintain 80ks through the Dome valley on a good day anyway! Just my 2 cents worth.

I havent been at all fussy about how it looks as I'm going to wrap them anyway, I probably wont even bother cleaning the welds up. I will have to get some 51mm bends for the merges, I was going to keep it 44mm but 51 will fit better with th hole sizes in the second flange. Original tube size was 38ish.

Have been meaning to make a replacement set of headers for the e36 for a while now, and finally got started on it, it will be good practice for when i do the same thing in the e21, Laser cut flanges, U bends and donuts, all 44mm OD. Jig to hold flanges in factory locations homemade former to shape the ends of the primary tubes primary tube pressed over former to shape end first 2 cylinders... all 4 started, test fitted at this stage, clears steering shaft (just) welding up each pipe individually before welding to flanges... will post more photos when i make some more progress.

I had several sets of m42 headers lying around and they all had the same issues so i have repaired a set to sell, fully TIG welded the pipe for cylinder 4, they all seem to crack there for some reason, replaced all studs on the second flange (which all seem to break off) and will include new copper plated locknuts for them, after $60.

I didnt think they made an e21 318i, and with those scoops they will get plenty of air Into the cabin, but thats It!

Got these if you want them, left over from a project, 20 x 20 x 1200, 1.2 thick, have 12 left. PM if you're interested

I wonder how much a replacement carbon body structure costs? I assume the insurance premiums on these will be quite steep if they are basically unrepairable. I am also assuming there is no facility to recycle a carbon fibre car body in NZ at the moment? Progress huh!

Started on a new set of headers for the e36, didn't get far...

Its ok, there are no Idiots at zebra!

The other problem with a 500+hp family station wagon Is that every time you poke the loud pedal you are In danger of having to hand over your licence !! Not such a problem In the 318is.

As per title, 3 wire clutch switch used in above cars, also need the plug and a short length of harness.P/N 61 31 8 381 612.

Excellent!!

This bit?

Viewing this on a tablet, all the forum subjects are spelled out vertically down the page, or I am on drugs.

Good progress so far, I may be able to help with some fog lights, was going to put them in my e36 but threw in a set of DRLs instead. Let me know if youre interested. I also have the switch for them.

Replaced the gears in my "spare" throttle body actuator for the M5, will swap it out for the 1 original actuator still in the car when I get a chance. (Hopefully before it spits the dummy!)