aja540i

Yep, text me 021633590.

I would be taking it to BMW and getting it scanned. No point trying to guess. Have you tried ringing around a few forum sponsers for prices to get it scanned?

It would appear that most of those issues could be solved with an in-dash electric pencil sharpener, im surprised the wrc doesnt have them!

Not totally necessary, but definately faster!! The issue is usually stopping the spear of the shock from turning with it, not an issue if you are replacing the shock..... (vice grips)

Is there any way you could attach your new seats to your original mounts so they still tilt forward, I Imagine It will Involve some serious fabrication, but might be another option?

Replaced both rear shocks, bump stops, and top mounts in th e36, spent approximately 1/4 of the cars value on new suspension components! Totally worth it!!

American octane ratings are not the same as NZ , use 98, it should get better mileage on it too.

Picked up a pair of bilsteins for the rear of the e36, will fit tomorrow if weather cooperates.

Wrapped (mostly, ran out!) Painted again, baked and installed, car is quieter now due to 3 less leaks in the exhaust, but on hard left hand corners there is a very slight vibration in the steering, number 3 primary is just touching the steering shaft briefly as the motor moves. I will fix it properly one day, in the mean time I will only turn right

Bugger, all welded up, painted, put in the oven to cure, then realised I forgot to weld the studs into the second flange! so tomorrows job is weld the studs in, wrap them, and install.

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