nath

Just got given this 1983 build 320i, she will be a sorta pre- summer resto project, friends have owned her since new so good trustworthy bones. The S6 feels very power-luxe after driving the E30, but loving the smooth E30 manual trans!

Cut a bunch of the paint on the E30 with my first real rubbing compound, from Meguiars. Brought oxidised henna red up perfectly. Vacuumed. lubed various seat joints etc. Refitted original 1983 stereo. Lubed up the interior fan bearings- this E30 has had so little use that the fan had literally seized! Running perfectly now. Next step, testing all engine sensors as she smells rich when running warm.

Jools is your car perhaps, the shiniest car in the world?

Excellent ta. Planned on popping to you for items anyway, good to know you have all. Will arrange a time

Have just acquired another E30 and have a bit of a shopping list. I am not desperate to buy now so prefer to wait for when the price is lowest for each part. The car is a 1984 320i manual coupe. So far I know I want: all factory exhaust minus headers. It has been replaced with generic Coby type resonator and Pit Stop muffler and sounds like an old holden mixed with a model T ford. rear PFL bumper in good nick Boot trim: the hard black plastic piece which goes along the rear top edge around latch. also the carpet type trim for inside the boot behind the number plate area. wing mirrors: it has them and they work fine, but have corroded a bit under the paint and will just replace if I can source some at low cost. coupe seats in excellent condition: mine are excellent but are that old style cloth which sort of deteriorates even without wear and is a bit itchy sort of. The biggest issue being broken drivers seat springs. Instrument cluster: the odometer has just stopped working, have noticed the economy gauge doesn't either. I am located in Takapuna. Cheers guys Nathan

I'd never buy a car that has had a child in it! heheh

Good riddance to it. beautiful car but no argument as to the careless disregard of the driver for other road users , himself and public property.

Na Timotius Pasang, a great lecturer.

Welcome. Good to see that NZ has drawn in another sucker, and one with tuning knowledge at that! Make yourself at home.

Yep porosity and casting defects are huge problems in slap-bang production of cheap parts. When I did my engineering degree, one of my lecturers was a world expert in metallurgy used to show us items which he was sent from companies to test and assess. These included cast control arms and other suspension parts from the top German manufacturers whose ostensibly quality parts were rubbish when cut open.

Just got my 5 injectors done, exactly as above etc. Man the ultrasonic clean must be good work as you can see the angle they lay in the bath due to the paint stripped off! $172.50 incl GST

Would look good, but only another version of the good that it already is. So no no no! That car is a classic as- is, and the chrome on PFL cars is hugely tasteful. Leave everything as it is now and enjoy a great example of an E30 as intended. Great Sunday drive alternative to a Porsche etc.

Low trans fluid level? pretty sure low fluid will do both those but I would have thought more consistently

Purchased MTM upgrade from germany for my S6.. Soon to be worthy competition for An M5/540

I like this. Puts to rest lots of flak people cop for rebodying with something that may well have left the nondiscriminatory steel stamping machine right beside the original anyhow.

Looks to be in great nick! Not to tread on anyone's toes here but can I assume that those are the guts of the banged up manual that went on trademe a short while ago? The 'no test drives without cash' line leaves a sour taste, she ain't a Ferrari; although that may imply no insurance at all if it was done up to sell.

The purple one is beautiful. About 100m from my house, I must go and look.

Identical to this:

Is this for SLS/ Assisted brakes/ Power steer? Instead of Audi G 002 000 I get Penrite mineral hydraulic fluid from Repco in 1L container. 28ish dollars IIRC, which in hindsight may be all the Audi stuff is anyway.

Excellent thanks, I'll take it into a shop this week. Bit of a bugger if it needs replacing!

Hi guys I have a reasonably powerful car which runs really well and is well maintained. However when you turn the air conditioning on (which blows nice and cold) it puts a very noticable amount of load on the engine. Enough load to make it shudder and sort of vibrate at idle which is definitely not normal. Does anyone know much about air con systems to suggest what may be the prob? Crapped out pump shaft bearing maybe? Seriously hard to actually get to the pulleys etc without taking front of car off as the motor is right smack up against the front of the car.

Fantastic! Keep her as- is. if you have the urge to go faster etc, just buy a second car, perhaps a 328i and keep this stock.

Josh's E30 at city works depot yesterday. I was the white GTI golf next to you covered in dirt.

A great idea would be to restore them in current original colour and finish. Coloured wheel fads are over.

Not that long ago one of these could barely pull $2000- $2500!