Apex

So I have a grey mid sized SUV, just a grey generic sh*t box suv like your mum drives. I also have a new baby that seems to have more stuff than me, even though he has only been here 5 min. The grey SUV in question is really starting to show its weakness, ie, interior space, dynamics and now a new reliability issue that has my wife feeling anxious, we have lost trust in it and it is on the chopping block. Figuring its worth about 20k, and me being tight and not wanting to spend more than that, and coupled with my lost trust in more modern cars, I am looking at going back to an older vehicle Get to the point.. Having sold my E60 sedan over 15 years ago and never looking back at BMW's, I am somewhat out of the loop in terms of what's good and whet's not, what ones to avoid and what are sorted, face lift models, N/A vs turbo cars, chocolate gearboxes, common stuff you guys know about. So. Experts. What's the skinny on contemporary BMW fiver wagons? Its a family car so I am not really focused on outright performance. And I know I can google this, so thanks for your time

Might want to use Google maps vs the BMW NAV, things have changed slightly up this way, I visited the town I spent 30+ years growing up in and needed Google Maps to find my way out of it. If your general fitness and flexibility is ok I don't think those quick jacks are terribly useful, well unless you are 45cm tall or have some kind of a "pit crew fantasy". Quality trolly jacks and jack stands will be more beneficial in a confined garage. I have moved from having a proper hoist back to jacks and can say the struggle is real. I almost paid someone to do my shocks a few months back, the job took so long I probably should have.

That is a shame. You got it for a bargain, the guy I sold it to messaged me like a month later saying it had blown a head gasket or something and that was the last I heard of it. I think he was looking for the sales department for information on a warranty. In the condition you had it I would think people would ask 45+k for it these days based on current madness and broad appeal, it was more interesting to the casual enthusiast than the coupe. I still have people to this day mention how much they admired it. Glad I scratched that itch when I did, I feel they are an icon and seeing a somewhat original looking one takes many people back to a golden era or perhaps the dream of one, a time when a BMW was a real statement and a genuinely premium car and exclusive to the hard workers.

Answered your own question. Depending on quality of original paint, or if it is original paint, you can sand back the entire panel and re clear coat it yourself. BMW did use a lot of paint back then so that is a help. Maybe start on the least visible part and see how you get on, you don't have anything to loose, worst case you have to have it re-done professionally.

I wonder if its still going? I think I paid like 9.5k for it, spent 10k on it and then sold it for 10.5k. The next owner or one after apparently went to town with another conversion. Started as a NZ New 320i SE. Genuine Tech-2 kit from several cars on it, seats from another, motors from other cars. Ultimately, like you say, it was a novelty, but failed at being the practical reliable wagon I actually needed.

Its the best colour on a non M3 E30. I loved it. That was after a few coats of quality carnauba wax, you have to admit that a silver is good when it can get reflections like that, keeping in mind that was a average camera from like 20 years ago. Man I wish I hadn't opened the "My BMW's" folder on my PC.

+1. For a home mechanic they are fine if used properly and only on occasion will last a lifetime. Funny, I have a Koken socket set from an uncle that passed away in the 90's and its still mint also. Even still have the 10mm. One thing people also forget is a decent fire extinguisher. They are inexpensive but could save you thousands.

TBH, the touring is a let down if you want the full E30 driving experience, I am not sure why but I never really gelled with the dynamics, it was nice and neutral leaning towards understeer but mostly just felt slow and heavy and sloppy vs the coupes playfull nature, you would not think they are the same model. Also, they are also bugger all more practical than a regular hatch back because of the way the boot opens and how the cargo area is lined. They do look great though and get a lot of attention and admiration, and for some people that is all that maters. I still would rate the one I had as garnering the most look backs after parking from me, or close too it.

Sand all the clear coat back off and re spray. Lucky it only has a few spokes.

What I wish I had years ago. Pry bars, large and short. Quality heavy mechanics hammer. Power bar, even the "grunty gun" cant undo a lot of stuff that only leverage can.

The price or the car? Its a nice looking car, some great bits added to it, same interior as my old one minus the Air Con and the power windows, sunroof etc. It does have rear headrests though, seemed to be popular on the UK cars. I guess that is what people would maybe pay for one? More appealing to younger guys. more doors more whores, or oars if you have a canoe, paws if you have a dog?

Oh sh*t, that looks nasty, get better soon good sir, be thankfully you have a phone so you can google things like "how long until my finger grows back" or "should I be able to feel my legs". I have a POS American car so luckily I have 28 different front disks and pads to choose from, I don't recognize any of the brands. Might be time to go back to 2001 forums and set up some group buys to split shipping costs??

So a good experience then? That's great to know. What did freight cost if you don't mind sharing, I need the same parts for my non exotic American car and the local agents want over 2k for disks and pads vs $250usd on Rock Auto. Also. This rant thread is getting a bit too positive TBH, its like 2019 levels of optimism, I don't know if we are ready for this.

They have been there since you could buy a E36 M3 Evolution brand new so no excuses! 2015 is generous though, in my head, BMW stoped making cars and shut down after the E46. On another note, check out this double project! Just in time really as I was looking at both buying an E39 as a project and a house I don't like!

Johnny mechanic is likely trying to pay a 5k a month lease on his 300sqm building and a 5k a month mortgage on the 300sqm house in South Auckland that his wife thought was a good idea in 2021. There is a reason everything is "overpriced", people are literally trying to pay off property that cost them double what its actually worth at double the interest rate they took at the time. I have seen people paying down like $20 a month principle at the moment, that's depressing if you consider we are still a few years in this. The shop next to ours charges $13 for a bubble tea and they are still falling short to pay the lease on their porta-lo sized shop, its not a easy time to be in business unless your business revolves around being 60 years old and owning properties.

They are Hamilton based. They tow cars on car trailers with it. To go further into the conspiracy, I would bet they got it from Rotorua Ford, the family's that own that business are massive BMW fans, in fact they used to sell them. I fully support where you are coming from, I am president of the Ranger hatters Facebook group, I hate all Utes with a passion and trolling them is actually a hobby of mine.

Guessing tow rating and performance. Nothing BMW sell tows a car trailer very well compared to a basic leaf sprung ute. People can and will argue all they want, but sometimes basic is best.

I was just taking the piss, I'm a total rivet counter myself and point out sh*t to people on cars they have owned for 10 years and never noticed, like you though, I don't really care, I just like pointing it out because it gives me a sense of superiority. I was never a 911 fan until I got into road racing and had a fist hand chance to understand what fast actually is. From there is has grown as I have seen the passion that goes into creating RS cars.. Frothing.

For sure, a bit showy for me also, especially in that fancy colour with the bling wheels. Just an example of what 200k should look like. A E30 M3 with the same performance and driving experience as a GT3 would be great instead Problem is, that is not achievable. The fact you could turn up to a road race event like Targa in a stock standard daily driver GT3 on road tyres, win it and then drive home while the other guys are putting theirs highly modified stuff back on trailers is mind boggling. So useable and fun. My dream car at any cost for sure.

For sure Jon. Slow is subjective. 0-100 in under 10 seconds used to be impressive, hell, people still buy utes and they cant break the 10 second barrior yet the dickheads who drive them think they are Joachim Winkelhock every time they see a merge lane. I prefer a 325i to an M3 myself because at least it has some torque. But call me queer, id take this instead. I'm sure the conversation over bumper air vents at the Porsche meeting would be equally punishing though. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/porsche/911/listing/4337273776

Feeling ranty today. Real estate agents not listing asking prices. It would seem many of the established agents have moved on to other work and have been replaced with uber drivers looking for day jobs who don't seem to understand that the prospect of mortgaging a $1.4m house in a South Auckland slum area is a daunting prospect to many people.

Feeling ya mate, I have something for sale also that I know would have sold in a week a couple of years ago, but after a month I have had only one call, not even a low ball offer. At least its not our lively hood, imagine being a car dealer at the moment, especially if you stocked up a while back. Not that we are going to feel sorry for car dealers. I have enquired about a couple of cars and have had no real response so I can assume people still think its a sellers market.

330e is circa 1,900kg car AFAIK. So enough with the fat shamming! haha I don't think there is that many naysayers about EV's anymore, but I have noticed targeted negativity with click bait headlines etc against EV's and have heard some bogans talking as if someone is actually trying to take their V8's away, so there is some confusion. As an appliance they make total sense, work will be leasing one in 2025 when our currant lease is up, even though work pays for fuel, its getting rather painful to look at and is at the point when spending extra on a EV lease covers running costs. I would not buy one with my own money knowing they are essentially obsolete and worthless after a few years because of the rate of evolution. Would like to see where Japan end up with solid state technologies. Disclaimer, I could care less about virtue signaling, decision is purely economic.

Any old BMW would theoretically cost about the same to run and maintain if driven? E46 and E30 are still just essentially straight six RWD basic cars, only there are likely still more E46 parts available. Personally, if you haven't owned a E46 I would say go for it, even the 328i/330i are great to drive, they are 500% stiffer in the body than the E30 and have far better suspension geometry meaning they don't understeer or snap oversteer. I'm off to list Mondial Vert on Trade-Me

Was a hypothetical. Although some of the "specialist" quotes I have seen lately it wouldn't' be hard to spend 100k in 2023. Cost of E30 living is out of control. Market has stalled, nothing is selling ATM.. I mean, borrowing money to buy a BMW at current interest rates would be a bad idea, especially when you consider prices on used and collectable cars are down 20-40% vs 2021 peak and demand has dried up. If you put this car on the mortgage right now and financed it over 10 years it would owe you close to 300k.. Maybe it will be worth 300k in ten years, who knows? But that is not an investment and it is not a 300k experience. In this market, I would be buying clean e46's now and enjoying them.