E30 325i Rag-Top

Because when you’re looking at buying an E30 practicality is high on the list of “must haves” 🫠 Only thing better, apart from the boot, in a Compact than an E30 are the engines.

EV company car for the win! Zero fuel bill, RUCs paid. Also next to no brake dust as regen braking is used 99% of the time for single pedal driving (wonder what old 3pedals would have to say about that) so don’t have to clean alloys that often. Amongst other things 😜

Been doing quite a few trips in the dark recently and noticed a hell of a lot of cars with stupid aftermarket lights bolted on. Many of which would be illegal / WoF fails. Including - utes with LED light bars across the bonnet and above the cab - it’s Auckland FFS not Nevada. Old Toyota with “line” style white lights around the rear boot and bumper? Lots of people movers with blue lights at the front for headlights and fog lights? Good old retro “neons” lighting up the road under the car - many so badly fitted you can see the actual light under the car! Half the drivers in Auckland are confused if it rains let alone if it’s dark and there’s what looks like a UFO coming at them.

As above Euro plinth or full plate frame to mount it properly to the bumper. Bolting or taping it straight to the plastic bumper just looks huckery imho. The front radar under the plate, which I see you’ve got from your photo, is also very temperamental with where the plate is positioned so worth doing properly.

@dln yup still got them, just weighing up whether to fit them on the wife’s car when I service it. Available for you!

I haven’t driven any of the more recent Alpina models, but the ones I did drive felt quite different to the same gen M cars. The M seemed “sharper” and more intense, whereas the Alpina was more of a high-speed Autobahn cruiser. Both great cars, and enjoyable to drive but aimed at different market niches. Of the options in the original post I would have to go for the F80 Comp as it is such a great all round car. The first M3 that can be used as a daily and still give a smile on your dial through the twisties on the week-end.

The joys of the fuel consumption testing, the figure is calculated from a set approximately 12 minute test program. So the battery covers about 95% of the driving in the test giving such a low figure. Obviously the longer you drive the smaller the portion covered by the electric driving and the higher the petrol consumption. The small print for the fuel figures always states “this is a test result and real world figures will vary depending on conditions, values are for comparison only”.

@Onsila it is possible that some of the emergency shut offs have been activated in the accident - fuses and switches in the car that pop when it detects an impact. Get these checked.

Any day with a parts delivery is a good day… .. but when it’s the M3 panel you’ve been waiting for it is “choice bro” for sure!

@1owandslow please add a price as per the forum rules. Thanks.

I wonder how well the spray on finish will stand up to regular use, especially on the touch points like the steering wheel. How long before it starts to peel or flake let alone show signs of dirt and wear. Not kid friendly that’s for sure!’

Glad to see you’ve got your priorities right..

More random stuff sitting around the garage that needs to go: E8x 1 Series LCI Gloss Black Grilles, hardly used, one light mark from storage $100 F30/1 3 Series Black Gloss front grilles, like new $120 F25 X3 Bright Chrome front grilles, like new, $150 for the pair. All grilles are original genuine BMW parts, not cheap aftermarket. All were taken off my company cars after only a short period of time for a change of look. All mounting tabs look to be correct. Been stored in boxes, just taking up room. I can check part numbers and model fitment for you if you are genuinely interested, and can drop off around Auckland or post out if you cover the costs.

Good on ya for saving and sorting a classic!!

@deedub pics of your car would be most welcome!