E30 325i Rag-Top

So fewer models - no, fewer parts - no, fewer tools - no (you should see the special tool store - it needs an extension!!), dumber mechanics - if you mean technicians then definately no, with the complex systems in todays cars. Not sure which manufacturers you think are heading down this road Ron but it's certainly not BMW, Audi, M-B, VW, etc.. even Porsche, Jaguar, etc. are expanding their model line ups to generate enough volume to get to critical mass and survive. We have been through this argument before about new car stock, etc. If you want a manual order a manual, you only need a small holding deposit not the full amount (and you'd be amazed by how many buyers walk away from cars they have ordered and built to their exact specifications). There are still a few customers out there that know what they want and are prepared to pay for it .

Is it the 6 speed manual or the DCT box? If it is DCT then the price of the new clutch is up there, and would explain why it's needed for WoF as it won't drive properly...

Excuse my ignorance, but what does SFD mean? The stop / start technology is a direct result of the EU test regime for cars, a percentage is the car stopped and idling - easy way to cut the emissions, turn the engine off. Not an issue with the autos, but lifting a clutch pedal and the engine cutting out just feels all wrong, the embarrassment of stalling a car. Yeah, not sure of the life expectancy on the starter motor, but they have put them in a place that is easy to swap out a dodgy one if that helps? Might get a bit interesting when the car gets a bit tired and takes a while to start rather than firing first pop. As Josh says, by the time you've got your foot over to the accelerator the engine is back into life, so no delays or risks there.

^^ Close, but no cigar

Driving a 4 Series coupe at the moment, with a manual box, and the thing that's hardest to get used to is the engine Stop / Start. Feels so weird that it cuts out when you lift the clutch pedal in neutral, I keep thinking I've stalled it, and I have no issue with the stop/start in the autos i've been driving. Given enough time it would start to fell Ok though I guess.

Tribunal will look at it with respect to the Consumer Guarantees Act, and the concept of saleable quality or whatever it's called. keep records (or find them) of all your communications with the dealer, if you can show you have been reasonable in your approach and given dealer opportunity to put it right it all counts in your favour. try MTA first and hopefully won't need the tribunal.

It's not that I don't like the daily drive, it's more that the experience is not enhanced by pushing a clutch pedal in and out. I work where I want to work, and I live where I want to live and the chances of getting the company to move offices because of where I live is pretty much non-existant. Plus, with all the convenience of modern connectivity I can have conference calls and send / receive e-mail and messages while I'm in the car. Probably wouldn't be able to do that whilst changing gear. The cupholders comment reminds me of another great point with autos, you can drive, be on the phone, drink your coffe / speights / eat your burger all at the same time without having to take both hands off the wheel or throw the food and drink all over the passenger seat. This is absolute gold on long, late night drives. As hybrid says above, the answer is simple, get a modern auto for the daily and an E30 manual for the week-ends. Not sure any of this really adds to the original topic though, but any-who...

Old auto transmissions were rubbish, 3 speeds, changed up and down at random, sucked loads of power from the engine and gas from your tank. Manuals were cheaper to buy and simpler to maintain, so manuals were preferred. Modern Euro autos now have 7, 8, 9, speeds and with all the electrics change soo much better, and due to the extra gears are more economical. The new car market, for premium Euros anyways, is 99% auto, with only the die-hard enthusiast in a sports model looking for a manual over the DCT. In terms of the change over point for market preferrence, hard to put a date on it. Also new v used would make a difference. E30 / E36 / E46 the market preference would have to be for the auto, due to the not so good autos in those cars, and the more enthusiast market. For an E90 I would say it would be about as long as it is broad, the same number of buyers would want a manual as an auto. For an F3x 3 Series, definately a strong auto bias, this may change as the cars get older and cheaper and appeal to different buyer.

Not far from me then, I'll pm you my number and we can sort out a price and a time and a place.

Andy, do you still have the wheels from the blue coupe in the first photo? If so, what size are they, and how much? Cheers...

Hi Vinu, I have a couple of these kicking around in the garage, whereabouts in Auckland are you based?

If you are quick, you can snap up this beaty on TradeMe right now.. Not many like this around, thank the Lord!!

Fluffed around in the garage for a bit, mostly moving stuff about!! painted and re-assembled a brake caliper, then epoxied some mounts onto the new front bumper. Really need to get a into g and do some useful sh*t...

Get a WoF, get it re-reg and put it on TradeMe for $6k, seems to be the asking price for 318i Autos at the moment. Previous estimate is about right, depending on what bits and pieces it has.

A pretty rare item for sure, as for pricing, hmm very hard to tell. Best bet would probably be to look overseas, try s14.net and s14power forums maybe? The teeth spacing on the s14 flywheel is quite specific as well, as I found out, so you might need a starter motor as well (or possibly just the gear teeth off the end).

Hmm, I think they missed the "merge like a zip" part of the test. And looking at the type of car they were driving, yes they were trying to make a point by getting in front of the M3.

And that is exactly the problem, I have seen too many dangerous repairs that some clown has thought "she'll be right", luckily only some resulted in accidents.

I'm looking forward to getting up close and personal with these when they come to Hampton Downs in October!! Don't think I will get to drive though...

Depends how recent you mean by a "newer" Diesel? Yes the latest generation of oil burners are great engines but the complexity (and cost) of the electrics would provide you with a huge barrier. If you think your E30 swap is an issue, then imagine that x 1million to get the diesel in there. The E30 engine ECU is pretty much stand alone from the rest of the vehicle electrics, with the newer model everything talks to everything else via CANBUS, so all the DSC, ABS, etc all feed into the engine management system. I'm sure it can be done, but it's a case of how much you want to get into.. Not sure if you could use an aftermarket LINK ecu to run a diesel though..?

Easy done, I'm out East as well. I will PM you my phone number once I have found the covers in the garage.

I've got a couple of aftermarket ones of those you can have, whereabouts in Aucks are you?

The E90 is no E30, and a non-M Sport with cloth seats and wood trims is no bargain IMHO.

Are wheels still available? Are they genuine or reps? If genuine can you please pm me a price Brent? Cheers.

Tried to start the convertible, but even after three days of charging no joy from the battery, so need to replace that, damn. Also stuffed about with fitting up the fibreglass M3 front on the racecar, getting closer to being happy with it, but remember now how much I hate sanding fibreglass. Nearly finished the design for the garage "feature" that I am installing in the corner / on the ceiling.

If you've got no helmet the fastest you are allowed to go is 100km/h, even on a track event, thanks to OSH. BMW Car Club used to do a great track day but not sure if it's still run, due to dropping numbers and increasing costs. Forget about Hampton's, that is getting more expensive, track days now $175. And the long track is only for GT members. Puke you would be certifiably insane to drive at more than 60km/h without a helmet. Surely you can find a mate with a lid to borrow, then do a track day, and go from there.