E30 325i Rag-Top

Very weird spec, it has all the M-Sport options listed separately, 481, 704, etc. But not the M-Sport "pack", option code 336 or 337. That would be why there is no black headliner - code 775 as it is only available with the MSport pack. So technically NOT an M325, nice car though.

Very weird spec, it has all the M-Sport options listed separately, 481, 704, etc. But not the M-Sport "pack", option code 336 or 337. That would be why there is no black headliner - code 775 as it is only available with the MSport pack. So technically NOT an M325, nice car though.

So many people to swallow the "green" propaganda.. Back on topic... Heated seats on a bloody cold morning!!

I think the salesman may well have been using a bit of exaggeration there. Whilst the old 6 speed steptronic is not a bad box (as far as autos go), and you can shift it on the paddles or from the stick it is a long, long, way off of the 8 speed sports auto from the M235i.

Absolutely correct.But the conversation was about "nimble", not "fast".

There is a difference between a car being "fast" and a car being "nimble". Where there is pretty much no limit on power (as in the open A class) then power will win out. Key point is that the terms fast and nimble refer to different things in my book, what is in your book is anyone's guess Crunchy.

Steve you may have lost some weight out of your E34, but 1300kgs is still about 400kgs away from being a light car. As for selective reading, you're doing it yourself. Yes Dan's car is very fast, and thanks to the completely re-designed suspension it corners well. However, watch any race footage and you will see where others change direction better which is what I would relate to being nimble. Power to weight is important for acceleration yes, but that makes the car go forwards, not turn, unless you've lost the back end due to spinning up the wheels.

People who slam the bloody brakes on because they see a cop car or speed camera van... ...even though they aren't going over 100kph anyway. This zero tolerance bullshit is doing nothing to improve the piss poor driving standards in NZ!!

BHP does not have any effect on what I would term nimble, acceleration yes, but does not change second moment of inertia, or "turn in". I would always associate nimble with how quickly the car can change direction (in a controlled way), rather then how fast it can accelerate.

^^exactly, just because this guy drives the same brand of motor car as me does not embarass me in the slightest. It's only embarassing for me if I act in the same way as that tool, which I don't, well not that often.

Really Ron? I hadn't noticed that, you should have said.

I only did a quick check, and wasn't looking at the engine variants, but as it was only the later cars that had the DCT then that would make sense.

Well, bugger me sideways, spoiler turned up this morning on the courier, no issues! I did get a bit worried when the tracker was showing it had been sent to Australia from Latvia., but there you go. A day under two weeks to get here, excellent. All looks to be in one piece, and is very well wrapped up, so will rip it all open tonight when I get home.

I take it you are referring to the older E82 / E88 1-series models, not the newer F20 M135i? Both the 135i Coupe and Convertible were specced with an auto as standard, if you term the DCT as an auto, so the vast majority of the cars officially brought in and sold NZ new are autos. A quick search shows that there were 5 coupes brought in as manual, but no convertibles.

If I see another hipster beard driving an E30 'vert then I am going to have to put mine up for sale, I don't want to look like an old man trying to hard to be cool.

Sorry, Josh, that should be "a bit quicker than STANDARD E30s", yours doesn't qualify for that statement!

^^ I see what you did there...

It's not just safety features, it's also crash / injury statistics. WRXs tend to go a bit quicker than E30s and I have seen a lot more of them upside down at the side of the road than E30s as well. As for Defenders... They are safe because they move so slow.

As long as it is pronounced "Tommi" and not "Tommy" then it's all good..

There are nearly 4 million registered vehicles in NZ, and god knows how many vehicle makes, models and sub-models. As usual the press try to make a bad news story where there is none. Yes there may be a few anomalies in there, but they still pay less than before!

Ray and his team at HellBM (forum sponsor's) are particularly experienced in swapping SMG to manuals I believe, give him a call.

^^ Yup, don't forget the urge to wander about on the motorway pointing at minor damage on the car, whilst on-coming traffic tries to miss you!

Two women in the same office, one moaning they are hot, the other cold. I once suggested they swap desks and they looked at me like I told them to each their children!

Saw the biggest badge / label fail this morning, On a white E90 in Pakuranga, on the driver's door... Power M\\\ ?? Probably says ///M Power on the other side.. Lol.

I've driven a couple of F01s, only over short distances though. General impression was of floating along, very comfortable but not really my thing. Can probably change the settings to firm things up if you want though!