E30 325i Rag-Top

This was the advert...

From what I have been told the idea of the "spinning propeller" came in quite early in the companies history with some of the advertising they ran at the time, and that has become part of the story of the company, but the very first logo was based on the old company and the flag of Bavaria - the region of Germany that BMW was based in at the time. There is an old logo which even has lines around the outside which makes it look even more like a propeller spinning, just can't find a picture at the moment. BMW logo BMW roundel on a 1939 BMW motorcycle Flag of Bavaria The name-change to Bayerische Motoren Werke compelled management to devise a new logo for the company, therefore the famous BMW trademark is designed and patented at this time. However, they remained true to the imagery of the previous Rapp Motorenwerke emblem (which was designed by Karl's brother, Ottmar Rapp). Thus, both the old and the new logo were built up in the same way: the company name was placed in a black circle, which was once again given a pictorial form by placing a symbol within it. By analogy with this, the blue and white panels of the Bavarian national flag were placed at the center of the BMW logo. Not until the late 1920s was the logo lent a new interpretation as representing a rotating propeller.[5] The BMW Trademark, called a "roundel", was submitted for registration on the rolls of the Imperial Patent Office, and registered there with no. 221388 on 10 Dec 1917.

Invest half, spend half. Don't tell family or friends (too many begging letters). Property Investments to include commercial units, with one kept to run secret race team out of, and apartment at Hampton Downs (with garage). House renovation. Car spending to include X5 diesel tow wagon, E30 M3 race car (preferrably Conrod's but doubt he would ever sell) and full resto/modernisation of the 'vert.

Not sure that counts as an upgrade...

Jeesh, all of a sudden everyone is a critic! The recess in the lip is not a perfect rectangle shape and that is the reason the holes aren't in lovely neat lines... that and the fact that I did them all by hand with a cordless drill, which was a sh!t load of holes to drill without holding in the vice, so some of them wandered off a bit. Dan, I couldn't get the drill off of James, he was having far too much fun with it. The lip was really made from cheese and this is what the mouse in the bucket did to it....

^oh dear

Personally I would go on word-of-mouth or personal feelings after talking to a shop rather than whether they are members of a trade association.

I'd be surprised if that was leather, looks more like a vinyl material to me.

Fingers crossed Andrew, that's the same day I'm aiming for. Might be a few late nights before then..

Nice E30. Lot less to go wrong on an E30, that's for sure! What size were those original white five-spokes and have you still got them?

When I went to put the front lower lip back on over the oil-cooler I realised that there would be no air flow through the cooler, checking on my 325i it has extra cut outs in the front lip to allow air into the cooler. I don't want to use the lower lip off the 'vert, or buy another 325i front lip (as I will probably go to an E30 M3 front pretty soon) so needed another solution. Decided on a little bit of DIY with the cordless drill, looks a little bit rangi but should work reasonably well and was a cheap solution...

Yup option 338 is the one you're after and it's there. It's also got the M-Sport suspension 226 which is good as that is often removed from the spec.

Very cool project Ray, love your post above, it's the details like the arches that make all the difference.

Good work chaps, should generate lots of interest as it looks great with the variety of cars.

Too many people on too small a planet I'm afraid. Using up the resources faster than is sustainable.. will lead to more and more wars and disputes, over oil, water, food, space, etc. Only question is whether we will destroy ourselves before we destroy the planet? Just off to check my 12-gauge and stock up on tinned food and bottled water.

It's actually a new colour - Austin Yellow, not the old Pheonix Gold, but they are in the same ball park of the colour spectrum. It does look very good in the flesh, it was very over-cast when I took the photo on my phone so it's come out a bit dull. Physically swapping the engine over would not have been a problem Josh - even with the twin-turbos, however getting all the electronic gubbins to work would require a genius like you! I was thinking of putting the brakes onto the race car as they are proper 4-pot front 2-pot rears, but as the discs are bigger diameter than my rims there was a little bit of a clearance issue... bugger!

Press car from BMW AU, over here for the joint Aussie / Kiwi press launch of the new M3 / M4 last week. Just getting a quick polish up before it goes back.

How about you show us what you've been upto as well Andrew, I hear on the grapevine your car has had a few improvements done to it...?? No secrets here, just a lack of ability on the videos front. Managed to change the munted hose under the fuel rail as well, but it was a bit of a mission getting to the bottom hose clamp without having to take the air-box off again. Finally managed it with one of those flexible drive screwdriver extentions and a bit of twisting and pulling. Seems to run a little smoother now at idle, so might have had a small leak, but might just be my imagination!

I would only be after 5 bucks or so for it, I also have a multi-meter so can help check it that way as well. Only problem is I'm not around this week-end, away on business from Friday afternoon...

I've got a few 325i ECUs kicking around - is 173 the last 3 digits in the part number?

No idea how to post vids, only just got the hang of photos! I will try and capture the noise on my phone next time I start it up. One of my favourite features on the engine are the gorgeous chromed dome head nuts that are used on the rocker cover, air box, inlet manifold, etc. Don't add anything in terms of performance but really finish off the engine bay. At some point in the past the whole of the top of the engine, including the nuts, had been sprayed matt black with a rattle can. Most of the paint had chipped off the nuts when the engine was stripped and rebuilt, but annoying little bits still stuck. So while I have been taking things off and on the engine I have been cleaning them all up with a soft brass wire brush, won't make it faster - but makes me feel better!

Just sittin' there chillin'... looks so at home!

And suddenly they just appeared... A bit small but there. Freaky deajy ju-ju that's fo' sure!

If the roads were made and repaired properly they would be cheaper in the long term.Doing SH1 through the Desert Road twice in 18 months wasn't a good use of tax dollars was it??

I would nominate the SH2 / SH27 route south from Auckland through Matamata to Tirau as the worst road, unbelievable that this is a major route from Auckland to Tauranga part of the way and south to Taupo for the rest. Pot holes, un-even surfaces, off-camber, worn and rutted. Just down-right awful to drive on. Only reason I go that way is that I think it's quicker than SH1 as it avoids going round Hamilton. These are supposed to State Highways so I would compare these to Motorways / Autoroutes / Highways / Autobahns - absolutely nowhere near the same standard by comparison.