E30 325i Rag-Top

The problem I see is that it won't stop the hard-core drunk driver, who is way over the limit anyway and just doesn't care - these are the ones that are the big danger and cause the real big accidents I believe. I've had guys working for me that have been done for DUI three, four, five times and were banned but still drove and still did it pissed, was not impressed. Those that will fall foul of this will be the people stopped at a road-block that have have had one beer after work and are on the way home and are marginally over the new limit. I hope I am wrong and it works, we shall see..

When I looked for my 330d I couldn't find them anywhere in NZ, so I ordered them from the UK, postage was not a lot as they are small and light-weight. Only took a few days to get here, so not exactly a long wait! Piece of piss to fit.

This is what I did with my seats, the side bolsters were a bit worn and needed re-trimming, so I got them done in leather, but left the centre sections in the houndstooth as it is one of the rarer BMW interior trims and still looks good. Fronts.. Rears.. I love the half leather - hard wearing where it needs to be, but don't burn your ass when you get in the car on a hot sunny day! If you do decide to go full leather, let me know, I would be very interested in a spare set, plus the 'vert interior is different rear seats and rear 1/4 panel cars so I could with those!! EDIT: Just remembered this is a coupe, not a convertible, so forget the last bit! Rest still stands though.

That's very true Steve, but with me it would be a case of showing them what not to do! Quite often it is a skill that can't be "learnt" people either "have it" or they don't.

A sweeping generalisation, that is unfair on quite a few decent folks probably, but from the number of these days that I have been on a statistically accurate one. I had heard the day was a bit "loose". Hope the damage wasn't too bad and no-one was hurt.

I could have guessed, it's always the Jappas at Puke test days!! More power than skill.

Yeah, std ECU and loom for now, no money in the budget for aftermarket computer at the moment, on the list for later (along with pretty much all of Conrad's gear Josh!)

Hmm, can Zacary be trusted with all that power...?

Even bigger dreamer here on AutoTrader.. http://www.autotrader.co.nz/used-cars-for-sale/bmw-m3/1104429# $30k for a 1993 - and I'm not even sure it's an M3!! Kms are fairly low at just over 100k, but I would take that with a large pinch of soup.

Thanks for all the positive comments! It's been an idea in my head for a long time, now starting to take shape in reality. You're right not many bits around in NZ, I have managed to find a couple of bits locally thanks to Ray @ HellBM and Kayne at KBM but it's sure not as easy as the old M20 (or as cheap...). Luckily BMW still offer most S14 parts as new which is pretty good on a 20+ year old motor. 90% of the parts are the same between the 2.0ltr and the more common 2.3 and 2.5ltr engines, only the crank, rods and pistons are different which helps with used parts availability, lots of stuff around in the USA and Europe still for these and lots of tuning parts as well! Couple of pics from the engine build showing the different rods and pistons.. I have also changed all the coolant hoses for new ones, plus most of the rubber oil pipes as a little more insurance against possible issues. After a couple of delays at the week-end it's all ready to go in the hole, so hopefully some more progress pictures in the near future...

You are probably going to need to add wiring to join that up to the main loom anywhere, so if you don't have it I wouldn't worry and connect straight to the swtich on the box.

Yup, the switch is on the other side of the box to the one shown, towards the back - with two terminals usually, and there is a connecting wiring loom about a foot long which comes up into the car through the gearshift lever hole. The issue is with finding where to tap these two wires into the body loom, you need a +12v feed into the switch and then the wire out of the switch needs to feed into your reversing lights - this is where I got stuck as I couldn't find the equivalent connections on the Auto car body loom.

After a lot of searching and a fair bit of research and preparation I am now at the stage of starting the physical engine swap in my E30 racecar. I've had a lot of fun in the E30 series over the last 5+ years, but it has become apparent I am not going to get anywhere near the front of a race that has a level playing field in terms of the cars. So I am moving over to the Open Class 2 Litre Championship giving me more scope to develop the car to get an 'edge' in that area. Pulled the old M20B20 out with minimal huffing and puffing... Now left with a hole to be filled with something a bit lighter that produces a lot more power.. A number of racers have gone down the M5x route with various levels of modifications to the internals with quite a bit of success and there a lots of road cars out there with the same conversion, but I have decided to go for something a bit different. For different read more expensive and a lot harder to get hold of, with nowhere near the same level of spares available in NZ!! Just need to get this little baby into the hole.. Its an S14B20 with a Getrag 265/5 Dog-leg box out of a E30 320iS which I brought in from Greece, for those that don't know this is basically an E30 M3 engine which was de-stroked to get it under the 2-ltr capacity to avoid heavy taxes in both the Portuguese and Italian markets. This one has been re-built with new seals, gaskets, bearings, light skim and head-work, bores honed and new rings. Also added some additional sump baffling to prevent oil starvation which can occur in race conditions with the S14 engine.. Still lots of things to work out, plugging in all the electrics and getting it to run properly with the E30 body loom, exhaust headers which are an issue (320iS were all LHD so steering column gets in the way), propshaft length, oil cooler, radiator and cooling fans, etc.... so will post up more as I progress.

I was thinking more along the lines of a cutting paste, as in a "cut and polish", rather than even a very fine sandpaper.

You should be able to "cut" the blob out of the clearcoat using a fine cutting compound and buffer if you are careful, then a quick blow over the top and it would be all good, save taking the whole lot off and starting again.

Hahaha, sounds just like Warren - he is a bit of an old-skool rough diamond and very straight talking. Certainly knows his stuff when it comes to fixing rims, has done a few for me over the years and been spot on every time. As you are in HB I would say he would most likely be the nearest to you as well, he is based just outside Palmy.

Put up some pics of the finished article please...

There's a set of GC coilovers for an E30 on TradeMe at the moment for $1500 - if they are in good condition that would be a good buy IMHO.

And if you look at the stamping on the boss (an about the two o'clock position) there is a badly stamped fake JWL marking as well - trying to suggest it has a JWL approval. Plus the fact that the markings do look to be stamped and not cast - adding further stress weak-points into the wheel, great. If it is anything that you need to stop you in a hurry - tyres, wheels, pads, rotors, fluids, etc. then it is not worth scrimping on in my book. First thing I look at when I buy a car is the tyres on it, if people want to fit Ling Longs on a BMW then they sure ain't gonna be spending money on it!

You are quite right, the issue is the fact that the Analogue signal has now gone which is why the TV doesn't work anymore. Only really recent factory TV units (built 2013 onwards) work with both Analogue and Digital signals. There are aftermarket kits available to make your TV work again with the digital signal, basically a mobile Freeview decoder box, and they are available in NZ. I'll see if I can find details of the maker and / or installer.

The result of the Giltrap Lambo Experience day I believe, a punter booted it, went up a bank at the side of the road and over she went! Top effort.

Personally I would say the RS's or BBS 15" Weaves look better with the Tech1, but the Alpinas still look better than just about everything else...

The black one is being lovingly cared for by BMW NZ as the Central Demonstrator, there are also a couple of customer cars and dealer demos arriving very soon!

It's getting there... when's it gonna be ready?? Pretty sure I am gonna have some fun with Stevo in this...

Good pics, love the colour. I was at Cornwall Park and the Puhoi pub (but in the wagon not the Cab) pretty sure we said Hi, We should look at organising a Cabby meet when Andy is bringing his up to Aucks.. there are a few coming into the family now.