E30 325i Rag-Top

Cleaned all the bugs off the front of the F30 after the week-ends trip to Taupo. Now to get the rest of the dust and grime off on Sunday!

Is there not a 20+ years old exception clause any more? That was what I used on my E30. Check the NZTA web-site for the latest rules!

Have a good one Dan-o, I hope you gets lots of turbo stuff as presents!!

"Has had all recalls done and nothing outstanding. Everything repaired under warranty."

Beats me where the Alpina bit comes in, only thing referred to in the ad are Alpina alloys. Look like there are a few spokes missing to Alipinas or even reps...?

No comment

Maybe Conrad wasn't the best example to use (and he's got a spare - greedy) just having a bit of banter with Brent. Downside to S5x is that they are all well over 2.0ltr so well into the Open A & B class, S14B20 works well in 2ltr Class - engine would be far from standard as well! If only I didn't love the E30 M3 so much more than the E36, the E36 is so much better bang for buck, even straight out of the box.

All pms replied to, except Hybrid whose inbox is full!

Mate, your inbox is full! Trying to send you Pm

Try looking on the more specialist web-sites and forums, like Pistonheads in the Uk, www.pistonheads.co.uk Specialist cars like M3s and M5s tend to be owned by enthusiasts and sold through these types of web-site rather than the common or garden AutoTrader or eBay. Just done a quick search on Pistonheads and there are a few on there now..

Have you converted it to manual? Tard me listing says 5-sod and manual as trans type??

I quite liked the new F01 LCI when I saw it and sat in it. Not sure I would want to drive it, probably prefer to sit in the back and be driven in it, tbh.

Yup six speed manual, late 2004 model with the 204bhp motor in it M57TUD30.

seriously? Depending on the results of a compression and leak-down test up to $5k.

That's true Gavin's little 318i gets along pretty well with the S38(?), in it with the great fabrication work that he has done with Dan Slater it goes round corners pretty good as well. It would be interesting to compare the lap times of this beast with, say, Conrad's E30 M3 DTM, or one of the other S14 powered M3s.. Something for me to look up at the week-end. Don't happen to have a spare S14 in your shed do you Brent?

Bugger, sorry to hear that Glenn - thanks for the update. Please pass on my best wishes - is there anything you can think of that we can do that would help Brian make the most of his time with us?

Power, yes, handling, no. Too much weight up front, and in-front of the steering axle. All very well going fast in a straight line, but as we're not in the US of A going fast round corners is more of a priority. 300hp from an S14 is more than plenty for an E30, particularly one that is stripped and lightened.

Funny you should say that Brent, the original M3 test mules had M88 engines, then some clever German realised it was an even BETTER car with two cylinders cut-off the M88 to make the S14 plus a car that handles!

Cheers Josh, Pm received. Phil75 - I saw that one pop up on TradeMe as well, shame it's all the way down in Wellytown, would be good to compare the two cars. -Oli- any chance you could have a look at it for me and give me a report??

If you're interested in an E46 330d M-Sport touring let me know...

That would be a CSL then... CS was intended as a compromise between the "full on" CSL and the "luxury" of the Std M3, so has a few go-faster bits, but retains the useability of the standard car. Not sure it's worth that kind of money, and if it is then probably better examples to be had ex-UK.

Same guy, TWR, but different car I think. Brought 10 or so into the country from Japan and kept this one as the best of the bunch. Sold one to Tony Robinson(?) which is now the green Alpina / Michelin race car as Bruce said. Brings in lots of metal, Alfas, Lancias, these M3 and some early M635s.I agree with what you say Phil, my intention is to turn it into a race car rather than a show car, so not looking for an immaculate example. This one is almost too good to turn into a track car.

Went for a look around this car last evening, and I would certainly not call it rusty by any means. Whilst it was in the garage and not under the best light I couldn't find any evidence of rust in the usual spots (couldn't really see the firewall) on E30s or M3s. Corners under the front screen looked good, around the rear tail-lights, all four wheel arches. Even the sun-roof had no paint bubbles on it!! Whilst the car is by no means immaculate, it appears very solid. Tony was very good to talk to and very open about the car and it's history,etc. Only downside is that he knows what the car is worth and is pretty firm on his price (and in no rush to sell) so I wasn't in a position to low-ball him on it. I need to have a look for some more change down the back of the sofa, or try to decide what to sell (wife's car, race car, convertible, children??) to try and fund this. Has anyone from on here been to look at the red one in Nelson as a comparison? Glad yours is progressing well Bruce, let me know when to come up to the Winterless North for you to take me for a spin!

And when they plant the right boot into the carpet, the exhaust makes some wonderful farts and bangs under load with the two twin scroll turbos.It's not meant to be a boy-racer fart cannon the annoys you after 5 mins of driving, but a proper performance exhaust!

When did the produciton of the CSL finish? Regulations in most countries state that manufacturers must support a vehicle for a certain MINIMUM number of years after it ceases production, I know Aussie was 7 years and EU I think is 10. Possibly the supply of an alternative part, ie the steel roof, can still be classed as supporting the vehicle? Usual practice is that an All Time Buy (ATB in the industry) is made on the supplier a year or so before the time is up, and once all those parts are sold, then the NLA flag goes on the part. However, many parts suppliers still retain tooling etc. on specialist parts long after the ATB. It might be worth trying to track down the company that originally made the roofs (is the Carbon Tech company in the US that BMW have just bought up??) and see if they have any stock - or how many would need to be ordered to get them to run another batch. Alternatively, there must be a CF company out there that would take a mould off an existing roof and produce some? Not an OE part but better than a steel roof? Lucikly there are still a few good craftsmen left in NZ that can make things out of no. 8 wire and some smarts for things like this.