E30 325i Rag-Top

Just wondering how Ollie's VERY funny, but wholly inappropriate comment made it through?

My mate got the wheels fitted in the Uk before I bought the car, he can't remember the make and there is no ID on the wheel that I can spot, so not sure in that respect. Could well be the BK171s you mention, any way I can tell for sure?

I knew it was a long shot, but thought I would ask before going further afield. Time to start searching eBay! Good idea to get a spare as well.

It's a long shot, but I was hoping someone out there might have a spare centre cap to fit in my 17" Alpina replica alloys. I lost one a couple of weeks back on a trip.

There are no markings on the caps at all, so I have no idea on the make, and I don't even know the make of the wheels either - so I'm not being very helpful. But I do have a photo:

The diameter is 149mm, with the internal clips about 5mm in from the edge.

If anyone can help, please let me know as the wheel looks ugly without the studs covered!

Saw this earlier on and wondred who repaints an M3?!

Wonder what the original colour was?

Being the suspicious type, I would be thinking along the lines of big damage at some point needing a re-paint.

That said, if it drives Ok and there are no majors then it is a VERY good price, especially for a race car project.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C...n-213110571.htm

factory green is so much nicer

Nicer car IMHO, but a bit optimistic on price, starting at $3k for a stored for 4 years project auto??

Exactly my thoughts I was like umm Im pretty sure thats the Golden Gate bridge not the south african coast.

Id rather eat raisins than look at anymore of this rubbish...

Or for the anoraks amongst us, the British Navy don't use helicopters in Army Camo, especially not that version of the Hawk, far too modern for them!!

rangie sport. do it

Amen to that brother! But not the V6 Td, has to be either V8 petrol supercharged or twin turbo diesel, in black on 22" chromes with black out tints - aye.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C...n-210635817.htm

Think we might be stretching Ollie's budget a little with that though.

Sounds like you are leaning to the one car for towing and a daily, in which case the Prado would be a good choice, nice to drive as a daily and reasonable towing and off road. The Land Cruisers are a step up in terms of off road and towing, but not sure about driving one as a daily, especially in and around Aucks, a bit thirsty as well for a daily.

If you let us know your budget Ollie, we could do some more comparisons for you, the "let's find Ollie a daily and a tow car for $15K thread" could be quite interesting.

Cheer Jon.

A pajero at less than half the price of a prado of similar condition is a tempting option. Yes it may not be quite as reliable etc but while it is working it will do the same job as a prado would. It's something to consider. I will have a drive of one and see what i think of them

If your in no hurry to buy and can wait until the TACCOC meet after the AGM, I'm assuming you will be there, then you can have a play with mine (ooh, err missus) to see what you think. Should be a few race cars and trailers about to throw on the back of it as well....

I can only start to imagine what my wife would say if I brought that home...

Would make a great toy to have in the shed, but there's a few things on my list still to go.

Try this one on for size sir...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C...n-202191071.htm

Not sure if you wanted a diesel or not, this is a petrol V6 one. Cheaper Rego and no RUC, but not so economical.

What are the Mitsubishi Pajeros like?

this one for example seems like a bloody cheap deal? They appear to be mitsubishis version of the prado, well actually the prado was in response to the pajero as far as i'm aware.

Being half sensible for a minute, I just bought one of these for towing the race car, taking to the beach and getting it stuck in the mud.

Main reason I got one is that it was the best I could afford at just over $3k, not much else to choose from. But it is NZ new, 5 Speed Manual (the autos are 3 speed and slow as) and the 2.8 ltr intercooled diesel (forget the 2.5ltr), 7 seater,and everything on it still worked and had been well serviced. Got switchable 2/4WD and locking diffs, so fairly useable off road.

I think they are cheap as they have a poor reputation for blowing head gaskets (maintenance??) and Mitsis are not well thought of for reliability full stop. Seemed to me to be much more truck for the money.

If you have about 12k to spend then you could get a good condition later model with the 3.2ltr diesel, which is an even better vehicle from what I have heard.

Everyone will have their own favourites, at the end of the day its down to personal choice and what you want to do with it, personally I would say have a daily, and then a truck for the week-ends. Otherwise you end up with a compromise vehicle.

Good luck with the search...

Happy birthday Jon, hope you enjoyed your moment of glory on the box last night?

Cheers Foxy,

I just spotted the show on Sky in time and managed to get a tape into the machine to record the last race. Not so sure about moment of glory, lots of coverage, but some horrible lines from me (must do better!).

I'm looking forward to the AGM, Dinner and TACCOC races in early may and I'm in training right now - I'm having a cold beer

See you all soon.

Cheers,

JTP

Talk nicely to the guy that supplied you the rings, and explain that you think it was faulty as the rest are Ok.

If he's a half decent chap he would replace it and send the broken one back to the factory for testing.

And if that doesn't get you anywhere, you can have a bit of a rant at them to make you feel better

Hippy Bathday Mate!

Have a good one.

You mean that you can get e-mail and football scores on the internet??? Why did no-one tell me, I thought it was only for girl-porn and car-porn !!

Being serious for a minute though Ollie, I will try and find some pics of the terminals we make for the TAB. Not an internet kiosk, but might give you a few ideas.

Ideally should have curtains round it, so people can't see what you are browsing on the web

it's a shoe rack for the elitist soccer moms

Where do you get this stuff from Ollie ? You worry me sometimes mate !

Still funny as though , keep 'em coming!!

remove clips that hold rockers.

slid rockers off the cam lobes.

2-3 will still touch the lobes,rotate cam and slide out whilest rotating.

time consuming.

TA DA!!!!! Excellent, done it, and a lot easier that I thought, once you get the pressure off the rockers by sliding them to the side the rocker shaft comes out pretty easy. Then the cam comes out no sweat!

Cheers for the info, i was halfway there, but couldn't work the last bit out. Bimmersport to the rescue...

The book says to do it with the rockers in place, but even with them backed right off, there are always 4 rockers under compression at any point, and I can't push back the rockers and pull the shaft at the same time, even with a helper or two!

Is it not a good idea to remove the rocker shafts first, then the cam shaft? More likely to damage the rockers / shaft / cam lobes?

I'm sure there is a wealth of knowledge out there on this....

Has anyone got a top-end gasket & seal kit (all seals and gaskets from head gasket upwards, also known as a de-coke set in old English) for an M20B20 laying around that they are willing to part with?

I need it for a post-facelift engine if there is any difference in the contents.

Also would like to replace the water pump at the same time.

I would like to use Genuine BMW parts if they are available, but would consider other aftermarket if not.

Cheers,

JTP

Wheels look 10x better on the E36 than on the Cobra - much more of a compliment to each other, in my book, as you say each to there own.

One hot E36 Cab, a little too low for my personal tastes, but still hot, or as I think you young pups say - hawt.

The much wanted CH on a 460 Cobra - 19 x 10 and 19 x 8.5.. NOm

Absolutely sh!t hot wheels, but to me they don't look right on that Cobra. The wheel has to fit with the car IMHO.

Alpina spokes for me, fads are temporary, class is permanent.

Thanks for that. My wife & daughters keep telling me to retire and paint.. not sure the income would be that great though. Commission ? What did you have in mind ?

I'm not that clued up on art, but I thinks it's called a commission when someone asks you to paint something for them, is that right?

I have a big empty space on one of the walls of my lounge which is crying out for a nice big (10 ft x 6ft) piece of art work.

Just wondered if you might consider it? PM if you're keen, no worries if not, I understand it is a hobby.

I go and hide away in the garage until the wife or kids manage to find me....

Amazing work there Glenn, you are a man of many talents. I could have six years and still not come up with anything half as good as what you managed in six days.

Do you do comissions?

That's true, but only for today.

Tomorrow it will be 2 notes, then Friday it would be 4 notes.

By Monday they would be needing 32 notes. Pretty soon they would just add another few zeroes on to the end of the note.

Hey, why don't the Americans try that? Would at least save all that paper.

Almost as much of a genius idea as that of Gordon Brown in the UK, print more money to get out of a recession ?