E30 325i Rag-Top

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.

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...

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

Where do you get this stuff from Ollie ? You worry me sometimes mate !Still funny as though , keep 'em coming!!

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.

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.

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 ?

A good ambitious project, and a great base car, good luck! My experience would suggest a couple of niggly little problems that frustrate the hell out of you for a while which will push up the beer count, there fore my entry in the sweep is 211 beers.

Told you these M3s were good value. This one's gone up $2,500 in only a couple of weeks, not a bad return on investment http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C...n-206187673.htm

I think I'll stick with my replicas at that price. Sure they are real and very rare, but that is a lot of coin for a small difference (in my book anyways). Part exchange for a WHOLE 325i E30 on the add says is all really??

Happy Birthday, you old w@nker I trust you will be enjoying a wine or two on your special day

Excellent stuff, thanks. Anyone know if there are any E46 CS models in NZ? Were they sold here new, I've only heard of them before in the UK? A rough price guide for the CS v CSL v Standard?

But Baird is the NZ GT3 Champion, who apparently drives this Honda ?Maybe he just picks the Honda up when he flies into Auckland !!

Are you telling me that Craig Baird drives a fagged out Honda ???

In the freezer..... ...in the dry ice box? Sorry mate, couldn't resist. Will check where we got ours from at work, how much you after? Is it for a 70's style mobile disco smoke machine?