E30 325i Rag-Top

Same theory as the heat wrapping on the headers and exhaust, keeps the gases hotter creating better scavenging on the exhaust stroke, only a real small improvement in practice. Especially when it's a cast iron manifold, take forever to warm up and cool down! Does make it look much better, I finally managed to wrap my heat wrap in shiny metal tape for the last sprints at Manfield, and the exhaust gases are now so hot that I have managed to melt the rubber strip in the rear bumper!! Not sure it gives much more power and makes me go any faster though...

Voted for the SE as that's what's on my 'vert - not bad to look at and good feel and position when driving. Possibly a bit big for hard track work - but then the 'vert is not a track car. That Nardi wheel is the nuts, but I can't for the life of me work out what all the fuss is about with the Tech II, looks damn ugly IMHO. To me it looks like a cheap aftermarket air-bag has been badly plonked in the middle of a SCA wheel. (Waits for flaming to begin....)

...and full leather interior in a reasonable colour. BUT fcuk cleaning those alloys, be there for hours!

Used to think Pukeko were quite funny, with their big feet and long legs, but not long after we moved into our new house we had a home invasion by about a dozen of the F@#kers! Made a bit of mess before I realised and shoo-ed them out the garage. Shame we are in the city boundary or I would have popped a few.... ...don't even get me started on Magpies, Evil B@stards, fill like going and popping a few right now, hand me the 12 gauge Smithers !! Glad you are all OK and the rifle is fixed though Glenn, can you find where the previous owner went??

Probably not needed, as there are no rear seat belts and so no seat belt mounting points, but I think you would need a cert to say that the rear seats and belts had been removed? Not to mention the fact that the whole of the rear bulkhead looks to have been removed, pretty sure that is a structural modification by anyone's book. Even if it has been replaced with a piece of MDF and some glue!

How many Ks on the engine? Do you know how many Ks since the cambelt was done? Cheers, JTP.

Not a biggie, but it is recommended that all switches, etc are within reach of the driver when fully strapped in. You might want to look at where you killswitch is, if you have a problem and need to shut down in a hurry you really don't want to remove the harnesses to do it.You will get quicker at getting in and out with practice - keeps you fit as well! Especially wearing a race suit and helmet. What is the legal situation with harnesses on the road, do you have to have all six straps connected? I often drive on the road with just the shoulder straps in, still better than a 3 point belt? Looking forward to seeing the car at Manfield, you got wheels and rubber sorted? I may have a couple of practice wheels and tyres for you to borrow if needed.

I'm going to be swapping out the OEM part from my race car soon, I guess it is a manual shifter you are after. Will PM you a couple of pics for condition if you are interested, would be quite a lot less than $60 as well.

It was mentioned on the radio here yesterday that we were now on Google maps, very impressive technology! The photo of my house was taken the day I went to buy my race car, as it has the 4x4 and hire trailer on the drive, spooky. You can see where they got to when they finished filming for the day, if you look at our factory car park from next door the cars are all there (Friday afternoon) then if you look from directly in front of the factory all the cars disappear (Saturday morning) - spooky stuff! Hours more time wasted on the net - google earth was bad enough.

The guy pulled the add as there was a question over whether it was an Evo1 or a "standard" M3. He said he didn't want to mis-lead anyone and would re-list the car when it was all cleared up. Two down, one to go.....

Good idea, but a shame it is mailny dress up goodies and very little true tuning parts. So not much different to m-tec on the E30 then, kits and steering wheels.

I think she IS having the baby inside her face though, If you look carefully you can see where it is pushing it's hands and feet out, screaming "HEEEELLLPPP MEEEE"

Dunno that it was a scam, maybe a change of heart or private sale. I tried the mobile number given a few times on the day he said would be returning, went straight to answerphone, which possibly meant was still out of the country.Shame it has been withdrawn, was looking forward to having a dribble over this one. :love:

Not sure if I am reading your post right, but I think what you are saying is that you are using existing mounting holes for your harnesses? If that is the case just double check you can get the right size backing plate (in the regs it sates the plate must be over 400 square mm (or something like that), works out about 65m x 65m)) this will be checked at LVV card approval and in scuitineering, and is a critical safety feature.

I spotted it when waiting to be scrutineered, thought it was a very good replica, was amazed to find out it was a genuine Eggenberger. Did it go out on the track or was it just a display, can understand if they didn't want to risk such a special car. I can still remember those things battling with the M3s in the WTCC, amazing cars and amazing racing. Shorter wheel base, wider track and better low down torque being non-turbo all help the M3 in that respect, shame racing is more about overall speed and sliding is not the quickest option.Anyone found any videos from the WTCC with the M3s and Sierras hard at it?

You would have serious problems if you managed to make the pads catch fire, they need to get up over 800 degrees celcius for that to start to happen. What you probably saw was something like grease or dirt burning off from either the caliper, the pads or the rotors. Any brake pad will do the same given enough hard braking, all the speed is turned into heat. Watch truck racing or the V8 supercars and often you will see actual flames, again this is dirt and grease burning off, not the pads themselves. If you had only recently installed them it is most likely they had grease, etc on them from when you put them in, hence the smoke.Smell would be a combination of hot pads, which yes would smell, plus the burning dirt, not too bad a smell. The reason for the bad fade could also be the fluid you are using, which can boil and give a spongy pedal. When was the last time you bled it through and replaced all the fluid - if you want to drive your car hard do it at least every year or so. Brake fluid attracts water, which makes it boil at a much lower temperature and ruins the cylinders and lines. If you are running slotted rotors, you should really have a harder pad that is suitable for that application, not the standard Lucas pad which would be designed to operate with the solid disc face. Final point, what do you have in the way of ducts on the brakes, you need good airflow through to cool them down, which in all honesty with a standard front bib and undertray you do not have with an E30. Are the rotors vented (325i rotors), as this again makes a big difference with fade, as they cool much, much quicker? I would check all the above, before pointing the finger at just the pads, its only one part of the brake system, not the be all and end all.

Ok then, give a good reason? Just because one idiot in one newspaper tries to be a little bit controversial to get himself noticed that's a reason to hate a whole country? The REALLY funny bit, is that this is in the Guardian, a leftie teacher and social workers paper, which regularly bangs on about how all cultures should be given rights within the UK to the point that British Cristian values should not be shown for fear of upsetting the other cultures. So is banning the Haka - a cultural exhibition - not more than a little contradictory? Don't rise to such feeble bait, the guy is only out to get a few people to bite and reply in outrage. Hating all Poms because of this prick would be like me hating Kiwis because of Winston Peters says on TV! Love & Kisses, Jon The Pom.

Must be related to the little b@stard that is under the hood of mine. Cheers for the honest description of the car. Probly not worth the round trip to Aucks. G/l with selling the bits.

I believe the guy is still overseas until Wednesday, so I will be straight on the phone to him that day. Hoping to get a look over it this week, if possible. Will let you know what I see later in the week. Keep you posted.

Before you go too far with parting out the pfl coupe, how much would you want for the whole car? I guess no WoF, is rego on hold, what would it need for a Wof? Does it even run and drive? Cheers, JTP.

Do you reckon you could still get a WoF with one of those fitted? "Its a parking camera, honest"

Ok, sweet. I thought you knew a bit more as you seem very clued up from your posts on Bimmersport.On the 19th I will be straight on the phone and go check it out. Whilst I am not a complete Know-all on E30 M3s I like to think I know a lemon when I see one, will give my honest opinion on here. It may be a little cock-eyed as I will be licking the alloys and stroking the engine most of the time I will try and refrain from kicking any tyres though, and asking if he would swap for my '91 Honda (not that I have one)

I know I am going to have to go look at it as it is in Palmy.Only worry is what the wife will say if I come home with another E30! Sam, you seem to know more than you are telling, do you have some info on this car?

One down side of any NZ new cars that has been missed is the fact that they all look like they have been fired at with a shotgun after more than 20k due to the number of stone chips. It must be down to the chip and seal roads rather than the smooth tarmac used abroad. There aren't many people about that touch in or re-spray panels to repair the stone damage from what I have seen when looking for cars. Just to back up what most are saying, judge each car on its own condition, forget Odometer reading and where it came from, look at the car.

You are spot on Mr E34, it is the over 20 year old get out clause. Anything which is over 20 years old on arrival in NZ doens't have to meet the latest crash and emissions legislation, just has to be of a standard to pass a WoF. So the yank tank makes it through that loop hole (big hole to get that thing through) but many newer and better IMHO cars fall foul, such as many E36 M3s (need to have both passenger and driver air bags). Which would be why Penry's car was not suitable. The part about owning the car abroad only allows you to bring the car in as a personal possesion and avoid paying GST and import duty. I had to wait until my E30 was 20 years old before I could bring it over. You can't even bring it in and then wait until it hits 20!! It's the age when it first arrives in NZ, luckily my baby turned 20 in Mar '07 and is here now. Strange rules, but that's often the case with cars, there are so many possibilities and options they always throw up crazy comparisons.