E30 325i Rag-Top

Factory Manager for a medium sized company making plastic mouldings for the low volume car industry. No dedicated company car, but can pick from the firms fleet of near WoF-failures if I need a vehicle for the week-end or evening. Also get to 'borrow' vehicles that we are working on from dealers or manufacturers which can provide some enjoyment....still trying to get a BMW project though. Company car from my previous job was a BA MkII Falcon - what a barge!

Hey, how much drop is there on the springs? Standard shocks or uprated? How much you looking for? Cheers.

Ta.

I'm interested, have you got a phone number or e-mail to contact them? Cheers.

It really depends what you are after, if it's a daily run-about then you will likely get a few issues crop up with use. For a sunny sundays only type of drive then with the right TLC could be good for many years to come. The car is local to me in Palmy so I may go and have a look over it and ask a few questions to check it out a bit more.

Cheers! I have been going through TradeMe for weeks, for some reason when I do a search for a 320i from 1980 to 1994 this car does not come up, weird? Think I will have to give the guy a call. Having costed out all the bits and pieces, you are about right on the cost side, it depends how much gets swallowed up in the little bits and pieces and how far you want to go with the car, plus the general condition of the donor car. Was interested in the one in CHCH but getting up to NI would be costly for me. Shame it's in Auckland, a bit of a trek for me, any a bit closer to Palmy?? (Only joking!)

I'm looking for a car to run in next year's E30 series. Would consider a car that is already converted to the race specifications and already to go, or a car suitable for conversion to race specs. I know there is a completed 320 racer in Auckland for $30k but this is a bit beyond my budget, and to be honest, racing skills at the moment. Would prefer a 320i 2-door but will look at anything suitable at the right price.

Hi Mark, is that the right manual box to run in the E30 series? If so how much of an overhaul does it need before it can be used? Cheers.

This is a topic close to my heart as it is one of my pet hates, seeing 'M' bages on cars that are not genuine BMW Motorsport vehicles. Too many 318i about with an 'M' badge, or even 'M3' badge on the boot. This is only cheapening the brand, and devaluing a genuine car IMHO. For the BMW fan it is possible to spot the difference but your average car person or joe public will not know the difference and assume they are all equal. At the end of the day, the 'M' badge is a statement of performance and exclusivity to be desired, why else would people be producing knock offs and sticking them on any old 3-series? Obviously the genuine factory models, M1, M3, M5, M6 should have the badge, plus the limited factory productions of M325i, M535i, etc. Personally I think that even a 330i Motorsport should not have an 'M' badge, or possible a different version of same as it is not a fully worked M-sport car. A standard model that has been dealer ordered with some Motorsport upgrades, kit, etc. definately no, any other car added later on, again no. Putting an 'M' badge on a 318i is a crime that should deny the owner the right to drive a Beemer, and people that put M3 badges on a 318i should be shot at dawn for such a crime. Purely my opinion, feel free to dis-agree, but when you have yearned for an M3 since the first E30 model hit the roads two decades ago you tend to feel strongly about such matters, or is it just me?

Unfortunately they are only replicas, not genuine Alpinas which are rare as and cost $$$$s.

Hello all, have just come back into the fold of BMW drivers after my car arrived safe and sound from the UK. Had to wait a while for the car to get to the grand old age of 20 so could bring it into NZ without the need for major work to get compliance, but its worth the wait now. Car is an E30 325i Convertible, a very early one first registered in the UK Mar '87, believed to be one of the first RHD convertibles. Has been owned by my family and friends for whole of it's life, used as a second summer car and well looked after. Low miles, only 76k and genuine. A few nicks and dings as you would expect, plus a few from the shippers. Need to sort the front bumper out in the winter. ABS was fitted as a factory option, interior has been re-trimmed in half leather after the side bolsters got a bit worn. Was in the BMW Drivers Club in UK as the Owners Club wasn't into track days and testing which is more what I am after, also interested in the E30 race series. Cheers.