E30 325i Rag-Top

Well, that's good news. Apologies @gjm I was referring to the NZTA web-site rather than your post (which I must have missed).

That’s not how I read it - if it has a rego and it expires you’re still all good to use it, but I thought I saw a section about must still have a WoF to register (as is normal) ? Go to the online bit and try it there, should tell you one way or the other..

To cover the massively un-wide wheels. Mind you I was out when I saw the number plate moved to one side... and the screw holes left behind.

Over pressuring from the turbo due to a problem with the waste gate maybe? Combined with an older cooler causing it to rupture.

Yeah, I'm not sure what those sides and rear are but definately not Tech I, makes me wonder if the front spoiler is a genuine Tech I front, interesting the lower vent openings are blocked off. Rear spoiler looks like it could be genuine. I am pretty sure the Tech I kit didn't come into production until the 325i had replaced the 323i in the E30 line up, and checking the vin shows that this wasn't fitted with any M Tech bits ex-factory so it looks very much like the bits have been swapped over from another car at some point. I don't think I've ever seen a genuine four door Tech I, even though the bits should fit as the 2-door and 4-door are the same width and wheelbase. Sill a pretty good looking car, a few little niggles to sort out by the sounds of it, in today's E30 market it should go reasonably quickly for near the asking.

It would depend on which tyre pressure monitoring system you had on the car - if it is the runflat monitor (which you MUST have to use run-flats so you can't just put RFT on any car) this is sensed off the ABS system in the wheel hubs, nothing in the rim itself. However if you have the optional tyre pressure monitoring system (2VB which gives the read out of pressures at each wheel) then yes you would need to swap the sensors over into the new rims - I believe these are contained in the valve assemblies so should be easy enough for any tyre shop to do. Glad you have found a reasonable solution, without too much expense.

Shame you don't get any extension on the new Rego, gets backdated to when the old one ran out. I've got a car that's been registered but not gone anywhere near a road for a whole month, but I can't claim that rego back, nor get it added on to the new one. I suppose it's better than nothing though..

@aramoana great to hear you bought the car and that another E30 is being rescued and brought back to life. I have your thread into the Projects section for you now it is also a build thread. Keep the updates and photos coming!

Life was so much simpler when tags were held on with two rivets and everyone was honest... 🤫

@David Bradley might be better to message the poster as this thread hasn’t been updated for many a while.

That’s pretty cool, be great for a zoom around town city car! I take it the Isetta / Messerschmitt retro styling was the main intention? Wouldn’t be keen on having an accident at any sort of speed in one though, I wonder what the safety rating is on one of these?

True, they are not terminal in their own right but unless you are a very good panel and paint guy it’s all $$$s on top of the $42k+ purchase price. Most are either E30 weak spots or E30 M3 rust points - like the front scuttle which is probably down to a bad windscreen replacement at some point. Screen that’s in there is buggered anyway so has to come out. And if it’s that bad on the outside, what is it going to be like in the other suspect areas - floorpans (water will have been pouring in), firewall and behind the M3 sideskirts, shudder. Again all repairable but more $$$s. If someone wants to pay that much coin, you have to think it has to be for a restoration - even with E30 M3 parts prices you’re not going to get that back by parting out.

Yeah, for the car to be that far gone with only 62,000 miles travelled is hard to believe. Can only think it was parked up for some time out in the elements.

Meanwhile over in 'Murica https://www.ebay.com/itm/265302278248 Rusty as hell M3, great big gaping holes in many places - plus probably a few more that will be hiding under carpets and in the firewall probably. Big crease in the sill one side that would need a proper pull if not replacement parts.. Engine would probably need a full strip down and re-build... It's a less desirable USA spec (weird side lights and no dog-leg gearbox) and it's already over US$30k, sob, sob. That's over NZ$42,200, plus shipping, etc. Looks like the lotto is my only hope now..

I can't specifically remember this post as there are a number removed from the For Sale section on a very regular basis. You are correct, non-BMW posts are fine provided all the other rules are met. For a TradeMe link both a photo in the Bimmersport post, and a price in the post are still required - just putting a link to TradeMe is not acceptable. Also, it should be for a TradeMe item that has an Asking Price or a "Buy Now" if it is an auction then there is no defined price and that is not a "For Sale" and should be in the TradeMe Discussion Forum. As per the For Sale Section Rules - "All threads that dont adhere to these rules WILL be removed without warning or explanation". It is not possible to contact every member and what needs to be done for it to be included, there is not enough time in the day. It would have been removed for a reason, posting exactly the same thing again would get the same result. If the post meets all the requirements of the For Sale section then happy days. I have only just seen your original post which is why there has been no response up until now, it is not a case of silence being acceptance. It would be spotted quicker if you message and Admin or Modertor directly rather than putting up an open post.

I can understand your reaction, but as quite a few on here have suggested they would have jumped on it at that price, and the fact it has gone already shows it was priced probably below market value. IF that was a genuine M325i and not just a 325i coupe plus bodykit and most of the M-Sports bits were present - the bodykit obviously was, and no terminal rust, that would have been good buying and a really cool rolling restoration type project. The chrome wheels and purple paint, whilst not ideal, would not be a show stopper for many. Note to Self: Try spending more time in the garage with your actual cars rather than looking at other possible projects on the net... Repeat after me: I do NOT need another E30 project..

sh*t, good job I didn't see that then, or I would probably now have THREE project cars going nowhere...

In terms of bang for buck you are spot on, the better power and torque of common repowers would give you a much better return than putting an M20 into it. The downside would be that for an M325i the key to a high value car would be how collectible it is, and with a non-original engine the appeal for a collector would fall right off. So it depends on what you are looking to achieve, a cool street M325i or a garage queen investment to make the big $$$. Just out of interest what was being asked for it on bookface it had gone before I got chance to look? Was it just a rolling shell or whole car less the engine.

Yup, the F20 wheels work pretty well on the E87 fitment and clearance wise, caveat: if you are running standard brakes and suspension. Styling wise they work well together imho as well.

Two questions.. 1. When do you think you'll have it finished and tested? 2. When can I borrow it...?? Awesome work, can't beat a bit of kiwi cleverness.

Try dealing with UK institutions, in trying to sort my Nans estate one company sent not one but 14 seperate cheques, all in seperate envelopes, from the UK to NZ.

The blue painted callipers are the M Sport brake option 2NH, unless this was added as an option the brakes would be the standard single piston sliding affair that is only coated not painted. Iirc NZ New F30/31 M Sports included the 2NH brakes, however most other markets the brakes had to be added on top of the M Sport package.

Nice video, any of the older members recognise any of the cars and/or drivers?

^^This. Plus it's a lot safer to adjust your position whilst going along, as i sometimes have to make adjustment for what I am wearing / how i am driving.

Yeah there are more of the 320d version around, my first BMW drive car was one of those in the grey - awesome car! And I probably don’t want to ask where you got the image from the Product Library from… 😱🏴‍☠️