E30 325i Rag-Top

Have to change the name of the site to "130i Owner's NZ" at this rate...

This is the Wesphalia removable tow-hitch style with the mounting beam suitable for the F30 Sedan and F31 Touring models. It may also fit on the F36 4-Series Grand Coupe models, but I'm not 100% sure on that one. I used this bar on a number of my company cars, both tourings and sedans (there is a slight modification required to fit on a F30 M-Sport model), but as I am unlikely to have one again I am looking to move it on. Price includes: Steel Beam and hitch recepticle, 1 7/8th inch removeable tow ball, 50mm removeable tow ball (never used), plug and play wiring and control module. The whole thing is really simple to fit, I used to swap over between cars in about an hour, off of one and onto the next. Especially if your car is optioned with 8SL tow-bar wiring prep. If you are local to Auckland I would be willing to help you with the install. Only part I can't do is the re-programming of the car, but to be honest you don't really need that part, it's a nice to have. Price, I am looking for $750 or close to it. I might be able to ship at buyers cost, but it is damn heavy. Happy to drop off in and around Auckland.

If it were a sports car, or a performance car, then yes a Manual could well be considered. If it's a daily commuter 320d then there are a big number of benefits to the auto over the manual, let alone the higher level of spec in the Edition 30 over the manual one. Chief amongst these would be the re-sale value as the market for a 320d manual with poverty spec would be very, very small. Unless you really have a need to feel like a race car driver and want to make brrm, brrm noises on your way to work the auto is much more convenient. You can't eat your breakfast and drink your coffee during your crawl to work like everyone else if you have to keep using your hand to change gears.

Good opportunity to give all of the intake a good clear out while you've got it apart - not easy when it's direct injection, nowhere to squirt any cleaning chemicals so it's take it apart time and elbow grease. Some of the oil is likely to be getting through your old clogged CCV valve so that should be a lot better now you've replaced it. Worn turbo seals is another possibility, how much oil it uses should give a clearer indication.

It would be good if there was some more narrative on the video, explaining in more details what the cars are, and why they are being dismantled. It's quite an old video, but still interesting none the less. The cars in the video, whilst they may seem like old models now, were actually pretty much brand new. What are referred to as "pre-production" or "pre-pro" vehicles, which are built for engineering testing and homologation uses. They are only used by the factory engineers to check everything is working correctly, and doing it what it should do, before a new model or even a new feature or technical change, can be released into full production for sale. At the end of this testing the cars are only a number of months old, and have very few (if any) kms on them. So far from them being junk. For technical and legislative reasons, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with the cars, they cannot be sold in most new vehicle markets. All the components are in effect "brand new" or "near new" but again they cannot be re-used in the assembly process nor as spare parts.This is why then get scrapped and recycled in this way. This is why the title of the video refers to "fans will cry" as these are pefectly good, brand new cars that are being pulled apart and recycled.

I believe you are Correct Dan, production was for the Chinese market, and models were specific to that market. The perceived highest demand for this model would probably be China, (huge demand for EVs in a massive market) with the excess capacity shipped to other markets.

I thought it was advertised as a rolling “body” which wouldn’t be too bad if it was sound and only missing the engine and gearbox, but the lack of clarity makes that seem unlikely. The touring is still cheap compared to the E30 M3 rolling SHELLS I’ve been looking for in the USofA... US$15k for a badly hacked up and accident damaged race car shell... ? Still, there’s a guy on Facebook looking for $300 for a bootlid & heckspoiler with rooted paint. If that’s what they are worth then i need to contact my insurer as my garage & shed are a good mine!!

Glenn has now retired, so might be worth contacting HellBM instead?

Early Supertourer in parts? ? There’s a few bits there I would love to have sitting in my garage.

@lbo99 the M2 Comp in manual is available here in NZ, a number (albeit a small one) have been sold NZ new. It’s customer order only, so relatively few and far between.

You can just about see the "standard" spoiler and tailpipes in that second photo, also in this render from the web-site.. Not quite as "out there" as the M Performance spoiler and exhaust.

The stacked four in the centre on the black car are the M Performance parts which are available dealer fitted, as is the big Wang on the boot. Should you want them, rather than standard. Only the non-Competition models are available with manual gearboxes, and I am lead to be available in RHD. Possibility of being offered in NZ if there is enough demand. The M xDrive variants are also a possibility later on in 2021.

The all-new BMW M3 and M4 – the latest high performance offerings from the legendary BMW M outfit – will arrive in New Zealand as top-spec Competition only variants when local deliveries take place in Q1 2021. Latest generation high performance sports sedan and coupé from BMW M feature all-new motorsport-inspired platforms, powertrains and dynamic designs Six-cylinder in-line powerplant with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology at the heart of both models with a storming 375kW and 650Nm in Competition specification Rear-wheel-drive configuration to be offered on M3 and M4 initially with M xDrive all-wheel-drive system available for both vehicles in late 2021 Availability of M xDrive marks a first for BMW in the segment Competition models to be offered with eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic for ultra-fast, precise shifts Standard sprint time achieved in just 3.9 seconds for M3 and M4 Competition Aggressive styling packages, wide track and flared body elements provide commanding stance and focused performance potential Adaptive M suspension now standard across all models New BMW M Drive Professional system includes features such as M Traction Control and M Drift Analyser Raft of options available to customise driving style and individual preferences Available M Carbon bucket seats feature structure-based design, lightweight construction and integral head restraints that can be dismantled for track driving The all-new BMW M3 and M4 – the latest high performance offerings from the legendary BMW M outfit – will arrive in New Zealand as top-spec Competition only variants when local deliveries take place in Q1 2021. 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Once it falls into the 20 years old category then yes. However, it’s 20 years from date of first registration up to when it arrives in NZ. So this car is most likely just inside the 20 years, so massive fail there. That said there are a number of compliance centres that will pass any old crap!

@Mooky sorry, I don’t think there is a build thread on this one. A member on here Silver Fox, bought the car caged and with a bit of work done. Then he finished the car for his brother to race. It went through a few different engine variations while it was raced.

There was a E30 325i ‘vert on TradeMe for $34k the other week, but I can’t find it now. There are still some reasonable buys to be had, but at $15k for a 325i manual coupe you would probably be looking at some work to be done.

That's not good. They get pretty gunky between services, even if you change them often. Easy fix though, so not too bad. Swirl flaps are a pain because the only way you can get to them is to take the manifold off (good opportunity to de-gunk that bit as well though).. if you have a spare wing mirror you might be able to see up underneath whether the flaps are still fitted or been blanked off. Tbh I think the 3.0ltr diesel flaps are much more robust than the 2.0ltr ones. It's not an expensive or difficult job for peace of mind though.

Wow, 101 bids to get to $4,620 before closing. Heaps more then I thought it would go for.

Maybe I’m off the money but $3,500+ seems a lot for car without WoF, Rego, $400 behind on RUC and with known mechanical issue, and possibly more issues from the over-heat. Not saying this to put others off and try to snag it cheap for myself either. Would have needed to be below the reserve price for me to be interested. Perhaps I should re-think the value of mine if/when it gets a WoF..

That's just for the front end... Don't forget to add on the bit that's being dragged along behind (or both bits if it's a B-Train) So as an example a 44 Ton 4-axle Truck and 4-axle trailer combo, would have $401 worth of RUC on the truck AND $238 worth on the trailer for every 1,000kms. So a TOTAL RUC of $639. A few more multiples of the light vehicle RUC, but arguably not enough to account for the wear and tear. Already on wider tyres than that anyway, so wouldn't want to go go onto thinner pizza slicers. The fact that the whole RUC system doesn't take into account the tyres on the vehicle is a bit of a bug bear as well. However, when you try and factor in all the possible variations for every vehicle that could be covered it gets totally un-feasible. Even having guide tyre pressures for the government fuel efficiency web-site came a cropper when the manufacturers pointed out the huge number of different sizes available ex-factory, let alone after market. The boat is worth a mention as 1) it is much more likely to be pulled by an X5 than a 116d, 2) that trailer would not be subject to RUC as under 3.5T even though it would be contributing to the road wear.

Fixed that for you ?

The offset number plate still triggers me after all these years. In a country where you don't need a front plate - que bella!

Sssshhh! Keep it on the down low.

I would look at your CCV to see if it’s the old loo-roll design, or the newer cyclone type, and how clean it all is. Sounds like it’s been neglected in terms of servicing, and when that’s all clogged up it dumps a lot of oil from the crankcase into the inlet making for the lovely blue smoke you describe.

More stuffing around... Wife’s 116d lit up the dash like a Christmas tree, turned out the PDC control unit was sitting in its paddly pool in the boot. Water seems to have been coming in around the vent behind the bumper but changed the gaskets behind the rear lights as well just to be sure. Once there is enough water in the boot it then splashed up around the recess where the module sits, and soaks the module which is not fully sealed. Fingers crossed this will stop the water coming in and then I can try plugging the module back in (now it’s dried out) to see if anything has been fried. Hose turned up from the UK for the 330d charge pipe so put that all together and back into the car, fired her up and all seems to be good there now. Can chuck all the plastic covers and stuff back on around the engine and off for a WoF soon. Hopefully once those two dramas are out of the way I should be able to divert my attention back to the race car.. I think I should have been a juggler as I’ve got so many balls up in the air!