E30 325i Rag-Top

BMW New Zealand is celebrating after clinching the marque’s top global ranking for the ratio of BMW M cars among the overall model mix in its sales last year. Registrations of BMW M high-performance vehicles, such as the M3, increased by 31.7 per cent in New Zealand in 2023 when compared with the prior year. The company notes combined sales of high-performance and performance models, the latter including the M340i xDrive, increased by 3.6 per cent over the calendar year. The best-selling BMW to wear an M badge was the all-electric, 400kW i4 M50, which increased its sales by 108 per cent in 2023. It was also the leading BMW M model worldwide for the second year running. Other notable performers locally were the M2 Coupe, pictured, with 22 registrations last year and sales of the iX M60 jumped by 122 per cent. Adam Shaver, BMW Group NZ managing director, says the “outstanding numbers” underline the appetite for BMW M cars and that consumers also recognise the benefits of an all-electric powertrain in a performance vehicle. “We look forward to building on this result in 2024 with a dynamic and diversified portfolio of BMW M cars,” he adds. “The i5 M60 xDrive will have its first full year on sale and in the coming months we will introduce the first-ever X2 M35i xDrive, which will bring a new, high-output offering to the luxury crossover segment.” Annual global sales of BMW M cars surpassed 200,000 for the first time in 2023, with total volume increasing by 14.3 per cent compared with 2022.

If my memory serves me right, it was a grey one and it didn’t look like it sold, think it “expired”.

@Bandit in terms of the pictures what size are the files you are trying to upload? Might need to reduce the resolution down to keep file size under what the forum accepts.

Yup, the ports in Europe still seem to be backed up with cars, fingers crossed yours comes through quickly!

As the range extender engine doesn’t drive the wheels directly it is classed as a fully electric vehicle. Or it did when it was set up with the NZTA, but with all the categories now in place it might have been shoved somewhere else. TBH should only be running the extender in case of emergency. There has been much talk of emissions testing as part of the WoF for a long time, and for a while it did sound like they were going to get serious about it. But like a lot of things it seems to have gone onto the back burner. i think even the EU6 requirementw for cars coming in has been put back, so we are not “ahead” of Aussie.

Plug-in Hybrids pay the $53 / 1000kms, seems the govt have again decided to ignore the suggestions of the industry. 48v Mild-hybrids, and Hybrids that don’t plug in to charge (like the Uber Prius) seem to get away from the RUC, probably because they don’t travel far on electric power.

I understand the process is to pay the RUCs for all distance travelled, both electric and petrol - the claim back the excise duty on the fuel. Bit of a pain but seems reasonable in the circumstances. Not sure about non-plug in hybrids though..

Bugger, how did I miss that this is a manual..? Wife wants an auto as she hates commuting with a manual. Damn.

@E30kid can you please include a price on your post, as per the forum rules?

I know what you mean, but when it’s a response to something they have posted then it becomes a lot more personal. It wasn’t a general “I read this and was offended” type of complaint. Which is kind of why there are forum rules and guidelines. As Dan said I think a lot of it was deliberately provocative, which doesn’t always go down well on the internets as it doesn’t always come across as intended.

Seemed to rub a lot of other members up the wrong way. After a temporary ban from posting managed to get another raft of complaints as soon as he posted again. When I mentioned this to him he didn’t want to be “part of a toxic forum”.

Pretty sure it’s in the forum guidelines somewhere, can’t remember off the top of my head sorry. 4Mb sounds like it’s getting up there in size.

Normally a post with a link instead of photos would be deleted under the forums rules, but as it’s being offered for free and it’s Christmas it can have a “free pass”.

It’s pretty unbelievable, VW cheating on emissions testing is bad enough, but falsifying crash tests, wow! And doing it for so long as well, how have they got away with it? I always thought that crash testing was done by independent (usually government) agencies to stop any fiddling of results.

That’s the thing, if you’re able to do it yourself and/or have contacts to do it “mates rates” it’s a very different value proposition for getting it fixed. Will it be a very lucrative job? Possibly, if you’ve got or got access to parts to replace the damaged bits. Please, please, please let someone who wants to fix it win the auction. Unfortunately it’s also worth a lot of money as parts, which is a much easier job…

Wish I never sold mine, such a good all round car, still look great even now!

No HUD in your wagon? Lots of issues with aftermarket screens with those, glass quality has to be good for the image to show up correctly.

I doubt very much if Smith & Smith have all the right equipment for re-calibrating all the sensors either. Auto lights and auto wipers no biggie, but if you’ve got the adaptive cruise etc it can be a bit more important. Have come across quite a few cases of insurances companies not wanting to pay out to do it properly, some owners have dug in their heels and got the genuine parts in the end, a few haven’t, and a few have had to have the aftermarket screens pulled out and genuine ones put in to get stuff to work.

Yup, that’s the Isle of Man green, on an M3 Touring no less.

Looks to be the one i saw on the back of the tow truck coming up country last week, did’t notice the front damage. I knew that E30 front cut garden ornament would come in handy.

Sad times, but life moves on. @OLLIE no discount for Bimmersport members… pfft!

Lest we also forget the number of people who bitched and moaned about “over” moderation previously. Hence the reason this topic is being monitored but so far has not crossed the line to need moderating.

Message me the VIN and I can have a look for you. BMW has cracked down on a lot of 3rd party systems that were accessing central information which has taken down a number of sites. AFAIK to get the info now it has to be “supplied” ex-BMW for a cost.

Seems to be making a bit of a comeback recently, quite a few people I know have come down with it recently, and pretty bad cases as well. Good job I’m a miserable git the doesn’t like talking to people.

E46 is still a great looking car design, in any shape, and especially in the facelift with MSport. E90 has never been that grate for me, and whilst it is slightly more modern the tech in them is now showing its age. E46 for me every time, and can’t go wrong with the 330d especially for those distances. A 6 speed manual would be the unicorn.