E30 325i Rag-Top

Nice car, nice job and nice write-ups! One thing I would suggest you check before you do the head gasket is the rocker cover gasket and in particular the 4 U shaped rubber inserts at the front and rear. The inserts go hard from the heat cycles and start to leak oil, which runs down on to the head gasket. Much cheaper and easier to fix!

Current G30 line up has the M550i available in RHD, xDrive only though I believe.

There are a number of different types of centre caps, depending on which style of weaves you have & the size. If you can post up a pic of your wheel and the size I might have one that fits in the shed?

Not easy to find the exact numbers as it’s unlikely the Clubsport would be listed separately to the other E46 Coupes. NZ New might be under a seperate sub-model, but any imports could be listed in a whole heap of places.

Good results Rich, that’s a seriously good laptime! What was the cause of the splitter / front bumper damage? If you don’t mind sharing.

Saw some funny little white Toyota covered in M-Stripes, didn’t get chance to snap a picture.

Which gold is it you are after, there are a few different colours used on different cars, eg 635i E30 M3 DTM BBS v E30 M3 JPS Simmons..?

Check the error codes, that will tell you which if any of the glow plugs are down, controller for the plugs often goes down as well. Change the CCV/PCV to the newer conical style if you have the old toilet roll type, as mentioned above this is a definite to change. The fuel filter canister is often neglected under the floor of the car, suggest you change that for a new one as well.

The rules are there for a reason, and apply to all for sale posts equally. There’s more than enough “but what about this post...” type arguments so not setting a precedent here. If you are wanting to sell it as bits and pieces, please price it as bits and pieces, impractical or otherwise. Thanks.

The M-stripes grille mod has spread to the ‘Nam.

Forum rules state that ALL parts listed for sale must have a price and a photo, so a price for a bolt does not comply with the rules. This removes the “how much for the...” posts. Thanks, Admin.

Try E30 M3 tax, that’s a whole nother level. The number of people that try and sell “genuine E30 M3 this, that or the other” for mega bucks and then get pissed when I point out it’s the same part as on every other E30 and can you can still buy them new for a fraction of the price!

It used to come under the “driving an unroadworthy vehicle on a public road” legislation, where the vehicle was ordered off the road to be “made good” + points + fine. Things have changed a bit now, with the number plate recognition cameras linked to the central databases. The main area would probably be under the compulsory insurance, any undeclared modification would invalidate the insurance and bingo - off on a tow truck she goes. 99% of insurance companies run a mile at modifications, even non-factory alloys, and either decline to quote or hike the premium by 500%. The few that do cover modified cars want evidence for Africa that it’s been done by the book. The good old days where I sold repaired crash damaged (cut-and-shut) / stolen recovered cars to pay for uni are well and truly gone.

Would never buy a modded car that’s not been done properly. Not sure when or where you lived in U.K. but there certainly are rules and no free reign, not Certs as such but process for “Q” plate. I don’t have a problem when idiot with cut springs and struts “welded by a mate” crashes when they collapse on a corner, it’s the poor buggers they take out I have thoughts of. Seen so much dumb sh*t it my short time in NZ, some by “professional engineers” that ended up with some of those poor buggers not making it. Thats why you have to stop the idiots from themselves.

So why not do it properly then and get one? Screams of bodge up to me. You should live outside NZ for a while if you think that’s the case.

Thought it was an E30 on bottle caps and standard suspension at first glance!!

A lot of power in a lightweight car with no crumple zones and next to useless air-bags. What could possibly go wrong..? Not sure these have all the traction control gubbins that make most of us think we are the race drivers mentioned above? Cool car though, and a hoot to drive no doubt!

Pretty sure both Novus and Smith & Smith are franchised? So it basically comes down to the local operator and their staff. Some will be good, others not so. Word of mouth on who to trust is always helpful, found a really good guy in Palmy but not got one in Aucks yet.

“BMWs latest 6-cylinder” “in X3M version”, etc. No specific S58 mention in this article but B58 is not the latest and isn’t in the X3M. Other articles specifically mention S58 engine and power / torque figures for that. I have seen nothing official as it’s Alpina doesn’t come to NZ, so can’t confirm 100% @M3AN the official M version of the S58 puts out more power from factory than this Alpina version, but less torque.

Some reports have specifically mentioned the S58 and talk about the differences in power delivery of the same engine in X3M / X4M. Others just talk about a "twin-turbo" motor. Taking a massive leap of faith that the press report has it's facts right for a change and it does have the M engine. It would need something extra special to justify the GBP60k+ price tag for a 3 Series. Re-engineering the exhaust manifolds and associated plumbing of the M340i engine to incorporate a second turbo would also be a very expensive exercise for a relatively small volume car, which would back up the reports of the S58 being in there. The kit is apparently specific to the Alpina, so it is probably the M-Sport kit with bits of it modified / added over the BMW version.

Very interesting that it gets the S58 engine from M Division, rather than a hotted up version of the M340i engine, the 3 Series wagon platform. Looking at how they have developed the power delivery of the engine it looks like Alpina are sticking with their tried-and-tested "undersatated Autobahn Stormer" approach, very cool. If only Alpina would so some proper crash testing, so they can be complied in NZ. And if only M Gmbh would build that M3 Wagon (althought HellBM do a pretty excellent job locally!).

"OEM Car Cover" what an absolute load of bull dust, not directed at the OP but the listing on eBay. OEM has to be the least understood and most widely mis-used term in the supply of automotive parts, and one of my biggest pet hates. Especially when people are using it to suggest their parts are as good as, or even better, than genuine. Maybe i should cross post in the Rant Thread ...? As you were....

Latest Press shots of the Concept for the 4 Series Coupe.. (Flame suit on and exit stage left..)

Exactly, if that is showroom condition then what would they call your Meister...? Off the chart. And if that's $145k, then yours is where....

Ridiculous cars, styling from the 1970s with more power than a small planet, in an SUV, that cost a small fortune. If I had anywhere near the money though, I would own one, just for shits and giggles and not giving one. One in the picture looks like a Tonka toy, very cool.