E30 325i Rag-Top

Externally, it is only really an evolution of the F30 design, with a little more of the current design features - bigger grilles,etc. The major development and changes have gone on under the skin, not so much engine / drivetrain, more the suspension and interior - which includes all the driver assist functionality (which thinking about it may not be a standard feature in Canadia like it is in NZ). Would be good fun in the snow - if there's any left now, RWD, traction control off... whee!

IIRC the issue with SAIC was that they had done a deal with an importer, to bring in Great Wall and LDV vehicles, and then decided less than a year later they didn't need and importer and would do it themselves. Which didn't go down too well with the importer that had signed up as you would expect. This is the advert for MG... that Iconic British brand.. hmm.

Early ones with the chrome would look awesome like that, later ones just look 80s to me but could still work. Like you say - with the right rims.

If they are pre-LCI E87 I would be very keen. Logistics of getting beers to Wellington could be an issue though..?

That stanced 3.0CS looks so good. What is it about classics dropped on big rims that works so well..?

Found some more info on the up-coming 1 Series xDrive. It reads very much like it is nearer to your description of the current xDrive systems currently used, with intelligent torque vectoring linked to the DSC. Hopefully it is a configurable setting in the M135i in the same way it is in the M5 driving modes.

Piano black looks quite good, in an 80s Batchelor Pad furniture kind-of-way, but is an absolute bitch to keep clean. Attracts every spec of dust in the car, finger prints stick out like mutts nuts. Then you have to be sooo careful when you clean it so it doesn't scratch. Do you have a second set of trims to can wrap in the CF? Then you could swap and change as your mood takes you.

Part of the fall-out of the death of Rover Group was the loss of the "MG" name, to (I think SAIC) a Chinese car manufacturer. They have been trying to build a presence in NZ for a number of years, with cheap but pretty poor quality cars. You could argue that this is just a continuation of the last few Rover Group MGs, like the MG Metro and the MG Montego. Any prestige in the name has long since been lost. I like the way the web-site says "since 1927" trying to capitalise on their history. They also often refer to the fact that they still have a "British base" which is probably just a PO BOx that someone empties once a month and forwards to Shanghai. The good news is that MG are currently looking for dealers in NZ, so if you are interested in getting on board with this brand, now's your chance.

Only 9,500kms on the clock? wow, hardly even run in.

Each to their own I suppose, some will prefer them, others not. With the head up display there is much less need to take your eyes off the road and look at the dash, key info is literally right in front of your eyes.

Nice seat! I would suggest it’s a good thing that it’s a snug fit, especially for rallying. Im looking for something similar for endurance circuit racing, as it’s hard(er) work when you’re being thrown around in the car.

Is the compressor still being turned by the ancillary drive belt? No expert on air con but I would take it there is lubrication required within the compressor. If it does drip dry, will it eventually seize and screw the belt?

Was really great to hear the commentators talking of Atta during the NZ Premiership game on Sky today. Only knew him through the love of E30s, but the more I hear about him he was skilled in so many different areas of life. Such a loss.

I think they are designed for the iPad generation, touch screens to drag and drop info around. Change things around to your own “style”. Could be missing the target audience here though..?

Wasn’t it Porsche that also had a gauge layout in the 80s that meant the only way you could see some of the information was to open the drivers door and lean out until you were almost horizontal?

Except it is the sensor that is making the measurement, and the dial is then converting that measurement into a display for the information to be understood. Or not, as the case may be.

The means to an end, what is fairly hard to see from the images posted by Oldtimer of the dash, is that the display area between the speed “ring” on the left and the tacho ring on the right is a configuable part of the display. You can just about see part of the Navigation route in the M850i photo, along with the driving mode “sport” and gear selected - P. By moving the tacho ring to the outside it makes the available display area much larger and more useable. Also makes for a much more balanced display imho, due to the symmetry. There are other pieces of information which can be shown in this area depending on your settings. All three areas of the display work together, the central display, dash area and the head-up display. You can choose what you want to display where, depending on your personal preferences as to what you feel is important. Also gives you limitless variations to try while you sit in traffic.

More precisely it’s the iD6 with the extended display option added, so you get the same configurable TFT screen as you do with iD7 although graphics are slightly different. its also still a new BMW, which apparently has a backwards tacho. You know what they say about assuming? When the engine has been cut out to save fuel, it sits at the “Ready” point,as it is ready to start as soon as you release the brake or depress the clutch (if manual). The off position is different as this is for when the engine has been completely switched off. So as they are different states of operation of the engine it is useful to differentiate between the two. Especially when parking up.

But that’s still clockwise, so that’s the right way then apparently? Or is it also a problem if it’s “upside down” does that also make it backwards? Is where the zero point starts also fundamental to the basic understanding of such a complicated gauge? Seen plenty of race tachos set up like that, the important bit that the driver should see is the red line, not the zero.

2019, 430i So..?

So which way is forwards, and which is backwards..? Clockwise..? Anti-clock..?

Wanted to go out to see the BMW Race Driver Series at Hampton Downs, but soon as I left the drive the clutch pedal started feeling a bit spongy. Having see a couple of warning spots on the garage floor I turned round and just about made it home. Empty fluid reservoir and lots of fluid dripping off bell housing, bugger. Too pissed off to sort it now, so put new pads in front brakes on the 330d instead.

Hi Wayne, I have amended your post. Please be careful with posting too much personal information on line. Better to supply phone number, etc. By personal message that put in subject line.

How much of the Nav and iDrive have you converted over from Jap to NZ..?

Yeah, thats a bit more complicated and programmery than i can manage. Will see if IU can track down one of the clever mods to look into that one!