E30 325i Rag-Top

Check the diagrams in the MSNZ manual around shoulder straps and angles and stuff, it’s pretty well drawn out I think. Particularly if you are using a HANS device the straps should be trying to stop forward movement, not squash you into becoming a dwarf.

It's not related to the fuel quality, it is related to the emissions level required by the market. Only markets that have to meet the tougher Real World Emissions Testing (WLTP or RDE in BMW speak) require the additional emissions control systems, which include the particulate filter, to be fitted. As the additional controls are quite expensive to add to the vehicle they are only fitted when necessarily. NZ is still only an EU4 emissions level for new petrol vehicles, so the EU6 version without the ppf more than meets the homologation requirements to be sold in NZ. I think the VIN decoder you are using may still have old descriptions for the option codes, as option 858 has been referred to as "engine for poor-fuel countries" for a while now rather than the "lower compression engine" - probably more managed through the knock-sensors and ignition advance timing rather than a mechanical change in the engine. My understanding is that it is the sulphur levels in both the diesel and petrol that can be available that cause the issues.

New. Zealand is a seperate market to Au and has a number of key differences, most notably the fact of the ADR that applies to all new cars in AU that do not apply in NZ. As a result of the different homologation requirements all Aussie cars have to be built as Market specific, NZ only the general EU compliant model code. Not all Models offered in NZ are offered in AU and vice versa. There are usually a number of new technologies and features on cars in NZ that are not “allowed” in AU - I think they have finally given the green light to head-up display after it being in NZ for many years. So yes there are differences, and some fairly significant ones.

Please remember to post the TardMe link in here Driftit, so we can watch the carnage unfold!

Really, and why would that be..?

BMW NZ / Westphalia NZ bars always come with the chain attachment points as you would expect. There are also chain brackets available for factory fitted swing-away bars that don't have the chain attachment points. However, there are only certain models that are covered as most models are not offered with the ex-factory tow bar. For the F31 I think there may be one in existence as it fits across F30 / F34 and others as well.

Mate, you seriously have wheel issues!!

Hello Lola, yes your MINI is a BMW version . Not many MINI owners on here, there is probably another forum that specifically covers both generations of the MINI. To answer your questions, yes you would fail a WoF for faulty ABS. I would suggest that it would be hard, and expensive to repair. Your best option cost wise might be to look for a working used part from a wreckers. @BM WORLD have you got any MINI bits?

There was an interesting test case where a trade-in sold by a dealer "as is where is" was adjudged to still be bound by Consumer Guarantee's Act. I believe the logic applied was that it was still sold by a dealer, though the business and off the lot. Hence it should be covered by the CGA. If you take that same scenario to a Trade-Me Auction then I would suggest it would also apply if the conditions are the same. However, if it is somewhere like say, Turners or Mannheim, then I believe that then does not fall under the CGA and it truly is "buyer beware".

Except that within the VIN standard there is still the option to use the "0" designation for no MY code, which I believe is used unless the car is going to a market where the MY is mandatory information. So for example most NZ new vehicles would have that set for their MY.

Is your car NZ new or an import? The level of equipment that is provided ex-factory, even on the high-end models, is amazingly low. To bring the cars up to the NZ specification requires pages of features to be added, that is before you even start getting into the additional options that can be added on top. I guess the reason being is that the same models are sold all around the world, so there will be countries that are happy to take lower base equipment and then up-sell the features.

How do you mean? The registration by year part? I think it is only the americans and their "its a '67 Chev" type designations that are different, and even then it's more a Model Year type thing. Annoyingly I see a few people are trying to put the Model Year thing on their BMWs when selling them, which is BS when there are three lots of updates each year with BMW and MINI.

After a used car dealer brought in that thirteen year old Merc from Singapore the rules were tightened up on what constituted a "brand new" car, and the maximum age of the car is supposed to be two years and still qualfy as a "new" car.

I have seen what is most likely the same car (there can't be that many Blue 3.0CS in and around Mt Welly) in the area, but I don't believe it is linked to BMW HQ as I haven't seen it in the car park before and it definately isn't part of the BMW NZ fleet of classics.

No problem mate, just hope you are fully recovered now and back in good health.

Not content with having the wife’s E46 and the E30 racecar in bits, I decided to take the E30 convertible apart!! Have had a timing belt and camshaft seal sitting in a box for 3 years so decided to finally get on with it before it snaps. Only ever done a belt with the engine out before, bit more challenging with it in the car!!

Was Pelican one of those previously excellent specialist suppliers that have been bought up and merged? On another note, how big is that box for such a small part and a sticker? Must have a good postage deal!!

Manuel - common Spanish name, also common mis-spelling of manual, especially on TardMe.

That's a pretty cool shed full of toys the guy has there, two boats, an HSV and performance bike plus the M2. Jealous. There are a few manual M2s around, and a couple of M2 Competition manuals as well. Get your rowing boats while you still can!!

That's a cool, lo-cost performance upgrade!! Not sure it would be healthy in the long run though? As the sun was shining this morning and the traffic is very light with holidays, etc I decided to pull the convetible out of the garage for the daily commute. Happy Fri-yay!

If you are dealing with a BMW authorised dealership, which I think you are then the amount of margin the dealer has to work with is not that great tbh. If the 10% discount were off a new vehicle then they have well and truly dropped their pants in terms of what they are making on the deal. If it is parts you are referring to then that is still a very sizeable chunk of any profit they would have made being given up. Whilst there is not 100% coverage of NZ with stock of runflats, I would imagine that were the case on less common sizes of non-run flats as well, particularly the big, low profile, high-performance tyres required for an M3. So an over-night supply from a central warehouse (as would be the case from BMW NZ as the parts warehouse carry the runflat sizes) would be likely case there as well.

You can now get tyre and rim insurance in NZ... it's available from all good local BMW dealerships Edit: don't think it's free with the tyres though, just saw that part of your comment - I don't think it's a huge sum of money, but not free. As you were.

Black one here.. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1837585947.htm?rsqid=eeea75fbc8344d3d8f5fc5187c727ecf And grey one here.. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1790139532.htm?rsqid=7a9d17e2e0df4497be1d52a8521b1899 Quite rare to see these in the spanish version, and I do believe these are no longer offered as a manual from factory.

Also been thinking about and playing with the graphics and logos side of things in between sessions in the garage/sauna - damn Auckland and it's humidity. Mentioned before changing it from John Player Special (JPS) to Jon Tyler Special (JTS) as a little personal touch, so found a couple of logos and modified them up to look like these: Pretty happy with how they look on the screen - now to try and see what they look like in real life. I will be working with Dave Farmer from GT Designs in Tauranga on the signage as he has got some pretty good new gear for working on this stuff and is a fellow Bimmer lover!

Just seen the zoom in from above, over the "exploded parts" view - that also is awesome. How did you do that one, using a drone or hanging off the roof of the house and using the camera zoom? Either way it looks brilliant. The imagination and or the vision to imagine those shots is also pretty impressive, before you even start talking about the execution.