E30 325i Rag-Top

I wonder how much spare capacity there is in the NZ power grid, and in particular the renewable portion. With existing demands and expected growth, how much more needs to be planned to cope with the increase in EV charging? If the number of EVs is above that estimate, by 5% or 10% does that make much difference??

Other M car goodies in the same auction... All late model with low kms, especially the X6M.

You would have to get a very good deal on it then, that NZD price would be north of GBP70k + shipping costs if my maths is right. Have a look on some of the UK sites for what you could get in terms of E30 M3s for that amount of cash.. USof'Murica would be a better bet, they get their panties in a bunch for an M3 with the dogleg box!

If the recalls are under the category of "Safety" then yes, they will still be carried out free of charge by the dealerships in NZ, even though it is a Japanese import. The VINs of all cars affected world wide are sent though and if it's on the list, you're covered. The seller of the car should really be able to tell you that information, or at least find out for you, especially if they are a dealer IMHO. If they don't know or can't be bothered then I would be looking at buying elsewhere.

When it relates to my employment, and possible lack of, I disagree with the "silly" part. Hence the disclaimer below.

That's a pretty cool RC, and a great price I would say. Unfortunately it's not quite what I am into, you spoke of having other die cast BMWs you wanted to get rid of, they would certainly be of interest if you are going to list them?

One of the best condition / lowest kms / most original cars to pop up in NZ for many a long year. The pricing is probably a little over the world market price for a non-limited edition M3, even with the dogleg box and the overall quality of the car. However, it could get close to that price if there is a buy who doesn't want the hassle and time to buy from overseas and get a car shipped in. With the current weakness of the NZD against most currencies I hope this car stays here, and doesn't go off shore like so many others.

Not even run-in yet, hasn't had it's first M service to have the running in oils swapped out!! I'm with you Glenn, I would have been driving it 24/7 to get it serviced and then give it the full noise.

First statement - wrong. Second statement - both wrong. Third - it's not exactly exciting, really. Sorry Graham, no exciting story, no locked boots full of dead hookers with this one. Just one of those situations where it's not 100% clear what can be disclosed on-line, so it's better to err on the side of caution on my part. It's nothing that affects either the market value of the vehicles, nor the condition / maintenance of the vehicles. So nothing that a potential buyer should be concerned about if you are thinking of bidding on any or all of them. Unfortunately my piggy bank (and the wife's and the kids') don't have that many $$$s in them even when put together so they will be well out of my reach. I will probably be watching the auctions on line just to see how much they do go for, purely out of interest.

The 4 x M cars are all NZ new, originally sold through the BMW dealer network. M4 CS is the only one in NZ currently. There is a back story as to how these have ended up in this auction rather than through a dealer.

Some pretty cool late model / low KMs M cars going through Mannheim's auction next week. Just found this beauty listed on there, only 455kms, that's Four hundred and fifty five!! Wow. Linky dink is here... https://www.manheim.co.nz/passenger-vehicles/000000000005361773/2018-bmw-4-series-m4-cs-2d-coupé?referringPage=AuctionListing

A lot of this comes down to local market variations in the naming of cars, for example the E30 had an 325iS in the States, which was badged as the M325i in Nu Zilland and called a 325i Sport in the UK. The the SAFAs did something completely difference and I can't remember what they called it! There were definately two different models in the UK market, 318i coupe and then the 318iS which always had the M-Sport kit, interior, etc. Again, may well have been different in other markets.

And it's not even a wrap so you can't peel it off and make it a better car either. Mind you, it would be very easy to spot in the car park!!

If you're going to go so far as to strart changing the cluster over, then it's probably worth the bit extra to go to the full digital TFT screen and dials, a lot more impressive!!

Really? From the photo you have posted you can see what looks to me like the end of the chassis rail bent through 45 degrees and crushed. That doesn't look too easy to replace correctly. The link to the parts catalogue is helpful, but you really need the full repair manual that shows exactly how things are to be removed and replaced. Was the accident not recorded, I would have thought it would have been with that amount of damage? Isn't it funny how many people manage to hit things smack bang in the middle of the car... but can't seem to steer around it, even with ABS??

Don't start that one again. Although a big old 7 series like this does scream "drug dealer car" so maybe a body or could be the stash? Let's go halves and find out which one! As for the Toyota V12 being cheap - if you think BMW Original Parts are expensive, Toyota can take things to another level for the less common stuff. And that was even with a hefty discount!!

Hey Glenn, what scale is the M3 GTR model? I would be very interested if it is in 1:18th scale.

Everything about that car screams "money pit" to me. Possible head gasket issues, leaking oil and pretty much neglected everywhere else.

And don't forget it's got a tape player in it!! Luxury!!

Cool, you got the right one. I should have known that frequency, lol.

I would be more worried about fitment and rubbing than pot holes. Unless they are real cheap rubbish made from recycled plastic they should be more than ok for everyday road use.

Considering it's a 32 year old race car that's had at least two big (and many small) accidents it's surprisingly solid. Couple of spots that need attention, which you tend to find when it's completely stripped. Definately not "riddled with rust" as you put it. Worst part of the car is the rear end, hence the boot lip, which was stitched on from an '83 NZ New 323i that I never treated properly before painting.

Ah, right. Didn't click on the link, just read your post. Yup, that is cheap for a spare key. Not sure that frequency is the right one for NZ New remotes though, is that the exact one you have ordered?

Finally got some decent weather and managed to co-incide it with some free time, and managed to be fairly productive with it as well. Took the tow bar and wiring off of the F31 as that is now being replaced with a different car and model. Also cleared out all the accumulated junk and bits off stuff that seem to accumulate in daily drivers. Brushed the brake dust off the wheels to make it look half clean when it goes back. Since the yellow ball made an appearance in the sky I took the covers off the convertible and took it out around the block to drive the cobwebs out. (Oh, if only it were really that simple!! Full story would be... Put the garage door up, which pushed two tyres and a wheel off the stack by the door causing them to bounce off the convertible and around the garage. Luckily the cover saved any damage to the paint. Looked in about four cupboards and three drawers to find the keys for the convertible, tried to start it - not quite enough juice in the battery, found keys to wife's car, moved that, then pushed the vert back so I could boost it off the race car battery - finally got it started. Drove it around the block a couple of times to get things up to temp, tyres really squeaky - need more air. Pumped up all four tyres by foot, put it back in the garage. Brushed some of the dust and bits and pieces off the outside, put the cover back on.) Total miles travelled this year, since last WoF, now up to 92miles - woop, might make triple digits before it goes for next WoF! On Sunday took the E46 wagon for a drive as it hadn't been started for a while, it's sitting waiting for me to give it a real good clean and tidy up before we sell it. Also managed to find a bit of time to fluff around on the racecar, got the bushes pressed out of the new rear subframe and cleaned up some of the bodywork ready for painting, wrote a few more things on the list of jobs that need doing. Treated a little bit of surfacre rust on the subframe and around the lip of the boot where it was starting to bubble. Painted a few more parts for the latest model kit M3 and stuck a couple together, so much more detail on this one than the first one it's testing my eyesight that's for sure. Overall quite pleased, and don't feel like crap today which has happened the last couple of times I have tried to do anything, so might chance my arm at a few more jobs during this week.

Not so sure what the point of that would be, as you don't actually end up with a spare key if you have to cannibalise your existing key to make the new one? So all you are doing is changing the case from the "old" style to the "new" style. You would really need to know what you are doing with a soldering iron in there as well, having smashed up some of these keys it's a pretty small and intricate pcb to start soldering things onto and off of. Good luck if you give it a go, let us know how you get on...