E30 325i Rag-Top

Sounds like your "disease" is catching though. I must confess I seem to have bought a few more sets of wheels since drinking coffee with you on Sundays... Coinkydink..? Maybe, maybe not.

For Sale posts require photos as per forum rules please.

Power delivery from the diesel is very different to an equivalent petrol, or even a slightly larger capacity petrol. The torque curve for the diesel sees higher values down low in the rev range, so it does feel very different. Probably different gear ratios to make the most of the different engines, which will affect how it "feels" I would say it is most likely just the difference in engines, not a remap.

Second M3 finished. This one was a bit easier, firstly it's a 1:18th scale so the model is larger, and second it is a pre-built die cast model. All I had to do was to stick the "JPS" logos on (as these are not on the original due to the ban on cigarette adveritsing - and it doesn't look right without). However, as I had taken some time to build up the courage to put the stickers on, the glue had gone a bit funny between the stickers and the backing paper - so there was a bit of fiddling about that had to be done!

They didn't really have any choice, a sizeable proportion of the EU test cycle involves the "car" being at a standstill and the engine idling as this test is supposed to represent a real world driving scenario. Switching the engine off during those parts of the test saves valuable fuel and emissions which can then be off-set in other parts of the test to scrape through. It was possible to program the function to be "off" on some models, but now cannot be done as it is changing the emissions profile of the car - even though you can switch it off manually in the car (which will probably disappear as a function in the near future..)

"Tell him he's dreaming", I don't care how mint and low kms it is, that is still a 318i Auto in old man Beige with matching beige interior. A very nice example of a not very desirable model as far as I can see. Been on TradeMe for quite a while.

What model F30 is it? and what model F10 are you comparing against? F10 is a bit heavier than an F30 so a more powerful engine in that could still feel a bit less torquey. I would have thought that if the car had been re-mapped then the seller would have told you this when you bought it, as it would have been used as a selling point and to make the car sound better than others of the same model. But you never know..

That is the way I am leaning at the moment, only real issue is the paintwork as I have taken all the decals off and started prepping for paint. So that would be a few more $$$s to get it painted twice, but like you say at least I will be out there racing not just moping around in the garage. A couple of photos, firstly of the only real progress. Front bumper brackets welded on - not the best welds, but shouldn't fall off any time soon. And a quick snap of the new rims, have now got the same (or very similar) style in both 16" x 7 and 16" x 8 with different off-sets so I can look at a staggered set-up or play around with track, etc. Got a set of Toyo 888Rs 225 x 45 x 16 to go on these just as a starting point. Will give the wheels a bit of a clean up and spray the centres gold so they match the JPS theme.

First M3 finished. Not 100% happy with it, but I'd say a reasonable 7/10 attempt. It was intended as a kind of practicse before I attempt the more expensive / detailed kit that I bought.

Don't get too hung up on the overall "hp" number for your race car, when I helped James with the E30 Endurance Car which ran the S50B32, after a freshen up we managed to get really useable low-to-mid range gains by having it properly dyno-tuned without the need for other mods. All depends on how much power you want under your foot I guess?

Not a lot of progress to report, and have now run in to a couple of lengthy parts delays which has pissed me off no end. Luckily I have not started cutting any metal from the rear side panels as the new ones are now out of stock in Germany, and unlikely to be re-produced until at least 2020. This is after they were showing in stock when I placed my order, this is a huge disappointment as I have been saving up and waiting to buy these for a long while and now they are not coming. After much chasing of the company in Europe making all the fibreglass bits, they have finally shipped and got a tracking number and ETA to New Zealand. However, this is also a big delay compared to the "parts ship in 10 days from order" that was promised originally. So again a bit of a pisser. Whilst I have done a few little bits and pieces whilst waiting for the body bits, cutting off any spare bit of metal I can find, treating a couple of little rust spots, scraping off underseal, sanding body panels, lightening door frames, etc. There is absolutely no way I am going to be able to get the car all back together ready for the big race meeting at Hampton on the 13th/14th October if I wait for the parts to arrive. So the big question is, do I put it all back together again now and then pull it apart again at the end of the season to fit the new body parts, or just wait and do it once... Can't decide at the moment as I am still so annoyed about the delays that I have lost a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the whole project. Bought another set of wheels at the week-end, and even that didn't really cheer me up...

Thread tidied up to avoid going over old ground. Moderators are well aware of the history here and are keeping an eye out, no need for other posts on the subject. To be fair, the product does now look much more "marketable" than before, so kudos there.

Needs price as per forum rules please.

My bar and wiring kit may be coming up for sale in the near future if you are interested. The tongue i've got is the inch an seven eigths size, but you can buy a 50mm version for it if that's what you need.

What a bloody waste. 325i as well, with chrome bumpers.

Nice. Love a Techwan, IMHO Tech I > Tech II. Car has a couple of non-standard parts, but listing says he has the spoiler, wheels, etc. to put it back to factory standard so that's no big problem. Would love to add a Tech I 325i to my garage, but no room at the inn, bugger.

Another in the theme of 70's Concept Cars, check out all this goodness of the decade of decadence... More info and pictures in this article here... https://www.motor1.com/photo/3173468/1972-bmw-turbo-concept1972-bmw-turbo-concept/

You can always use the year field to search as well as the M3 term to narrow things down a bit.

Yup, seen that. One of the myriad of ways to try and get everything to line up when going 5-Stud. There are now a whole host of options for 5-lug into the E30, which hubs are you using for yours? The geometry for them all is slightly different I believe, so the adjustment in the LCA through these bushes varies a little as well. I believe JiBs runs these on his E30 drift car with E46 hubs, and is happy with them, not sure he's on here much but is on BookFace E30 groups quite often.

The BMW NZ supplied option is the Westfalia removeable tongue mounted onto an NZ made beam which includes the provision of safety chain attachments. This gives you the facility of removing the tongue to save your eyes, and shins, when not in use. There are tongues avaiable in both ball sizes 1"7/8ths and 50mm. I am currently using this bar with a canbus wiring module to integrate the PDC, etc when towing and also works correctly with LED lights on trailers on my company cars it works well. Is simple to fit and I have moved it across about four or five cars now so can do it in less than an hour.

The E92 M3 Pure was a limited edition of 20 units specifically produced for New Zealand, with most of the optional extras taken out of the car, to give a more "Pure" driving experience. This term has been applied to a number of editions in various markets around the world with this same theme. The X5 M was indeed a Black Fire Edition, interesed in your comment about "class" in this context, and also BreakMyWindow's similar view, care to elaborate?

The starting question is a good one, and the usual answer is pick any two of the three! But, i guess it all comes back to how much performance and economy you want from your diesel. M57TU2D30 is quoted at 203hp and 390Nm I think, so could give a bit more with a chip / re-program. Last of the E46 330d had that engine and I would say that is about the point all the electronics and control systems went overly complicated. compared to the current diesels (the 4-cylinder 2ltr gives more power and torque) it is not in the same ball park, but the complexity goes through the roof as well - four turbos for six cylinders anybody? Sounds like an interesting project, a "doing it for the hell of it" kind of thing!

Hi, posts do not "fall off" the forum however they are sometimes deleted by an admin, or possibly in this instance the original poster. Also, many member are being pretty lazy in terms of where they are putting their posts. For example I have moved this from "general discussion" in to the Forum Help section. Recently there has been the need to remove a number of For Sale posts, although I have not personally removed the one from Tom although it does appear to have gone. Yes it was bona fide, if you still wish to contact him try a PM.

I just can't get past that bodykit. I know this was an 80s car, but seriously, wtf is that..? Someone will probably now point out that it's a very rare and sought after body kit from back in the day that is worth mega-$$$.

Well that got a bit dark very quickly...