duvey

Thanks! The ones I've bought are (apparently) in pretty good nick. Should end up around $800-900 all landed. Not really sure if it's a good price or not, but its what I wanted (not a fan of the three-piece look) and I couldn't find any here. Bilstiens with the springs I've got ride great, I'm really pleased with it. Firm but smooth and not busy on a decent road. Certainly better than the buggered originals, but then other than that I don't really have a lot to compare it to. Koni adjustables seem to be the ones people go for, but I got the bilstiens second hand at a good price.

Angel eyes look top sh*t - good job.

About 3 months ago, after getting sick of dailying the M3, i picked up a pretty pristene manual e30 320i from a lovely gent in Wellington. ~200k, but has been fastidiously maintained, very tidy inside and out. Will endeavor to take some more photos while it isn't dark outside. Very happy with it. Love the four doors, and love the colour. On the way home from Welly After having driven it for 3 months in its completely stock format, I'm finally getting around to making some tweaks. I told myself when I bought it that i'd leave it stock and just drive it, but so much for that! So far have just installed some bits from driftit's wrecked 325i (thanks for that), replaced the tape holder central console with a normal one and had it tinted by Carfolie. - Lowering springs (selby front and peders rear) - Bilstien sports all around, and upgraded to 51mm front struts. - m325i beefier front sway bar After applying the lows (very happy with ride height): I have some Euroweaves (15x7s) on the way from Germany. I'm currently fretting over tyre size, but I think I've settled on 205/55/15s, to keep the gearing etc the same, and properly fill out the guards. I think i'll go for Bridgestone Potenza RE002s, but am open to any suggestions. Things left to do, in order that i'll realistically probably do them: - Fix the bloody odo (parts purchased, not installed) - Chuck on the new wheels - Replace faded badges - IS lip (purchased, not installed) - Smilies (current headlights came up nice with a clean) - Rear sway bar? - Rip out the shitty A/C and replace the HVAC with the non-AC version - Colour match the bumpers (but not the black bumper trim strips) - Colour match wing mirrors - M30B35 swap (probably) or maybe just M20B25. Fretting on whether I'm up to tackling this myself. - Appropriately butty exhaust - Manual e30 steering rack or z3 rack, depending how much time I spend pumping iron in the meantime. - LSD - Skids. Being a bit of a e30 novice, I welcome any advice or opinions, so fire away! Cheers fullas.

Cracked a Stahlwille 1/2" on my e36 caliper carrier bolt. Nothing is more devastating. Especially because it feels like you've just loosened the bolt.

There are six screw clips on the top, and four little white push clips underneath. A few of the pushclips were missing on mine, but i managed to fish them out of where the last people in there had dropped them. All my screwclips were fine, so you're probably unlikely to need new ones of those, but it'd probably be worth getting a few of the pushclips in case yours are missing. In the guide i was following, no, he did not need to loosen the bonnet. The realities once I was doing it meant there was no way of getting the corner clip in without either grinding it down, or loosening the bonnet off. One side of mine went in fine, but the other was never going to go in without intervention, for one reason or another. Turned out the bonnet part wasn't very hard, probably just should've done that in the first place. P/N for cowling: 51711977678

Just finished replacing windscreen cowling. Was a little more effort that expected. Took me a while to get the wipers off their taper because someone had clearly overtightened the nuts previously. Had to partially remove the bonnet also to get the corners of the panel in correctly. ~4 hours in the end (ridiculous I know) Here is the end result: Yay pretty

Glad to hear you've found the source of your problems. Should probably have mine done for peace of mind

Thanks for the info. Will take a closer look and let you know. On another unrelated note, I'm in the process of replacing the windscreen cowling on my e36. There are four little white clips that hold it to the body of the car, in addition to the black screw clips on the top. At some point the windscreen was replaced by Smith&Smith (barbarians) and they have put the cowling back on with ONE of the four clips. Hoping to get this done today, and all the parts places are closed now - so just wondering if anyone in AK has any of these spare (or an E36 I can scavenge them off): Thanks

I don't think the B5 was much good at doing anything except going really fast in a straight line. Not that there is anything wrong with that. +1 on the RS2 though - those sneaky Porsche bits are awesome.

Its very difficult to tell. It doesn't leak barely at all on short drives, but on the drive from Welly to Ak, it leaked enough to saturate all the carpet in the passenger's footwell. Based on the coolant mineral staining, it looks like from around the bottom of the valve body where it connects to the pipe. I might try the DIY approach. No harm done if it doesn't work. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

Got a fairly substantial coolant leak from the heater control valve (64111386707) - and am just wondering what my best approach is, either trying to re-seal/recondition the one i have, get a second hand replacement, or just fork out for a new one? Anyone have any experience around where these tend to actually leak from?

I think you might have mine, too.

I have shed blood and tears getting some of those interior trim panels back in place in past. I somehow managed to make the belt retraction thing worse on mine when i pulled off the b pillar trim to replace rear quarter window seals. It is a bit annoying. This is the part I am talking about. Looking through the pictures here, seems to suggest that little rubber/plastic seal is a part of the piece itself. I'll report back once I have my hot hands on it for real. http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-M3-S50_3.0L/Search/SiteSearch/Cowl/ES2587342/

Cowling quoted from JC BMW $120+gst. Have said yes, and they're getting it in Thursday, so I'll do the install and let you know how it goes. Any idea if there are different ones for LHD and RHD cars? My assumption would be yes because wipers are mirror imaged. Almost ordered it from the states but couldn't find out whether they were drive side specific. Good to hear about that re-upholstering. Seems reasonable pricewise. I'd love to see it once it was done. I haaaaaaaaate the finish on the B pillar, so it'd be great to get that covered up.

Are you getting it re-upolstered? How much? Picked up a M-sport x-brace from Ray to go on the M3, and new centre rear section (to replace the one with the tape holders lol) console for the e30. Got the tie rod boots sorted. (thanks for the tip dubman) New front struts installed and all seems good. The steering flex joint seems to be rattling about a bit so i'll order a new one of those. Rear windscreen seals coming from Schmeidmann for the M3. Also looking to replace the windscreen cowling on the M3. I know Dave you were looking at this too? There is a bit of a writeup here (looks easy as) http://www.bimmerdiy.com/diy/e36cowling/ Might see how much the stealership will let them go for. I'll let you know Dave.

Thanks!

Woo E36s. Would totally rock a 36Mafia decal if there is a revival on the horizon :3

Weird knock on the E30 that seems to be coming from the shocks, so putting in new front shock inserts. Broke my ball joint separator and split the boot (never buy the Stanley ball joint separator from Supercheap, it is made of cheese). After getting a better one, it all came off alright. Have all the units out and will fit the new shocks tomorrow. Anyone know if you can get universal ball joint boots that will work okay on an e30?

What'd you use for this? Looks mint. I'd love to do this on mine.

Goodness gracious that is irresponsible

I so nearly bought your one! Sorry for your loss!

I saw a E34 Alpina heading North on the motorway after Tristram. Same one? Had a sick big front valence.

Oh dear. You did look a bit worried. Yup - Silverdale indeed. Nice spot

Saw you today on Tristram ave with your top down Also saw this beauty a couple weeks ago. Very nice. also wild e34

Awesome work bro good on you for persisting - i'm looking forward to hearing what kind of difference you might notice.