huff3r

If you can fly a plane properly you don't need Autopilot. It's still nice to have though.

It actually works really well in practice, however I hate to think how long starter motors will last...

I like all BMWs based on their individual merits, and I am able to see merit in (almost) all of them!

The engine has nothing to do with the quality, and I didn't say you are getting the same car. My point is you are not getting low rent crap with a 4 cyl BMW, you still get the ride quality, the handling, the reduced NVH that makes them a luxury car. And the leather is not low grade, the options list is the same regardless of the engine size. Yes in some markets, and some trim levels the smaller motors get lower quality specifications, but the options are still there. It sounds like your experience with 4 cylinder BMWs is extremely limited, they are massively under appreciated. I would hate to do a 500km trip in ANY toyota/nissan/honda hatchback, my back would be dead and my ears ringing by the end, however my little 316i handles it quietly, comfortably, and I am pain free. You simply don't get that in a true "low end, poor quality" car. I have done such a trip in both options several times, and will not do it in a cheap city hatchback again if I can help it. Oh and the little 316i matches the fuel economy of the others too, and still a spirited ride if you know how to drive it, with the ability to use ALL the available power safely and within the speed limit, making it arguably more fun. Also, I thought this was a BMW forum? Where we come together to celebrate all things BMW, not to bag on 4 cyl owners, or any other BMW owner because "it's not a proper BMW, it should have a 6, 8 or 12".

I disagree completely. A 4 cylinder BMW is not necessarily cut price or low quality. It's not like a Toyota where the lower spec models don't get anywhere near the features of the higher spec. E.g. a 318i can be specced out exactly the same as a 328i, but just with a smaller engine. Low end is not the motor, but the trim. I love my 4 cyl BMWs for the economy, but without the cut price low quality Toyota-esque ride, handling, and NVH!

Yup thats about what my 1.6 gets :D. Just did taupo and back and still over a quarter tank left! M43 isn't terrible really.

Maybe to some, but I'm actually with Ron on this one (can't believe I just said that :P). I don't mind a manual in traffic at all, did it everyday into Wellington from Porirua for a while in both a Legacy RS and an E30 with bucket seats and a rollcage! My AU falcon I wouldn't have wanted to do it in, but that was a terrible gearbox and shitty clutch. Although now traffic is 4 cars ahead of me at the lights

So basically picked the BMW for the same reason people picked Escorts 10 years ago

Added rear speakers to the e30. Turns out even 6.5" speakers struggled to cover the holes. Luckily only the cardboards been cut, not the actual parcel tray itself

Since the change everything has been reset to unread. Go to the top, mark entire site read and any new content from that date will show as unread. If a whole topic has been read and there is no new content it will start you at the start, otherwise it will start you at first new post. Or at least thats how it was for me

Started painting the pillar repair. Probably too cold and windy really, but oh well. 4 coats of primer filler, then gotta wait probably a good 2-3hrs at this temperature before sanding down ready for basecoat.

I've replaced the plugs anyway but they all looked exactly the same, all just covered in an even coating of carbon but not excessive. If I pull away aggressively it doesn't smoke at all that I can see, certainly not huge plumes. I think vacuum leak is quite likely, as it idled like crap until I wound the throttle stop up, which I know your not supposed to do but it seemed to work

On the E30 Tidied and bogged the dent in the C pillar. Popped out a dent in the boot. New sparkplugs. Next step, touch-up C pillar and possibly panelbeat, bog and paint the rest of the niggly dents. E36 Sedan: Removed headlining, most of the boot trim, parcel tray and a whole lot more. Stripping it down to a bare-ish interior.

Bimmersport survived the last major update just fine, i'm sure it will this time. The admins have already said they are still working on the theme options, but obviously paid work comes first so im sure the little spare time they have they are faithfully working away at it, however they also have to have a life outside of work and bimmersport. I myself am extremely appreciative of the change, there are a lot of very good features and the "issues" everyone seems to be moaning about are not even remotely unfixable, and indeed with time I can see the crinkles all being ironed out. I am always thankful for the tireless work of our admins, having seen them struggle through numerous setbacks over the years and never have an outage of more than a day, all the while maintaining their day jobs and dealing with equipment failures and other such dramas associated with hosting a forum. Thanks guys, and keep up the good work!

No milk in coolant or oil, both are mint. It could be that the smoke is actually steam from the exhaust and completely unrelated to the rough running. It doesn't seem to need to get a lot warmer to stop the rough running, it's literally hold at 1500rpm for 10seconds and it's fine. It also only runs rough below 1500rpm, above that it's always fine.

1990 316i (E30) Runs rough when starting cold, blows lots of white smoke, after a good sustained rev at 2000ish it clears and runs smooth as. I'm thinking dirty/worn sparkplugs getting fouled up? Does this sound right?

Thanks for your input Ron, insightful as always.

Nevermind, their FB page has been removed. Couldn't handle the pressure of disappointed Euro lovers.

Basically I was already frustrated at the costs, and now a new provider has come along bringing hope of a change from the disgusting price-gouging of the past... only to do the same thing. So I am letting them know that I do not appreciate it. Also motorcycle levies have not changed, and the justification for that was the fact the money is used for safety initiatives. Basically if the europlate upgrade was $150 they would have $150 from me. Because it is $450 they will never get a cent from me. I'd probably do it to 2 or 3 of my cars if it was affordable too, but at $450 just to get a plate that fits my car correctly and doesn't require extra holes drilled in my bodywork it's just not a justifiable price. I don't have a brand new expensive car or lots of money, all I want is a plate that fits my car without having to sell my kidney.

The new provider was tipped to be cheaper as NZTA selected them based on price. Also plates.co.nz was already a rip-off, and the new provider is no different. It has come up on this forum many times before, how can anyone justify a $410 admin fee for changing plate type from "Standard" to "Euro"? (The plates cost $40 to make).

I'm not sure who has or hasn't heard the news, but as of midnight last night plates.co.nz has lost the government contract to allocate personalised plates. Unfortunately that contract has gone to an Australian firm (who say they are kiwi, but are they really?), and the exorbitant prices have largely stayed the same or had pitiful decreases, with several also increasing. This means an upgrade from a standard plate to a europlate now costs $450, up from $399. I have left a review on their facebook page expressing my displeasure and my hope is that those who agree with me will do the same, its about time we were heard and I believe Facebook has actually become an unbelievably good tool for large groups to express their displeasure with a business. If you do believe it is a reasonable fee i'm more than happy to hear your arguments, their only argument in response to my review was "but some things are cheaper and there are more options now" and also "lots of the profits go towards road safety initiatives". I thought our rather generous ACC levies were for funding road safety intiatives?

Had a good look at the loose wiper arm on the passengers side. From research E36 sedan wiper linkages crap out, and it looks like that's whats happened to mine. Not sure if I can be bothered fixing it just yet.

I agree mostly with this post, however a point to note is that it is entirely legal to pass on the left in NZ, and this is largely because there is no requirement for a vehicle in the right lane to move left if a faster vehicle approaches. Doesn't really apply in this situation as the car in the right lane was at the very least intending to travel faster, and common courtesy, which largely doesn't exist in NZ, dictates that the car that is behind should yield to the car in front.

I just always go by the idea that if they want to be in front that bad, let them. It's not worth the stress to try and be "in the right" and it's not defensive driving either. Do what is safe, not necessarily what is right.

Probably, we just ran new wires, it was easier than digging through it all. Right brake light was fine, so ran the left off the wire for the right where it passes the left, and then new positive and earth wires from there to the high stop. They all work now, especially as it was only to get the car home without attracting attention (WoF is 3 months out).