central3

Visit My Website Pitching it high - would love to see this go to a BS member so I can keep in touch (more realistic price will apply)

Yes a bit obsessive/compulsive I'm afraid but the car is starting to look real nice - I have been wanting one of these since 2000 when a sat in one at a dealers yard - keen to have it as tidy as possible but got a bit carried away

The guys name is Laki - based in Wellington - great materials and a real craftsman - 04 802 4638

Great commitment and great photos - looking forward to the end result

Slow progress. Seat back from being reupholstered , it ended up being expensive but the work is spot on. Front end assembled . Diff back from having the seals replaced and after painting.

Looks great - more photos required

Progress - under body hardware back from electroplater ($90 for the galvanising + brake calliper clip chroming + strut brace polishing). Interior finished apart from the drivers seat which is still at the upholsterer getting the base recovered - only interior mod is the silver carbon fibre wrapped trim. Under bonnet finished - only mod is the polished strut brace. Still waiting for a diff seal so buffed and polished the bodywork - came up well. Front suspension mostly assembled - not a very good photo but under guard area has been based and clear coated in body colour.

Comments for what they are worth a) your previous post said this was your wifes car - seems as time goes on its becoming your car - good agree with the wheels rather than wrap - I spent too much de-curbing mine - should have gone for new rims (promised the wife I wouldn't though) c) you're 26, the green looks pretty good, the wrap can always be removed d) you will not be happy with the quality of a wrapped finish over the longer term

My 1994 355i has failed a WOF due to play in the steering rack I am after a replacement, preferably a good condition low km jobbie or maybe a rebuilt item Any offers please

Mainfrieght - if you go depot to depot its pretty cheap (set of 4 rims and tyres cost $50 - ChCH to PN)

Yes - cocked the first couple of pieces up with either too much or not enough heat - knowing my luck I reckon I will have it perfected on the last part

Progress - rear control arm bushes were US so removed - painted all suspension parts in black enamal - polished front control arms - painted underbody plastic - painted underside of front bumperand sills - painted brake calipers in body colour- wrapped some interior trim in silver CF vinyl (thought I was getting a gray colour - not sure about the silver)

Crikey - and I thought I had caught the obsessive compulsive disease - thanks for this - can use it on my (non understanding) wife

There is lots of stuf on the net about this but in short wash the car, wipe down with turps to get rid of any road tar, wash again, clay bar the car to get rid of any ingrained grit in the paint, use a fine cutting cream on any scratchs (I use a 75mm pad on a pistol drill - slowish speed) but don't over do it, machine glaze the whole car (proffesional polishing machine, black pad and 3M (or similar) glaze needed) and polish. Mask off all rubbers and mouldings as the glaze gets every where. quite a lot of work but something you will only do every 3 or so years

bump

what brand are they and what length are they please

No I won't be doing any reinforcing. After reading up on it I understand the majority of the vehicles at fault (a small percentage of the 45,000+ cars built) generally had SMG (and drivers who liked the lauch control) and/or modified suspension and/or some competion use. Mine looks mint and probably doesn't match most of this criteria.

A close up photo shows the diff issue better - the output shafts have quite a bit of radial play in them - I have read that this is how they are but makes me wonder how any oil seal would cope Cleaned up and checked for the dreaded sub frame mounting cracks today - no problems

Finally brought an M3 and prior to selling the 330i the plan is spend a few months detailing. After stripping all of the underside covers and panels off I was very pleased to find the engine and gearbox looked very good with no signs of any leaks etc. The diff though was covered with oil encrusted dirt. The side seals are definitely weeping but I am not sure if the oil around the input shaft is from the pinion seal or grease from the inpur shaft CV. Anyway I want this thing spot on so I have stripped it out along with all of the front and rear suspension. Apart from the diff seals I plan to replace any bushes etc (although after an initail inspection everything looks good) - paint all components and have all of the bolts/nuts re-galvanised. Toying with replacing the shocks but the car has just turned over 100K km's and feels good so may not. Apart from this all I will do is have the drivers seat base re-upholstered, wrap the interior trim pieces in a graphite CF (if I can find some) and give the car a thorough clay bar, localised cut, buffing compound and polish. Will respray the underside of the front bumper and sills to cover a couple of scrapes and gravel rash. One rim needs some curbing removed so this will be done too. Plan is to keep the car 100% stock at least for the next couple of years. A few photos attached re progress so far (photos of the exhaust are pre clean, post clean up with pickling paste (magic stuff) and polishing).

f you are after up to 4mm you can machine out some of the offset but you must (IMO) fit carbon steel reinforcement inserts - as per my photos

Cheers - will probably be a couple of months before I put it up for sale as I have gone over the top detailing my new machine - stripping out and detailing the under body and replacing some weeping diff seals - good fun

here- unfortunately nowhere near Auckalnd or your price range

Yeah I know - I saw this and thought that (despite the km's) this was an awesome buy - totally devalued mine I thought - talked to Ray about converting mine to a 6 speed and then lost the plot completely and brought an M3 - wife couldn't understand and then she did (can't keep her out of it now) - really need to sell the 330 now so someone is going to get a nice one for a nice price

I haven't read through all this drama but I get the feeling that our friend Asian is is taking the piss - am I alone in this?

I fabicated this after seeing something similar offered in a UK BMW magazine - its all cosmetic but does the trick - refer http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....75#topicoptions