KwS

i see potato-cam is also here

Those are factory early M3 wheels, and theres been a couple of sets on TM recently. Be worth keeping on eye on there.

i dont normally like the 3 series sedans, prefer the coupes... but both of those are great looking cars. BMW did well on that shape.

ugh, you know its horrific when you can see the cracks on the inside of the boot!

Since i finish work early on a Friday, and it was such a lovely evening i decided to do some MUCH needed cleaning to both the cars. I gave the Fit a clean first as the other half needed to take it out this evening, so no photos of that but its mucho shiny now. The M3 had not had a decent, intimate, hand clean in a long time (usually pressure washer and grooming broom at work for a quick spruce up). Lately it had not even had the quick groom, it was filthy. Before starting the clean, whilst the car was still dry i took a stiff, dry, brush and cleaned all the boot and bonnet channels and around the seals, as they were packed with pine needles and dirt. Nice and clean now. I started with the wheels (as i finished the Fit on the wheels), and ugh, forgot they were silver Add some CRC Mag Wheel Cleaner (wicked stuff this) Hit it with a brush, hose it off and you get this I then proceeded to clean the rest of the car Clean! I also got fed up with having no centre cap on the LH RR wheel, it was uggo. I purchased some cheapy "carbon look" centre caps from tandem a while back, and i decided to finally fit them. They look good but i think i prefer blue over black, but hey, better than nothing. Old New And the reason i changed them Unfortunately it looks like the LH FR wheel has been refurbished and repainted in the past, its clearly a different shade of silver (almost a dark metallic silver vs the bright silver of the others) and the paint is really bad, flaking off and just ugly. Well, thats that clean for another hour or so. Needs another wax, might do that next weekend.

To my knowledge once it has the Jatco Jerk its a goner. You could try a service, but i doubt it'd fix it. Best bet is to either get a known good jatco and cross your fingers, or convert to manual. Remember, low KM doesnt mean its a good box (my old 323i had a jerky jatco, about as bad as yours by the sounds of it, and had under 80,000km on the clock) Not sure about the ZF auto, the mechanicals arent rocket science, but not sure if the electrics to control it are the same.

Assumption is the mother of all f.. ups. Get the tires done, and get the car checked when its in at the dealer. Hopefully one of those two should fix it.

Google/wiki says iron block

oh well, at the very least you better treat the 6 speed like glass, BMW doesn't supply any internal parts to repair/rebuild them, only complete assemblies im not saying they're fragile, I'm saying they aren't as strong as the 5 speed (but I'm too lazy to trawl the net to get proof so my statement is moot anyway).

Its in need of some new photos, so might take them this weekend if its nice. Ill smooth out the seat too (i was out of battery in camera so had to quickly jump in the back before it died, and as anyone that has been in the back of an E36 can agree.... its tight getting in.). With the Evo IMO a lot of the appeal is all just personal preference (options, colour etc). The 6 speed box isn't as strong, the big ends are known to go for a run, and the engines don't make anywhere near the factory rated power. The 3.0 although older its just that little bit tougher.

it will be staggered width, and generally you should be able to tell by eye if one has more "dish" than the others

i had one serious potential buyer (the only person to actually view the car) last week but he purchased an M3 Evo over the weekend, other than that, a couple of useless swaps but no cash offers. I always have heaps of watchers on my listing. I don't think I'm asking too much. Im the cheapest on TM and my KM aren't the highest. Yet its perplexing me as to why so little interest.

Bump, price is somewhat negotiable. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=798151702

id be checking to see if any arms are bent or bushes are poked.

Time to hit Andy up for some euro plates and holders.

I take it you polished them in place? What was to procedure to get it to look like that? Looks great, sure makes a big difference!

ha sh*t, didn't click it was these fools. They also have that 330 coupe for $30k (A bargain, down from $66k! since 2007), and an old Iron Mask skyline since 2010 (which although it looks great in the pics apparently its a rough as guts POS). http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-105483039.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/auction-287347105.htm

Looks like a good base, but damn thats a lot of money. Id rather start with the one nick linked. Better colour too. In the black one, whats the card attached to the keys slotted in the dash? Some sort of immobiliser?

Beautiful, also love the wheel and tire combo. Makes a damn fine change from the usual weaves or stretch.

If it is indeed this one, its also a jap import and really no more special than the other early 540s on trademe. You can see in the first photo they wanted 35k for it, and that was years ago, hate to think of what damage has been done from sitting out in the sun on the yard for that long (although OP does mention peeling paint, so that'd be my guess). Being an import it wouldn't surprise me if the odo was wound back before import.

I suspect he means $20 to fit a tyre, not $20 for the tyre?

Interestingly, ive never had a problem getting a wof on any of my cars from VTNZ Porirua. Because of this they are the only VTNZ i will use (too many stories about other ones being crap), but now ive just been getting work to do my WOFs (much more convenient.)

oh those carbon door cards are so lush. Good luck with the Targa!

either way, looks like a damn cheap V8 E34 in what appears to be very tidy condition. Hope it works out for you!

if only i had the money id buy it off you and restore it Gotta catch em all. Keen to see pictures. I really wouldnt be worried about the under trays being damaged or missing, its REALLY common (my M3 is missing the center under tray completely, as did my last E36). Depending on the paint, if its just scuffed and dull, a decent cut and polish or a wetsand might bring it back up but if its peeling it could be a bit more expensive due to needing paint.