bravo

Well I had two keys cut for my e30 not so long ago. $5.50 ea...... from Mitre 10 Kerikeri. I had no idea it was a problem sourcing blanks. they pulled one off the wall. Same as you describe - standard key with round head. Works like the original.

Actually the pedestrian-impact standards call for HIGHER bonnets (on passenger cars at least - not SUV's etc) to allow clearance between the bonnet and engine to allow it to deflect and absorb impact as a pedestrian rolls up over it. And that is part of what started bigger grills - bigger front = bigger grill, and now that's the styling. I think Audi have done it best, the rest vary from good looking to horrendous.

Geese, ducks, pidgeons, swans, wtf? lol. I like the carbon and chrome cluster - there'd you get it from? Looks like it goes pretty hard!

It's in Dargaville - nuff said.

Yeha! Can't wait to see this one done!

Cool elegance?? gay.

Not sure about the cost of the part - maybe $80-120?? at a guess (real OEM lists it as US$154 OEM, but I'm sure they aren't that much), but you will only probably be billed for an hour to remove the old one, install the new, and bleed the clutch system. They will probably use new fluid so another $15 or so for that. It's can be a bit fiddly swapping them over as you have to get your head in the footwell and remove a couple of bolts and a clip on the clutch pedal.

That's how most insurance companies work. Which probably means I'm paying too much. However, IMO its worth paying more to be with a company that is fair and will pay out with little hassle. I'm with FMG and have had several claims for cell phones, spiked electronics from lightening strikes (happens alot in the far north!), and a motor vehicle. Everytime bar one they have paid out in super-quick time with no fuss, and for an amount I was more than happy with. in the case of the electronics I asked if I could have the cash rather than new items - no problem. In the case of the car, they offered less than my feeling of what it was worth. i had to get it's pre-crash value assessed by a classic car dealer. Once I had this done they paid out on the newly assessed value, AND I negotiated to keep the wreck which I sold later on. The only time I wasn't happy was with a cell ph (about my third or 4th cellphone claim - I'm terrible with them) where because the model was discontinued they would only pay a token amount which after excess was only about $30 so I withdrew my claim. On all previous cellphones they happily replaced the phone. So it pays to shop around not just on price, but reputation aswell.

Gas strut is good - will check condition of stay. You can have the stay for free, just pay for postage. $20 for the strut. (BTW - I havn't ever checked how the stay is attached to the vehicle - bonnet end is a pin and clip - I assume it is easily removable at the vehicle end aswell?) Have 2. Will reply your PM with details. Mirrors are painted as you dedscribe, but have the odd stone chip etc. Will try and get pics in the next day or so (car is at my other house). Bonnet gas strut is good cond. $20 Glovebox is sold - just waiting on payment/pickup. If that falls thru I'll offer it to you.

Chris, you are probably right - the average VTNZ muppet will fail you. However, its not in either the WOF in-service inspection manual or the LVV one AFAIK (I'll stand corrected), so you don't need a cert, and you should be able to argue the point. Its crazy either way = all of the road safety requirements for structures (lamp-post bases, road signs, roadworks signs, kerbs etc) have a maximum allowable height of 150mm, so even if you comply with the 100mm rule, you could hit any of these things and do serious damage to the vehicle lessening your ability to regain control. The stated reason for the maximum height is to reduce the likelihood of a car damaging steering etc components during the early stages of a crash giving the driver the best chance to attempt to regain control and lessen injuries. I would have thought they would have tried to align the maximum height for solid sign bases and kerbs with the minimum height for vehicles???

oops

From the LVV manual: LVV cert is not required if: I have never considered the sump and/or fuel tank as either part of the vehicle structure, steering, braking or suspension. I think you could argue this one successfully.

Don't have any factory ones, but got a tape player and a cd player looking for good homes. Will sell very cheap as I have no use for them. Will try and get some model numbers/details and maybe pics.

I bought a VK Holden in 1999 for $1500. Was an awesome deal! That was my last Turners experience so not really valid. However, in my experience (I bought quite a few cheapies from turners before that), its like any place - you need to check the car out thoroughly first. Plenty of ex-lease and ex-company cars at that price - high kms, but good service records, and only a year or two old. Souless japanese metal though.

Bump. Plenty of parts sold, but still more left. I am not a parts dealer - just have a crashed e30 that wasn't insured and trying to recoup some of the residual value. Thus my I'm asking a lot less for parts than you'd usually pay. Tell me what the wreckers have quoted you and I'll happily pass on a significant discount on most parts. I'm sick of some of the prices for parts on trademe - highway robbery in my opinion. I just want like-minded enthusiasts to get their rides on the road so they can get out and use them. Motor, gearbox, steering rack, some trim and some lights gone. Rest still available. Cheers Graham

Another Manual 4wd (525iX)

Euro-Italian Car Parts Gavin Dysart 09 444-9817 Gavin knows his stuff, has good quality parts at good prices and will courier to you overnight. Plus he's a forum sponsor! Ask for bimmersport discount.

Coupe rear lights=awesome. Sedan rear lights = the gay.

There's as many as three factory earth points in an e30 boot: One for electric aerial, one by the rear firewall, and if the battery is in the boot (not in this case I'd guess) one on the RHS by the wheel well.

Retold it last night complete with fake Italian accent. Cheers.

You should be right. The HTC touch uses windows mobile, so you can "flash" the ROM for NZ if necessary. I don't have any experience with GSM handsets like this one - I am under the impression they are plug and play with voda nz, but who knows??? If it were CDMA it won't work out of the box over here - needs the telecom nz extended ROM. You might be able to find a pre-prepared ROM online, but chances are you'll have to build your own. It's not hard, but if everything I've said so far is over your head, then it's probably not for you. More research needed??? As far as ebay goes, I've bought the odd thing and always used paypal and always had good experiences.

Steal!

A day late, but - Happy bday bro. I'm having a beer for you right now to make up for it

Saw this car today in the flesh. I'm not a fan of the e36, but this one is hot! Its a credit to you Brian. Good meeting you in person too, mate.

I have a set. Make an offer.