bravo

Not sure whether Synter did it, but he did tell me it was done by the previous owner before it came over here. Also pretty sure it was done in the UK so you are probably right. It's my favourite m3 that I've actually seen in the flesh. I'm still waiting on a promised ride in it.

chill out dude. tongue was in cheek - I didn't mean a poor driving style was a way of life, I meant cutting corners was - ie I was promoting being a lazy f**k. If you read my post I was actually defending your view by stating the law says keep left, so keep f**king left. Agree with most points brought up here by you et al re: 4x4's their relative safety, the poor driving ability of many road users, the failings of the licensing system and the need for practical driver education and more efficient cops. I was making a lame joke - I guess you missed it. No wucking forries.

I have some you can have for a bottle of becks plus postage - unsure of quality of badges though. If you're coming to the Northalnad meet or know someone coming can give them to them and save you the postage. Buy me the becks sometime or other if we're ever in the same place at the same time.

First rule in the Road Code? keep left. End of story. I still cut corners - sue me. Its not just a driving technique - its a way of life.

Hows that picket feel in your ass Sam? lol You are right of course.

SUV's in city = cheapest way to get bullet-proof brat transporter for mum. Also a status symbol. SUV's in rural areas are a totally different story. I engage 4 wheel drive on one of the 4 4x4's I drive regularly on average about 4 times a week. In the city, for the price, mum should get a newer large station wagon or MPV as the crash protection of the newer car will outperform (in most cases) the older 4x4. 4x4's command a price premium so you WILL get a newer SW or MPV for the same money. This debate has been raging for years. Only way to change it is for LTNZ to either legislate or start advertising campaigns - or both.

Have one of the soft yellow repco $80 jobs. Used it alot when I had a car with nice paint in a dusty shed, and once while I was away for 2 weeks and parked outside at a mates. Upside - no rain or dirt on car - no cat paw marks. Downside, cat used soft covered bumper as a scratching post. No damage to car I could see but trashed the cover.

Of which at least one is in NZ and it has been converted to RHD.

I was thinking a bit of quid-pro-quo. He fabricates and cultivates, I courier...

Someone I know says they know this car and if it is that car, then its a tad rusty and been hacked a little by one of the previous owners. Nothing a decent going over won't turn up, but check it first. Looks bloody good in the photos, but photos lie. I kinda hope its a gem as there aren't that many around in even average condition - for some reason almost all of the ones I've seen are in desparate need for TLC.

I need one. Actually. Gary - PM me re welding skillz.

Read the auction - it say he's going to the "sunny tropics of melbourne"...

Depends on what you want them for. Fake ones usually use inferior metals and so pit and corrode earlier, buckle and bend easier, and by way of trying to fix the latter, are often made much heavier. The originals are stronger, lighter, better balanced and have greater longevity. Buy the fakes for posing, the real ones for anything else. Like tools - the quality stuff is often thinner and lighter as they use stronger and better quality metals which also means they can be made to finer tolerances, and don't burr/wear as easily as the cheap stuff.

e21 and e30 convertibles made by a company called Baur under license from BMW before BMW started making their own in around 1987. They cars were delivered under order to Baur direct from the BMW factory. Baur took out the rear windscreen and C-pillar. Strengthened the B-pillar and put a big f**k-off brace between the two B-pilalrs and between each A and B-pillar on each side then cut the roof out, tidied it up and covered it in canvas. Reinstalled the roof as a removable piece that mounts in the boot when off and added a drop-down rag and perspex rear hood. Viola! convertible without scuttle shake long before BMW made their own full cabby. They're pretty ugly to most, but have rarity and character value. My Dad has one - a 323i. i won't tell you what he paid, but it was less than I paid for either of my e30's, but is probably worth somewhere around $7-8k in current condition. It was the first e30 I ever drove and was what hooked me on the marque.

It's more of a money saving thing Jazz. Most "kids" over 18 who go to say the big day out can't afford the $5 warm lion reds, and who can be arsed standing in a long queue for beer all day. Yet a concert is that much better with a few quiets, hence sneaking liqour in. Not that I can talk - I'm a boozehound. meh. Worked out how much I spend on beer a year the other day - f**king ridiculous.

Nice - ever since you bought it I've been toying with the idea, but something else always comes up for me to spend my money on. Same this time round - damn mortgage repayments pwn my face. These bikes rock - good luck with the sale and the new lifestyle. Hmm Honda owner - STRIKE ONE. Australian - STRIKE TWO. STRIKE THREE? you're out.

$10k max for a nice e30 other than an m3. An e30 m3 in good nick will command anything from $40k up. $84k still seems ridiculous, but give it 5 or 10 years and I wouldn't be surprised. There aren't very many out there.

Not many with tech I at all - missing boot spoiler, otherwise this car looks good in the phots, which makes it a very sharp price. I know most of you prob not into the Baurs, but those that are, this is a steal. Link

I reckon they should re-release some of these old ads. We keep telling ourselves we are more liberal and less conservative than ever before, yet we seem to have lost our sense of humour as that ad would probably be considered inappropriate in todays world. Bring ads like that back to remind ourselves how over PC we have become.

Damn, now I have to play and I was going to sit this year out.

Don't go and drive it to find the following out as if it is the cambelt, then you may kill it if it breaks, but: If the noise is there when you aren't moving, then you can rule out brakes, diff, and drivetrain rear of the gearbox. If the noise is there when stationary, and the clutch is depressed, you can also rule out anything to do with the gearbox. This leaves you with the motor. Trying to determine where a sound is coming from whilst inside the car is impossible as the sounds travel all over the place. You need to be outside the car to pinpoint where it is coming from.

Or any BMW that you want to put one in. There have been a few e30's with them in.

If you're taking it to a groomer/valet, they should know what they are doing if they are reputable. A plastic bag over the AFM would do. Also, spraying everything electronic with a silicone based spray will help aswell as long as you don't go silly with it.

Check at a wreckers - unfortunately unless someone has a dud motor, then they won't be wanting to sell that peice separate. For those of you confused I think what he is after is the inspection cover that bolts on the bottom of the motor and also to the gearbox bellhousing. Or maybe you could get it welded. it's alloy, so that makes it a bit harder as older dirty alloy won't weld as easily as new stuff, but it doesn't have to be water tight, so a rough weld would probably do - unless you bent and cracked it getting it off. Dude, I know its a bit late for lectures, but cutting the bolts would have been a better idea, or using the right tools.

normal man conv. sells on TM regularly for $750. Dogleg more sought after although last 323i I saw didn't have dogleg and neither does my old mans. Just Do it.