Nic325i

Agreed. All M20B25's left the factory with a nominal 170 odd horsepower (accepting that later cars like mine probably struggled to make that fresh from the factory ). UK "325 Sport" is identical to NZ M325i, bar options not worth having here (headlamp wash/wipe is what comes to mind). An article I have (South African "Car", Jan 1992) quotes the power as 210kw. Interesting reading. Mitsubishi turbo, described as a complete handful in the wet, and capable of about 240km/h - have to love E30 "aerodynamics". US market got a 325is. Sounds like a similar car to the sport/M325i (LSD, sport suspension etc), but no bodykit or shadowlining.

I'm reap1980 It's always fun "predicting" the results of the third division

I don't think all M3's had 16's as standard - some of them (earlier ones?) only came with 15's. All would be 5 stud though.

Mitre 10 stock this kind of thing - at least the one in Newmarket does, probably others as well.

Possibly sacked - as in dropped from the company you work for? Just a guess.

Your measure of 18cm gives a diameter of exactly 2.25 inches 18/2.54=7.087 inches circumference 7.087/3.1415....=2.256 inches diameter. Not that I am pedantic or anything

Rough numbers, $8500 for 1990 M325i, about a grand to get some bits and pieces fixed after purchase, another grand getting front end sprayed (chips etc), $200ish for new boot and light seals, $420 for Z3 shifter, front discs and pads - waiting for a chance to fit. So all up roughly 11k The way things are going, that'll be about 3 tanks of fuel

it is apparently very easy to get 20-25hp more from the 328i just by swapping the intake manifold for a m50 one from the 325i - they put a very restrictive manifold on the 2.8 litre engine (emissions or tax reasons I think). Same mod works for 528 and 728 also. This would give power roughly midway between the 2.5 litre and the 3.0 M54.

On the other hand it may have an advantage because you can activate it without opening the bonnet = less oxygen for the fire in the first place. The car it is on deserves a bit more protection average

Get your vin number and throw it in here

From BMW M Registry What size brakes does the M540i have? The M540i's braking system is the same as that of all E34 M5s built as of May 1994, its four-wheel vented discs measuring 13.6-inches (front) and 12.8-inches (rear) in diameter. In addition, the front rotors incorporate two-piece “floating” calipers. This is the only factory BMW application of these rotors ever offered in North America. 13.6" is 345 mm, 12.8" is 325mm Mighty impressive. Did they get the ABS kicking in? I would guess that the way ABS triggered could make a big difference to stopping distance.

My install is a bit less sophisticated than that. It lives in its box, loose in the left hand rear footwell. Fits the footwell perfectly with the seat right back (so it doesn't clunk around) and saves undoing clips etc.

It makes me happy that it is priced at a level where only someone who appreciates it for what it is will buy it. No 19's or chrome for this beast. It springs to mind that this is technically rarer than the Evo III also for sale.

On trademe.

Problem sorted. If anyone has problems with these I'd recommend this page. The start that was broken on mine was this bracket - got a guy at work to weld it up no problems. Fixed for the best price of all

What are the wheels? Look like multi part basketweaves?

Just failed a warrant when the warrant guy found that the seat back has some play in it side to side - anyone else had this problem with E30 sport seats? (two door, so have the tilting mechanism - I think this is involved in the problem) Are they easy to pull apart? Going to be tomorrow mornings job.

Hard to tell from the small photos, but to my eye the front airdam looks like it is Mtech II - rear spoiler definitely is. Willing to be told I'm wrong.

In reference to the M tech 325i, it doesn't have an LSD (according to previous owner), and I can't find any real justification for the claim that it is "the world's only four door sport". Emailed BMW GB about it, and the spec sheet indicates nothing more than a specced up 325i (and the kit may well have been added after sale also). Still looks a cool car, and I am pretty tempted by the upgrade. Probably doesn't help that the car is in Dunners - you'd need to be pretty keen on it to go and check it out from Auckland (or the entire Nth Island).

Heard on the news this morning that BMW have bought the Sauber F1 team, and will be racing under their own name from next year - not sure what this means for BMW-Williams?

Exactly. And the cost of these claims is what increases the cost of full insurance. I have to pay more to cover the chance of someone else without insurance driving into me. On average, nothing will change. Insurance companies don't base premiums on the average though. They assess how likely they are to have to pay out on a given policy, and the amount of that payout, and then charge accordingly. If they can charge (the currently uninsured) hopeless drivers for the risk they represent, then they can afford to charge me less since the odds of them having to payout for someone elses mistake is reduced. Whether they actually do reduce the premiums is another question. That is where government watchdogs (the insurance council?) comes in.

For the record, full cover. About $1300, under 25, first year insured, so no no claims bonus etc. Can't remember excess - I think it is $1000 for a crash, $3000 for theft (go figure?) I think the theory of compulsory insurance is that it reduces rates for the average driver - basically it should let insurance companies assess their risk more accurately. At the moment, full insurance cover has to include a significant risk of some uninsured idiot driving into you. If everyone has third party insurance, this component is (theoretically) removed - hence the cost of someone having a really bad driving history is born by them, not by others. My records is sweet, so I am all in favour. Nic

Unfortunately no. The brightness is fine, looks like the crystal in the lower half has "leaked" or similar - big smear of orange obliterating useful information. Not a biggy, but as the mornings get colder it is nice to know whether I am entitled to shiver or not.

The LCD on mine is a bit poked. Not sure what the going rate is, but if anyone has a spare I might be interested. Nic

I am sure the link has been posted before, but for info on M cars this site is hard to beat. I don't think it has performance figures, but the other information is great.