Ahmedsinc

The E36 bumper is non-motorsport. Bit bummed as I got my hopes up too!

Optimistically priced for a 15 year old car with 200,000km. The RSIIs certainly make an impact on price but gut feeling tells me this is more like a 7k car max in todays market. Julian, is the engine Vanos or pre TU?

My useful input ended roughly 42 weeks ago! 3 eh? I can't decide if you're braver or stupider than I

Taking my labouring missus to the maternity hospital in an E30 and bringing home my shiny new baby boy in the E39. Winning!

Stupid question, but would the bell housing from the E36 Jatco slushbox work? Was the first thought I had when I spied the listing. Just bummed it wasn't the dogleg, would've been sold in a second!!

Ermmm, so exactly how many diffs / gearboxes has this engine killed and in what timeframe??

Well, at least you're not so likely to bake the gearbox too then

The S50B30US (which is basically what you have, minus the slightly more aggressive cams) reportedly made about 230ft/lb. You'll probably be under that mark but close enough to be putting more stress on the diff and mounts than it was ever designed to handle, welding the centre won't be helping much either. More so if you're driving it hard, which given you've mentioned track & skid pan you obviously are. Its not that hard to find 325i axles, will work out to be way cheaper than having to replace diffs every 12-18 months plus the towies charges every time it strands you on the side of the road. Out of curiosity, what gearbox are you using?

I normally have no time for the whole stance rubbish, but this really is something special! Just a pity its got the crappy modern plates on it. Probably my own OCD but I wish it had period correct ID tags!

Just a shame the Dinan stuff isn't really suited to Euro spec cars! Though their hardware is all sorts of nom nom nom!!

Small case diffs are usually good for around 220-240lb/ft torque - 3.46 medium case diffs are supposed to handle 420ft/lb. If you can run with a taller ratio you'll probably get away with a bit more. As Polley said, you'll just keep munching 166mm diffs. And lockers are shockers - LSD or nothing!

Sounds like it's an expensive week!

There is a 3.23 medium case on trademe currently, apparently E34/32 fitment. Not the cheapest though, given it has to be freighted up from Fielding. The E30 experts here will be able to tell you if the case will fit with the correct rear cover or not. Failing that, take it to a diff builder and have them swap the gearsets into a 188mm E30 housing, will probably owe you a bit by the time its in the car.

with the exception of Gull fuel, isn't all the petrol & diesel in NZ from the Marsden Point refinery? Making the only difference between suppliers their price point?

My vote (not that it means bugger all) would be a refreshed early M62B44 non vanos with a nice low boost (10-12psi) centrifugal charger run on a remapped stock DME. Probably cheaper in the long term than an S62 and easier in the electrical dept. The cost of an overhaul will be cheaper than an S engine package, my main worry would be the ZF auto coping with the increased torque loads. LSx is pretty cool in the 3ers, not so sure about the 5 or 7. Have stumbled across a couple of Chev transplanted E34s and I have to say they never quite seemed right to me.

Interesting. I made one a while ago using 500E 16mm rod steel for shits and giggles. Only protruded about 100mm form the body but still folded, albeit very gradually. Should have another try with 20mm instead, I never bothered measuring the ID of the lifting point hole - beers may have been involved TBH they look like they've been primered going by the photo How many times have you used yours to lift the coupe and is there any measurable deflection?

Yup, keen too at that price. What grade steel did you use?

+1 Helped a mate do a teardown and rebuild on an LS1 a little while back. Engine had done well over 300,000km and showed minimal wear on the cam and crank bearings. Factory honing marks were still visible. Granted the POs had obviously serviced it frequently with quality fluids but it really confirmed mileage is irrelevant when the car has been properly maintained. The difficulty is finding cars with a service history!

There's a neat little shortcut that goes from Ohope through to a little south of Kutarere. Cuts out Taneatua and the inland trek that SH2 does after Whakatane. The gorge is a nice run, a bit hairy with winter rains as little slips used to be quite common when I used to hang out round those ways. Surprised to hear the pub is still there, I heard it had burnt down a while ago - publican that was there knew how to pour a proper pint of guinness too

Did the advertising state the discount included storage and accessories? I have an uncle that has been with rep for about 20 years now, he's the first to admit their margins are among the worst in NZ and they deliberately hire staff with little practical knowledge of cars to keep their overheads as low as possible. His advice to me was only to shop there for the oil specials, for everything else go to the factory backed parts suppliers or BNT.

Averaged a little under 8000 km/year until Feb 2008, in the past 7 years it added 1100km to the odometer. Wonder why - deceased estate maybe? I'm calling this one as a likely hand grenade! Bit of a shame, but the odometer really has no bearing on the value of a used car these days (outside of genuine collectors items of course)

Damn, wish I'd known about the cam locks earlier. Ah well

Nice work!

^ this

So rare to see an Evo anywhere these days, let alone here in NZ. I assume by the tyres on those BBS's you plan on driving it in anger too? Welcome aboard!