Grant

Hello I am going to buy new tyres. I am open to suggestions. I currently have Yokohama A539's on the car. I have been quite happy with them, so will more than likely replace them with new ones...but if anyone has any better suggestions? What are you guys using, and are you happy with them. I am running standard 14" Bottlecaps with 195/14 R60 and will use this size again. Price is not an overly big issue, as tyres are pretty important in my opinion. Cheers

I guess not...but I don't want to make it to the grass (touch wood), and will do whatever I can to ensure that my stopping power will work (without replacing brake components). Cheers

I doubt that any of you guys will make any noticable gains by making the change and putting in a cold air box. Unless you are driving at a really really high speed (i.e a lot faster than your 318i's are capable of doing) you will not need anything more than the stock air intake/filter. Just keep the stock filter clean and replace it at regular intervals. Any increase you think you are getting will be purely psychological. Skubez, you will be better off putting the $100.00 into fixing any small things you find wrong with the car once you get it. Cheers

yeah - it seems pretty easy and straight forward...I just want to be 100% positive that when I press that middle pedal, I am going to come to a stop (preferably before hitting a solid object)!!!

It is a bit sad...but unfortunately you need more than one person...(and also as I have never done this before, I want someone else there who has done this to make sure I don't stuff it up...brakes are a pretty important part, I don't want to run too many risks!!). I am bludging off your guys experience here!!! In talking to David Brace last weekend, he was saying that brake fade was his biggest problem last year, and this year at Pukekohe, he changed to a higher DOT rating, and brake fade was no where near the same problem. The higher the boiling point of the fluid, the longer it will last before boiling and causing brake fade. Cheers

Tim That is a pretty good bloody deal. Someone, snap this up, you will not regret it!! Cheers

Gus, I think that Andrew, Dave, you and I will get together and do a group brake bleed this weekend. Maybe before or after the Intermarque Concours?? Does this sound like a plan? Cheers

I really dunno (about the O rings?) but if you can sort it cheaply that is a bonus. Mine didn't hesitate as soon as it got semi warm (just when it was cold, and for the first say 2 minutes max). I would get a diagnostic machine plugged into it if I were you, so you know once and for all why it is hesitating. Then you will now what you need to repair. Gus, how did the brake bleed go? What DOT rating fluid did you use. I am thinking of using DOT5 to get a really high boiling point, to make brake fade hopefully not come on so early (David Brace had this problem last year) Cheers

Anyway, this is getting right off topic. Poor Gus, I hope his engine hesitation isn't getting any worse. Cheers

hahahaha...actually quite funny.

BMW E36 M3 Specs Weight 1440 kg / 3174.7 lbs Engine: S50 Straight 6 Engine location : Front, longitudinally mounted Displacement : 3.201 liter / 195.3 cu in Valvetrain: 4 valves/cylinder, DOHC Fuel feed: Bosch MSS 50 Fuel injection Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated Gearbox: 6 Speed Manual Drive Rear wheel drive Power: 321 bhp / 239.5 kW @ 7400 rpm BHP/Liter: 100.3 Torque: 350 Nm / 258.1 ft lbs @ 3250 rpm Power to weight ratio: 0.22 bhp/kg Top Speed: 155.3 mph / 250.0 km/h (limited) 0-60 mph: Acceleration 5.50 s There we have it, the 1996 M3 is better in every respect with the exception of the 0 - 60 mph. Also, your statement about a WRX or Legacy beating everyones cars on this site...again you are wrong!!! M3AN's E36 M3 would kick the ass of either of these cars, and he is an active member of this site. Glenn's E30 turbo charged beast would also give a WRX a good run for its money. Also Randy Sparre's Porsche GT2 would leave a WRX or Legacy in its dust (but this a bit unfair as Randy very rarely is on the site). I have nothing against Subaru WRX's, I actually quite like them in their standard form or their proper (and I mean proper...not a normal WRX with some STi stickers) STi versions. Cheers

I know which one I wold choose!!! An E30 M3 is a far far superior car with timeless value. Also, Shelly you comparison seems to be a bit flawed. You are comparing a 1990 E30 BMW with a 1996 Subaru WRX STi. Why don't you compare a 1996 top spec E36 M3 with a 1996 WRX STi??? Then see which car comes out with the best specs? Cheers

I'm with Sam on this. If I was looking at buying another E30, or was in the market now, I think I would be waiting until I found the right M325i (well, actually I would probably be looking for a good top condition E30 M3.) However, after three two door cars in a row, when buying my E30, I looked for a 4 door one, I know that there are a lot of coupe fans here, but I got sick of them from a practical point of view. Cheers

Andrew is right.Yours is the standard pre-facelift front valance. It is just been painted to match your paint colour. They are normally black. Facelift E30's have the front valance with the two horizontal splits in it. Cheers

The service lights don't seem to come on at any set intervals, but it seems to be at around 10,000km's. (well it doesn't in mine anyway...and my service lights still work ok). Cheers

Andrew/ tHrEEtWoFiVe Thanks for your excellent answers. These are the type of answers and explanations that help everyone learn, and I think that they are really great. This is a subject I knew very little about, and feel much more knowledgable now (but still realise I know only the tip of one very big iceberg). tHrEEtWoFiVe, Any info/findings you get from your research into the pros and cons of the potential system, please post them here, I am very interested. Cheers again

Gus It cost me around $500.00 to get the injectors replaced (I just put second hand ones in). This included labour, and coming to get my car when it got so bad it wouldn't start. But I hate to tell you this, but mine started not starting too from time to time, and then start a minute later...then this got worse....and worse.....and then refused to go at all. Get it checked, as I was prepared to live with it, until it went completely. Cheers

Mine did exactly the same thing last year, especially when the car was cold...or had been resting for a while. It turned out to be leaking injectors. I replaced them all, and it has never happenned again. The hesitation was especially evident when accelerating between 2000 and 3000 rpm's. When the car was cold it was worse, the harder I accelerated. My car was off the road for a week before they found the problem - they replaced the AFM, made sure there were no vacuum leaks, tested the ECU. But as soon as the car warmed up, the problem went away, so they had to leave it and try again later in the day. Not sure if this is the problem in your case, but it is one idea to look at. Good luck!!! Cheers

Also, I assume that a Link ECU is reprogrammable, should you modify your engine, is this something that you can modify yourself, or do you need to take it somewhere with Dyno access? Cheers

Andrew/ tHrEEtWoFiVe/ anyone? Can you explain how/what is involved with changing the current ECU for a Link one? It seems from all accounts that you get a lot of bang for your buck in doing this. Also, how much in involved in the installation/ tuning? What could you expect to pay for this? Cheers

I am thinking of just getting the cat cut out, and then pipes welded in to fill the gaps....is this something that an exhaust shop would do? I just feel that at the age the car is, the cat must be restricting the exhaust flow somewhat. Cheers

I would guess if it is really great condition (which by all means it sounds like it is) then it would be worth somewhere between $7,000 - $9,000 privately. If a yard were to sell it, they would probably want $8,500 - $10,000 for it. Being one owner and NZ new will have helped it maintain its value, as you can buy E30 325i's for cheaper than this, but finding good condition ones is getting harder and harder and there is a lot of rubbish ones out there. Cheers

Cool No sweat, thanks for trying. Cheers

Graeme, Any luck with the brake duct? Cheers

Graeme, Why is it a waste of time to add a performance chip? I have read varying reports on whether it is worth it or not. Cheers