gjm

Greg was always good to us when we were in the area. E46, E36, F30 - all went through his workshop at one time or another. He was our go-to.

A valve cover gasket set (there are two gaskets) isn't going to break the bank regardless of where it comes from. Try BMW? Bear in mind that there are two possible gasket sets - one has a 2-hole fitting centre gasket, the other has a 5-hole fitting centre gasket. They are not interchangeable.

Disclaimer - we own the grey car that is for sale on TradeMe. The Baur conversions were originally produced because BMW didn't have a convertible in their range. Coupe bodies were shipped from BMW manufacturing plants to the Baur Karosserie facility in either Germany or south Africa (depending original location of manufacture). There were slight differences in process - German cars were rust protected and suchlike before being shipped, were then modified and painted. SA cars were shipped in white, modified, then rust protected and similar. Baur are an extremely highly regarded organisation. Aside from work they have done - and do - with BMW (starting in the 1930s, and more recently on the 2002, E21, E30, E36, E46 conversions and others) they also did all the bodywork for the Porsche 959, conversions for Opel and Mercedes, and do prototype work for VAG and Ford. The Baur design for the E30 means the car uses coupe panels and parts (other than the roof). The convertibles BMW produced later use different body panels. The Baur retains the 3 seats in the rear (presumably for small people!) while the convertible has two seats. The Baur roof design means the structural strength of the coupe is retained, and offers several positions. Another benefit of the Baur is that the roof does not leak. My wife and I know this from experience - driving from wellington to Waikato we encountered a storm that meant we had to pull over - it was impossible to see the road. Not one drop of water got into the car. They're not to everyone's taste, but are extremely versatile and easy to look after.

Every time it comes up for sale, the price has gone up. I nearly bought it... 4 years ago? 5? For under $2500.

Suspect it was as much as case of using a cap that was available as much as anything else. As suggested, stick with original spec if possible.

People who buy a $100k+ (when new) vehicle that's maybe 5 years old, then moan about how something like Carplay doesn't work and how it'll cost "as much as $300" for something.

Apparently "that was a mistake". Something so fundamental would surely warrant either a change to the details, or a remove and relist with correct info?

There's a few around. I contacted George at Advanced Chrome Platers in Hamilton and he did a fabulous job for me. (He also does wheel rim repairs.) He has (or had) a website but that doesn't seem to be working at present. Facebook page exists but hasn't been updated in several years: https://www.facebook.com/p/Advanced-Chrome-Platers-100059898652085/ I know that 10 years or so ago he was concerned that while he wasn't planning retirement, there seemed zero interest from anyone to take over the business. The business is still listed as current at Companies House.

Aside from lots of blue, the first thing I saw was "Voted NZ’s most trusted used vehicle dealership." Who voted for them?

If you can find/sort a manual M44, that would be a lot of fun.

Only thing it is missing is a full service history. Very low mileage, allegedly superb condition... Maybe a few equivalent examples in NZ, but it'll be a very few. Not really a collectible spec and that's kinda where the price is at.

I thought it was the combined total - purchase + shipping + handling + insurance. If the taxation applied to that combined total exceeded a certain amount, you'd get pinged. But that may have been the 'old' way... I thin there was a change which meant everything was taxed, but that the overseas seller was going to collect that and send it to NZ Customs...? I could be getting my wires well and truly tangled.

That's just sh!t handling at the NZ end. Often happens. Across the world in two days, a week or more in Auckland 'being processed' and a week to be delivered in NZ.

Seems the plate on my vehicle was applied at the time when the vehicle was new - it was pre-registered by the dealership (meaning they show as an owner) but the purchaser changed the plate. It has since been through the hands of 4 private owners. Anyway. My silver-on-black plates arrived yesterday. Probably some of the last that will be delivered.

Many E36s - very ordinary ones - are now in the "you want how much for this?" category.

Facebook listing (I don't know the car): Lachssilber 1988 320i Touring. . . . . . . [note: originally an auto but converted to manual] NZ new Excellent condition. New carpet throughout and new leather seats . . . . . . . [note: looking at pics, the seats really do look **new** !] Dashboard in tact Some stone chips in paintwork and small crack in paint on roof Stereo: New Blaupunkt Bremen sqr46 348k kms New WOF and Rego Firm on price No trades $28500

Speaking of Repco - they have 30% off Castrol oils. Obviously check against other sources before heading down there.

Not my cup of tea, but the very first question? Asking the seller to sell parts separately? Priceless.