gjm

2 hours ago, deedub said:

Just got off the phone with Greg from Greg Hantz Autos in Hamilton. Booked in with them. Was happy for me to supply parts. Super friendly.

Thanks @gjm for the recommendation. Tracked down an old post last year where I was asking for recommendations for local BMW specialists around my way. You recommended Greg.

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.

12 minutes ago, Toksis said:

I want to replace my valve cover gasket n46 ? Where can you buy erling here in nz? Or can i use permaseal? Thanks

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.

43 minutes ago, deedub said:

Just noticed that my coolant reservoir cap on my 98 E36 318is has a 1.4 bar cap. Checked real oem and it should be 2.0 bar. Trying to understand if there's a reason PO would intentionally replace with lower pressure cap. May have just been the best option available.

Does anyone know if there are benefits to 1.4 over 2.0? Or if it even matters much?

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.

20 hours ago, MD13 said:

Saw this pop up. I get it - low k's perhaps single owner but also auto 318? Not a lot of desire from me.

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.

On 1/25/2025 at 4:59 PM, deedub said:

I think the 1k is the purchase price. Shipping is taxed only if purchase is over 1k.

Best to give some room. But they have periods where they lock in rates which can help.

https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import/customs-exchange-rates/

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.

2 hours ago, euroriffic said:

That explains why I’ve had an Order from ECS stuck in Auckland for the last 10 days...

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.

21 hours ago, e30ftw said:

All the younger kids are jumping onto the E8X and E9X chassis. Even some long time E30 owners I've noticed have decided to sell on and move on to something else.

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