gjm

Auto Super Shoppes are similarly priced. BNT are better but may not have the brand choice.

Got to go. Being out of work is more demanding than having a job. This was bought by us a year or so ago for Miss M to learn to drive in. All went well 'til she went off to Uni, and subsequently decided that driving a manual really wasn't her thing. So she has a 318Ti now. I've been driving this back and forth to work for some time. It's great. Really. Very economical, returning an easy 14-15km per litre. Yes, it is the M43 engine but I'm really enjoying driving it. Smooth, (seems) more torquey than the M44-powered 318Ti, very comfortable. It's had some sensible updates: 328i front discs and calipers, slightly lower suspension using Monroe shocks (fitted when we bought the car) and Eibach springs. And for looks, a set of rear lights with white indicator lenses. Just looks nicer, in my opinion. Service wise the cooling system has recently had all the work it needs - thermostat, hoses, pipes, and a new rad. As many on here will know, I'm fastidious about oil and filter changes and these have been done immediately after we got the car (didn't actually need it) and then every 6000km. Engine is sooo clean. All fluids were changed when we bought it - diff oil, gearbox, brake fluid, coolant, even the washer fluid. Now showing just under 260000km, with the last 60000 or so being almost entirely SH1. Certainly all long trips. Comfy black leather interior with no rips, splits, or burn holes. Pic of the drivers seat included: it's the most used part of the car. Only possibly significant issue (depending on your perspective) I am aware of is paintwork. The paint colour is Cordobarot and the drivers side front wing and the outside edge of the bonnet have lacquer peel (pic attached), and the lacquer has peeled from the sunroof. We had the rear bumper and rear arches sorted soon after we bought it. The previous owner got a little carried away with black plasti-dip, doing the grill and several other bits. We've been gradually peeling it away. The drivers' side rear door doesn't unlock on the remote. Probably an actuator issue, but it's easier to unlock manually from the inside than to pull the door apart. No fog light aperture covers in the lower front valance. LCA bushes replaced. WoF 'til early May 2018; will be sold with current rego. Will be sold on good, Style 18 rims with excellent (<5000km, 6mm+++) tyres. So - mechanically very good. Cosmetically - generally good, except a couple of areas that would benefit from some attention. I've seen some rough automatics advertised at $2500. We paid more than that (probably paid too much, to be fair), but that seems like as good a place to start as any other.

That'll be the Australia-based single provider?

Assuming they're all 'sensible' fitments, the narrower rims will allow a little more sidewall flex, meaning more comfort.

I was at work and thought I'd post the question while I remembered. No access to VINs at the time. That answers that. Thanks.

Hopefully a really quick question... To save me looking at the cars: are the rear shocks on an E36 318Ti different to the rear shocks on an E36 318i saloon?

Thanks Brent.

I'll see if I can get them done before you get an engine fitted. ( I suspect it'll be a close-run thing! )

That was partly why I was giving more serious consideration to the ultrasonic solution, or possibly soda blasting, assuming the finish on the bolts is OK. If they will need re-plating then the cleaning method becomes a little more academic.

Some oother forum members have used BMWorkshop in Grey Lynn:

Nope. You were absolutely right. For some reason I thought all the 'new' 6-series had F-series designations, but the early ones were E-series. I shall go and clean my split rim bolts one at a time, with wire wool, as penance.

I'd been considering these. Used to use one back in the UK - got it when a lab at the University closed down. A little larger than the benchtop ones you get for ~$60 - I could fit a full set of carbs from my GS1000 in it with loads of room to spare.

That'll be an F13, Pete...? I actually prefer the F06. It's the only 4-door 'coupe' I do like, though.

Supercheap want most of $100 for 4.5kg of media. I'm checking what a mineral supplies company wants for a 25kg sack. Wouldn't be surprised to find it is a similar price. Wear leather gloves, and always stand slightly to one side!

I'll look into that. Remember I mentioned the DIY soda blaster? I found a YouTube vid that shows almost exactly what I lashed together:

Happens to us all.

I'm refurbishing a set of 3-piece rims. It's going to be a long job - budget doesn't exist or I'd take them to Jas and have him do it. As it is, I've stripped them, and will have damage sorted before putting them back on the shelf waiting for inspiration, perspiration or a few $$$ to do more. The bolts are not tidy. They're damaged as such, but if they were chrome they've discoloured. I think Jas (and others would 'tumble' them, but is there any way for someone at home to clean them up, other than brushing and polishing 140 (or so) bolts by hand?

Give Brent a call at the number on his post, or send him an email.

And an Evo1 in the Netherlands - a relative bargain at £ 63900.

An Evo2 for sale in the US - 'just' € 175.000

A couple of minutes of 190E DTM goodness: 190E DTM (1992).mp4

I'd forgotten that Washington State is (literally) the opposite side of the country to DC! Issaquah, WA.

It's in Washington... Not going to be pursuing that one - aside from it being LHD, my comment was just a reflection on the difference in pricing. At some point though, once I get things sorted here, it may be interesting to explore the tax-free aspect.

The article offers a slightly unfair comparison. The real Mercedes 190E racecar started with this: Still obviously a 190E (as an E30 M3 is obviously an E30) but with the purposeful re-styling that sets it apart. In my mind, at least!