gjm

The bushes have the alignment marks - it was the housings I was wondering about. I think they all have marks too, regardless of what car they are intended for. I've not pressed and refit bushes for years, either!

Not the image I meant to post! This one: Although the V8 looks a lot tidier!

Looks like it fits... Actually, looks like there's plenty of room!

I was thinking of an E30...

E36 front lower control arm rear bushes - the ones in the 'lollipops'. Does the base model (318i, like ours) have an arrow on the casting to show alignment position for the bushes, in the same way the M3 does? I think it does - I think the lollipop is a common part and it is only the bush which is different.

It's true - there are some truly good folks at both Repco and SCA. In my recent experience, they're the girls. They have encyclopaedic knowledge of parts and specifications, and if they don't know the answer, they do know where to go to find it. They drive some nice cars, too. Certainly wouldn't catch them saying "it's all the same"...

Standing in SCA looking for a fuel filter for a genset and heard staff say to customer "they're all the same, just different brands". He was talking about engine oil.

PM'd. Good home guaranteed.

Our A4 B5 Quattro Avant was an all-round capable car. Not an ultimate driving machine but nice to drive, comfortable, good feel and handling. As manufacturers have made our driving experience 'safer', they've taken away the things that drivers actually enjoy.

Here's a much less usual one:

Do you need a SUV? There's a 2008 530i M Sport Touring on TradeMe with an asking price of just under $11k. Seats lots of people, lots of space, could be a better 'drive' than an older X5? (I've not driven either so that is speculation.)

My bad. Still, a lot better than compression testing.

Leak down test has the advantage that you don't need to run the engine, or even turn it over more than once (if you're careful).

Option 812, which this car has, is the 'UK version'. And Carjam says it was imported from the UK. Could have stopped off in Oz on the way over, of course. You did ask for our thoughts. As you say - it's worth what a buyer will pay.

I think I'm sorted. Thanks.

I've found that BMW (and probably Audi) seem to use some less usual sizes - 16mm and 18mm are two of them.

If I read correctly, this was a 320i automatic imported to NZ from the UK. A live rego is worth something, certainly. A coupe shell is equally worth something. No mention of interior, condition or anything else. I feel it's more likely worth a few $00 rather than a few $000, but as I have a rust-free E30 coupe rolling shell, I'll be happy to be wrong.

I have pics of the Z5 somewhere - same sort of camo as the M8. For those who really want something different, how about this? New 8-series ute, anyone?

Awesome.

The air intakes for the cooling system were just behind the rear doors. Not especially attractive, but necessary - apparently 16 cylinders in the engine bay didn't leave room for minor considerations like a radiator.

That's the engine. In an E32.

Following the Tourings that BMW *didn't* make... thread, perhaps it would be interesting to see some of the other cars that BMW worked on and developed but perhaps didn't quite make it to production. This one would have been nice.

At the recent WoF, the inspector suggested checking the front wishbone lower rear bushes before the next WoF. There was a little play - nothing much but what in a UK MoT test would be called an advisory. So I'm looking for the parts. In the diagram below, the bush is part no.5, but the easy solution is to buy a combined part 4+5. I can import from the US or UK for the equivalent of about $100, but does anyone here have a pair in the shed, garage or elsewhere they're keen to part with? (It's early evening - I've not tried anywhere in NZ yet.)

The important thing to remember is that the 320d has far better performance without a massive drop in economy, when compared to the 318i. If I get stuck in traffic - not uncommon - then the economy of the 318i takes a big hit. The 320d less so. Equally, spirited back road driving in the 320d sees economy drop to (say) 8l/100km, while the 318i will want 11, 12 or more. The economy argument applies in one specific situation, the one where I am able to drive at a constant speed for some distance. For the use I'm making of the car, that is relevant, For most people, it probably won't be.