gjm

One that's not pouring with rain and blowing a gale? Probably not Monday, but other than that I think we're OK. Send me a PM and let me know what suits you.

I did ours. Twice. Because the first FSR I was supplied turned out to be a Chinese one. (No names, no pack drill.) That was replaced and then installed a 'real' one - no problems since. I found it an almighty PITA job, trying to squeeze myself upside down in the drivers footwell under the steering wheel, but it did give me a reason to buy a set of Torx T-bars. Maybe it gets easier with practice? Glenn (Botany MotorWorx) and Ray (HellBM) both assured e it was easy, but I suspect they've done a few before.

Heads are so easily turned by a pretty ankle...

If you'd like to head south over the weekend - weather permitting - you're welcome to come and have a look. I think I have all the wiring you'd need but it's going to take a bit of sorting.

I may be able to help - I have a M10B18 (with dizzy) and I'm planning to go distributor-less, running a crank trigger and aftermarket EMS. It'll be a couple of days before I get a real chance to check what is there - work is absolutely flat out this week until close of play on Thursday evening. And I'm pretty local - Te Kauwhata. I work in Papatoetoe so if we come to an arrangement, getting bits to you shouldn't be too much of a chore.

That's a lot of unsprung weight... According to Realoem, p/n 34106887398 (395x36) weighs in at 17.55kg.

I'll give it a go. Thanks.

E36 drivers door... I've had some problems with the lock for a week or two (the key might unlock the door, but often wouldn't; no remote locking), but unlocking from the passenger side, leaning across and unlocking the drivers door hasn't been enough of a chore to make it an urgent fix. Until yesterday when leaning across and lifting the knob didn't work. It doesn't unlock. Can't open the door from the outside, or the inside. Grip the lock knob and lift, and you can feel it lift against something; release it and feel it pulled down. Almost like there's a small elastic band on the bottom of it. So the door is locked, and cannot be opened. I have managed to get the door card off without destroying it (and the foam-type liner). The window works. However, it's impossible to see anything that might be useful - it's all hidden inside the door, behind sheet metal. I think the actuator has decided to call it a day, but I've not had quite this sort of experience. There's always been a mechanical way to unlock the door, but not this time. Lifting the locking pin knob achieves nothing - there is absolutely no sense of anything happening. So... Tips, tricks and ways to sort this? Right now I'll settle for just being able to get the door open and closed!

Just as a matter of passing interest I was looking at the specs for the new Merc S-Class. Aside form forgetting how to build a car that goes from 0-100km/h in more than 5 seconds (leaving the diesel version aside), they appear to have emptied the Mercedes factory dining room when sorting the brakes. 360mm brake discs. At the back...

That's happened a lot lately. I've spent far too much time working, and when I'm not... It's raining.

The 30-something driver of teh white X5 that pirouetted of the road in front of me last night was unlucky. Or maybe the other drivers motoring along like it was a bright and sunny afternoon were lucky? Torrential rain. Spray. Poor visibility. Standing water. Dark. Line of cars travelling at 80-90km/h but that wasn't fast enough. Came tearing past me on the inside, pulled into the outside lane. My spidey senses were tingling so I backed waaay off and then - the left hand indicator of the X5 comes on, so he's pulling back to the inside lane? Then a twitch from the back of the X5. Hmm. Then a wriggle. And then I could see the side of the X5. He'd hit a patch of standing water, perhaps while making his lane change, possibly while accelerating. A big ol' Merc handles water quite well so I was able to slow while watching the graceful rotation of the X5 as it gently spun off the side of the road and down, well out of harms way. As I started the thread about BMW drivers it seemed appropriate to post this, but in fairness that driver was far from alone - so many people in a huge hurry with no regard for the road and weather conditions. It was probably a combination of big fat tyres, standing water, and an ill-advised manœuvre that was his undoing. No one was hurt, but one of the attending police officers was preparing a lengthy lecture on 'driving to the conditions' when I left.

It could be that I identified a BMW driver in this instance because I am familiar with BMWs. That said, I've owned and drive a lot of cars over the years and I'd never really made the same distinction. Of course, this one was particularly evident as he was in front of me, behind me, alongside me, cutting me up, throwing rubbish from his car while in front of me... And I wasn't having a great day so I just fancied a good moan. So there.

I have no doubt this will be a lot of fun to drive, if a slightly detached driving experience (rather like another manufacturers V12 twin-turbo luxury saloon from - say it quietly! - nearly 15 years ago). "The V12-engine combines two turbochargers to deliver a maximum output of 448 kW at engine speeds of between 5,250 and 6,000 rpm, propelling the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds. At the same time it’s incredibly fuel-efficient thanks to High-Precision Injection, consuming just 12.6 litres of fuel per 100 km with CO2 emissions of 299 g/km." I doubt it consumes 12.6l/100km while travelling from 0-100 in 3.7s! Yeah... OK. I'm being pedantic. I think it is a car I would prefer to be driven in, rather than drive, but without either experience that is pure conjecture. More info here.

I followed a black 745Li this morning. Dark tinted windows, big plastidipped wheels (maybe 19s, with peeling), scabby-looking tyres with well-scrubbed sidewalls, slammed, bouncy suspension, loud exhaust, broken near side mirror, and a driver who threw rubbish out of the window on to the road - looked like a Bundaberg bottle cap. Y'know - the pull ring type. Change lanes without indicating, accelerate hard (loud exhaust) before swapping lanes at traffic lights (no indicator), then sit with arm dangling out the window holding a cigarette. At least there wasn't evidence of a multi-MW stereo playing music for the whole neighbourhood to hear!

Should be fine. Vapour blasting is non-abrasive, and non-destructive. If bits are missing after vapour blasting, it's because they were rotten/rusted or corroded before blasting. Vapour blasting is suitable for aluminium, bronze, magnesium, titanium, brass, copper... It gently cleans the surface returning it (as close as possible) to how it was the day it was cast or machined.

I know vapour and media blasting yield different results, but can a single cabinet be used for both? What differences / changes in equipment would be needed?

What was it Olaf was saying about it being good to have a spare car? Mrs M would love driving this. Just that little matter of $9k...

Drop the front by 25mm and the wheels would look better. Nice car. Not sure it is worth $9k, but as I don't have $9k to spend that could just be sour grapes.

My apologies - my lack of E30-specific coilover, or BC, knowledge. I've used coilovers before on other cars, but it's been a case of unbolt various bits, and bolt up again. I didn't realise that with an E30 it's necessary to cut the original struts and weld to the new parts: I doubt it's something that's unique to the E30, but I've not heard of it before. (DIY coilovers is another matter!) While in the UK I worked on a tarmac rally E30 which had AST suspension. I don't recall any welding having been done to fit the front kit, but wasn't looking for it. That car had more than it's share of beautifully machined custom parts, too. From the sound of things you know what you're doing. I found this link which may be useful?

I've got to ask - why not buy something designed for the E30 in the first place? If you got these for $5 and can do the work yourself then there's an economic argument, but that's about it. I don't like Scarles and don't rate them, but as has been said on another thread, they'll do coilovers - new - for about $1k.

With some of the rain we've had lately, they'd be very handy!

I believe someone hereabouts is already taking a good, long look at this. (Not me! Although that person did bring it to my attention. :) )

I've had some recent problems locating Konis at good prices. They do exist and would be my preferred solution. Bilstein B12s are a readily available kit ex-Germany. The part number is E90-20-004-04-22. Check prices here in NZ first.

Do any E36s or E46s, other than the wagons/estate cars, have a folding rear seat? In a sedan/saloon or coupe?

Bilstein B12 kit (Bilstein B8 shocks/struts and Eibach springs), or a Koni/H&R set-up.