gjm

Not really worth it... Not because of the engine size, but because of the engine design. You can turbo it but it doesn't respond particularly well to that. The M43 is a solid, reliable, economical and simple engine but doesn't really tune in the same way the M42 or even M40 (for example) does. Crunchy knocked up a M42 turbo which was a success by most accounts - more power, and more economy. Have a look here.

A lot depends on what you're after. Parts for newer BMWs do tend to be expensive in NZ, and importing can be cheaper but will incur taxes and so on. For a performance exhaust it may be more economic to talk to someone like Mike at Sinco in Hamilton. (There are other people who will custom-make an exhaust... This is one that I've used and comes readily to mind.)

320d has a new battery. Forgot to mention that. I think. Today... And all to fit the shiny bit in the lower right of the picture.

IE do a 25mm hollow front say bar which combined with the M3-type strut tabs and raised mounting position should keep the car flat. You'll need to upgrade mounting points (additional bracing), suspension generally and certainly tyres.

In Thames, Sunday 5th Feb.

My first BMW - an E21 323i manual in Turmalingrun metallic with gold BBS rims. Might send a text asking for more info...

Your description is correct. Prices are now ridiculous, if you can find one. They can be repaired... This - http://www.ebay.com/itm/351427894250 - isn't cheap, but could be cheaper than buying an undamaged dash.

Waved goodbye to the white E30 rolling shell.

If we're all quite honest, the seller isn't asking more than it's worth. Her mechanic quoting $2k - fair enough. But the scramble that seems to be occurring with people offering instant $2k, unseen, tells you what a mad place the market for E30s is at present. I do like the comments!

Appears to be fixed - I received an email notification of a PM this morning.

Seems to be working.

I think these are broke again.

At the moment (and there are exceptions) it seems that those near Auckland typically travel further and/or longer than those anywhere else in the country. I was going to say that was to be expected, but is it, really? We know why, but unless you live here it is more likely to come as a surprise.

Check with Charlie - Euro V8.

Bugger. Sorry. I have the weekend and plan to have some time off next week. According to RealOEM, p/n 51331386987 is the one that fits my car, and it's also used in the Tourings. (And sedans, verts...)

I agree - a long commute is not a good thing. It's a tough call... Should I look at the long commute and (hopeful) remote working, or settle for buying a house we're not going to be so happy in, but means I spend less time travelling? I think the solution is to suck up the commute for now, and find alternative employment that will mean less time in the car.

Bit OT, but it's my thread! Mercedes responded in 2000 with the OM628 - a 4.0 V8. This was superceded by the OM629 in 2010 which made up to 400hp and 900Nm of torque, and was developed further for use as an aircraft engine. Mercedes also produced V10, V12, V16 and V20 diesels.

I'm fortunate that I don't work in central Auckland and only have to go as far as Papatoetoe. That doesn't stop the 'trial by SH1' being particularly annoying, especially on the way home. It's bad in the morning, but seemingly regardless of time, it's worse in the evening. There's no way around it. The train would be good and I'd be keen to use it, but there's no train from the south into Manukau. I know of some people who live in Paeroa and work in the Auckland CBD. They leave Paeroa around 6.30, and get the train from Papakura into the CBD.

These days, I work to live. There was a time when extra hours at work, working weekends and so on were normal, and what I expected, but you soon realise no-one compliments you for doing it, and no-one goes to their retirement wishing they had worked more hours. It's trying to ensure that quality of life when not at work that is causing the problem. We simply can't do it without living further away. At least, not the sort of life we want (which I appreciate may well differ to what many other people would be looking for).

The reason for my asking is to do with our continued house hunt. House prices... Blah, blah, blah. We've been there, done that. The conventional way to move up the property ladder is to buy a house, live in it and add value for a few years, move on, and so on. That certainly works when you're in your 20s or 30s, but it's less practical when you're old and frail... Or even just in your late 40s. So, to get anything close to what we'd like to have, we need to look further afield and I could easily be looking at a 1.5 hour commute. I'm fortunate - my work means I can sometimes work from home, or possibly even just work 4 longer days each week. That journey time will come down a little once the SH1 work around Huntly and north of Te Kauwhata is completed, but that's obviously going to be a while yet. Not ideal. And I would love to be able to cycle to work! Can't see that happening. I might be able to buy the house, then change jobs and work somewhere a little closer to home though... For comparison, when in the UK I knew people who were travelling up to 3 hours each way to get to work. Why? Similar reasons... A combination of the (home) lifestyle they wanted, and the lack of availability of affordable housing close to where they worked.

6.58L/100km. Is this unusually economical?

Not a Touring. Lol. Like I could afford to buy one, let alone run it, anyway!

And... Sold.

This is a problem I'm sure a lot of people have to deal with - we have. It continues... Miss M starts Uni next month, but will want to come home at weekends or we might look at moving to Taranaki.

Distance, and time. How far is it? How long does it take? I currently drive 60km each way, with a Google maps estimated journey time of 45 minutes. Of course, it has taken me 40 minutes to get from Papatoetoe to Papakura on occasion... When discussing where we might move to, some people at work were shocked by the distance I currently travel. Then they realised that their journeys took at least as long, despite teh distance being very much shorter.