gjm

This build of E30s (and other German cars of that age) is a factor. Many cars from Japan of that era feel like they're made of tin foil and tissue paper.

That's really quite nice.

Stripping underseal off the black Ti racecar this weekend. It's an opportunity to learn about the E36 - that's a car I've never worked on in the past.

I suspect I'd be paying for everything, although if she has a car she has no excuses for needing a lift to work! Manual is definitely first choice. The Merc is an auto, the 320d has selectable auto. She'll get experience of all three.

Oh, there's no insistence on a BMW! Thought this might be the right place to ask about them though... ;-) Lots of other things being considered. Japanese cars I'm less happy with (although I appreciate there are plenty of people feel the same about European ones) as I just don't know anything about them. I'm going to be the one who gets the call: "Da-ad....? The car is running funny..." And I'm the one who will have to fix it. My only real experience of Japanese cars was when a heater stopped working in my sister's car. Take chassis number, pay a fortune for a replacement, get home again, pull entire dash to pieces to get to the motor and find... It doesn't fit. Turns out there were 7 slightly different motors fitted, with slightly different fittings, and the only way to be sure was to 'bring your old one in mate'. Just how do you do that when half the inside of the car is missing? OK - that's perhaps an unusual situation, I don't know. But you can imagine it leaves a pretty bad impression. And I know the same can be true of European cars - Fiats, anyone?

If an E30... Then the M10 or the M40? (Of course, there's always the E28 518 option with an M10, too.)

That's what her boyfriend is getting - Mk2 2-door, 1600...

I saw that. More than Dad can afford to spend at the moment, but it is a cool little car. I'm keen to stay on a 4-pot for her first car if possible. I know where there is a SA 325i manual going cheap, but... I entirely understand, and it is something I am bearing in mind.

I'm on the look out for a first car for Miss M. She really (really, really) likes the E30, and a perfect world would see a cheap poverty-spec 316 or 318 manual pop up for sale at just the right time. Mechanical stuff I'll sort - bodywork I'm more wary of. Early 4-pots were the M10 and I confess to leaning towards one of those. As far as I can tell, it's robust and simple. The M40 is a later engine and I've heard some bad stories about them, enough to again have me favour the M10. Early days. And I appreciate the E30 is very popular among those who drive as quickly as possible in circles at the weekend. Of course, the E36s are becoming cheaper. Not quite so simple as far as I can tell, but not necessarily too complex either. I'm not as keen and feel the build quality isn't as good, especially the interior. Lots of tales of door cards falling off, saggy roof lining, dodgy plastics, and more. An E46 is (again) more complex, and I suspect likely to be out of budget. That said, I've seen a couple needing some work sell for around $500 recently. If I had my way, I'd probably opt for the E28 for her, but Mrs M feels that is too big, and the engine too powerful. <rolls eyes>

That didn't take long! A forum populated by scavengers and vultures... Yeah - I'm just disappointed I was on my way to work and not online! Andrew - thanks for your generosity.

Will do.

I'd be a lot more tempted if I could afford it!

Another Compact destined for the track. This one is a strictly unofficial, grass roots, low budget, collaborative project and will be featured on the Race Cars In Sheds (RCIS) Facebook page. It's planned to run in the BMW Open 2 litre class. Currently a road car (albeit one with some issues) details will be shared on Facebook and I'm happy to update here too, if that appeals. The car: Nothing much to get excited about, but the aim is to keep it cheap, and have fun.

Slightly used. Here

It's on TM. You can find it. I bid $1, but someone has outbid me!

Even my 190E has covered 230000+++

Not really. Our car has done 100,000 more, and in 15 years less. Brent's car has been quite a bit further still. Only concern for me is the lack of rego... And how long has it been sitting?

This is pretty much what I thought. And this is where a tester is prepared to differentiate between a safe and roadworthy car, and one which complies with the letter of the testing manual. Thanks guys.

Not for the E46!!! I was having a chat with a guy earlier today who had a very nice-looking E36 coupe. He was picking up some bits'n'pieces before heading home to fit angel eyes and black-tinted indicator lenses. Got me thinking... Are these actually legal for a WoF? The black lenses show orange when the indicators are used, of course.

My experience with glass-fitting companies in the UK is similar. Typically, the larger ("we've got all the glass for everyone") companies have aftermarket, non-genuine, or second glass which they will fit. They'll tell you anything to get the business - "this car didn't come with a top tint as standard, so we can't fit a top tint" is typical. The staff are good and friendly, and often know the limitations they are working under. They'd like to do better, but head office economics mean they don't get the opportunity. Insurance companies don't help as they are looking for the cheapest solution, and that won't be genuine glass from the manufacturer.

I confess - I like the 73s. I feel they are classy. The ACS IIs are great, but perhaps just a teensy bit (and it is the teensiest tiniest bit) boy racer. If the 73s were 8, or even 7.5 wide, with a touch more offset, then there would be absolutely no contest. That'd be something like a Style 160, then. Except an 8x17 et34 may be getting a bit marginal and perhaps could rub, especially on the front? It's only 4mm different to the ACS rims, but it is more offset. (We've not had any issues at all with the ACS rims fitted.)

Your Dad will be one of those people who manages to go downhill. Everywhere.

^ Damn. That's more expensive! Lol This was something that had occurred to me but the seemingly correct bounce characteristics took my eye off the shocks. It is a relatively recent slight 'settling' on one side, and after 440000km (most on the same NZ roads) replacing suspension probably isn't unreasonable. I was also thinking about spring pads yesterday evening. Mercedes have a fairly wide range of these and I was wondering if BMW did the same. Thanks.

I've written off the idea of fitting M3 bouncy bits to a non-M3... As far as I can tell, it cold work, but it's too uncertain to take the chance. The next best option, from my perspective and to ensure I don't buy old and knackered kit, is to look at something like the H&R Touring kit. The shocks on our E46 look fine and bounce correctly, so it is likely that the springs have become 'tired'. The economic option is to buy a set of the H&R springs which will give a 35/20mm front/rear drop in ride height. The stock shocks should be able to cope with that, and I'll change them later. What I was hoping to find out is the 'look' this will give (I've not found found any pictures that help) and comparing to M-sport kit seemed an alternative place to start.

OK... Scrap that. Anyone know the difference in ride height between stock E46 suspension and M-spec?