gjm

Thanks Ron. Konis would be my first choice - I prefer them to Bilsteins. I appreciate other folk feel differently. Good to hear the KYBs aren't complete rubbish. He'd be looking at the more-or-less OEM equivalent units, and not the G2s.

Anyone got any experience, good or bad, of KYB shocks? Looking to partner with Vogtland springs. Not for the 320d, just for a hopefully economic solution for someone who has little money and soggy bouncy bits.

Interesting pricing for GT tyres. GT Radial is owned by Giti Tire who have 8 manufacturing plants in Asia, and one under construction in the US. Maybe they'er selling cheap int he US to establish a foothold for the brand, and support the production from their US-based facility in the future? Whatever, it's a helluva mark-up somewhere for GT Radial tyres sold in NZ.

This is interesting...

Breaking Top Gear news: "The BBC has reportedly chosen a “dream team” of presenters for its new version of Top Gear, including former model Jodie Kidd. Life on Mars star Philip Glenister and Channel 4 presenter Guy Martin have also been approached for the new series, according to reports." <ahem> I'm sure I suggested Guy Martin...

I used some good car wash (no salt) stuff, and an old kitchen sponge/scourer. Loads of elbow grease (plenty in the cupboard, apparently.) Before: After: Far from perfect but a lot better. Would've been much easier with a spray, leave, and rinse solution!

So it has finished...?

Today I took the 320d out for a coffee and to meet some of it's peers. Talked to some folk about possibly filling another car-sized space in the drive. Got home, thoroughly cleaned some Style 73s, wired up some excellent lights for the garage, and scored brownie points with Mrs M by buying baskets for firewood. And chopping wood to go into said baskets. The sun shone. The coffee was great, and so was the company. And I achieved something. It's been a good day.

Is it over yet? Who won?

The 228 isn't a cheap tyre and the Hankooks would be cheaper. (I've seen 228s advertised at over $190.) Definitely the right thing to do though, getting them to sort it. I suspect they will insist on arranging supply and fit of th new tyres, so straight financial restitution, leaving you to choose your tyres, is unlikely. You may be able to persuade them to fit something else if you feel so inclined, but I don't think the GTs are inappropriate. There may be better, but there is (almost) always better.

Similarly, I got 4x 205/50-16 Hankook H457s for $120 each plus $15 fitting from Tyre Depot in Mangere.

We had GT Champiros on the E46 when we first got it. they were OK. Not great, not bad. Just - OK. Hankooks are better. IMO.

I'd always thought a 225 to be too wide for a 7" rim (which is what I need a tyre for) but my trusty "what size rim should I use" calculator reckons it'd be nigh-on perfect. That said - Triangles... Hmm. Not sure about them. No matter as it looks like they're sold now. I can get a new Pirelli P6 for $100, but a better match would be a near-new Michelin MX4. The asking on that is $150 or so though, so I'll make an offer.

What looks to have been a (rare?) manufacturing defect in a Michelin tyre was the cause of the problem experienced where I found an appallingly unsafe tyre on our car - an inspection shows that while the tyre did lose pressure, it did so after the construction had broken down and the tyre deformed. This wasn't a newly fitted tyre and it is entirely possible that the issues happened as a result of bad storage, bad fitting, or something else. Whatever, we drove ~10000km on it before finding the issue, so expecting any sort of refund would imo be unreasonable. However, it means I need a new tyre. Anyone got something suitable, preferably another Michelin with 6mm+ tread?

Completely ignoring Troy's suggestion I've been planning preventative maintenance and checking what to do in the event of a problem. Something which is quite common, especially it seems with the 5L40e, is torque converter chatter. This feels like a bumpy road when the road is (unusually, perhaps) not at fault. I'd been looking at ATF additives with distinct cynicism as if ATF is so thin, how can adding something to it really help? I found details of Lubegard's "Dr Tranny's Instant Shudder Fixx", a name which gives some cause for concern. However, those who've used it seem to think it is pretty good. You can buy it on TradeMe for about $45 a tube (from what I've seen you may need two), or from Amazon for about US $5 (plus shipping). ATPNZ appear to distribute in NZ. There's others. Has anyone used anything and have any reports?

White E46 Touring, seen several times in Karaka on our school run - reg INDCNT. Apologies to the owner if they're on here - I promise I've not been ignoring you!

Fluid and filter change should sort it. Lifetime fills are complete and utter rubbish. (Unless lifespan is severely curtailed in some way...) That said, autoboxes do have a lifespan. There are many reports of the GM 5L40e (BMW A5S360R) failing at under 200,000 miles (320,000km) so ours is very much on borrowed time. The only time we had any problems with it was after having the fluid drained and replaced - I specifically stated I did not want a flush, but I have my suspicions about what was done, and some serious reservations about the quality of the work. So I'm doing it again. If you want a job doing properly...

You walk up to a guy at a classic car market who doesn’t have a clue what sort of a rusted out BMW he’s selling in banana boxes. It’s 1989. The Berlin Wall is still standing, but doesn't look as strong as it once did, so you make the purchase in hope of a brighter future. Obviously. You might be crazy, but Helmut Schlosser is crazier. Not only did he buy a six-cylinder BMW without having all the pieces (or a manual) in those boxes, but he also kept going after realizing the scale of the job, which took the better part of the next decade. But it is a 303, the very first BMW with the kidney grill. It’s the kind of thing that drives normally sane men mad. 1,700 hours and a trip to Switzerland later, he finally turned the key and pushed the starter button.

Oh, boy. Campbell - did you advertise it here first?

Forgot to mention. Another oil and oil filter change at the weekend.

Nice-looking car. rims are too big, imo, but they can be changed. May get interesting if things start going wrong!

Good call. The sun is over the yardarm, somewhere.

If a car isn't on the approved list, it can be admitted at the discretion of the organisers. List here. At the end of the season, the rules state the organiser can purchase any participants 2k cup racecar for $2500. So, pile $10k into your car, and you could lose it. Anyone exhibiting a distinct advantage will be inspected and either handicapped, or withdrawn from the series. The main factor is one of power-to-weight ratio, but with a maximum engine power output quoted in the rules. (I don't know how they invigilate this.) There's more. Rules here.

Up to $2k, but preferably less. We missed a fairly rough-looking but solid and rust-free E30 318 manual (M10 engine), but may be looking at an E36 318is coupe this weekend. Manual is very much preferred - we'd like her to learn to drive properly! If she then decides she wants an auto that's fine, but she'll not be restricted in the future. Mechanical work is acceptable, but significant bodywork not so much (unless the price is right).

It's more than we can afford at present, but does seem the going rate for a decent E30 now. Hoping to look at an E36 this weekend.