gjm

Seems a bit odd. However, early and late (M10/M40) radiators are very different. So the ad saying 316i/318i could easily be correct although perhaps not providing all the information. BMW p/n suggest E36 rads are different again, but it's quite possible they'll fit, in the later E30s at least.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=1566968692 OK - it's unlikely to sell for that, but no reserve and $1 start gives someone a chance to pick up what could be a good car for very little money.

Nice car, but easily $5k over priced. Still, a buyer could pay $20k and feel they got a great deal. It's not a M325i though - it's a 325i with M Sports suspension, M Sports steering wheel, Mtech bodykit , and shadowline exterior trim (from the factory). KMs are fairly high, especially for the price, but they should all be NZ KMs. Definitely worth checking for paint and bodywork repairs/changes. Probably will be desirable in years to come, especially given E30 M3 asking prices are going a bit stratospheric.

I'd love to, but this.

It's the one I txted you about a short while ago - p/n 16117165590. I've had to wait for some money to come in to be able to get on with it. (The link says it is the RME version, but they're all the same (in this application). Absolutely.

Prices in NZ (again...) Pricing up a fuel pump. Genuine BMW: $7xx + GST. OK, associated BMW 'tax' and so on, immediate availability. Search online and find a selection of suitable offerings from Bosch, Pierburg, Magnetti Marelli... Depending on where you look, Bosch up to £150, Pierburg up to £100, and MM from £50. I've never had a problem with MM kit and the price is attractive, but let's see what I can find in NZ. Armed with more than 100 alternative part numbers - this pump is used on literally hundreds of vehicles and available from perhaps a dozen manufacturers - I start calling 'round. I've given up. Pretty much everyone is more expensive than BMW. The Bosch part I eventually found for £95 plus shipping (about £40 for 5-day delivery from the UK, so a total of less than $300, delivered) I also found (identical part) in NZ for $850+GST. 10% discount for trade. I know there are costs attached to getting stuff to NZ, and holding stock (I'd happily wait while one was brought in, if necessary) but this is ridiculous. Easily 3x the price of the exact same item sourced overseas. I'll be waiting a few days, but my conscience is clear. I tried to buy locally, but NZ has priced itself out of the market.

Pic for those that like them or don't know what an ECU looks like.

Originally bought for Mrs M's 320i coupe when we were back in the UK, so more than 5 years ago. Never fitted or used. @charles28 was getting one (see thread linked below) - I've not dug further to see what results he got, but when I bought it from E30Zone, there were good reports. OK - not going to turn a 320i (or 520i) into S54 killer, but it does enhance what you've got. (Be sure to service your car correctly, and use good fuel.) Price was ~$75 back then; how does $50 sound for a sensible improvement? See here for previous thread:

OK... Update. But don't get excited. Had an interview in the Auckland CBD for contract. (I swore I'd not do a contract, or work in the Auckland CBD, but beggars cannae be choosers.) Interview went well. Feedback was "I'm sure I could work well with Graham. He obviously has a lot of experience that would be useful." Then today... Nope. Decided to explore some other candidates. OK. That happens. But some feedback is always useful. Sadly on this occasion, the feedback is not useful... "He lives so far away." (They've employed people who fly up from Queenstown, work Mon-Fri, then fly back.) "I'm worried he might get bored." Eh? "There's one or two people he might not get on with." Out of 150... After over 20 years doing this sort of thing, I sincerely doubt it'd be a problem. Oh well. That one is a bust. I've other applications I'm waiting to hear on, from New Plymouth to Gisborne, Havelock and Whakatane, and north to Auckland.

Listening to this in prep for daughter's trip to go and see her play.

The row of lights - green, amber, red - advises when BMW thinks a routine service is required; we fastidious owners don't wait for the service indicator and rely on generally shorter intervals. Using the car is normally sufficient to re-charge the batteries, keeping the service indicator lights working. If (when) the batteries fail, the service indicator lights don't illuminate. Not such an issue, but it can mean the tacho and other gauges also stop working or become erratic.

Call Paul at MillAnd. He may not have stock, but he'll be much, much cheaper (and probably faster) than it sounds BMW would be.

I had a M635CSi many years ago - they were rated as 'future classic' and considered desirable even then. Prices for them have climbed, but not in the same way as the M5s or similar. The M635CSi is/was a complex and expensive beast, even when compared to the M5. Z8s have just taken off for the stratosphere, price wise. I recall seeing them with 6-figure price tags at Essen 10 years ago. Of them all, I'd take a Z4. Any Z4. Yes, an M would be nice, but not necessary for a great and fun driving experience.

Jon at Auto38 (in Masterton) sells rebuilt odos. I have a few here that I plan to sort (the not working aspect is very common) but haven't got around to sorting yet.

(Apologies if you did this!) Did you ensure you got the correct gears? There are two types of odo - Motometer, and VDO. The fascia of the dash isn't sufficient as it is possible (and not uncommon) to replace the entire odo unit with a working one, so a Motometer odo could be found in a VDO-labelled dash. And vice versa.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but a lot of people use Facebook. I suggest this might be a good place to collate those specifically-BMW groups that can be useful... (Not the Euro pages, for example). E30 Owners NZ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/e30ownersnz/?ref=br_rs E30 Car Club NZ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/935587709854090/?ref=br_rs E30 Classifieds NZ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1293538293995670/?ref=br_rs

I admin this one - it's the E30 Classifieds NZ group.

I'm sure they're lovely inside, and probably good to drive. I just can't get over the hideous looks, and the memory of an owner who had one 'because it's really expensive and no-one else can afford it.' Seriously. Prize cock, that guy...

Not this one? 612hp, 1000Nm torque... Not sure I'd want to work on it at home.

We found Thames OK... Almost everything you need is there, although the only large supermarket is Pak'n'Save (if that sort of thing is important). There's all the usual amenities - cinema, pubs/bars, restaurants, DIY, car parts... But it's not Auckland. TBH, we found Thames too busy for us! But we're confirmed country folk these days.

I'm happy to have a look and see what I can do. I've had some success with buying suspension direct form Germany. Your biggest issues are: Source taxation Shipping costs NZ (local) taxation

Checking a few details of annual charges for rego on some of our fleet, reveals some 'interesting' details. 1990 325i - $117.77 1995 318i - $99.02 1997 318Ti - $76.91 2002 320d - $155.69 OK - the diesel carries a surcharge (which could be argued about given the whole diesel car taxation bundled with commercial vehicles situation) but I really can't see why the two 318-engined cars should be different! The Ti actually has a larger engine, but is cheaper on rego. Of course, it's not helped when looking to renew online:

IE do some good kit. Check locally first... It may be cheaper to have something made in NZ. The parts shipped from IE will be NZ $550+ before you receive it.

I've been working on a list today.

OK - they have said 'no'. Turns out the 'interview' prep I was given by the agent was substantially inaccurate - "it's not an interview, it's just a chat to see if you could work together" - and having just 20 minutes on the phone doesn't leave much time to recover when you realise that's the case. Apparently my leadership style isn't what they are looking for: I was told they look for a 'carrot' rather than 'stick' approach and despite it being just a chat, briefly described that. The interview ended before I could recover my position but I emailed, expressing thanks for the interviewers time and offering to more fully describe my leadership style (something I knew was necessary). No reply, other than via the agent to say my leadership style was 'too friendly' and that a stronger approach would be needed. I don't thin the agent even realised he was contradicting himself. I asked the agent to follow up and he all-but refused, saying it'd not make any difference. The call - chat, interview - is my responsibility, but I can't help feeling a little misled. I will follow up, but don't know if it'll go anywhere. In the meantime... Anyone know anything about Gisborne as an area to live?