smudger

Went for a drive down to Kaikoura last week, here's a couple of IPhone pics

Whoops, my punctuation was not very good there. Not trying to say people with people movers are clowns.

Just that people movers with car seats often have babies or small kids travelling in them, which from my experience can lead to damage to neighbouring cars.

The kids do need restraining with the doors it must be said, but all good so far

Was sat in a pub garden overlooking the car park , woman comes out and gets into her great big Jaguar. Backs out of the space and straight into a Mini opposite, huge bang.

So she gets out, checks the back of the Jag for damage and then drives off! Mini has broken lights, dented panels damaged paint. Unbelievable. Luckily we got the reg. no. To give the Mini owner when they came out, gave witness statement to insurance company and police.

Doesn't matter where you park, there is always some clown who will batter your car. Avoid people movers with car seats at all costs.

Well i guess that makes me a clown then given i have a people mover with car seats in it - to keep the M3 company, and take the kids to school, pick them up again, go to the supermarket.....and i also park as far away as possible from everyone

Stunning example, i remember this on trademe, very clean, great score....i prefer hard-top but definetly admire a well kept ver!!

Yes, i was surprised it didnt sell when it was on TradeMe. Assume it was a combo of maybe the initial price, the colour and a vert.

Have had to clear the garage out though as the birds seemed to find it irresistible for target practice in the carport ! Not fans of violet i guess.

And it is awesome and i love the colour too.....i have two mates with M3s, an E30 and an E46 and only one of them has made the hairdressers car comment so far. When i posted a little while back for feedback on this vs an E46 there was some suggestion to go with a hardtop instead. But for us ( and me even more so ) this is perfect !

Hopefully that's famous rather than infamous ..... and why ? It was at an Auckland dealer off and on for the past 6 months or so.

I recently took the plunge and bought a low mileage (25k miles) E36 convertible. I know plenty of members here don't like the verts but its great here in Marlborough and the kids love it (as do i of course). It's kind of a replacement for my old Mk2 Jag that had to go a few years ago but uses a bit less oil and hopefully has lower running costs ! Its in excellent condition having only had 3 private owners before me and been very well looked after. Posting a few pics from the dealer i sourced it from as the weather hasn't been too kind to get new ones lately.

I've been looking for a good low miles E36 M3 convertible with good service history and would like some feedback on where people see the prices sitting. I've seen an excellent red one sell recently privately with 70kms for $20k or close to it and plenty of higher miles ones anywhere from $10-20k. I know of an excellent violet one with 40kms and fsh with the owner wanting low $2os - is that too much or not unreasonable ?

Crikey Phil, busy boy. Looks great.

This one

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=722175725

It may almost be worth it but not cheap ....and very nice

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-725257635.htm

The plan will be to drive them first especially as i've not dricven an SMG version and was favouring a manual. just have a few things to sort first. And my wife is unlikely to be driving it so that's not a huge consideration !

Just looking for some helpful advice, hopefully not flaming and abuse !

I certainly prefer the look of the E46 and have been told it's a better car (one mate with an E46 and another with an E30) but there are budget issues and the E36 i know of is in top condition. It was on Trademe a few months ago and didnt sell, maybe due to the colour which i actually quite like - violet. I've had a couple of BM's in the past and the last toy was a Mk2 Jag which i wouldnt mind replacing but the M3 has surprisingly got more support from close to home, and the family wagon is a bit dull to be nice.

I'm trying to decide what would be a better fun weekend car choice - M3 convertible - a good E36 (violet - low $20's) or an E46 ( currently on TradeMe for $30k although i thought it was closer to $25k) , both are low mileage - around 40kms - or open to other good choices. Just wondering what advice, feedback or suggestions people might have. Other than get a hardtop, they're better - you may well be right but this is about a fun car for a Marlborough climate that suits a convertible that the whole family can sometimes go out in. Needs to be under $25k and preferably closer to $20k with good history and pref low Ks !

Well i like it, very nice having no roof in sunny Marlborough, thought the price was a bit high actually and also tossing up with a similar mileage E36 one in the low $20's.