Olaf

Yep, he seemed dodgy-as. Not subtle. Where was he based in the end?

e46 325i is good. I've run mine for 5 years. Essential would include: - belts, water pump/thermostat/sensors/hoses/reservoir and of course genuine bmw coolant. - transmission service (sealed for life is a croc) - PCV system service, get in early and avoid vacuum leaks and misfires. - oil leaks - if not already done it'll probably need the oil filter housing gasket done, the valve cover gasket, and the power steering reservoir done run it on 95 or 98 you can easily change oil & filter yourself with the right hand tools, air filter and cabin filter are easily done too. plugs and coils are easy enough to change with basic hand tools they're not a cheap car to run if you want to maintain it perform and drive as it should. Better serviced by a BMW specialist than a corner garage. If you're interested in more, or want the full list of 5 years of maintenence by a slightly unlucky owner who always gives the car what it needs - and sometimes more - just sing out. The e46 is a neat car, way under-rated and leagues ahead of the venerable e30. They suffer from exciting uses for plastics that we're learning about now. Much more fun than the equivalent Toyota or Nissan. Welcome to the forum, you should find us a helpful bunch. And please, pay heed to Zero's advice above. If you want a 320i, ensure it's an early one before they inflicted the N42 or N46 on us. The early 320i is rudimentary, reliable, economical, if lacking a couple of cylinders and a bit of kick.

were you by chance listening to Lyle Lovett's song about Baltimore on the way there? If you had, you might not have gone to Baltimore! Looks like a good score, Dan.

bloody eejits photographing it in front of those yellow doors. made the red seats look orange. don't they remember the colour wheel from primary school art with poster paint?

I see what you're doing... cornering the market in extremely tidy & desireable silver BMW sedans? Looking forward to seeing this one.

nope. looks alright though. big scoring on that rotor... still, rotors can be replaced.

nice work, Lee. Hell, I was looking for the heel-and-toe view, and some double de-clutch action! Looks like an awesome experience. What was the quote? "If you want to do better business, you need a better business stick" Outstanding.

I've never touched it parking; this was a tall gnarly kerb on the narrow up-ramp of a parking building

Welcome, Dom!

159648kms wheel alignment. Feels much better; suspension has settled since replacement about 5000kms ago (and I kerbed left front in parking building last week - arggh).

and decent paint (the hood is knackered), and an interior that looks like it's not done 350k kms. decent tyres, and rims. hmmm, $3k is reasonable anyway.

.... add a BMW Club NZ sticker to that, and you're golden! 330i wagon e46 would be very nice, and they do come up.

E91 330i are pretty uncommon. More likely is 325i, 335i. unless you go e90 330i. great news that you've refined your target, looking forward to seeing what you turn up, and coming along to some meets!

Separate tool pr0n thread is the go. No confusion is good. Show us your tools. Discuss who sells the best tools. Stories of what you did with your tools. Who you shared your tool with. Who broke your tool? What happened when you went on holiday without your tool? Have you polished your tools lately?

it's not all bad mate. that new tunnel is (currently) exceptional. 'work' to airport left 3.20, arrive auckland airport 3.50. happy days.

ooh err sounds a bit rude. seriously though good idea

both. I bought a couple of nice 3/8 ratchets, and a set of 3/8" and 1/4" torx sockets on a socket keeper strip. BNT also sell socket sets with your usual ratchets and stuff. EDIT: The ratchets were well-priced, well finished (one stubby with an anatomic soft grip handle, one very polished with 80 tooth action), really nice kit. The tore sockets seem a little nicer than my powerbuilt 1/4" torx sockets.

yeah that's the one my mate has. We've wailed on some of the sockets (calculated risk, eye protection worn) with rattle gun and they've all survived. My only bug-bear is six-point sockets (though I do understand they're stronger than 12 point). Bahco is owned by the same conglomerate that has acquired DeWalt, Stanley, Milwaukee tools, Proto, and many other tool companies. I think most of the manufacturing is done in China. Doesn't detract from the value of that kit, and for around half a monkey it's hard to beat!

They were unimpressed, I'm sure. "We're The Sweeney son, and we haven't had any dinner".

My good mate and wrenching buddy has had one of these and thrashed it for the last ten years or so, nothing's broken and they're very useable. @Kepes you might want to check out BNT, ask at the counter... the Jonnesway stuff is good quality and well-priced.

Nice, Koken.

Me? Today? Kerb-kissed my left front wheel ascending the car parking building this morning. Arggghhhhh. Oh well, nobody hurt other than my bruised pride. I think the cosmos is suggesting I should be walking to work.

^^ This!

screaming out for a project or showroom thread! Congrats re the garage, happy days. time you posted tool pr0n pics too.

well there ya go, pay for BMW Club membership, your second scan is basically free! what a deal!