Olaf

This! C'mon Nathan, don't tease us. We need the pics! We need the write-up.

what are the codes telling you? The BMWs have excellent diagnostic information - gathering the data, followed by accurate diagnosis, can save you a lot of time and effort.

Hey Dan, welcome along, join the fray. do take a look in the meetings room, we're getting together relatively frequently. If you're keen there's a roadie this Saturday. nice looking touring, looking forward to hearing of your adventures/experiences.

Hi Jake, welcome aboard. As the others have said, great project. we'll look forward to seeing you along on future meets, or indeed, pulling one together. great to see another e21 being resurrected.

if you're playing at the $9k stakes table, you're into e90 330i money. IMHO $6k is the sweet-spot for e46's, at least until the e30 crowd realise what a phenomenal bargain they are and push the prices up.

fair call. [engaging train spotter mode] consulting P65 of my US market e60 brochure, style 138 is standard on 530i, and not part of any of the option packs for other cars (though the diesel was non-existent there). Style 116 standard on 545i... and the sport package wheels go from there. /trainspotter mode

might've had them machined - enlarged the centrebore? They are e60 rims from a 530i, yeah?

like a well-celared grand cru vintage, eh? nice work.

The CS is certainly cool. I've not experienced a CSL other than to follow one regularly (which is to say, dream whilst listening to the bark). Black one what? Linky please...

yes, though I don't know Kayne and wouldn't feel good taking his time/asking for advice when I'm not likely to pay for his services! Perhaps I'm a little old-fashioned like that.

sound thinking. you're in good hands, too. Best you start a showroom or project page!

330i around $6k, sir? this looks interesting: 330i with thr Sometimes Maligned Gearbox (™ of @eliongater)... http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1325191601.htm and, oddly enough here's one (a 330i saloon) in tidy nick that was for sale on these parts a couple of months ago. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1326430648.htm (you'll need to be quick though, the vendor had threatened to sell it for scrap rather than take the market price). this one looks very sharp but is sold as-is, where-is... and no images of the front right of the car. we can only hope it was an oversight! http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1325897698.htm

doing your engine mounts and trans mounts will transform it in terms of vibration and noise. on our lowly 325i it made a huge difference. Used Lemforder OEM, from memory.

top video skills Lee, what you shooting with? Never thought of the steering coupler, I take it that's a feature of regular e46 etc?

Probably depreciated on the business to the point they need to go?

I get my shipments from FCP in 4-5 days, usually. I've not had anything that smooth when I have tried Pelican. YMMV.

how about this - looks really sharp, and 117k kms. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1275254559.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1326594184.htm $5k looks like a motorsport saloon, silver, 161k kms... may be great buying at $4k5.... ... all of course, on the assumption that you understand what you're getting into, what's been done, what must be done, what to expect in the next 12-18 months. HTH

PPI at Page European or Auto38 advised, for Wellingon-based cars. For Auckland-based cars you could engage Glenn at Bottany Motor Works, or BM Works, or similar. $8k5 for a 325i Touring? He's hopeful IMHO. Paying Wellington tax? Looks tidy enough, it's had a proportion of the main things done for the mileage. It's a complete pain in the ass when people put up photos of a vehicle saying "oh it doesn't come on these wheels, it'll come on some others" - I write them off as time-wasters. Similarly, $6k5 for an average mileage 325i Coupe... it's hopeful, given 330's go for around the same price. 325i's are great, should be reasonably priced. It appears to be a tidy one. The C class is an entirely different experience, not so much chalk and cheese, but at least Currywurst to the BMW's fusion cooking. Have you considered Kyu's 530i Motorsport in the for sale room? It's in your price-range. HTH

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1325558903.htm just 46,000kms $138,000

found this ZF video:

with my 545i nudging its way towards 160k kms, I'm going to have the trans serviced, or at least, the filter and pan, mechatronics sleeve, and fluid replaced. I have the pan and bolts and sleeve, and new fill plug ready to go. I've been looking into fluids. Seems the ZF 6 Speed is sensitive to fluid... The Spec for 6HP26 is: ZF Spec TE-ML 11B Shell M-1375.4 Armed with this knowledge, and wanting to avoid "DexIII" assumption, I've looked at lots of info, written off Redline D6-ATF as it doesn't actually meet the specs, merely states it's a "popular crossover". BMW dealer kindly offered to retail me their Shell fluid at $80/litre. After that Redline prices in NZ looked almost reasonable at $40/litre! Options: There's a Febi oil 34608 which is relatively inexpensive, meets the M-1375.4 and is listed by Febi as being the right thing for 6HP26. Very little additional info, don't even know if it's mineral blend or full synth. A shade under USD10 per litre. BMW's own 83222220445 meets Shell M-1375.4 (USD37/litre) ZF Lifeguard 6 meets ZF Spec TE-ML 11B and Shell M-1375.4, it's price is getting up there (USD25/litre) Pentosin ATF1 is Full Synthetic, meets ZF Spec TE-ML 11B and Shell M-1375.4, and is reasonably priced in USA at about USD15/litre. I'm reading there's no NZ distributor, is this correct? I've also looked at the Penrite site - they have no equivalent, as do Castrol NZ (warning only to use Shell M-1375.4). Total's NZ distributor site listed FLUIDMATIC MV LV, but precious little else, didn't appear to be a stocked item. Fuchs product finder listed ATF4134, though it only appears to have Mercedes certification. Service Refill capacity stated as 9.7 litres. ruled out. Wildcard: Ford Motorcraft Mercon SP. Yep, it's for the Ford ZF 6HP26 (called Ford 6R80)... In the US it's inexpensive, meets the right specs. Dunno if it's full synthetic. Wonder if I should call a Ford Dealer parts department (though one recalls why one does not own a Ford!). Hyundai also runs this trans. Hmm. Proposed service approach: Drain fluid (just draining sounds like it's 4.5 litres). Refill to spec (I understand it's a three-stage thing, with correct trans temps reached, and adaptations reset). Drive for 500kms. Then drain and replace the pan with the new ZF part, sleeve, bolts, refill to spec with fresh fluid. I think 12 litres should be plenty for this adventure. Which Fluid? I think I'll go with Pentosin ATF1 as it meets both ZF's own TE-ML 11B, and Shell's M-1375.4 specs, is fully synthetic, and is reasonably priced. Question 1: Anyone in NZ sell Pentosin ATF1? I don't object to a reasonable margin for freight, tax, and holding stock... if only someone is selling it here. Question 2: Should I talk with a Ford dealer about Motorcraft Mercon S? Question 3: Anything I've missed? I also plan on replacing the diff fluid, and perhaps soon the Engine & Trans mounts, and the Guibo. It's a 14 year old car, needs a bit of upkeep. Your thoughts appreciated.

thankfully it has "exhaust fitted", despite it not being his cup of tea. "Please note I am going to carry out the Transmission service the cost will reflect the work carried out, will have receipt for the work" This appears to be an about-face to his comment "At this point I have no plans or intentions to remedy the issues, if I went down that path I'd be asking more,..." Well I'd hope the cost of the transmission work would be reflected in the receipt... hopefully he doesnt think that spending seven-fiddy at a transmission specialist will be directly proportional to his sell price! At least the lower guides have been done. Those e60 wheels look odd on the e39. As he says, it could work out okay for someone handy with a spanner, engine flush, new water pump, t'stat, and prolly some hoses... *if* the trans is okay. Probably benefit greatly from a good clean inside and out!

drive at least 1000kms I reckon, let it settle a bit before you introduce any further changes. In fact, come on a roadie** next weekend! that should add nearly 500 kms for you! ** yes I know you've already confirmed, this is simply positive reinforcement of the theraputic nature of getting out with a bunch of kindred BMW-appreciating, fuel-burning spirits, and letting your M3 be reassured that it's not going to be sent to the naughty corner or made to wear the automotive equivalent of a red nose, the roof box.

@wtbdeath how's it working out for you, and where'd you buy the Pentosin ATF-1?

This is just a rip-off of "buy my Volvo" by PonyHans! The Suzuki one is pretty cool though.