Olaf

Buyers Remorse can take many forms. This buyer should have bought a car they could afford to run, from a dealer, with a warranty. They're attempting to transfer their responsibility for a risky purchase decision to you, as the vendor. We're all here with a gambling addiction, running old BMWs, trying to improve our odds. Whether it's the Blackjack or Roulette table, occasionally a new player joins the game, tries their luck. They respond according to their risk appetite. Buying any 16 (or even 3-5) year old Euro is risky. We do our best to manage that risk down by getting expert inspections done by a specialist, buying a car that's clearly been well looked after. Be clear and concise. One discussion is all it should take. The more you talk with this person, the more you fuel their hopes that you will meet whatever irrational expectation they have of you. You met your obligations, misrepresented nothing, had the car serviced and provided reports and evidence or thorough maintenance. You're not a car expert. The buyer had ample opportunity to gain their own inspection. You have no control over use of the vehicle following the sale, and your obligation ceased at title transfer. Sorry to hear it hasn't met your expectations [insert appropriate pronoun] Purchaser, I enjoyed the car. Goodbye.

You have time to waste? Why invite someone to waste your time.

Same here. Expired cert (accessing from Mobile).

Make me an (e30 market) offer, you too can be timely. It's the next big thing in e30 accessorising - rarer than a cluster with a tacho...

at least they were observing speed restriction for the space-saver. 9/10 don't (as observed on Wellington and Auckland motorways. FFS they have a bloody great sticker on them too! Nope, your space-saver weilding Prius driver doesn't get to the finals, just a typical Hawkes Bay right lane driver. Give them a blast of boost and swiftly whisk past on the inside.

Honda Fit/Jazz. I rest my case.

got some tech in your back pocket? take us back to London Aug/Sept 2001, and I could sell you my '89 Alpinweiss 325i Touring (manual). Double my sell price still leaves you with change from GBP5000, sound good?

sure thing @skidz, happy to shoot some sales pics with the current wheels if you'd like.

lots of Brit-based fora are in that space now; it's a reflection of the country. Brexit is the backdrop, they're in turmoil. I dig your car Mr First Timer, it's well-cool. Welcome to Bimmersport!

the wheels are a very clever marketing ploy. like selling a house, you leave something for the next owner to make their own - like that slightly off colour in the bathroom. it makes them want to buy so they can put their mark on it. The wheels are exactly that, though meanwhile they keep it rolling and are more worthwhile than either metrics (oh god I can't afford those tyres, that puts me off) or fourteens (oh god!). Clever stuff eh? PS - they'll sell in a flash to Commodore owners. Easy money.

This is a gorgeous example, been well cared-for for many years. You rarely see them like this any more. It presents very, very well, pictures not doing it justice. If you're hoping to buy an e24, this is the one; next year they'll all be $5-10k more.

Suggest you restore the black with the shoe cream I mentioned above (it’s a nice mid-sheen but not parade gloss shiny on my RM’s), or a Waproo black… then a couple of hours later a light rub-over with Beeswax dressing will give you a somewhat duller/matt finish. HTH…. And protect the leather from inclement weather 😄

"Parade Gloss" is better grade of black than standard Nugget. They don't seem to do much of it these days. I'm using Dasco shoe cream on my black leather boots and shoes, best I've used. Apply with a soft cloth to cleaned and dusted leather, work in. When dry, buff off with a quality horse-hair bristle brush. Do it regularly, feeds the leather. Waproo polishes are usually of good quality, buy them from quality specialist shoe repairers. For my Blundstones I just feed em with Beeswax dressing. "Jay-El Besswax Dressing" (I think it's by Waproo) is solid. I'm currently using Footcom NZ Beeswax Polish (beeswax and avocado oil), and it's the best I've used. Like car-care, using quality products regularly gives you a longer life and better finish. PS: Travel Tip. When travelling I take a small mini-grip bag with a small piece of mesh cloth in it with plenty of beeswax dressing on it. It's light, takes up little space, allows you to smarten up your boots quickly to look presentable.

Date: 25 Mar 2022 Distance: n/a 1. Nice Rack! Along with @autoglym and @jonmechaniker, we executed as planned, like an episode of the A-Team (only without BA). A late-model e46 LCI 318i ///msport was prepped for surgery, and together we made light work of a rack-ectomy in-situ. I got it back to the lock-up, steam-cleaned it (thanks Dan!), dried it, gloved the ends of the hoses, and stowed it. Now another key part to my upgrade plans is secured, providing a future source of "nice rack!" comments. We left the e46 inners in place, and I already have new e36 rack-ends, and new boots. My sincere thanks to @Autoglym and @Jon Mechaniker. We had a fun time in the rain in unfavourable conditions. It's a reminder that an important part of these cars is the camaraderie, spending time together shooting the sh*t, taking the piss, and thinking through challenges together. 2. Next steps Now back to research on the right way to connect it (steering shaft), and secure spacers, and a little more research on the pipes/hoses. @Southerner's approach to the steering universal is the one that's made the most sense to me. I need to find an appropriate Astra steering shaft, and get the e46 shaft end. Also consulting the LVVTA manual (with thanks to Jon). And then on to a driveshaft specialist. To close, what's a @Olaf project update without images?! Fig 1. Nice Rack, this afternoon. Fig 2. I fear this is in fact a Magenta rack. My car is turning Goth! Fig 3. Flipside.

yes, we love the way they drive, but compared with a Corolla the BMW will need a whole lot more stuff replacing, like LCAs and bushings, cooling system parts, etc etc... they're really an enthusiast buy not a practical buy.

Congrats on the new job Cam!

under-priced! surely worth a minimum of $30k.

@Sammo once the e46 gets back into my hands it may get a little suspension refresh - it's been about 9 years since I did Meyle HD LCAs, all the bushes etc and Sachs OE shocks. I then went to the fatter ARBs and the Style 194s staggered. Makes it pretty flat. I may go for Konis and Msport springs. Orientblau, too - the best non-///M colour in e46landia, IMHO! PS - should expand on my 'thanks' icon above. Very nice of you to say, mate. Arrived there more by serendipity than a grand plan. I just enjoy the e46 Touring too much, despite it being just an M54B25.

Our needs have changed. I found we'd been doing more round-town shorter trips, so our e46 325i Touring fits me better. We now have an F25 X3 30D ///M (since Sept last year) for my wife to drive, and for us to use on trips. Being a Diesel we'll need to ensure we get those runs to the Wairarapa or Hawkes Bay in, to keep the DPF in good order. The F25 provides plenty of headroom and legroom for our 6'2" son (and our daughter) , so works as a family round-town and trip wagon, and replaces her e46. The F25 Provides easier entry and exit, more visibility, and about the same luggage capacity as the e46. I'm taking the e46 as my runaround (we've had it ten years this month), as I don't need a flash 5er for round-town duties. At least I will when she spends more time behind the wheel! So we'll miss the 333hp, the amazing handling, braking, steering, comfort, and all-round capability of this e60. EDIT: AND THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL!!! The power train is superb. 50:50 weight distribution, dynamic drive and active steering make for a brilliant drive. The F25 is a slower drive on a trip, with a very different style. I may get an F30 X5 30D ///M in future for the extra luggage capacity. Thanks Pete, no regrets buying this car from you, I've loved it. I may regret selling it, but it's the e30 or this - something's gotta go. I still haven't finished the e30, and it's a different kind of fun. Yep, Churton Park - they're close to opening up some more parts.

14 March 2022. 186844kms Today's the fifth anniversary of acquiring the 545i. Yesterday I gave it a thorough wash and dry, and took it up into the hills for some for-sale shots. Remaining tasks: underbonnet detailing, interior clean and detail.

the tipping point will be if it comes with a full tank of gas.

Mandatory visit to Nada Bakery after that for an award-winning pie to settle your stomach!

Discussing purple tag rack - in principle - with certifier last weekend in context of my M42 repower (into factory manual) with 6 cyl discs F&R, he explained that to cert the rack, certifier requirements increase (a higher ticket for the certifier), and a bunch more calculations (I'd expect related to the bump-steer test that @nick496 mentioned earlier). The purple tag rack swap is pretty standard. Spacers (not dodgy ones), e46 inners, e36 outers, Astra/Barina linkage, and sort out the hoses/lines (the greatest variability). It should be possible to supply cert details of previous cars with the same setup. I do like the idea of the line kit from UK, but it's pretty pricey with the freight and exchange rate costs, though very high quality and well made. HTH.

Mine had the large clock where the tacho now is. I don't think any 316i was equipped with a tach (unless it was an option list item). How it was in Aug 2020

I put in a tacho cluster [last year] EDIT: in sept 2020 (!) . Need to install the clock centre console. It's on the list of things to do.