Olaf

get under it - when safely supported. take rag and can of WD40. find part numbers on your shocks. write them down. good start.

I dig the e46 touring, have had mine for 2.5 years and done about 38,000 kms (it's now on 148k). It was a fresh import with Japan service history. Not convinced of the argument buying at 110k kms providing for 40-odd kms of low-maintenance motoring! I've spent two years catching up on deferred maintenance, and discovering the numerous 'common failures' of the e46. Don't get me wrong, I really like driving it. I am left wondering if the e90 touring is a significant improvement - I hope it will be! I now have what is a pretty well-maintained example! Just need to get that new AC compressor sorted, and it's time for new shocks and mounts/bushes etc. Do your homework before you buy up, it could cost you plenty.

south of the bombay hills, mate. in the dim and distant past, I used to leave my vehicle parked at the Top of the Bruce on Whakapapa for 4-5 days at a time, it was often buried in snow. Poor little A12, ISTR it was 15w40 or 15w50 back then! ooooh, high-tech multigrades! Duckhams Hypergrade 15W50, and that recycled low-sulphur BP oil 'Envron'.

maaaaaaate. did you run a magnet over what came out of the sump afterwards?

for a tape from japan you'll need one with NTSC playback capbility. more common on the later kit. or luck-out with a full multi-system unit.

how was it that Sheryl Crow song started? "I like a good beer buzz, early in the mornin'.." just the time to be researching vehicles I guess.

I'm much happier with the way my M54B25 is running on Penrite HPR5 than the last 2 or 3 changes on Castrol Edge 0W40. I know it's LL (something) certified, don't matter much to me as I'm changing oil and filter at 10k intervals. I've been a loyal Castrol user for more than 20 years, I've changed to Penrite synthetics on both my vehicles (HPR10 in the other), better value and improved performance (reduced noise, use) for street use over the main players. I'm not an oils engineer; I did a lot of reading and then decided ultimately to make a consumer decision and get on with it. If I was racing or nurturing a newly rebuilt engine, it might be different. If I were having my oil changed by my trusted independent, I'd be going with their recommendations (such as Glenn's recommendation, above). +1 on the bulk-buying front. I bought 20l Fuchs DexIII ATF to flush my Volvo trans, significant $ saving over buying 5l packs at retail. cheers, hope that helps. Olaf

it was Nikasil that was the problem - Alusil was the solution. it's worth reading up on, as you suggest.

engraving hint: use tape. rule your guidelines. carefully print your script on the tape, stick to the substrate. use slowest rotational speed on your engraver that you can, and try to maintain your hand at same angle to the substrate as you trace your words. I've found that it catches and wants to head in its own direction when I've leant the cutter head over. take your time. I've done some using an engraving cutter on my dremel with handpiece; with some patience you can get good results. peel tape off afterwards, boomshankah! HTH Olaf

thanks for the swift response, and solid advice, Glenn. I got it all sorted today by Page in Wellington, back to swift and un-hesitant window lifts. I'll keep an eye out for the others going. Olaf

as a design engineer used to say to us techies when we'd sleuthed out and found a solution to a pre-production issue: "good sussing". what was the gasket/seal in question? I was wondering from your descriptions if it was a temperature sensor somewhere in the chain sending an erroneous signal to the DME. Air leaks cause some pretty interesting issues with our vehicles, eh. cheers Olaf

interesting thread. I learned how to make good coffee on a commercial 2 group machine, working amongst a group of techies some years ago. these guys were so serious about it they'd done the barista courses. I think mostly for the satisfaction of being properly trained and knowing how to do it right, and partially for the ultimate "FU" bragging rights. I have it on good authority that the E61 based machines, as Ron notes, are indeed the best. S'funny. I don't drink coffee. However, on the basis that life is too short to drink sh*t wine (or listen to bad HiFi), if you enjoy good coffee you owe it to yourself to learn how to do it right, and get a decent tool. I mean, do people consciously decide they're too lazy and elect to be a crap shag?!

M3AN, if you figure out how much you want for it, give me a PM. I get some codes on my USB-connected ScanTool 423001 ElmScan 5. I have to run it in a Virtual Machine under VMware Fusion under OSX on my MacBook Pro, as I am an apple fanboi; I'd prefer something that lets me read all the codes, all the time! Wish there was good software that ran under OSX to support all these readers...

thanks guys, I came here looking for precisely this issue today; last night I noticed the front passenger window was very slow to wind back up. SO I replace the regulator for that door... are the rest of them likely to fail soon? 2002 e46, 147k kms. cheers Olaf

I can only offer that it takes one to know one! I was there too. #8 ) given I'm nearer my fifth decade than the start of my forth, I am qualified to take the p*ss about the 80's providing the humour is self-deprecating cheers

I lived and drove in LHD countries for three years, with only a month in an RHD country in that time. I *never* drove on the left in a left hand drive country, and *never* drove on the right on return to Australasia. The only challenge I had was in car-parks; for the first year, I naturally turned to the left to avoid cars heading toward me. furthermore, when I lived in UK and drove in France, Spain, or back in the USA, I had no issues driving on the correct side of the road, no matter if I was driving a RHD or LHD vehicle. One simply needs to *think*. I think it's simply brain laziness - or being accustomed to not being switched on when driving (eg disengaging 50% of concentration behind the wheel), as the significant contributing factor to driving on wrong side of road.

there's something similar in the Volvo 855 - a very high-pressure cartridge, Stabilus, I think. I first bought some cheap aftermarket replacements from the US. They failed within 6 months. My keeping the old ones was vindicated. I was able to have them repaired by the NZ agents. You may have some luck as follows (my rebuilt units are still working 6 years later - recommended!): Gas Strut Services http://www.gasstrutservices.co.nz/ In my case the lower north island agent was out of Palmy or Levin, I think. Came in a van, workshop in back. I seem to recall mine needed to be sent to Auckland for a rebuild. Worth a crack mate, hope that helps. Summary: Steer clear of anything other than OEM or Original parts if you're replacing; or try Gas Strut Services (or similar) for a rebuild. cheers

outstanding outcome, Tony. this is the thread/vehicle that keeps on giving!

Graham, great progress. Agreed, those style 73s look dead classy - especially they're now all cleaned up. I should've bought them from you when they were for sale! Still, wasn't in a position to then, or now even. keep rackin' up those miles! best regards from the windy city.

win the battle, your wife will ultimately win the war. mate of mine learned that each time he made an unapproved purchase, he needed twice as much dinero, as his wife bought something to the same value. Therefore a bargain $3,500 purchase cost him $7,000. Happy wife, happy life. Take her on holiday to the gold coast/noumea/rarotonga for being so understanding. Must say, very impressed with the number of lumps you bought for the money! Just prepare yourself for new leather lounge suite/cosmetic surgery!

I used to use Castrol Edge 0w40 in my M54 e46 325i for the last 3 changes (I'm doing 10k km intervals with fresh filter). It has about 145k kms on it. 2 weeks ago I changed to Penrite HPR5, after excellent experiences in my Volvo 855-T5 with HPR10 (10w50). I scored a couple of HPR5 5w40 full synthetic 5 litre - on sale at Rip Every Poor C%nt Off for a price that makes a mockery of their nickname, half that of the usual Edge 0w40 price - and promptly changed oil filter, air filter and oil. Car is happier, (smoother at startup and during the warmup) be interesting to see if it uses less oil as occured when changing to Penrite did in my Volvo. My wallet is also happier. It's BMW LL-01 & VW 502.00/505.00 compliant - though this matters little to me as I'm running 10k interval as mentioned. Very happy with the performance of Penrite full synthetics, and happy with the pricing. Buy on sale, profit. FWIW I used Castrol synthetic 0w40 for years in my Volvo, Castrol Synthetic 0w40 and then 5w30 in my old Maxima, and Magnatec for a few changes in my Volvo. HTH

thanks all. unlikely the vandalism thing - parked against a fence on the side of the street with no footpath, next to a drop onto the street below; they really had to want to get to the left door. no other cars in the street touched on this occasion. it's just the hassle factor. hey ho.

let the proclamation stand: that whomsever aquires these rare items of 80's modification frivolity shall use them only in the manner in which they were originally intended: * cassette deck only * female passengers MUST wear shoulder pads and leather skirts with heels * music - on cassette - must include "Future Shock" by Herbie Hancock, Duran Duran's "Rio" album, "Sigue Sigue Sputnik", Depeche Mode "speak and spell", New Order, or The Human League. * Tyres shall be no lower than 60 series - without a note from your parents. * the interior shall be leather. * the exterior shall be black, red, white, or perhaps - GOLD. (Hmmm, perhaps Spandau Ballet added to list - but must be "Journeys to Glory") * male occupants shall wear either a leather jacket, or brightly coloured jersey. A moustache is mandatory. Suspenders (braces) are optional. you will wear brightly coloured socks. It should be noted there may be addendums to this proclamation at future dates, as noted by this cryer. Non-compliance will be considered in a court of kangaroos and BMW historians, and old gits who remember the 80's. That is all.

well bugger me. we've been back in niu zild for what, 13 years. our own little bit paradise. house (mortgage), kids, even scraped together coin enough to get a modern replacement for the e30 touring I had to sell leaving blighty. yesterday morning, the minister for war headed down to the car with our offspring in tow, while I fumbled with shoelaces and alarmed and locked the house. got to the street, admiring the beautiful orientblau metallic, and the faces of my family. only, my significant other is not looking as cheerful. "notice anything different about the car?" she asks me hmmm. "errrrr, there's some birdshit on the bonnet" "no" "errr I dunno" "look at the mirrors" "eh? what... where are the mirrors?" yes folks, some miserable twunt stole the door mirrors from our e46 overnight. BROKE them off, rooting the brackets. not to be outdone, the cut all of the wires. Fekkers. thoughts of 'paradise' abandoned; we're actually living in a third world country, where idiots are thieving parts from 13 year old cars. There must be Karma. I imagine the NZ Herald... "Dateline Wellington. Man arrived in the early hours of this morning at Wellington Hospital A&E, with funny gait. Doctors later removed car mirror that had been rectally inserted. When interviewed by this reporter, the man claimed he had no recollection of how the mirror - or the boot marks on his posterior - got there. Medical staff were suppressing their guffaws. Police said they were steeling themselves to look in to the matter, but were waiting until breakfast had settled." So, can anyone explain: is there a new market for e46 mirrors? A black market? Modders - are they great on e36's or Familias? I just don't get it. I know they're (my touring mirrors) are only for the sedan and wagon; the coupe and convertible have different units; the Ti are unique; the M3 different again. I figured they're pricey. Called insurance, filed police report. If anyone can help me understand what someone would use my beautiful, orientblau, now-broken, e46 touring mirrors for? Answers on a postcard please. Meanwhile, if this scumbag needs more mirrors, I have a spare 850 door mirror in my workshop. I'd be very happy to 'introduce' the two of them. Perhaps he'd make the papers. 'wearing' a mirror might give him a new perspective. Choose a more useful direction in life. Hmmm, direction. It's not like we can see what's around us when we change direction, at the moment. Did I say earlier, this person must be a right koont. Off to a couple of insurance co nominated repairers tomorrow, to get this underway. Our insurer was great. /rant Olaf

nothing like a chip on both shoulders to keep in balance! Bob was clearly smart enough to have excellent accountants, if he was paying less tax whilst building a property empire, compared with a specialist retailer/health professional. as any good accountant will tell you, it's about tax minimisation, not avoidance. You talk about "hiding", when sharp businessmen and women are in fact utilising opportunities available *within the law*. The law applies to all... regards