Olaf

what makes the Tech 1 better than the Tech 2, to earn the mantle of 'BEST', @Driftit Dan?

excactamente, @Sammo 🙂

Congratulations Lee, looks like the ideal car for you. You'll have it sorted in no time. Looking forward to reading your progress!

There yuh go. I predicted $55k. Keen bidding at the end - more than a few thought this was worth more than $25k. Enough to suggest the prevailing opinions on this thread are proven 'well short of the mark'. Well done @Gaz you were on the money. Now, if this and it's ilk are enjoyed sparingly, brought out for outings on fine days, and kept in fine fettle (dry stored, regularly serviced); in twenty years what will they go for? There will be fewer e30s remaining to buy. Hmmm. Assuming willing buyers and that they're still sought-after, $100k (allowing for inflation) may be conservative, assuming a slowly increasing market overall with some peaks and dips over time. The 318iS hitches a ride and is ~$60k? And by the standard classic car math that a decent replica is worth half of a good 'un, it would suggest that taking care of your tribute coupe is a wise plan. Touring, Cabby, Baur all boost too - scarcity. And you can be guaranteed clean well-sped'd 4 doors ratchet up as well. Back to the 80's. The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades. Can't have one song without the other. Have some Webb Wilder!

Holy thread revival! What was the solution, @Kobra?

I thoroughly recommend the Auto Glym wheel brush. Absolutely brilliant, makes cleaning my 14" baskets easy. They last and last and last, this is not your $18 supercheap or repco brush. I've had mine three years and used it across four cars (now my fleet is down to three), still looks like new, gets the job done with no hassles. Buy one here, support your fellow Bimmersporter @Autoglym https://barrysgarage.co.nz/product/autoglym-hi-tech-wheel-brush/

https://www.bridgestonetyres.co.nz/find-tyres?TyreWidth=205&TyreAspectRatio=55&RimDiameter=15&LoadIndex=&SpeedIndexId=&SelectedTyreBrandIds=&SelectedTyreProductIds=&SelectedTyreDrivingStyleIds=&SelectedTyreTypeIds=&ShowSizeRunFlatTyreOnly=&FindTypesSort=1&TyrePatternSizeId=9229 No stock? They were getting low some months ago in 205/55R15, with supply challenges through Ports of Auckland. The website indocates "in stock", call Bridgestone. The RE003 is a bloody brilliant tyre for the money, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. I've had them on my e46 for years (third set now), did a full set on my e60 and loved them. Looks like the RE004 is coming; Bridgestone will undoubtedly be looking to extend performance envelope and maintain loyal customers (the easiest repeat buy tyre ever IMHO) and extend market share with performance and pricing. https://www.bridgestone.com.sg/en/tyre/potenza-adrenalin-re004 Can't imagine Bridgestone NZ would introduce RE004 until RE003 stock is well depleted. And will they do RE004 in 205/55R15? HTH.

Boys and Girls, I present to you, the Datsun (that's Nissan for you young-uns) 240Z (HS30). Amazing styling, torquey low-tech unburstable L24 2.4 litre single-cam straight six with a couple of carbs (yeah before Fuel Injection was an everyday thing) producing 150hp, and in most cases a manual gearbox. Great looks, desirable, fun to drive with a short wheelbase and four wheel independent suspension, two doors. They hailed from the early 70's, and by the time the mid-late 80's arrived, you could find them in the classifieds (before we had the interweb) for about $5000-6000. An awful lot of car for the money. Everyone was busy living the dream - even after the '87 (stockmarket) crash, and those wanting a shark were buying JDM 280ZX off of dealer's yards for the standard $12,995 as they were 'better', and had 5 speed gearboxes. About 5 guys in the team I worked with back then had 280ZX's, one even had two! Never mind that they were self-lightening and set about disolving by about 1995. Back to the 240Z. Thirty years later there's only ONE 240Z on Trade Me. Dealer's price, $89,990. And it's a left-hooker! A $40-60k pristine M325i looks like pretty good value to me, I know which one I'd rather be driving (much as I love the 240Z and enjoyed driving them back in the day). https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/other/listing/2869915414 "I can't understand why 240Z's are so pricey. They used to be cheap". Same applies to Ford Escorts, Toyota AE86, Holden Monaro, XA/XB/XC Coupes, Toyota Celica, you name it. 80's Ladas are still cheap if you can find one 😊

no mate, they've spent it all on housing rennovations, boats, cars, or rental properties... and e30's.

PS: because the 80's are in again, and who really wants to be seen driving an Audi.

Because they want one. Beause they've always wanted one, and can now afford one. Because they rode in one as kids. Their parents/relatives/friends/neighbours had one. Because it's a cool looking car. Because it's a fun car. Because VW Beetles & Kombis - also cool cars - are beyond the reach of most, whereas e30's are affordable. Why does anyone buy a classic or collectable car?! Do their motives need to be validated, pass some arbitrary bar? Why do people want to buy a house in this market? Speculation?

One of these is getting driven regularly. You guys need to stop making these broad assumptions. At least four of these have been sold in the last 12 months, not including the white one in Dunedin, and excluding the red one currently for sale.

The only person with the info paid for it. If he shares it, in confidence, one would expect that confidence to be maintained. Put it this way Dave. Based on your post above, I won't be sharing any confidential information with you. Pointless? It's nunya, and you're irked as nobody's telling. If you want to know what they value up at, get yours valued, or buy one. PS: "in the club" was my reference to actually owning an e39 M5. They've got their own club too. It's an intersection on the Venn Diagram - Bimmersport is not all-enveloping.

mate, you're quibbling about an auto, and overlooking it's crack-free dashboard!!! 😎

there ya go, five keen buyers in the market where one is for sale from a limited pool of thirty-something. if that's not demand pushing up price, what is?! 😉

indeed, that's where membership of BMW Car Club NZ can certainly help.

Exactly one? On the contrary. I know a couple of people interested (not merely spectating).

I think it's quite the reverse. Harm is suggesting it's incredible that that car hasn't already met reserve.

Here's another musical interlude, brought on by mention of cruisin'. It doesn't fit with the alt and indie thread, so I'll leave this here...

yes, though that lovely Starion was a bonus (I'll add a pic shortly, need to get the few images from my camera processed). I was pretty impressed with a number of them, despite not being my general 'style'; we're all car people after all. Maybe this mob viewed grey-haired old geezers (like myself) with a pinch of suspicion or at least curiosity 😁

Imagine you've just paid cash money for a valuation, there may be some privacy issues. You might also have style and prefer not to brag your car's worth around a forum for every tom, Dick, and harry to see, yet are prepared to quietly share info with those 'in the club', so to speak. You might not want to invite a round of "but they're just not worth that, has the market gone made, oh more money than sense, oh I'd never pay that, oh Covid's done that to the market, oh rich fat cats" as per, oh, "the e30 market"? In case you can't imagine why you'd not blurt it out.

But there was. Last year. Before Covid. More original. Just 51k kms, never had paint. It didn't see the market, though. Just quietly changed hands thank you very much. I'd "blame" us catching up with some of the prices in Europe and rest of world. Made a bundle in your property portfolio? Why not buy that car you've always wanted. Missed out on Property as the market went ballistic? Why not have a flutter on that appreciating e30?

Both cars run best on 98 #8 ). E46 is excellent, the weak-points are well-understood. If you're prepared to put some parts, time, and effort into it to address what is undoubtedly deferred maintenance (these cars are rarely lavished with the care and understanding they need), you'll have a gem. They're a *great* drive! We're approaching 200k km on ours, owned since 112k and 9 years, love it to bits and no plans to replace it (I've asked my better half a few times in the last few years if she'd like something newer and the answer's the same, "no I like this one"). e90 - more complex, safer in crash performance, parts more expensive, good car. N52 at 2006 (I guess), great engine though you're onto electric cooling pump, etc... probably approaching bigger deferred maintenance bills? Drive em both, buy the one you prefer. Be prepared to spend a couple of grand on either to get a well-sorted car. HTH. PS: Well done avoiding the 4 cyl 320i - not BMWs finest hour, and to be avoided. And welcome to Bimmersport, @Mark Baker

Yesterday I got her down off the rack, removed the cover, gave her a quick wash. Headed out to Paraparaumu to GIMS Cars & Coffee, caught up with some of the Welly Crew from BMW Car Club NZ, and some other mates. Event missing the heart of the Southwards Cars & Coffee meets, it seems more 'Fast & Furious'. She started first go, ran like a charm, and gleamed under the cloud. I was able to re-synch to the stereo with my phone, just as well as I'd left the memory stick full of 80's music at home. I did find that pootling along in 5th at 80 on a light throttle and favourable seal indicates 5 litres/100km! Here she is at a tickle over 80 showing 6/100. Yes that’s 2250 rpm - 4.27 diff ratio life! I have a 4.10 in my basement, though I rather wonder if that’d knock the wind out if the B16’s sails. I'm saving that for the M42 conversion, if not an LSD. Cruisin' - like Michael Nesmith? Back at the ranch I connected up the CTEK ahead of tucking her up beneath blanket and up on the rack, and it went straight on stage 3 of the charge cycle. I'd have expected stage 5. I guess that battery - despite living on trickle/float for the last 4 months - is showing its age a bit. It was a couple of years old when I bought her in 2018, so well past end-of-life for a crappy AA battery. I guess I’ll get a KOBA replacement when the time comes. CTEK's wunnerful MXS5.0 intelligent 8-stage battery charger & maintainer, yesterday. The rear axle and running gear is looking pretty tidy, so I clicked a snap when tucked-up. Yes, I should have painted that cross-member. Add to the list of things to do! I'm continuing to amass parts for it. Our kitchen project has extended in time and scope, and won't be done till May/June now. I need to find some time to clean up those brake and fuel lines, and sort out the boot lid seal and spoiler/bootlid. Get a plan together for the engine. I was very pleased to note the radiator support panel/front scuttle is looking really sound since last year's clean-up and paint. No bubbling, surface rust hasn't come back. Result. Tucked-up in bed In summary, great to dust her off and get her out for a drive. Reminds me how much I enjoy her, the analogue driving experience, all the maintenance work that's been done before... the brakes, suspension, bushes, wheel bearings etc... I have to accept we're in a bit of a hiatus at the moment and I'll come back to her in future.

bummer. time for you to make a ritual sacrifice to the gods and/or bark at the moon. I've no previous correlation established between optimistic posts here on BS, and public disappointment with my cars, nor should you!