Olaf

I think these are my amps (as in, this is what I'll get). My Scots heritage at play! https://www.planetaudio.com/product/car-audio-sound-system-auto-4-channel-amplifier-planet-audio-ac1600-4/ Plenty of crossover adjustability, yesterday. The subwoofer is a Fusion 10" driver Bass Tube EN-AT1100.

"confused of Wellington" ?

it's pretty damned cool, @Gaz.

yes, some 4cyl had 51mm struts from factory.

Yes, I agree. I like the sound of cassette; a great source (like a Linn LP12), recorded well (with say a Nakamichi cassette deck) sounds great. There's a bit of nostalgia there too. Though I agree, it's all a bit of a faff when one can just drag files from one's NAS onto a memory stick and play them back on a modern head unit. I think the modern head unit is probably the go. You get handsfree phone integration and all that malarkey, too. Modern Amps eclipse the old stuff, cleaner, and they're cheaper too. According to folks whose ears I trust. I'll only go with Focal front speakers if I can't get my hands on factory tweeter sails for the front doors. Wonder if I need to put in a little Dynamat in the rear parcel shelf? The guy who wrote the thread in my earlier article reckoned factory wiring is the go. As I'm probably going aftermarket, I guess I'll need a couple of kits. I'll need to find out what sort of paint to use for the back parcel shelf, and get some vinyl dye to repaint the rear speakers. I think this could take shape pretty quickly. At least, after the wheels are done. Perhaps I should relocate the battery to the boot; get an e46 touring battery cable to sort that. Aparrently they're the go for e30's, a little more length, and more plentiful.

@eliongater could this be the power plant your e28 has been longing for?!

Wow. That’s great buying. Trying to think of who else has 4cyl e30...

@Autoglym

HiFi thinking. Head unit: Existing Blaupunkt is basic, past it's best-by date. The backlight is broken, the polarising filter on the front is adrift, and the cassette deck is stuffed (suspect stretched belts). Speakers: Standard factory front and rear speakers. What I want to achieve: - decent fidelity. Not super-boom, not 'shimmering highs', not SPLs. I like fast, tight, tuneful bass. - prefer cassettes (I still have a couple of Nakamichi decks, and am happy to record from CD and Vinyl). - relatively inexpensive. I don't want thousands tied up in in-car audio. So I've got to keep it real. - should probably get a modern mechless stereo, with bluetooth integration etc. It would have to have red/amber lighting and not look garish and out of place in my e30. New world: I read a loooooot of this thread. The guy certainly knew e30 audio! I'm not up for building my own sub yet, it's all down to time, and weight. And I already have the Fusion (thanks Barry!). Rear Speakers: I have Premium hifi speakers for the rear. These are said to be 'the bomb', essentially. Front Speakers: I need (either) BMW tweeters for the front doors to work with the existing speakers, or (if I have to) a pair of Focal ISU130 (components) or a pair of Focal tweeter to integrate with the factory speakers. Amps: I like Neal's idea of using a modern 4 channel amp for front, using the crossover functions. And I'd use a 4 or 5 channel amp for the rear. Sub: I have a sub, which is an unknown quantity. I'll see if I can modify the Fusion bass tube to be fast and tuneful, with a little bass reinforcement rather than doof-doof. I really don't want a disco in my car. Just enough to follow John Taylor's basslines when I'm reliving the 80's with Duran Duran's eponymous album, or Dave Allen when I'm listening to Shriekback. You get the idea. The amps I'm thinking of are said to be good value for money, and sound reasonable too. Planet Audio AC1800.5 and or Planet Audio AC1600.4 will come in cheap enough (I'm not so serious for JL Audio). So then I get to... oh, so if you do a quality install of this kit (as you'd expect, I'm a former telecommunications tech) and ensure it's well cabled, there's attention to detail, and it's reliable... have I made a "mullet" car audio system for an old BMW Cassette head unit? Should I use something like a Kenwood KMM-BT305, as it has three pairs of RCA-outs, and inbuilt equalisation and all that fun fruity stuff? What are your thoughts?

Well that went by quickly! I renewed the insurance yesterday. Has it really been a year since Andy and I went up to the Krazy, Kool, Kapiti Coast to check out this 'almost barn-find e30 316i'? I was reflecting on how it drove back then, when I was driving it last Sunday. I came back from the market with my fresh fish and veges to find some thirty-something women admiring the car. I just smiled. I think it's nearly time I got a valuation and upped the insurance. I politely declined the insurer's suggestion that the value had dropped $450 over the last year, and instead maintained the value originally insured at. I figured it wasn't worth trying to up it on the phone, and that a valuation would be most efficient. So, "happy anniversary Grey Thunder". Here's to the next year, and figuring out the items on the list above!

I went looking, after reading your post. Very interesting! https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator Made me feel better about our dwelling, having purchased in 1997 for what seemed like a king's ransom at the time.

there's one in Welly that Andy knows, UK import, painted with bed-liner. It's somewhat feral, but is a beautiful, functional thing! ? The unixnerd (up in Scotland) has been saying for nearly 20 years that the e30 318iS is a wonderful thing. Seems people are starting to listen, even scruffy rusty ones are turning up on e30 Zone for over 3500 sterling. I figured they were too hard to find here, being so scarce to start with, so my little 316i is undergoing a slow and steady transformation into a 316iS and ultimately a 318iS.

... I know there's a danger they might clash with yours or the groom's race suit; I guess you could re-paint them?

I like the honeycomb rear louvre, have seen that from other angles and it's a cool bit of detailing. You can certainly see the Fiat X1/9 developing in the profile, eh!

yep. not great for actual navigation (found myself more than a km away in the Hutt Valley when I trusted it to actually navigate for us), but very good for the speed limit/current speed (that my GPS also displays); most useful for that crowdsourced stuff that you mention, and for finding a better route across Auckland in Friday Afternoon Congestion traffic it's excellent. It was funny to listen to Waze speaking with Siri's voice arguing with the Garmin voice, each telling us to take a different direction at the next intersection.

I've found payday filing okay. The changeover was not well executed (change managed). My payroll remains monthly, I can pay whenever I like. I must file within two business days of payroll (easy with a small payroll to use their online tool), and it includes two addition pieces of data: employee start date (of course this is static), and the payroll date. Only includes a third piece (end date) if it's employee's last pay. The PAYE is then due 20th of next month. Easy. Calling IRD helpline netted me good - detailed - advice when I was in the middle of changing over from old system to new. I was concerned I'd gotten out of sync when I elected to change to payday file ahead of the deadline. Give them a call, they're very helpful.

"With the growth of eCommerce, NZ businesses are at a competitive disadvantage compared to offshore suppliers, as they are required to collect GST on all sales, while overseas retailers don’t. These changes will help level the playing field for local businesses. " yes, this is the convenient sound-bite that is trotted out. I would cease doing business with any company perpetuating that garbage. Why not try MyUS.com or Shipitto? I'm having trouble understanding why I am expected to pay goods and service tax on goods and services I sourced from abroad, for private imports? Did a local company or my government contribute to the construction or provision of these goods or services? I of course pay GST on all imports for my company.

I'm thinking art project. Can you re-work them into a tiara for your forthcoming nuptials?

Wow, they look nice. Consider DIY with VHT caliper paint (there is a range of colours), take your time per the instructions and use a hot water bath for the cans. You can get a VHT Caliper Paint clear coat if you want glossy finish... Mask carefully. Hint: foam earlugs work well for any circular apertures. My DIY here:

“Show me the rule. Show me the legislation”.

Yep, DIN88/DIN88L is the physical spec. I didn’t mind paying extra for AGM. There were many, many options; many easily eliminated on basis of low power (CCA) low capacity (Ah), low warranty. In the end, I thought it better to find a solution with high-ish CCA, high-ish Ah, and backed by recommendation from Auto38. I was asking them to supply and fit and code; it’s unreasonable to ask them to source something the haven’t a relationship with. The size thing is useful as an indicator; most of the lower-power and lower capacity batteries seem to be shorter in height (170mm), or length (~350mm). Less space, less plate surface and electrolyte I guess. in the USA it’s easy to get a 950CCA 110Ah battery.

Which brakes are you thinking?

Caveat emptor!

not if you use FedEx. They make GST/and those other entry charges quick and painless. As @BreakMyWindow points out, DHL are pretty good too. They'll delier to Post Office Boxes as well! Though the changeover to Courier Post can be awkward where this is required.