Olaf

e46 Touring. 190,000kms and change. It was time for some work, so it was booked into Auto38. VANOS Seals Valve Cover Gasket Oil Filter Housing seal Oil change & Filter (Mann & Penrite HPR5) Front suspension end-links (Meyle HD) Check and lube rear brake callipers Car is much nicer to drive. The endlinks had been rattling a little, and so not holding the wheels down on the road in corners. It's less lethargic. Yes, we're talking about an M54B25, so it's never going to 'sprint' compared to a B30; it's so much nicer than it has been for the past few years. A little more torque than it had, it's become smoother, and the mid-range kickdown at around 40 km/h (without flooring for kickdown) is happening effortlessly. Happy days. We've had this car since 112k kms, it's feeling better than ever. Conclusions: 1. If your M54 is over 150-160k kms, your VANOS seals are very likely in need of replacement. 2. If you're in Wellington, you really should consider Auto38! PS: this happened on the way to Manfeild a couple of weeks ago:

so... this is what happens when you run out of wheels to sell?! ?

both of those clearly inspired by the Renault 5 Turbo and the Metro 6R4.

they are pretty cool. Well thought of in UK. I did read something a year or so ago in BMW Car about wear issues with the engine?

this morning, this happened. should be here in a couple of weeks. ?

@BLACK DORIS Rio, more lock detail here: http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/60593-grey-thunder-1990-e30-316i/?do=findComment&comment=651581 if that helps. I had trouble getting the final function right.

She's a beauty! Anyone contemplating a tidy e30 for $5k would be mad not to consider this at $7k given the work that's been done that is absent with those around $5k!

There used to be a mini in my suburb when I was growing up. Orange. With full RX2 running gear. It was beautifully done.

Mini fanbois would be in therapy.... "they've gone REAR wheel drive? Wa wa wha WHY!?"

Errr, Mini?

Yeah I think that’s extrapolating it a bit far. I’m certain BMW are not seeking to compromise on the quality of driving or ownership experience of their brand by building econoboxes. Building FWD cars does not by definition place them in econobox territory, or have I misinterpreted your post? They will certainly build cars for the market they expect to buy them. The X2, and the 2 series ‘Active Touring’ are good examples of this. Are they econoboxes? Avert your eyes if you must; (it’s true, I can barely look at them for their ugliness), Mercedes is making a good show of it with their strange hatchbacky A-wotsit these days, without compromising their brand. Hey, they’re even picking up Subaru fanbois as they climb into grown-up-hood! ? The company will always change to survive; sometimes the change causes consternation with the brand loyalists. You should read Naim Audio loyalists sweating the small stuff over the company’s evolution to remain relevant, successful, and growing. Sadly many of us (Naimees, I’m one) miss that we’re a very small niche group amongst a large market, as Dave rightly points out above.

Watching Red Dwarf (Blu Ray) with my son. He digs it. Started all the way back from S1 E1 (The End).

holy crap that's a serious drone. do you shoot video commercially?

Dude, I've got a pair as well. For that 'belt and braces' thing, you can borrow mine and have them at 90 degrees. Nice work on the shocks etc!

why not Koni Yellows, as a matter of interest?

Welcome, Greg! Show us your sharkey!

It's a niche item, and I agree Jon, it'll be really cool when it's finished. It could do with the rear screen treatment and M3 bootlid, for balance. For the nay-sayers, if you can find a good straight 2 door slick-top coupe, and build it to this standard of panel/paint and decals for $10-11k or less, you're laughing. Me, I'd be happy with the turn-key racer; IMHO in most cases a cage to modern standards would surely be safer? And besides, with my lack of experience, turning up at the track with a realy flash car that looked like a famous M3 would draw attention I just don't need ?.

There's no coincidence, Nick. You realise that you were instructed to build a shed, because next time you have an oily parts boil-up on the stove, you'll be sleeping in there?! ?

Jeez I'd love a garage. Keep the posts coming, Nick! Great journey!

you might find you make some money on your coupe when you leave, eh? I guess you're on the tail-end of your time there, starting to make plans for what's going into your sea freight etc. I still have a ladder and jumper leads I bought in similar circumstances... ? Happy shopping!

You need access to a press in order to press the bush out/in to the collar. the Meyle HD are good, I got about 70k km’s out of last set. Hint: Order MeyleHD endlinks at same time. If your FCABs are toast, your endlinks will probably be close behind (as mine now are). I do em in pairs.

"a car fit for mermaids" "Comes with a Kraken recommendation". These Mercedes owners... https://trademe.nz/motors/cars/mercedes-benz/e-350/listing/2042566285

Can you do this? I had no idea! I need to get some ARB's down from Auckland to Welly. They need to be packaged I guess?

Thanks, and yes, I no longer use that workshop. I don't know what specifically was damaged, but it wasn't for want of me asking them to investigate it over the previous 21 months.

I agree, a rack should not be defective at 170k kms. However, I've no issue with Autosure as they've looked after me very well previously. The key thing here was the rust; I guess the rust indicated a seal failure, water savaging the grease and contributing to some major wear. It was a bummer, but I can live with that. This time. And as @TermiPeteNZ has pointed out, it's an exclusion under my Extreme policy that they can reasonably play.