Olaf

31 Oct 2018. 258,177kms ... more small stuff. I got the rear ARB and hardware ready for install, found my M8 tap (to chase out the factory holes), and got my tools ready for tomorrow. EDIT: A little more on anti-roll bar bar prep. The few spots of scab rust on the bar (to be expected of any used ARB) were treated as follows: clamp bar in vise with soft jaws strip rust using flap-disc in angle grinder, feathering out the edges treat rust (I used CRC Rust Converter) when ready (nice blue-black finish), paint. I used Rustolleum all-in-one Black Gloss spraypaint. About $20 at Bunnings. Thin coat, flash off, another thin coat. I repeated three times with about 15 mins between coats, in a warm-ish workshop (not following the instructions to the letter, mind). The paint flowed-out nicely, didn't run, and hardened nicely. It blends in well with the factory epoxy finish, too. Result! I hadn't even bothered to prep the bar with scotch-brite! I tested the used radiator Jon had kindly lent me (sale or return). My dreamt-up test rig worked, though sadly the rad failed. Leaking at the seam between LH side tank and core, at 15psi. Hey ho, perhaps I'll need to get a new 'un. My better half is now teasing me that surely I'd already exhausted the parts budget for this car? ? Question: Where's the best source in NZ, folks? 17111719024 for M40-powered Manual Trans e30? Here's an image of my test rig. Tyre Tube with hose clamps around apertures, pressure cap on tank, schrader valve on one inlet. Fill rad and test for leaks. Bicycle pump gentle part-strokes up to 10PSI, then slowly to 20psi (the cap's rated pressure - 1.4bar). It made it to 15PSI. Oh well, at least I didn't install in the car then learn. So I guess I should buy a new one. Wish me luck for tomorrow, rear bar install.

looks like the ideal car, Graham! score. and of course orientblau metallic is one of the coolest colours for an e46 ?

Oh, and PS: come to e30 Mega Meet!

very nice! consider a new sunroof seal, clear the drains and address any rust issues with the runroof now, as a priority. Kept stock, and serviced regularly, this will continue to rise in value. A great score.

30 Oct 2018. 258,177kms ... more small stuff. 1. Clutch master cylinder cap. Jon Mechaniker had found the master cylinder cap cracked during his in-depth examination of the car. Today I replaced it with a Genuine BMW unit (21521119541). Simple job, a squirt or three of brakecleen and a wipe off, swap em over. Job's a good un. (SAE J1703 turns out to be DOT3). 2. Oil Filler cap. I found it cheaper to buy an OEM Febi unit (11121716993), than to buy a genuine rubber seal. Another simple yet satisfying job. ... and in other news, I've been having fun in my workshop. After clearing a little workspace! I've set the rear ARB up in my woodworking vice, and used a flap disc on my grinder to strip back the rust in patches. I've then used CRC rust converter on the bare steel, and this morning three coats of Rustolleum all-in-one gloss black spray paint. It's curing nicely. I've fitted Lemforder end links, and am prepping and building the rest of the mounting hardware, getting ready to install later this week. I'm having fun.

like Andy says, Tony's are a bunch of oxygen-thieves, I gave up. Lies, bulls#t and worse, you're paying for it. they're trying to get you to pay your highest price that day. you can get them trying to beat the fly on the wall, but it's akin to seal-clubbing.

I take my business to Kelvin at Bridgestone Torrens Terrace. His alignment work is consistently very good, he knows his onions, and takes a no bs approach. Be clear up front what you’re looking for, and expect the ‘why are you dropping runflats with no spare’ question. In NZ a hole in your sidewall won’t be helped by a can of slime and a compressor, when you’re between regional towns. HTH

Don't be afraid, Dave; It's my experience. I don't bother with travel insurance as it's included in my credit card (yes I have had to use it), and I've not found a comparable rental car deal that beats what Air NZ plonks in front of me as an add-on when I've booked my flights, despite scouring Expedia and rental car aggregation sites.

28 Oct 2018. 258,165kms 4. Radio Antenna. Ya'll recall the old antenna (earlier in this thread); I scored a NOS (New Old Stock, not Nitrous Oxide Systems ?), Hirschmann AUTA 2050 automatic antenna. Not perfect (the originals were AUTA6000's), though it was there and the price was right. I've fitted it this afternoon. Had to find my smouldering iron and some heatshrink. It's not a perfect fit, hopefully it's more weather-tight that the previous Alpha. I think I'll get some longer tube, I can route the drain to that outside vent... right then, the "lawns" are calling. Next jobs: testing the radiator, and taking care of a bit of spot-rust on the rear ARB.

I see the point you're trying to make, though it's not working for me. If I book direct myself with the airline on-line, I usually get the best price on my trip, including the additional stuff like travel insurance, rental car, hotel. I can buy the same thing from the travel agent, and may get the benefit of some local experience (if the agent has been on a travel-bookers junket), or even booking tours for me at the destination; though I now pay a premium to have the agent do something I can do myself direct with the airlines or with online aggregators like Webjet or Expedia. Thus the travel agent's offering these days is not such a unique benefit, and it comes at a cost which I don't need to pay as I can do it myself online for less. I think the better comparison re preying on the vulnerable and uninformed would be the pay-day loans shops; legalised loan-sharking IMHO.

28 Oct 2018. 258,165kms I've sorted a few things from the list already. 1. Windscreen Washers. I recently found this handy little bag that I purchased from the nearby BMW dealer in London (Milcars in Golders Green) in 2001. It had been in hiding in a box in the attic. Always knew it would come in handy. And I now have a spare airbox clip, for a 325i anyway. Not sure it's any good for the 316i airbox. Anyway, I did some fault-finding on the washers... the left one was completely non-functional. I disconnected the line at the tee-valve, and it cleared out... I got it working though it was a bit average. Decided to replace both washer nozzles, and the tee-valve. I had the parts, might as well fix it properly. Result. A proper sh*t of a job when you're just on average height, and doing it on the side of the road. Being 6 ft tall with long arms would make this much easier! The black plastic BMW elbows clip on to the nozzles, and the feed line clips into the bottom of the tee with the same kind of fitting. I used two of the jubille clips to replace the Oettiker clamps that I'd cut away. 2. Wiper Blades. I replaced the wiper blades, as the ones on the car were crusty and as much use as a chocolate teapot. Bosch units, nice. 3. Pedal Rubbers One of those "these are inexpensive and I've room in the shipment" purchases; I replaced the brake and clutch pedal rubbers. Safety first and all that. Before: After: Now I'm onto the replacement antenna, and may get to the fuel filter this afternoon, as well as cleaning and testing that radiator. The lawns are calling, though... update later.

you've both hit the nail on it's head. ? I'm enjoying driving a simple car, though it is a little more 'work' at the wheel. Some of that is down the just-about-worn-out clutch, old tyres, etc etc. The experience will significantly improve as each item is rectified/remediated.

I agree. And you don't need to pay, if you take advantage of the IRD system. Aren't we lucky, though, to have the choice here in Godzone? That you can engage a service if you want to. In the same way I can book and buy my own air travel, or use a travel agent to do it for me.

Howdy fellow bimmersporters I seek a 20mm front ARB for e30, preferably in good nick. And preferably in Wellington area. I've new rubbers and endlinks to go on, so just need the bar, really. What you got? HMU. cheers Olaf.

Are lawyers in the same category? I mean, you can get legal aid for free...

No; it's a service. You have options, and can make a choice. If the service was uncalled for, market economics would spell its demise.

Everyone has the opportunity to practice tax efficiency (minimisation). Pay an accountant, or if you’re claiming poor just read and understand the rules that are freely available on the IRD website. You can even call the IRD to verify your understanding; they’re very helpful. It’s not exciting work, though foregoing a few nights in front of the goggle-box to understand how to structure your affairs efficiently can pay dividends. Pardon the pun. I’m certain that the great proportion of NZ residents believe in paying their fair share of taxes. Ensuring one pays the right amount - not too much, not too little - is not purely the preserve of the uber-rich. The NZ media love to push this left-wing “all rich people are nasty tax-dodging citizens” agenda, I’m amazed it continues to be lapped up.

Bieber. Oh dear. The 80's wasn't perfect, try 'Bang your head' by Quiet Riot and you'll see what I mean. Still, I can spout 80's music all day long. Here's a good 'un... Why not a new rad and full cooIing system re-do right now? It's an excellent idea. I've purchased a large quantity of parts that has quickly added up to more than I paid for the car; needed to economise on the rad for the moment. I'll revisit next year after it's had some more fettling. Am currently working on the logistics around the how to get it all sorted so I can make it to e30 megameet (cambelt, clutch, cooling, fit rear ARB, wheel bearing, and some ever-so-slightly better rubber than what's on it now). ?

this arrived in the mail today...so I'll be fitting it this weekend. Not black chrome sadly, but hey, I'm happy.

I picked up an old truck tyre tube from a tyre shop in town. I have a cunning plan to use rubber and hose clamps on the rad to fill it with water this weekend after a (clean water, no chemicals) flush, see it's water-tight as hoped. I have a new cap. Jon has suggested some hot water sitting in it to help the old o-rings in their old-ish age, a brilliant idea. I guess I could put the valve on it and give it a gentle 10-15psi (from my bicycle tyre pump with gauge) by way of a (low) pressure test? Speaking of no chemicals, here's a little Thomas Dolby, featuring Magnus Pike... I'd better dig out some of my authentic 80's cassettes given I'm going e30 retro 80's eh?

tow-hooks as a requirement for WoF? not as far as I know.

lock barrel repair kit ordered...

17 Oct 2018. 258,153kms (yestrday I collected used M40 rad from Jon at Auto38). Ordered top hose. Collected the new genuine BMW key and code that I'd ordered. Turns out I'd misunderstood; for the (not insignificant) price, I still needed to find a locksmith to cut the key. I was fortunate that Beveredge Locksmiths were still open (new location on Cambridge Tce. Yes, they could cut it (trap for new players: leading zero placeholders on BM computer screenshot confused key cutting system. I also got a spare (Silca, ugly, functional). Beveredges were really excellent. Now I'm ordering the lock barrell repair kit. Antenna: spent time with a scotchbrite, WD40, rags, trying to get the electric antenna working. I made a small difference. EDIT: Note to self. Purchased 3 very pricey keys from Winger, still no Winger BMW keyring. Odd.

AWESOME! Look forward to seeing you at some events soon.

great score, Aaron! ?