Olaf

19 hours ago, KwS said:

The wheels are a crime against good taste, but the rest of the car looks stunning. Can't imagine there are many around as tidy. 

the wheels are a very clever marketing ploy.  like selling a house, you leave something for the next owner to make their own - like that slightly off colour in the bathroom.  it makes them want to buy so they can put their mark on it.  The wheels are exactly that, though meanwhile they keep it rolling and are more worthwhile than either metrics (oh god I can't afford those tyres, that puts me off) or fourteens (oh god!).  Clever stuff eh?

PS - they'll sell in a flash to Commodore owners.  Easy money.

This is a gorgeous example, been well cared-for for many years.  You rarely see them like this any more.   It presents very, very well, pictures not doing it justice.  
If you're hoping to buy an e24, this is the one; next year they'll all be $5-10k more.

11 hours ago, qube said:

I think i would prefer just a slightly deeper more uniform colour coverage without too much shine. They are not formal dress boots or anything but i feel they are a bit scruffy looking and hence dont wear them. So i thought i may try a product and a bit of rubbing with a rag or brush to see how it turns out.

Suggest you restore the black with the shoe cream I mentioned above (it’s a nice mid-sheen but not parade gloss shiny on my RM’s), or a Waproo black… then a couple of hours later a light rub-over with Beeswax dressing will give you a somewhat duller/matt finish.  HTH…. And protect the leather from inclement weather 😄

"Parade Gloss" is better grade of black than standard Nugget.  They don't seem to do much of it these days.  I'm using Dasco shoe cream on my black leather boots and shoes, best I've used.  Apply with a soft cloth to cleaned and dusted leather, work in.  When dry, buff off with a quality horse-hair bristle brush.  Do it regularly, feeds the leather.

Waproo polishes are usually of good quality, buy them from quality specialist shoe repairers.

For my Blundstones I just feed em with Beeswax dressing.  "Jay-El Besswax Dressing" (I think it's by Waproo) is solid.  I'm currently using Footcom NZ Beeswax Polish (beeswax and avocado oil), and it's the best I've used.

Like car-care, using quality products regularly gives you a longer life and better finish. 
 

PS:  Travel Tip.  When travelling I take a small mini-grip bag with a small piece of mesh cloth in it with plenty of beeswax dressing on it.  It's light, takes up little space, allows you to smarten up your boots quickly to look presentable.  

Date: 25 Mar 2022

Distance: n/a

1. Nice Rack!

Along with @autoglym and @jonmechaniker, we executed as planned, like an episode of the A-Team (only without BA).  A late-model e46 LCI 318i ///msport was prepped for surgery, and together we made light work of a rack-ectomy in-situ.  

I got it back to the lock-up, steam-cleaned it (thanks Dan!), dried it, gloved the ends of the hoses, and stowed it. 

Now another key part to my upgrade plans is secured, providing a future source of "nice rack!" comments.  We left the e46 inners in place, and I already have new e36 rack-ends, and new boots.

My sincere thanks to @Autoglym and @Jon Mechaniker.  We had a fun time in the rain in unfavourable conditions.  It's a reminder that an important part of these cars is the camaraderie, spending time together shooting the sh*t, taking the piss, and thinking through challenges together.

2. Next steps

Now back to research on the right way to connect it (steering shaft), and secure spacers, and a little more research on the pipes/hoses.

 @Southerner's approach to the steering universal is the one that's made the most sense to me.  I need to find an appropriate Astra steering shaft, and get the e46 shaft end.  Also consulting the LVVTA manual (with thanks to Jon).  And then on to a driveshaft specialist.
 

Quote

 

To close, what's a @Olaf project update without images?!

Fig 1. Nice Rack, this afternoon.

Fig 2. I fear this is in fact a Magenta rack.  My car is turning Goth!

Fig 3.  Flipside.

On 3/13/2022 at 2:24 PM, gjm said:

E46 M43 318i.

yes, we love the way they drive, but compared with a Corolla the BMW will need a whole lot more stuff replacing, like LCAs and bushings, cooling system parts, etc etc... they're really an enthusiast buy not a practical buy.

Congrats on the new job Cam!  

21 hours ago, Sammo said:

 

What's the plan @E28E30???

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/325i/listing/3519284731

under-priced!  surely worth a minimum of $30k.

@Sammo once the e46 gets back into my hands it may get a little suspension refresh - it's been about 9 years since I did Meyle HD LCAs, all the bushes etc and Sachs OE shocks.  I then went to the fatter ARBs and the Style 194s staggered.  Makes it pretty flat.  I may go for Konis and Msport springs.  Orientblau, too - the best non-///M colour in e46landia, IMHO!

PS - should expand on my 'thanks' icon above.  Very nice of you to say, mate.  Arrived there more by serendipity than a grand plan.  I just enjoy the e46 Touring too much, despite it being just an M54B25.

1 hour ago, Young Thrash Driver said:

I might have missed it, but... What are your thoughts on what to replace it with?

Our needs have changed.  I found we'd been doing more round-town shorter trips, so our e46 325i Touring fits me better.  We now have an F25 X3 30D ///M (since Sept last year) for my wife to drive, and for us to use on trips.  Being a Diesel we'll need to ensure we get those runs to the Wairarapa or Hawkes Bay in, to keep the DPF in good order.  The F25 provides plenty of headroom and legroom for our 6'2" son (and our daughter) , so works as a family round-town and trip wagon, and replaces her e46.  The F25 Provides easier entry and exit, more visibility, and about the same luggage capacity as the e46. 

I'm taking the e46 as my runaround (we've had it ten years this month), as I don't need a flash 5er for round-town duties.  At least I will when she spends more time behind the wheel! 

So we'll miss the 333hp, the amazing handling, braking, steering, comfort, and all-round capability of this e60. EDIT:  AND THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL!!! The power train is superb.  50:50 weight distribution, dynamic drive and active steering make for a brilliant drive.  The F25 is a slower drive on a trip, with a very different style.  I may get an F30 X5 30D ///M in future for the extra luggage capacity.  

59 minutes ago, TermiPeteNZ said:

Looks fantastic! Still love the aesthetic of the E60. Churton Park hills again? 

Thanks Pete, no regrets buying this car from you, I've loved it.  I may regret selling it, but it's the e30 or this - something's gotta go.  I still haven't finished the e30, and it's a different kind of fun.  Yep, Churton Park - they're close to opening up some more parts.  

14 March 2022.  186844kms

Today's the fifth anniversary of acquiring the 545i.  Yesterday I gave it a thorough wash and dry, and took it up into the hills for some for-sale shots.  

Remaining tasks:  underbonnet detailing, interior clean and detail.

the tipping point will be if it comes with a full tank of gas.

2 hours ago, adro said:

I also had to do a brake test. 100-0 x3 stopping within 4 secs. So make sure your brake system maintenance is up to date. 
 

Mandatory visit to Nada Bakery after that for an award-winning pie to settle your stomach!

Discussing purple tag rack - in principle - with certifier last weekend in context of my M42 repower (into factory manual) with 6 cyl discs F&R, he explained that to cert the rack, certifier requirements increase (a higher ticket for the certifier), and a bunch more calculations (I'd expect related to the bump-steer test that @nick496 mentioned earlier).

The purple tag rack swap is pretty standard.  Spacers (not dodgy ones), e46 inners, e36 outers, Astra/Barina linkage, and sort out the hoses/lines (the greatest variability).  It should be possible to supply cert details of previous cars with the same setup.  I do like the idea of the line kit from UK, but it's pretty pricey with the freight and exchange rate costs, though very high quality and well made.

HTH.

13 minutes ago, E28E30 said:

That’s the base set up eg for some 316i models.  No clock, centralised stereo etc.  looks nice and clean.   In some models the dash had no rev counter so had a big clock instead.  So made sense to have only one clock or as per this late model example, no clock.  IIRC the first LCI 316i models had the no rev counter look then the later ones got a rev counter?

Mine had the large clock where the tacho now is.  I don't think any 316i was equipped with a tach (unless it was an option list item).

How it was in Aug 2020

I put in a tacho cluster [last year] EDIT:  in sept 2020 (!) .  Need to install the clock centre console.  It's on the list of things to do.

Date: 11 Mar 2022

Distance: 263504 kms

1. Knobbing

Gift time.  I’ve scored an m-tech gear knob and shift badge, to match the wheel and provide a nicer tactile experience.  FWIW, the ///M badge was nearly 20% cheaper so I bought it.

Feels great, looks good too.  Now for some Elephant Leather Preservative.

2.  Driving, errands.

Took it for another drive, remembered to run the heater hot, and exercise the heater tap while warm.  Counter-intuitive on a hot autumn day, but essential to keep coolant flowing in a car that's had very light use for the last year.

9 hours ago, Vinu Chandrakumar said:

Does it require taking the whole dash out? That's gonna be fun. 

No.  It's a somewhat shitty job.  Remove glovebox, remove centre console, unbolt brake booster etc.  Install a new heater core, you don't want to do that again if a used part fails!

I got new OEM M40 radiator from Abel Smith Radiators in Wellington.  It's been in 3 years and 4 months, trouble-free.  Be sure to get Genuine BMW Coolant and some deionised water.

PS - you'll want to check out (and perhaps replace) your thermostat, clear the bleed bolt etc, perhaps new bolts.  Disconnected rotted heater may indicate some cooling system neglect.

Date: 10 Mar 2022

Distance: 263501 kms

1. WoF

It flew through another WoF, after a drive on Saturday to dust out the cobwebs.  Looking forward to having more time to drive it!  Minimal kms since last WoF, been focused on home.

it'd have to be one of the nicest 4dr e30's around.  damned clean underneath!

05-07 March 2022.  186794kms

It had been sitting patiently since November while we took care of more renovation work at home, and resettled into our new kitchen.  I had no time for the e60, though did run it up once a month to operating temperature and dry the condensation from the exhaust.  Having a little more time together, it was time to get it sorted.  Renewing the insurance last week was a reminder I'm nearly at 5 years ownership.

1.  Polished Headlamp Lenses

The headlamps were looking a little yellowed.  Time for a spruce-up.  On Saturday afternoon I set up and used the Turtle Wax kit, and was suitably impressed.  This kit uses ‘clarifying paste’, a special lube (ooh err matron), and four grades of very very fine wet and dry.  Once the wet and dry refinishing is completed, you apply more clarifying paste, and buff off after drying.  Finally there's two wipes - a base coat, followed by a sealant coat.  It then takes 24 hrs to cure, though the instructions say you can use the car.

End result was very good in my opinion.  I took my time, playing an 80's funk playlist on Spotify while I worked, and took about two hours all up.

Pretty good finish!

powered by Funk 

I left it till Monday morning to have plenty of time to cure.

2.  WoF

It flew through it's WoF today.  Front tyres at 6mm, rears at 5mm.  No advisories.  Commentary "This is sooooo nice to drive!  It's got the same pickup as my 550i, and doesn't have the loud exhaust.  Don't let it go cheap, it's a really good one.  Find it a good home".  

Front (Right I think)

Front (left I think)

Right Rear

Left Rear

3.  Registration

12 months rego bought and paid for, now current to 31/3/2023.

4.  Next steps

Give it a thorough valet, clean the interior and use colorlock leather finisher, do the steering wheel, photograph it, advertise it, find it a new home.

It's been a brilliant five years, a superb car.  I shall miss it. 

On 2/24/2022 at 6:37 PM, tawa said:

Is it any more of a disaster than other ship fires? I get that lithium fires are pretty hard to put out, but do they release more harmful gases etc than anything else?

Dunno about the gasses, good question though.  I've seen ship's crews doing fire training, and spoken with them about it.  Bringing the fire under control and extinguishing it as fast as is humanly possible is their mission, fire at sea leading to loss of cargo and vessel - and life aboard - is their greatest threat (The Rena excepted).  A fire that you can't extinguish must increase risk in factors of ten, surely.

Irrespective of how it started, there are lithium-powered electric &/or hybrid cars on fire on the Felicity Ace.  That's a bloody environmental disaster right there.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-22/porsche-car-carrier-fire-drags-on-days-after-crew-abandoned-ship

brilliant!

19 hours ago, qwertyk1d said:

Interesting I've not looked at FCP before. Did you go for VDO or genuine BMW for the pump?

I've been a regular client of theirs for more than fifteen years.  I think Pierberg might be the OE for your N-series?  HTH