jonoe30

Replaced the pads on my old Volvo S60 T5 with Akebono... preferred them over factory as they produced a lot less brake dust. As per Olaf, less initial bite, but a nice progressive feel (which I actually preferred as OEMs on Volvo were very touchy). ​Maybe try some EBC green or yellow pads locally? I had them (can't remember which colour now) on a Honda Prelude many years ago and they were pretty good.

Thanks for this link... I was wondering if anyone did hydro-dipping! The cars about to go in for a tint with carfolie, so will discuss this option with them. ​No NZ wreckers seem to have sets with CCC specific cutouts so I'm a bit stuck there. Talked to a few ebay UK sellers, but after shipping was going to be around 450NZD so am beginning to look at the other options!

I'm wanting to replace the wood grain trim in a BMW E91 with something silver/aluminium. The car is fitted with CCC and has the single button wheel in transmission tunnel console. Looking at part numbers online it appears all of the trim is interchangeable between E90/E91 shapes (pre LCI). I'm also looking for a tidy set of sill trim sets with the 'M' silver inserts. The current one's plastic has perished. These parts are also interchangeable between E90/E91 shapes across pre and post LCI models. ​If anyone on here has a set/can source a set, please let me know (and a price). Thank you!

Very sharp pricing! I take it from the images that you can also repaint the wheels? I've got some shabby 15" BBS basket weaves that I'd like to restore...

Does anyone know if it is possible to swap out the mini disk player in a E90 CCC unit with a CD player from another unit? The CD/MD and DVD drives are replacable components. The unit needs a nav conversion, but as far as I'm aware when changing nav (or radio for that matter) on these E90 CCC units doesn't require any hardware (just coding and pulling out jap HDD nav in boot), so if I pay someone to get it converted they won't be replacing the in-dash CCC unit (and hence getting a CD player instead of MD). Please correct me if I'm wrong! ​Anyone in the know's help appreciated!

Does anyone know if BMW's Brake Force Display feature is legal in NZ? ​My brother has E91 and my mother has E70 both with "Brake Force Display - Deletion" in the build sheets, but they are jap imports, thinking of coding it back in. ​I like the idea: normal braking = normal brake lights, heavy braking without engaging ABS = brake lights + rear fogs, braking with ABS engaged = brake lights + high stop and rear fogs flashing E90 ABS engaged:

Not solving your problem directly, but did you happen to purchase the car from a dealer? If so if you're inside 3 months they should remedy the problem for you. ​I realise most people are pretty clued up on this, but just thought I'd check.

I have an elcheapo ELM327 OBD-II to USB cable if this will work for you?

I think since the late 90's BMW prevents you from selecting unsightly colour combinations, or dropped some interior colours (I've seen some strange combos, particularly on E34 models from early '90's) e.g. you can't order a red car with a blue interior or green with a red interior. ​But maybe you can get around it using the individual program.

That's good of you Troy, but yeah it's a bit out of the way It was a long shot, but you can't know if you don't ask.

A long shot, but thought I'd ask... are any places in Auckland where you can rent a bay in a workshop with a vehicle lift? Planning to pull the rear subframe and replace all bushings, of course I can do this on jack stands but I'm just feeling super lazy. Extra clearance of a lift would make it easier to unbolt subframe and diff and lift chassis away. ​I know there are franchises in Europe where you can rent a bay, but haven't heard of anything here...

Is anyone here using an Ultra Racing front strut brace? Are they well made or? I see there is a NZ distributor selling them on trademe and they seem quite reasonably priced: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/suspension/auction-1010314512.htm%C2'> ​I'm just toying with the idea of fitting one to my E30iC to add some rigidity between the strut towers when I fit my Bilstein B8's this month (finally arrived!). I'm a pretty sedate driver (not sedated!), but can be spirited on the back roads... will fitting a strut brace have any noticeable difference to suspension performance? Or is the E30 pretty solid across that axis? (Obviously it's not the most solid of cars being a convertible!).

Another option... There are a couple of places up here in Auckland which replace the webbing on your existing unit. I have used one up here in Penrose a few years ago on a Honda seatbelt, I think it cost around $100, I took the whole seatbelt assembly out and gave it to them... had it back the next day. There might be someone Rotorua who offers the same service.

Tightened up earths on back of gauges and reset inspection light (I may not have jumped it long enough when last serviced) on Saturday... seems to be fine... will see if it re-occurs.

Very cool... love the M30 engines - will you be popping an LSD into the open diff? Atlantis-blau has to be my favourite E30 colour... don't see many around these days!

So today my SI indicators went from having 4 green bars left to the inspection lights being on when I started it this evening. ​Yesterday my fuel gauge and temperature gauge jumped around a few times, but then were fine... I'm thinking this is the SI batteries on the way out (Li non rechargable type on FL E30)... anything else I should check first or is this the most likely cause?

Thanks for the fast response Glenn! Will make contact with Greg.

Have a mild leak from the crimped fitting of one of my oil cooler hoses on M20B25... Replacement part is 200USD + shipping from Pelican Parts. Does anyone know of a good engineering shop who could replace the rubber hose section and re-crimp the connections?

WTB: Hella (not Bosch) left hand low beam ellipsoid and high beam for E30

I believe you might be onto something re it being an NZ only option. I believe when BMWs arrived in NZ in late 80's early 90's BMW would get Sony or Pioneer to do sound system when it arrived (maybe something with radio frequencies of EUR HU back then). Someone more in the know might be able to clarify this. That HU isn't something I've seen (in my heavy trawling of internet to try and find a nice factory stereo for my own E30), nor the mini amplifier. ​The second picture is definitely the normal premium sound system amp I've seen connecting to a stereo that looks like image No. 1 or 6 in this thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=314184 (think the vehicle I saw it on was Jap import). It should be possible to wire any HU to any amplifier as long as you have a wiring diagram and it doesn't use DSP, though you would likely need to use speaker level inputs (rather than the RCA inputs like the amp under your dash). Does the Blaupunkt amplifier have any markings on it with output RMS ratings? It is possible it doesn't put out much more than a modern HU.

It might just be a case of making sure vibration damper is seated correctly, accessory pulley bolts are tight and refitting your crankshaft bolt... can probably done with just fan and shroud removed... but access would be much easier without radiator fitted.

I've got an M20B25 and the crankshaft bolt sticks out past accessory pulley, so I'm guessing yours is missing (judging by the hole) and the accessory pulley and it's six bolts are the only things holding your vibration damper on (the thing that is striking your water pump pulley). I don't know what the other ramifications of a missing crankshaft bolt would be... I'm sure Glenn would know. Here's my crankshaft bolt (accessory pulley and vibration damper removed):

It doesn't sound normal... It does sound like it's something running in time with the crank revolutions... maybe something running off one of the drive belts (does it sound louder on any particular side? Does it change when you turn AC on [engaging compressor clutch]?) I would start by removing accessory belts from PS pump and AC compressor and see if it goes away. You could also run engine from cold for a short time without alternator belt (which also runs waterpump and fan, so only for a few minutes tops) to help eliminate them. Alternatively it if it doesn't go away with accessory belts could be timing belt related: tensioner, intermediary shaft bearings or belt rubbing on cover. ​(Disclaimer: I'm not a mechanic... just DIY who has solved similar problems on my own car)

Have you looked on Ebay at the vinyl (leather look) trim sets you can get? They look like a moderate DIY job to re staple the upholstery... e.g. something like this (for early sport style seats): http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-325i-318i-325is-SPORT-SEATS-NATURAL-TAN-UPHOLSTERY-KITS-NEW-/262118555199?hash=item3d077bbe3f:m:mGdoHCDhRms3-eA4ifMcKew&vxp=mtr

My E30 currently has an aftermarket alarm system that is inoperative/I don't have any of the fobs to operate it. I am wanting to get a new alarm with immobiliser - can anyone recommend any particular system or installer? The current system is a mess of wires and I'm wanting to find someone who will do a tidy job and get rid of the old wiring. Thanks in advance!