Sammo

Or a tasteful(?) 325i making the pile of cash smaller by the day 😂

RHD M3? https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3630377392.htm Wouldn’t a lightly modified RHD converted e30 M3 be worth less than an original though? I do LOVE how this thing looks though.

@Kees annoying, I would expect if I was to proactively attempt to prise a car from someone, I should be the one making the offer, rather than expecting the non-seller placing a value on it.

Interior planning update: My Mtech 2 370mm wheel is in NZ now so hope to get my hands on it shortly. Found my Fabric (Anthracite Uberkaro by Relicate) https://relicate.com/collections/uberkaro-plaid-fabric-for-bmw-e30-and-m3/products/uberkaro-fabric-for-bmw-m3-and-e30-anthracite?variant=32486462881872 I didn’t realise but I already have this same fabric in my car as Stitchboots used it for my shifter and handbrake boot - it’s nice and dark - I’m not a fan of the silver Uberkaro. Biggest decision now is wether to go Uberkaro on the door panels as well - due to the one piece E30 door car design it won’t be able to replicate the factory look with the fake stitch (will look like below photo but in Uberkaro) but I think it will tie in nicely compared to having light grey plain fabric (my existing door card). Possibly could have horizontal stitched ‘pleats’ on the door card to break up the wall of fabric and replicate the sport seats vertical pleats / emulate the leather door card horizontal pleats too. Just waiting on my 2nd estimate and hope to get done in July.

Style 32's came on E38 as well and will have better offset and widths for an E39. Most people run style 32s in that fitment due to extra lip and more aggressive offset so shouldn't be too hard to find - 18x8 ET20 and 18x9 ET24. 18 is probably a better size for E39, you will still have plenty of sidewall. http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/32

@SmackJackTheCrackerMan Demontweeks have a good selection and pricing, although since I got my E46 coilovers from them, shipping prices seem a lot higher. Or locally, Speedfactor have good prices and no shipping to worry about, more limited selection though - I got a set of AP (entry level brand from KW Germany) springs from them for my E46. They were fine for an OEM+ upgrade but I wanted lower and firmer in the end and wnet for coilovers. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/performance/suspension-braces/listing/3623289357 Picture of how mine sat with them (330ci) they were factory comfortable but just not much lower than Msport and not much of a performance upgrade.

Got a little Karcher K3 pressure washer for a few wee jobs around the house (well that was the official justification) and thought it would come in handy for washing the car, using snow foam and hopefully cleaning wheels without a brush. So after I cleaned the steps and fence, I gave the E30 its first snow foam wash. After being quite excited about it seemed like much ado about nothing - foam was thick and fantastic (Autoglym Polar Blast) but just seemed like such a pain in the arse with 3 'cords' instead of 1 when you have to touch wash it afterwards anyway. I guess it would be good for people who let their cars get dirty but mine is generally pretty clean. Also felt like it removed a little of my sealant. Will reserve it for when I've got more time / car is filthy, otherwise a quick rinse and 2 bucket wash is king.

Have you replaced your RTABs? Could be a real factory on a sloppy rear end. From what I’ve read, generally poly subframe bushes won’t add much NVH at all but diff bush may do. I would go 80a poly as an in between - I’ve got an 80a diff mount on the way for the E30 (mainly for simplicity of installation) and when time comes I’ll go with factory rubber RTABs and 80a poly subframe bushes.

Someone got a bargain I think! What’s the plan when the Mini goes?

Car looks great - very much USDM ' ZHP' vibes, especially in Imola. Just did my E30 parcel tray with this - worked well - just use very light coats and then brush in with a soft bristle brush and repeat until you have good coverage and penetration - just be careful not to spray on heavy as it will saturate and 'clog' the fibers if used aggressively. Its a nice dark grey. I'll use it for my carpet too. https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/dupli-color-dupli-color-vinyl-and-fabric-paint-aerosol-paint-charcoal-grey---311g/324092.html I used 1 and a bit cans but you could probably get away with one can if you stick to light coats (mine was mega faded).

Damn, car is looking great. Sometimes wonder if I should have got an E46 M3 instead of the old jalopy.

Beautiful!!

She’s sleeping rough for the next 4-5 weeks, just in time for the rainy season 😬

Well at least you know it won’t need an Italian tune up

Diesels take at least twice as long to get to temp - kind of shocked whenever I drive my 320d. 1000km a tank is nice though.

Got to be one of the best non Ms going around

Got to be the most purposeful, loved and well used E87 going around?

Got my WOF. Continuing to work on the interior parts so it is mostly mint when I get seats and door cards reupholstered. Today I refinished my parcel tray in charcoal, added rear headrests (butchered some other seats for parts) and changed my huge ugly 6x9s that needed 20mm spacers for some sleek 5x7s that look much more OEM and cover the awkwardly sized premium speaker holes. Huge difference - looks so much more premium - but very tricky to photograph due to rear window reflections - here is how much sun fade has occurred over 35 years. Will do my carpets in the same dark grey soon.

Get in with those 2020 prices https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3614344518?bof=XscXHVUT

Got a new WOF after fixing a few things - PS leak / floppy seat / floppy door hinge / floppy tie rods. Do have a new thing to add to the to-do list - large amount of vertical play in my steering couple guibo causing a clunk over every speed bump... I have a rubber one here but might go for a softer grade grade poly so I feel like I've upgraded / ruined something at the same time.

So… I’ve become obsessed with making my seats as good as possible, structurally and mechanically before I go to the expense of making them pretty. Symptom I’m having (both sides) is a minor amount of play somewhere in the hinge / base / connection to rails which means they can be rocked forward like the (somewhat exaggerated) video. They feel good and solid when sitting in them as body weight takes up this play. Things I’ve found wrong with the drivers seat: Seat back tab where it bolts to base was sheared (a common and the only real documented issue online) - fixed via welding. Seat base rail on driver right side sheared- will need to be welded before upholstering. Missing / 35 year old wave washers on rear connecting rod which connects the two hinges - I suspect this is the general area of play due to the rod cradle design - I just can't see how to improve it. Completely shot seat shocks (not related to play, but nice to have and ordered and on the way) Everything that can be has been tightened. Frustratingly, none of these things appear to have helped the issue (passenger seat is same, despite not having any of the driver seat structural issues). I do have a pair of solid comfort sedan seats here that I’ve been butchering for parts (planning to do rear headrests) so next step is to try swapping the hinges themselves and then rails over to see if that helps… Seat base rod that connects the two hinges - this seems to be the area of movement Drivers seat frame is not supposed to look like this but does not seem related Video of play - might be relatively common, but I want to make it better IMG_4581.MOV

Very very cool

Ticked off a couple of jobs today: Cleaned sunroof drains, draining nice and quickly now. Fixed my door hinge and fitted a new door stop - very nice having the door hold itself open now like a non shitbox. Also got halfway through changing my distributor cap / rotor / plug wires. Decided to remove my plugs and have a nosey - not pretty at all - these are only about 2000km old and had oil on the threads and were all fouled / gunky. They were changed at the same time as the valve cover gasket, but I could see a bit of oil in all the plug wells… Not sure if this is anything to really worry about, it is a high mileage car and the engine goes very well aside from blowing a touch of grey smoke the first time I redline it on a drive then is fine afterwards. Stroker rebuild in late 2023 maybe 🤔

True, didn't realise it was no reserve. Just saw your sig - did you see that $150k RX2 for sale recently?