Sammo

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?

A featherweight compared to the 2215kg Electric version! Actually 1650kg isn’t bad by modern standards for a large coupe, a 1M is 1500kg.

If I didn't have an Mtech 2 wheel en-route I would be throwing money at you right now!

Probably smell nicer than stored 30 year old fabric too. I think M Fabrics was marginally cheaper, Relicate seemed expensive though and only Silver Uberkaro at ASC...

E30 parts are liquid assets - you could sell your weaves and steering wheel in a few hours for $4000

Looks like Lemans have 7m of Uberkaro and 2m.5m of bolster fabric in stock - $225 per metre plus GST but it is OEM BMW fabric - will try to get a sample to make sure it isn't silver Uberkaro, as a bit tricky to tell from photographs. Looking like I'll be in for $1500-2000 on fabric alone haha

Some nice ones on FB marketplace

Great looking car if you don’t look too closely but I feel $25k for a sedan which is unwarranted due to rust with additional rust problems may just be pushing it a tad far. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3602975339.htm

bought a pack of digestive digested biscuits

Yup - Anthrazit Uberkaro (0304/0379) - will do door cards as well. Just trying to get fabric samples at the moment - M-Fabrics hasn't been responsive and Lemans here in NZ is supposed to be coming back to me if they have any. Relicate have it, but don't have the bolster fabric. ASC don't list the darker fabric. All going to plan will be done sometime in August... who did your retrim?

Changed my Tierods in the weekend (the locking plates are a bloody stupid design - nightmare to hammer on with no space to swing a hammer??) and my leaky power steering hose and fluid flush. Couldn't get to my alignment booking as I'm in isolation now (wife positive, I'm negative) so will use this free weekend to catch up on a bunch of other jobs on the car: New plug wires / distributor cap and rotor Coolant temp sensor and level sensor Drive door hinge repair (busted bushing causes excess play) New driver door 'stop' and will clean / lube / tighten / dampen window mechanisms while I'm in there New Pedal rubbers Clean sunroof drains with wire and air compressor Frustratingly I have a clunk over speed bumps after installing my new control arms and end links despite torquing everything 3 times now (yes, I did tighten bolts with jack under the ball joints) will need to get my mechanic to check them out when I do my WOF recheck. Seats are still wobbly (small play in hinge itself / rails?) , but are better and fully secured - will give them another going over when I'm installing the new seat shocks and perhaps my upholsterer will make further improvements when I get seats retrimmed. Hard to know when to say 'when' on an old car! Sounds like a doom and gloom post, so here's a pretty picture.

Have always liked these! beautiful inside and out and from what I researched a few years ago, very reliable in Facelift years.

There are a few durries left in those packs, plus it has half a tank of 91 in it - hence the higher than market asking price

And for just a few grand extra you could get this immaculately presented example https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3600457430.htm

Demand has dropped off, but there is also a glut of nice E30's for sale now, possibly seeing the market being so hot 6-12 months ago but being slow to move. I believe that supply is compounding the situation. While I got lucky with my Tech2 6 months ago, I could have only dreamed of the variety of desirable models on the market at that time - it just shifted to being a buyers market now and has been for at least 4-5 months. There is also a lot of overpriced cars currently on the market, although I'm genuinely surprised the Silver Tech 2 / Dark Blue 2 door with ITBs and the stunning red sedan are still unsold. The Cirrus Blue 2 door 325i was a low kms NZ New factory manual that has been on the market over 6 months - appears to have finally moved on - lovely car but possibly a little marmite spec (Blue on blue) to attract the masses. I was considering it in October.

Good to hear!, yeah, definitely went to a good home - bumped into new owner at the Meguiars Mt Smart car show few weeks back.