Sammo

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.

Welded the broken seat hinge L bracket and also removed some play in the base by adding some washers (worn out or missing?). Still not perfectly solid like the F31 but at least an 80% improvement. Tiniest play in one rail left and a few mm in the hinge mechanism itself, but seat is *far* more solid an most importantly, safe and secure. Hoping once I add new seat shocks they will minimise the little play left by holding it firmly in position (current ones were easily compressible by hand and are supposed to be 400nm or so)

Lovely afternoon for it

Haha I just realised we are rocking silver E30s and white wagons

Put on gloss black mirror caps and grille - quite impressed with the fit and finish of these eBay specials. Might leave the exterior for now, I want to do the lower lip gloss black but wife wants to leave it white 🤔 First 1000km of mixed driving is showing 6.4l/100km - pretty reasonable?? as plenty of urban in that.

No, still for sale. I think it’s worth $55k though, basically a new car.

*SOLD*

Damn, it must be a handful!! Unfortunately you must have missed out on the Houndstooth sports interior that went on Trade Me a few weeks ago?

SOLD The proper ones - 15x7 ET24 off my M325i. Had tentatively planned to keep but would prefer to have some more cash to dump into my restomod. Price is for 4 (FOUR) wheels - I have 5 so happy for buyer to pick the nicest 4 if they like. Condition is per the images, pretty good but not mint - only one is a bit tatty but you can pick the best 4. 4 BMW waffle covers, two could use a new locking ring. Tyres are all Potenzas but 2013 date stamped - they are in very good condition for their age, plenty of tread and drive fine - I daily’d these tyres for 5 months including some ‘spirited driving’ in dry weather without issue. Pick up only in Auckland - North Shore.

Awesome man - those vader conversions look great - yeah, I'm looking at either Relicate or M Fabrics (ASC unfortunately don't do Anthrazit Uberkaro).

Very impressive - was surprised how well that Prelude launched too. E9X E8X N54/55 BMWs gotta be the best value performance base out there these days.

Nice man - what colour is that - reminds me of Orientblau Keen to see that headliner! What places did you price skins for the vaders? For my E30 retrim I will likely purchase reproduction fabric overseas and get a local trimmer to make and install the covers - only seen fabric covers on Ebay in limited fabrics at high prices... L seat only do leather and seem a bit hit and miss.

Unfortunately mine is gone so can't measure it. 100mm is legally as low as you can go? Angles etc makes all the difference. With the E30 I cannot back in and drive out (forwards) without scraping even if I'm super careful, but I can drive in forwards and back out totally fine, even without taking much caution.

My grille is bigger than your grille

Dismantled my E30 drivers seat and ‘fixed’ a few wobbles with washers and cable ties (lol) before I can get a broken tab welded - also bent bolsters back in shape - feels like a different seat even though it’s still clapped out (not for much longer). Adjusted my handbrake and identified a Leaky hose as culprit for my power steering leak. Installed a carplay unit in the F31 Then Spent $700 or so at FCP Euro on bits and bobs 😂

I believe the penalty is simply paying the difference between reduced and 'full priced' RUCs, IF they can / can be arsed tracking it, so no real reason not to stock a up a few. I'll buy 10,000km shortly see how it goes.

Put on euro plates and Did the carplay install today. Quite impressed with this Carplay unit (Roadtop from eBay), came with detailed colour, English instructions, simple wiring, basically plug and play and well integrated with factory system (e.g microphone / reverse camera / steering controls). Also nice working on a more modern car where no clips etc are broken. Took about 3 hours to install and set up properly, mainly due to needing to remove glovebox to find a place to secure the unit.

Like make a new one? I have a mate who reckons he can weld it so will try that first and hope it lasts.