Sammo

Those are the brand new genuine silver euro plates 🤣 maybe I should have gone black - definitely look faded from some angles

I feel like it had already been re-painted too (the original listing I mean) - good on him if he can get it sold, but a beautiful, original red 318is sold for half this, maybe a year ago or less? Had sport seats as well which I would hope to see on a replica.

First update after a week or so of ownership and a few 100kms... First few goodies arrived - A Condor 'Shorty' Shift knob and my new Euro Plates - went with silver 'wings' and really happy with the look at the front, although against the black rear plate frame the lack of contrast on certain angles just looks a bit white - we will see - looks better IRL than in the pictures - its just a lighter silver than I had hoped. Took her out this morning for a proper country drive out Helensville / Makarau way - it was drizzling and the suspension is tired and tires old so I didn't go nuts but had loads of fun. Observations: LOVE this exhaust / engine note - Loud raspy wail above 4K / great undulating burble at idle, blipping downshifts sounds fantastic and pops on upshifts and deceleration if you provoke it - so good. Unknown short shifter is nice, got a new shifter cup on way but no need to fiddle here Love the feedback through the wheel and happy with the slower rack (for now at least?) coming from a purple tag E46 100% need to do a suspension refresh - ride is quite hard and bouncy - happy with how flat it is through bends however, so will keep the sways and just change the bushes, maybe add a strut brace given the age More civilised than I expected on the motorway, aside from aforementioned bouncy ride - presumably due to dampers being past it Fixed a bad rattle in drivers door (was worn door hinge pads - a bit of electrical tape and it feels like a bank vault now) - flappy glove box is only other rattle of note now - not bad for such high kms Will also get drivers seat re-foamed when I get it the interior reupholstered and change the seat shocks - too much movement. Stupid easy to get the rear to step out on greasy roads - need a driver upgrade now - almost made a fool of myself in an intersection giving a touch of throttle mid corner - need to learn how an LSD feels? Will leave the old Potenza's on through summer and take it easy in wet - they don't seem bad otherwise, but will leave them for now as need to decide if I'm going to go to 16" or not after I do the suspension. Stoked with my decision even though the car needs plenty of improvement - feels somewhere between an NA MX5 and the E46 which is exactly what I had hoped.

Remove BBS RS, replace with reps, add M42 - profit? https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3385016000.htm Now $43k after an engine swap and wheels flogged off.

Amazing build, love the detail!

Something I'm enjoying with the M20 is how it 'comes on cam' noticeably compared to the perfectly linear M54.

Could try an auction with a $15K reserve? Great time of year to sell a vert and not many about / for sale, smaller engine and auto not a deal breaker for people looking for a stylish summer cruiser. Love the seats! Will likely go Anthracite Uberkaro in mine.

The one on Trade Me with the 20V and ITBs?

Beautiful pics I guess

This is the Cirrus one I was chatting about earlier - beautiful car, low Kms NZ new factory manual. Looks really good, PFL 2 doors have a nice delicate / pretty look. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3381926409.htm

“I know what I got”

Interesting - at least its got super low km, although that kind of clashes with the modifications from a collector / value standpoint. I'm looking forward to some questionable E46 asking prices now after mine went so quickly at $18k

Nice car (except the heinous wheels) - looks like a $15K car these days. This guy also bought that Black E46 on ACS in one of the pictures a few years ago (I test drove it before buying mine) for $10K and listed it for a whopping (at the time) $15K soon after. His M3 is for sale for $60K. I'm guessing he is a not a 'motivated seller'.

Definitely going to watch this later! Henry Catchpole is great.

Whoops, just went to FCP for 1987 but saw the below: 1987 BMW 325i Tail Light Lens Seal From 9/1987 @Rick Rub Take your Vin and enter it into Real OEM to find the correct part number and google should reveal plenty of options.

I'll add them to the 'To Do' list Going to tackle a little DIY over Xmas break (cambelt / valve adhustment) and will bring it to the workshop in the New Year so someone who actually knows what they are doing can give it a once over

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2322090.m570.l1313&_nkw=63211380419&_sacat=0 https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/tail-light-gasket-priced-each/63211380419/ https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-gasket-63211380419

Yeah, love the colour - the benefits of silver but with a little more depth / interest to it. Seats could benefit from a little more foam TBH, also a bit 'wobbly'. I don't think the wheel is original to the car - per the build sheet came with: 708 - M Technic Leather Sport Steering Wheel II So will probably refurb the leather on this one (have already ordered a fresh BMW badge and coloured trim piece) in the meantime and put that towards a refurbished 370mm MT2.

@m325i Ahhh yes - per your username! Will be semi-daily-ing - i.e. driving 2-3 times in week then otherwise for fun whenever I want - I work from home 70% of time now-days and rarely sit in traffic. Could go clear markers - cheap to see how it looks anyway. 370mm Mtech wheels seem to be in the $800 plus range, yeah, although once you add a boss kit not much difference to a Momo or Nardi. Without airbags, I'm thinking an Mtech 2 wheel looks like a nicer place to smash my face into than a exposed metal wheel haha

To further support my nomination I just bought an E30 with almost 400km

Yup, aside from the seats she’s doing well!

So good, a little sewing machiney sometimes which I'll get used to, but theres an underpass not far from my house that sounds insane with the Remus screaming at 6500rpm

Haha - Cheers! Still can't believe I found an M325i, even if she's due a little love.

After about 18 months of failing to get an E30 out of my head, I managed to secure my affordable dream car. A 1989 (Built Sep 1988) M325i in Lachssilber. This is the exact colour and spec car that became etched in my brain 20 plus years ago when a well-off school friend's father had one in the mid-late 90s. Before I owned my E46 I had always assumed old BMWs were prohibitively expensive to maintain. Car popped up on Facebook, I got lucky and called the seller within 5 minutes of the post (was the 2nd caller) , built a bit of rapport and did the deal a few hours later. The previous owner is a great guy who has owned and loved it 20 years, although in the last 5 or so it's seen limited use so is in need of a bit of a birthday. I have to say however, for 33 years and 389km it is in good shape. In addition to all the standard M325i goodies it has a spicy Remus exhaust, Dobi / Koni suspension, 22mm and 16mm whiteline swaybars and a short shifter - things I would have done anyway. I still need to get under it and have a proper nosey, but have pulled together a to do list for the next 6 months: Maintenance Cambelt / Waterpump / Tensioner / Coolant / Drive belts Valve adjustment / Spark Plugs / Valve cover gasket Oil and filter / Gearbox and Diff Fluid / Fuel Filter / Air filter Rust treating for few small surface areas / clear sunroof drains / replace elephant drain Sort intermittent ABS light before my next WOF Fuel Lines / Vacuum Lines New tyres - 15" RE003 or 16" PS4 depending on wheel choice Steering coupler / Control Arms (with Powerflex offset M3 CABs) / Tierods Shocks / Springs / mounts - Will likely get a matched ST Suspension set - 50mm / 40mm with thicker rear spring pads for saggy butt Strut brace - I'm guessing a car this old and used could benefit? Engine mounts and transmission mounts Exterior DIY repaint mirror + rear window trims in meantime Full paint correction and detail Replace all faded / blacked out badges / decals with new OEM Exterior Trim refresh - front grills and kidneys / door handles / B pillar trims Euro plate Refurbish Basket weaves (or more likely get 16" Alpina / 16" Weaves reproduction wheels - undecided) Finish detailing engine bay and restore a few parts cosmetically Tackle rust gremlins - sunroof tray and few small bubbles in roof skin / boot and boot seal Respray roof / boot / drivers door and rear right quarter after rust work - other panels are excellent Interior Refurbish Mtech 1 380mm wheel inc new badges New plush floor mats Condor 'Shorty' Gear knob and Stitchboots shift and brake boots in Anthracite Uberkaro Bluetooth stereo in 'period correct' style - BMW Radios Reverse RDS customised with text / bluetooth / mic / pre-outs Refinish interior plastics and parcel tray / carpet Re-upholster full interior including door cards - Anthracite Uberkaro Re-foam and rebuild drivers seat with new shocks etc Needs odometer gears so will tart up the cluster while I'm in there Mtech 2 370mm wheel and restore that 2023 and Beyond RTABs / Diff carrier / Subframe bushes Shifter rebuild Beat on the M20 until it needs a rebuild and stroker 🤣 Looking forward to driving and improving this beauty!