Sammo

Same-same, but different https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3082033197?bof=UVgKFCaf I'm sure $13k or so could get some panel, paint and some seat covers

What a brilliant trip and perfect car for it - great to see some real miles being done! Sadly whenever I've been road tripping in the beautiful South Island its been in a rental Toyota.

Lots it would seem! https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/Blog/tuning-the-bmw-m57-engine/

Loving the front ride height, excellent for those cheeky driveways and curbs

Could be worth asking these guys - I think this is where I got my Alcantara ones - they only had auto boot listings with a different stitch but were able to make what I wanted no problem. https://www.ebay.com/itm/133471973647?hash=item1f138cb10f:g:J2sAAOSwK2VfhTdk Looks like they have an E87 manual boot in leather listed, but only auto boots in alcantara - sure they could do manual alcantara.

I have a Billetworkz knob I like. These guys have some real tasty knobs IMO, if you can handle a 3rd party logo on your knob. https://blackforestindustries.com/collections/bmw-shift-knobs Edit: They do the BMW manual insets as well, damn might get one myself haha

Driveshaft Hoops needed when an engine swap results in 'significantly' more power - indicated at 50%. https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/infosheets/LVVTA_Info_07-2016_Drive-shaft_Safety-loop_Requirements.pdf No fun at all, especially if you have a two piece shaft (two hoops) - had to do this in my E46 for the manual conversion cert process and cost me a fair few pingers. Couldn't find the literature but I thought an engine swap with 20% plus more power requires certification, regardless. Was going to say N52B30 all the way but then I saw how piss weak the 320i is - an N52B25 should be a big improvement and just under that 50% mark. I ensured all my modifications were LVVTA certified and declared to my insurer - not worried about WOFs so much as insurance. Lot of people rolling around in $$$$ cars with uncerted coilovers - basically handing the insurer a get out of jail free card.

Without a doubt, an E46 M3 (if you can find one!) Modern and comfortable enough All the on road performance you could realistically need Big boot and usable back seat Raw / analogue enough without being exhausting Timeless styling (Peak BMW IMO) Future value assured

Not sure if it rings true for M3s, but my E46 spring research usually showed. H&R sport = mild drop, slightly moreso in the front, slightly firmer spring rates Eibach Prokit = mild drop, slightly more even drop (not rake) and more comfort You will have seen they also do 'Race' and 'Sportline' respectively which are lower and firmer, but not ideal for stock shocks.

I had my Supersprint Muffler installed there and a secondary decat done - no issue with the quality of work and end result, (very happy) but was impossible to pin them down on a quote and shock horror, the cost blew out with lots of calls mid-job about difficulties etc etc. Maybe I wasn't, but kind of felt like I got taken for a ride. No Eftpos either. I used them as they were 5 minutes from the office - YMMV

@Ghost Chip Seen this one? Looks like a bit of a project but a cool colour, can come with either dove grey or black seats and has an option to come with a complete ZF manual conversion... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/480653246389701/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks&tracking={"qid"%3A"6955732337357878778"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"527585097353045659"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A527585097353045659%2C\"target_type\"%3A6%2C\"primary_position\"%3A0%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A8470670935102324736%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A501%2C\"value\"%3A0%2C\"upsell_type\"%3A21%2C\"grouping_info\"%3Anull}"}

And now showing as 'sold pending payment' Without wheels, but still must have been $12-13k for a 316i inside two days. Wow.

Swap interior and bumpers onto 325 and away you go!

Aunty Cindy needs to release a Brightline test for E30s

And another 100hp

Nice wagons, especially in LCI / Facelift which a 2011 will be. the N52 engine is very reliable too by BMW standards. $18k sounds like quite a bit however, although you would be paying for the low kms. if you’re feeling more dangerous (more power, more maintenance), you could easily get a nice 335i wagon for that money. And if you get it from a dealer and leave it stock, a mechanical warranty will be money well spent.

@Olaf is making that stunning Red 318is that someone (Bimmersporter?) picked up for $20-22k last year a bargain...

So the red Tech 2 went from $45K to $64K in the last hour? Four bidders bidding over $62K.

Haha - well done!

Fitted new Lemforder Tierod's last weekend and got a fresh Alignment at RaceAlign on Monday. With Suspension now pretty sorted, decided to put in some 98, inflate the side bolsters up and give her a good, sustained spanking. Went for a blast out to the Manakau Heads Lighthouse which (after the hideous Southern Motorway traffic) was fantastic - brilliant views, no traffic and some pretty fun (if a little sketchy) roads. Car was great - really happy with it - didn't miss a beat, flat and direct, but compliant, heaps of feedback and with the 3.38 diff, plenty of power for me on these types of roads. A bit much tramlining for my liking, but a lot of that would have been the nature of the crappy roads. Only bummer was the speeding ticket and 20 demerits doing 98 in what I had assumed was a 100kph zone in Drury. Oh well, could have been worse 😜

Thanks - huge amount of work refurbishing them! Its an Aliexpress Android unit, but I'm running wireless carplay on it via a hidden USB dongle.

Armrest delete FTW 😬

Absolute stunner - a true Gentleman's express.

@GorGasm There was this impressive display of 4 different colour mint, stock B5 RS4s at the Brit and Euro show a few weeks ago. Excuse the crappy wide angle photo trying to fit them in, was quite impressive in person!

Quite an expensive paddock basher!