Sammo

Why not just keep spending money right? Got myself a new plate - pleasantly surprised it was available:

Not sure TBH, if your E82 is Msport it’s likely lowish at the front already? I just got those black plastic low profile ramp things - about 60cm long and 10cm tall for $60 on Trade Me.

Stunning wheels, I was actually just thinking about going this route on the E46 as a set (18x8 and 18x9.5) came up in need of a refurb for $800 - potential cost of refurb put me off though and the rears were 9.5 ET25 which would be pushing it a little on the E46... regretting it now haha

I am quite low so I still have so low ramps I drive onto and then jack up - this lifts really high as well, so no issue getting stands under even when extended a fair amount. 10 or so pumps to more than high enough for jack stands I would say. I actually just sold this jack but that’s only because I moved house and my car is now parked down several flights of stairs from my tool shed and this bad boy is well over 40kg. Got a 1.5 ton alloy jack (have not used yet) which I’m sure won’t be as good but it’s only 15kg.

I mainly watch 'silly / fun' car stuff on Youtube like Carwow / Donut Media / Hoonigan etc But for genuine quality, Henry Catchpoles Carfection videos are brilliant.

Potentially solid thread haha

Sounds like you have a good budget. 30,000km on an E36, even if legit (it is an import) - every other piece of plastic and rubber in it will still be shagged, makes little sense to pay a premium for such low kms and to hack it up. Get a manual 328i coupe, 200km+ no worries, preferably partially sorted, drive it 3 months then tidy it up and personalise to your taste. Manual swapping is hard to recommend unless you already have all the parts and can DIY. Otherwise you're dealing with sourcing a good box (not a G220), all parts, loads of labour, correct coding and tuning and then LVVTA certification.

I'm a poser though haha

I’m not in the market for an E46 M3 and likely won’t be with the way the market is but I would definitely pay a premium for the right colour. A nostalgia hero car like this ideally needs to be the right colour (for the buyer) IMO. Which is totally subjective as well - especially when the two ‘hero’ colours are a little bit marmite. Personally I would want Mystic Blue / Silver Grey / Imola but could totally see why LSB could command a 10-20% premium.

Thanks mate, yours will definitely be faster haha

Haha love my 3.38, but yeah a lower ratio would probably make those 1st to 2nd shifts nicer

Great start to the weekend - got an ECU tune + burble / crackle map done and most importantly got my my rev hang fixed which has been a pet peeve since I've had the car - I had learned to drive around the rev hang (slowing shifts down), feels much sharper and lighter now. Car feels livelier, although probably Placebo, but it is definitely driving almost as good as it looks now Sounds good too - the burbling / crackling is obvious on deceleration but not obnoxious as the Supersprint is a reasonably quiet muffler.

Wheels aside, what a machine!

Not sure but as a Newb, most 635csi's seem to be silver or light blue so Burgundy is rarer, and with the contrast cream interior, feels quite era appropriate for the style of car TBH. Could be a factor, or maybe the rust isn't as bad as thought - panel and paint certainly seems OK in pics.

Absolute weapon! Very cool

This needs to be renamed 'Grahams Car Porn thread' haha

Saw @M M on the bridge heading south just now - car looked tough, fitment and ride height on point 👌

Can a RMVD actually get out of obligations under the CGA? A quick google suggest no, but I guess the sale agreement would need to list all present faults.

Well, I found the ALL CAPS description reassuring 🤣

I follow this guy on Instagram - carlos_e46_ Oxford Green with the MTexture and CSL styling - absolute beauty and great photos.

This deal was TWICE as good

Haha - I've seen this car - the dealer selling it bought my wife's old Mazda Axela off us (to on sell for a $1000 markup). Its pretty rough but the guy said 'it gets the ladies' 🤣

There's a guy on NZ E46 Owners Club on Facebook selling one along with some Vanos seals for M54B30

That makes for some sobering reading 😆 Thoughts on preventative subframe / RACP solutions for a non-M? Planning on getting my subframe bushings done later in this year.