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Sammo

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Posts posted by Sammo

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Got the car back today after a mechanical birthday and have to say - I'm falling in love with it all over again.

    Foruntately for me, the gearbox was fine and it just needed a new clutch so got a few other things sorted as well and it is completely transformed:

    • New LUK clutch kit and flywheel machined (the old generic heavy duty clutch lining was wrecked) 
    • Super stiff (I had assumed it was an E30 thing) accelerator cable cleaned and adjusted - will replace later in the year but 100x better already
    • Valve cover leak and valves that were way out of spec adjusted
    • Idle valve and throttle clean and some minor vacuum leaks sorted
    • Everything cleaned off so any potential other leaks can be easily identified

    I never realised I was driving around a rough E30 but its another car now - nice light and responsive clutch and accelerator pedals, along with a far quieter idle and stronger, much smoother pull through the gears.

    Feels like its ready for another 400,000km and can't wait to give it some proper beans this weekend!

     

     

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    • Like 9

  3. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Eagle said:

    If you can do the work yourself and know where to buy parts they arent bad. Preventative replacement is the key to make them last. E46's aren't as simple as easy to work on compared to older BMW stuff, but they aren't difficult especially so much information\guides on everything. Buying on condition and service history is all i go by, same as any brand really. All my best cars were all 300,000km+ and been reasonably well looked after. Still needed money spent on them of course and paint wasn't the best but engines etc were clean and solid. M54 have a rep for burning oil due to crappy rings which to me is their worse flaw along with subframe floor.

    Yeah the M are the more likely to fail first but plenty of examples of non M's with damage. Seen a number of pre-2000 models here in NZ with cracked receiver mounts which are the worse examples. Personally i dont think theres a shortage of E46's driving around with the beginnings of failure ie failed spot welds. They could driving like that for ages before anything happens if it even does progress to any noticeable floor cracking. Older these cars get the more likely its going to happen though and just to inspect the car fully requires alot of work. Out of sight out of mind or not even knowing has its benefits.

    All the 4\6 cylinders before M5X were way more simple easier to work on. Anyone could work on those without much guidance.  

    My old one needed a little crack repaired by the current owner while LSD and subframe bushings were done and that car was an auto for 145 out of 160km and I never launched it in my ownership... was quite surpirsed to hear that!

  6. Posted · Report reply

    39 minutes ago, isis said:

    Good to see another CarPro fan! With all that work that's gone into it, you should have gone with a couple of layers of C-Quartz UK

    Love their whole range! 

    Definitely interested in looking at Cquartz later in the year after I get some paint work done.

    For now she gets a coat of Hydro2 Lite every other wash which keeps everything slick and beady.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    39 minutes ago, E28E30 said:

    Looks like brand spanking new @Sammo.

    Does the Ceriglass get machined on or done gently with a cloth? Presume the latter?

    Ceriglass went on with a machine - worked really well to remove that typical rain spot etc by type ‘film’ that never seems to come off.

    • Like 1

  8. Posted · Edited by Sammo · Report reply

    Finally dusted off the DA Polisher that’s been sitting in the basement for a year since I bought it to prep car for the Brit and Euro show:

    • Wash
    • Clay
    • Wash and dry
    • Spot Carpro Clearcut (heavy cut)
    • Carpro Ceriglass on windows (remove etching / water spots)
    • Carpro Fixer (medium cut)
    • Carpro Essence (Light cut glaze with sealant and fillers)
    • Carpro Elixer (High gloss Si02 spray sealant)

    Also refinished headlight lenses and detailed all black trim with Carpro Perl.

    Really, really happy with how it came out - and the car already looked pretty good - took out almost all the minor scratches that would show up in certain light and just looks great now.

    Also got a new alarm fitted and the install is much tidier now - he removed a crazy amount of crap from under the kick panel - the remote is half the size of the old one which helps too.

    Still waiting on workshop to book me in for the gearbox / clutch / who knows.... but car probably hasn’t looked this good in 10-15 years.

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    • Like 13

  11. Posted · Report reply

    11 minutes ago, Eagle said:

    My old E30 had the same issue. Rarely ever happened luckily.

    Given the milage on your car it probably deserves a bit of a mechanical birthday. E30s aren't too hard on the wallet.

    Yeah, she will certainly be getting a few more Birthdays this year 😀

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

  12. Posted · Report reply

    11 minutes ago, Eagle said:

    My old E30 had the same issue. Rarely ever happened luckily.

    Given the milage on your car it probably deserves a bit of a mechanical birthday. E30s aren't too hard on the wallet.

    Yeah, she will certainly be getting a few more Birthdays this year 😀

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Car is really misbehaving at the moment!

    Gearbox / clutch vibration getting worse and worse so am booking it in March to get the box removed and taken to Kayne Barrie for assessment / rebuild - possibly be in for a new clutch as well…

    Ancient alarm / immobiliser has always had a few quirks but has really started playing up recently and keeps arming itself while the engine is running - booked to get it removed and replaced this week.

    Also have an intermittent rattle under the car I though was a loose heat shield but is still persisting at cold idle…

    Speaking of idle, car is intermittently a little grumpy on cold start (smells very rich and a bit stuttery until warm like it’s an old carbed car) - not sure if it will help but I do have a coolant temp sensor to install (the one that tells the ECU the temp) and might get valves adjusted too (workshop reckon a few sounded noisy and wasn’t running quite right).

    Will be tarting her up for the Brit and Euro show in Pakuranga on Sunday so at least she will look pretty.

    Trying to remember what I spent my money on before 😂

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  15. Posted · Report reply

    Just now, Cement said:

    Dang i thought it was all done as there were no dates for this year last time I looked. Is it going to be regular through summer ?

    My car is definitely more an April fools kinda machine 🤣

    Yup, every month for rest of year - insane turnout this morning too - around 1500 plus cars I would guess.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    28 minutes ago, Codi said:

    Awesome, will look at Friday evening 31st of March or we could do the morning of April the 1st 🤔

    that gives us a few weeks to see if we can razzle up a few more owners 😁

    What do you think 🤔

    Meguiars Cars and Coffee is on tomorrow as well - should be a good one - Mount Smart Statdium 9am.

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

  21. Posted · Report reply

    28 minutes ago, APT said:

    Did anyone catch what happened to the red M325i listed (sold for) on Trademe a week or two back ? Could possibly be looking at listing mine and wanted to use it as a gauge on the market. 

    Thought I had it watchlisted but can't see it anymore, but the Silver Tech 2 with 330km but very clean with loads of work done went for low 40's amonth or two back, I believe.

    And a Tech 1 was bidded to $38,500 but closed without hitting reserve.

     

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Took car in to get my clutch / driveline vibration looked at properly - has been bothering me a bit for a while and seems to be getting worse (or me becoming more OCD about it). Was assuming a clutch related issue as its mostly through the pedal and goes away as soon as pedal is depressed.

    Shop reckons it is actually the gearbox -  an input shaft bearing? (think thats what they said - there has also been a light rattle at idle in neutral with the clutch out).

    Still there overnight (safely inside) awaiting the view of an expert who rebuilds a lot of these boxes...

    Does not sound like a cheap issue 🙁

    At least the interior is nice!

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    • Like 6
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