Sammo

I saw that one on the FB group, madness!

Still have her old Mazda Axela and did pick my own panel beater, just surprised at the time for what seemed like such a minor mishap (I've done it myself on my E46 and was able to DIY)

So this little kerb vs bumper mishap means car is going to be off the road until 16th October... basically a month after only having the car a week, thanks to Tower taking their time and panel beaters being flat out. I really hope a lesson has been learned!

*Justin Marshall voice* me oh my I have enjoyed that yes boy

Wonder if press shots legally need to have number plates? Could have done what Apple does with the iPhone product shots - black background to hide the big ass notch. Grilles would look a lot better without the number-plates...

@qube It definitely looks better black on black, masking the design. The tail pipes are.... creative.

FYI - I just dropped my car off at Takapuna Mufflers this morning. Was booked in for 10am but now 'They will try to get to it today' and wouldn't provide an indicative cost despite it being a common enough car and sighting the muffler (clamp on type) which is clearly stamped Supersprint E46 330i... No eftpos either which is whack. I left it with them so we will see - didn't get a great vibe - only went there as they are really close to my office and google reviews seemed fine.

Good colour, E61 Msports look good ?

I've got mine booked in to put on my Supersprint exhaust and maybe secondary cat delete at Takapuna mufflers. Will let you know if they are any good or not - I know they do a lot f muffler / resonator deletes etc.

Brave man! But its red, its a coupe and S50/52 is a pretty bloody good vision!

Agree, especially under the bonnet and those front leather seats would look great with $35 of Coulourlock leather fresh (toning dye) and an hours elbow grease.

Absolutely beauty, when it rains it pours! https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/2797931183?bof=BwmOx9RV

Great thread, such a beautiful, simple car with all the little details seen to. Do you find yourself wanting a little more punch sometimes, or just enjoy it as a sweet handling 'momentum' car?

FCP Euro is great, really fast shipping, and cheap if you get a few things at the same time - pretty sure they sell only OEM stuff? Don't get hit with GST either.

Just saw a mint Diamondschwartz(?) M325i driving down Beach Haven Road - maybe looked like @Contrails ?

Just daydreaming at this point but an M54 E30 would be amazing

@BMTHUG Nice, think I might have seen that on FB / Trade Me - nice looking dark sedan listed for $15k?

@E30 325i Rag-Top yeah, just about better off buying an auto or 4cyl and slapping an M50 in it... Will keep saving my pocket money and sweet talking the wife ?

Yeah, I might try adding a duct to the stock box (down to brake duct? - I believe E46 M3 does something similar) and do some temp comparison tests as I have a bluetooth dual probe thermometer I use for BBQ / smoking.

Cheers, was a sound only mod so perhaps I'll go back to stock if my exhaust does a good job when installed. I did make one which was fully shielded and insulated, using factory ducting but this type will never be fully sealed above and below like stock of course.

Seen a few lately but sedans ?

Would love to get a good 325i manual coupe at some point in the next year or so as a 'forever car' to restomod... guess I would be looking at $15k plus and a chunk of change for sorting it properly...

@3pedals Do you get any 'whistle' with the E36 intake? Seems to be an issue with any open type filter with the E46 - great induction tone, but comes with an annoying accompaniment...

Thanks mate - and thanks all for the robust debate - a little initial research had indicated conflicting data, as evidenced in this thread. I am thinking for my purposes, its probably not worth messing with moving the sensor as I'm hardly drag racing stoplight to stoplight in traffic and the airflow is great on a spirited drive when I actually want the power. As to ingestion of hot air, my intake does use the factory kidney ducting and is heat-shielded (including from the expansion tank and with proper thermal insulation backing) and reasonably sealed off so I would hope its not too bad - certainly about as good as an open cone filter would get. Anyway, I made this change for sound alone, while trying not to lose performance, I may well go back to stock once I install my Supersprint backbox if it sounds good enough to ditch the intake. I love the induction roar, but there is an annoying whistle on part throttle that comes with it...

Looks like a render, rather than a photo?