Palazzo

You hit two nails on the head. One car that had "whatever needed doing done" versus taxis that have minimal maintenance and no bushes/suspension/driveline joints replaced unless they fell out. Any car is only as good as its maintenance schedule.

A mate had a V6 A4, bought it for $5k and spent $5k on numerous repairs, a new clutch for a 1.8T will set you back close to $3k. Passat will be hard to find in manual, seems to wear front suspension bushes and glove boxes fall off. I'd have the 6 every time. My 2 cents, based on friends who've had them.

Not BNQ?

I used to see one of those cars around regularly. Interesting, I'd say most are imports (judging by the plates) with either standard anti theft or nothing?

But cheaper than the $700k or so they were quoted at back a few years and with some good history. Still a huge amount of money though.

I assume all E30 seats fit, so I need a cheap or free E30 seat in Akld. Condition pretty much irrelevant as long as you can sit in it and drive short distances.

Actually, I stuffed up, couldn't figure out why the figure looked so good, then realised the web site I used for the conversion calculated on US gallons, not imperial. Correct figure for round town usage only is 9.9-11.3l/100km. Had 7.7l/100km on a relaxing trip.

I have a leaking clutch cylinder (I presume), how do I tell which? I remember one used to leak in the drivers footwell, no leak this time. Need to know which one to order off Gavin, or should I just do both again?

I get 8.4-9.4l/100km out of a 328i manual in Auckland rush hour traffic, how much better would you expect a 318i auto to be?

Just hoses? Would seem hard to believe that Enzed Hoses(?)/Hydraulink or someone similar can't make up at least OEM spec or better hoses for less than $330 a piece.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-420292812.htm Would the eta head make it slower? Or has it had the whole lot done?

I call fake.

You might find the cost of a good one a bit eye watering, a mate has had one since new ('84ish?), a couple of years ago a boat dealer told him it was worth about $17k......... It's mint with a 90 Yamaha (I think) on the back. Lake use only.

On TM yes. But not at Turners for an estimated $12k sale. That's almost tempting buying if it's all put together properly. And a lot better than $18.5k on TM.

http://www.turners.co.nz/Vehicles/Pages/Ca...px?RefId=947057

Nice work. Hmmn, GT Radials, I have them on ours, best of luck in the wet. Good fun little cars.

Cheers, that's what I was thinking.

Need front pads soon, OEM? EBC? Repco specials? Any thoughts on durability/quality/effectiveness vs cost?

Sigh. Thanks Glenn. Master and slave were replaced a few years ago, so likely them again or a line somewhere?

This may be my imagination, but it seems that the clutch on the E30 (325i if that makes any difference) is suddenly taking up much closer to the floor, rather than closer to the end of travel. It may be my imagination, but I have a vague recollection that this is some sort of impending doom/repair. Any ideas?

Is it ripped/damaged, or just going opaque? If the latter, there is a plastic polish I have at home (Mothers??) that will clear it up very well.

I'd go dark graphite grey. Try Brugars on Barrys Point Rd.

Whoops. Silver Fox is right in that POP is the radar used, the other numbers you refer to (1.8 etc) are software versions of the Valentine.

I'm pretty sure the "POP" refers to the version of software in the Valentine, the higher the number, the later the version. I have one which is I think 2 or even 2.1. Having just driven Akl-Papamoa-Akl over the weekend using a top of the line Bel something with custom install (something like $2ks worth), the Valentine is far better. The Bel failed to pick up 2 camera vans sitting on the side of the road, not even a peep. The Valentine at least picks up something. I also have a 20 year old Uniden (LRD9000) which you can pick up off TM for about $25. It has a far longer range than either of the above, it's failings over the Valentine being no rear facing sensors (although it will still pick them up from behind) and no arrows to tell you where they are.

I did 55,000km in mine, nothing apart from a rocker cover gasket (?I think?) leak and a plug that kept popping out of the back of the head. Fixed with the later upgraded plug. I'm sure if you run massive boost they would cause problems like anything else, there are also plenty on the net running low boost supercharged set ups with good reliable power.