Palazzo

Don't cut your parcel tray up for 6x9s, you'll fail a warrant and have a worthless car. Looks good in the photos, just needs to be a bit lower.

No, they were testing an E30. I have copies of road tests for a standard 325i and a convertible. The M3 was faster again, if you were prepared to rev it. Quite funny is that F1 cars in the 70s had around 400-450hp, I've driven 3 "normal" road cars in the last 3 months with more than that. Times change and things move on. I've even heard of Vectras being compared with Audis.

Frankies on Jervois Rd, the old Red, run by the same guy. Good food, reasonable prices and BYO.

Autocar magazine test. 190E 2.5 16 0-60 in 7.2, 142mph flat out. 325i 0-60 in 7.4, 132mph flat out. Note that's the 2.5, not the earlier 2.3.

The M325 every day. I'm not Bimmer exclusive in my car enthusiasm, but I just couldn't take that Merc. I'd guess there are far more than 15 in the country, judging by the numbers that come up for sale, they are horrendously expensive to fix, being an early twin cam 4 valve, it will almost certainly lack low down torque and it doesn't have enough competition pedigree to be really compared with an E30 M3. Road & Track did a comparo years ago when the 325is and M3 were new in the States. They said the M3 was a special car for weekends and sports oriented driving, but the 325 was the better bet for every day and a bit of occasional fun. But hey, at the end of the day, if it's supposed to be a fun car for you, buy with your heart and wear the consequences.

Thanks for the above post (and the number), I haven't driven the convertible for 6 months, so it's now on exemption. I think compliance is probably like lawyers, they'll always find something they don't like to justify a fee.

This was at Turners a few weeks back, estimate then was for less than it's selling for iirc. I remember being surprised that nobody posted it up. Usual story with this company, if they don't like the price and their mates can't bid you up, it will reappear citing a bad trade. Looks ok for that money though. $10k servicing p.a. and $4k petrol p.a.and you're away.

I'll throw another 2 cents in. The 325i beat the Cosworth Merc in either the German or European (maybe both) Touring Car Champs in '86 before the M3 even came out. That plus we looked at buying an '87 Cosworth in 1990. it was NZ New, lowish ks and had had $13k spent on maintenance in the last 12 months, stranding the owner 3 times on the motorway. The M325i for me every time then.

The NZ new 2.5. Ex Chch should be low or rust free, low k's and you can get used to it now and make incremental (and hopefully satisfying) improvements. Supposedly, the 2.7eta crank gets "whippy" when revved, if you're going to track it, the 2.5 may be a better bet. If you want extra excitement, put on some GT Champiros and drive on wet days.

Did you try Euro Italian? Their pricing is always good.

3 dr for price only. I've always liked Patrols, but they seem to have huge mileages and most of the (early) ones I've looked at have had rust. The Safari 2.8 diesel is a known dud.

The early Hilux Surfs with either V6 or diesel are so slow you won't believe it. I always had to recheck the handbrake when driving a diesel. For a V6, allow 1-1.5kms of straight road to overtake 1 car doing 90km/h. Plus the V6 had a tendency to do head gaskets. The later 3 litre diesels may be OK. A Discovery will make you sea sick on corners and broke, a Rangie, probably just broke. I'd try and find a 3 dr Prado, '96-2000, manual diesel.

Auto Temp told me it would be $3k to fix the air con in the E30 without looking at it. Then checked it, found it still had gas in it and said it would still be $3k and wasn't worth fixing on that car or an E36.

It did the Nissan Mobil in Wgtn too, same year as M3s, just slower.

You can't get burnt on it, the finance company is selling it. $1 on the PPSR (Companies Website) would have shown finance owing. It is a harsh lesson, the guy selling simply took the money and never repaid his debt.

Nope. It's court seized for unpaid fines is all I can add and has a loser personalised plate.

There will be a black one coming up at Turners Akld soon. NZ New, manual, around 125kms. That will give you an idea of value, or a bargain. . . .

I had a facelift '91 RS for 9.5 years, apart from the aforementioned lifter problem, it was very reliable for that time, which included 147000kms of driving, ranging from gentle cruising to 6k rpm dropped clutch starts. Numerous mates have had them, only one was an expensive lemon and that after a full pre purchase check. They are very good cars and the only reason mine is gone now, is the most common problem with them that nobody has mentioned. It was stolen.

Jade Auto Services was in Taupo between '03 and '07, then struck off. The directors seem to have disappeared (back to England?). They lived in Acacia Bay and England. The address for service was; Horwath Chapman Ltd Chartered Accountants 107 Heu Heu St Taupo. Good luck.

$1 more than the real top bidder.

Same problem. Pretty sure they "sold" that with reserve met 2 weeks ago, note the *relisted due to time waster*.

I checked the oil cooler pipes, filter and what I thought were obvious bits. Turned out to be the oil pressure switch. Fixed. Cheers all.

Unless it reaches a high market price, it won't sell. I'm amazed these people still have a TM account. They run $1 auctions every week, get friends or associates to place winning bids if their real reserve isn't hit and then relist it with comments like "timewasters, couldn't get funds" etc. Have a go though.

Been thinking about this for a while as a convertible owner. I guess they're rare in that there are less than other E30s (tourings in NZ possible exception) and everything is collectable to someone. How else do you explain all the old British cars so lovingly looked after? Then I remembered what Gerry Hodges said after a visit to Germany with the Mobile Tradition (?) guys, who rated the E30 'vert as 4th on a list of future classic BMWs, so I'm going to say Yes, they are collectable.

Below manifold on downpipe, but looks like it has blown back there. Majority of oil is on bottom part of motor/sump, predominantly drivers side.