Palazzo

I just read a report on this, a test was done on NY city taxi cabs, all with newly rebuilt engines. Run on different oils/change periods etc, after 60k miles, they were stripped and measured for wear. End result, no measurable difference in the wear on each engine. For what it's worth, using Mobil 1 in one of our cars resulted in oil consumption of about 1/4 of a litre every1200-1500kms, going back to mineral oil has taken it back to no measurable oil consumption.

$12,000.

Even with no head, or manifolds, I think 120 is on the light side. I have one sitting on the floor of the garage if anyone is keen to prove me wrong by lifting it.

Seconded, I heard this yesterday and couldn't stop laughing at the sheer stupidity.

Cabrio is deeper, I'll measure the difference for you when the other car gets home. From the floor (inside the car) to the top of the sill on the cabrio is about 14.5cm and the external depth of the sill is about 10.5cm below the door. That's with an MTech I skirt.

As devils advocate, doesn't the fact that 3 out of 5 have been returned to BM answer your reliability question? I t ain't gonna get better with age.

Thought I was being good replacing the belt on the convertible early (by 10kms). turned out it was cracked, loose (enough to make the back of it shiny) and about to go. Checked service records and it was last replaced in '96! So happy I escaped that. Good reminder to everyone to check time and ks from last replacement.

Nice work, I've often wished I could swap the motor for the day from my daily. '97 motor should already be good for 206kw+, so that's a good start.

On my car, yes. Try britisheuropean on Trade Me, he was parting out an ex UK M325i.

Try asking for a price on a 324td crank. "No such model, they never made one."

Have a look on Turners website, they have an '86 635CSi manual coming up for sale at the Te Puke Vintage Autobarn sale on about the 11th of November. Looks tidy enough and indicated price is $10-12k. Has 217kms on it, but supposedly reasonable history. An M6 will set you back about $30k. There was a nice one for sale earlier this year in Whangaparoa. Good luck, I think they're a styley car.

Well, as the owner of each of the vehicles, here's my 2 cents. First off, the D & L guide is rubbish, I've read it and can't stand it. It's not even accurate on simple facts. But, they have a good point about the build/maintenance issues on many euros. Example, '98-02/3? Audi A6 V6. A cam belt change on these things is $2-2500k! Why? Because it's designed in such a way, that you need to dismantle part of the front of the car and that costs money. Anyone have an E36 auto that holds onto first gear in the mornings (cold), then changes to 2nd with a thump? Start saving. I've seen it on cars with less than 80kms. I agree that certain BMWs are fantastic cars, the 5 series springs to mind as the best in class from '88-'03 (hate the look of the new one) and the E30 was THE CAR when I was desperate to join the yuppies in the '80s. Now we have two and they are both great fun, light, chuckable, quick enough and getting more rare in standard tidyish trim. But, just because I enjoy them, doesn't mean you can totally buy into BMW culture. I think too many people read Ultimate Driving Machine and believe it. And without meaning to offend anyone, a 316/318/520 auto doesn't sit well with me and the BM position statement. I have my Lexus because it was good value (2nd hand), reliable and comfortable for everyday use. It's surprised me with the handling (better than expected), the braking (better than probably anything I've driven) and the performance on the open road. It's not perfect, but it's pretty damn good. Last word to Autocar Magazine UK, Jan '95 issue who looked at the LS vs S420, XJ6, 740i, A8 and Range Rover. "The real news here is just how close Lexus has come to taking the top spot. Undeniably superior to the BMW, the LS400 loses ground to the still superb Mercedes-Benz S-class on handling, nterior space and image. But only just. Indeed, the Lexus has easily the best engine here and the sort of build quality that was once the preserve of the Germans."

Title says it all, tool.

The E30 is also fun, hence why you can put me down for two, 325iM and 325 convertible with MTech1 kit (manual). Plus an LS400 daily driver.

I'd go either of the first two, although I thought the RB25 would have been the cheapest/easiest option? I talked to Advanced Imports about this a few years ago (when they existed by that name) and they mentioned the RB25 as the easiest option for decent power and reliability. Was looking at less power than you are though. Good luck with it.

$12k. $16k. Whatever, everything is negotiable. Like Gus says, if it's mint, I don't see an issue, costs far more to get back to mint that it does to keep it there, what did Doug spend on paint alone for his? if I was in the market, I'd probably give it a crack.

I don't think $12k is out of the question if it's mint and with 126kms, it should be. David had $12k on his 325 and nobody quibbled. Comparing it with a non compliant M3 is a self defeating argument, it's non compliant, so you can't drive it anywhere except the track. This car would make a great daily driver with a point of difference to most cars on the road.

"but their handling lets them down," Pardon?

M325i, 286km, rebuilt (rings/bearings/clutch etc) at 207km, new gear box mounts, discs, susp bushes, drive train stuff, clutch cylinders etc etc etc. 325i Convertible, 190km, cracked head/new water pump/ computer, in time I've had it, 1 sump gasket.

Looks like an old Motoform rim to me, but could be wrong.

If you're talking about the one at TWR Racing, I heard that $10k would buy it, would be a fun conversion. Brent, was that not your car at turners last week??

If it's under warranty, get them to fix it, shouldn't cost you anything. Plus, if you leave it, they'll probably tell you that you voided the warranty by not bringing the problem to their attention.

5 star alarm? Never leaving it alone in public? Garaged? Nice car though.

Brilliant! I look forward to my letter from the muppet on Saturday who, pausing only to adjust the volume on his iPod, stepped out in front of me as I cruised through the green light on the corner of Princes and Waterloo Quadrant.

Hey Gus, you are thinking E21, not E30? According to the 2.7 build sticky, the ports are considerably larger on the 731 vs 200 head, which they say is effectively the same as the head on the 525e. Maybe a 525e head would be a relatively easy find from someone who'd pulled apart a 2.7 for other uses. . . .