Eagle

Bought some for a job on the 5th. Dont know how long it was on special before that. Stocked up on 2x 20L boxes while i could. Rarely see them on special these days and everything has gone up in prices these last 2 years.

I agree, the E46 M3 seats ive sat in didn't feel much of an upgrade either, worn bolsters don't help but they are a one size fit all like most seats. Yeah some of the later M's ones look and likely perform good, but don't think they really suit the E46 interior if you trying to keep it period correct. The Recaro Speed is essentially the new version of the SR3, i would like to give it a test but finding one to sit in locally wouldn't be easy. Width wise all the SR versions upto 7 seem to be within ~20mm, but that's bolster to bolster (most of them use the same bottom side bolsters). Dont think it really takes into the account the bottom cushion profiles which does vary in length as well as back profile and height. The SR3 is too short in length for average NZ male height. Until you try them out you just dont know exactly what's going fit you personally. Id guessing the newer seats would likely fit the average person better and they have factory provisions to fit inflatable lumber bladders.

Who knows it may be more comfortable with extra padding. Much prefer the E39 sport seats over anyone E46 ones ive sat in.

Seeing the state of cars in some places with no vehicle checks makes me think that's the least of concerns. People running performance tyres are more likely to care about that sort of thing in the first place i would say. When i first got my 318Ti i couldn't do 20kph around a roundabout in the wet without understeering, it was fitted with Japanese '08 made Bridgestone Ecopias from when it was imported from Japan in '08. Legal as with fresh VTNZ warrant and only half worn. Old tyres like that are worst than anything.

Id rather the burn money

Also fitted new Michelin PS4 all rounded to replace the noisy 6 year old RE003's. Was going to go to a square setup with 235\40 and new PS5's but i found brand new 255 rears someone was selling fairly cheap. Car is so much quieter and more compliant over rough seal but initial steering response isn't as good (only positive thing i can say about the RE003)

Seats Ive never been happy with my seats, they are certainly not uncomfortable but very lacking once you start cornering harder. Having to brace your knees against the console and holding on to the wheel gets old quick. The foam bolstering on the RHS is a little worn\sagged as you'd expect with all these older seats, but i dont think replacement top and bottom sections @ $800 is going to improve it that much. Also the leather seats aren't quite as grippy as the equivalent fabric units. Decided to experiment\gamble on other options. Shipping prices and quotes i got for one seat overseas were basically the cost of the seat itself, so i ruled that out quickly. Locally no one really stocks anything besides racing buckets and didn't really want to order in something expensive i couldnt test sit in. I figured with the somewhat decent selection for second hard Recaro seats that they were probably the best option. E46 seat bases were still available from Nengen in Japan for around $500 landed so i went with that. Turns out the older E46 bases had been discontinued, only option was to go with the newer bases which sit lower and no height adjustment built in (as below). Im guessing these are more for designed for bucket seats and\or newer Recaro seat models or maybe they are just cost cutting. I saw some Japanese vinyl seat covers for a Recaro SR-3 on facebook and a single good condition SR3 seat on tm. Seat seller was in Auckland and was very hard to contact so i couldn't actually view the seat, gambled and hit the buy now. SR3 - Upon sitting in it i immediately felt it pinching the side of my glutes, trying to move your bum forward relives this some what but now your spine is bent and has no lumber support. Im not fatty with 36" waist, but the seat base being narrow esp at the rear with high side bolstering means if you have a developed some quads and glutes, you get pressure on them from being squeezed. Being taller and having broader shoulders i find they are sitting on outer edges of the upper bolstering rather than inside them. Its really a seat built for your average Japanese guy aka skinny with little muscle it seems, probably fits them like gloves if they used it in so many JDM cars. In saying that is its still much more supportive than the stock E46 seat in cornering. I took it on a 300km trip and it did seem to get more comfortable as my body adapted to the discomfort, but i did have some delayed back pain after. Shame as i thought the SR3 with vinyl covers matched the stock seat ok. Recaro E46 mount (new style)- 1" too low with the SR3 even after being raised at base by 30mm (Im 182cm tall). Still livable. Side seat bolster slightly pushes against the door card arm rest when door is closed. If base or seat were higher it would probably clear. The SR3 upper bolsters do flair out a bit at the top which doesn't help. Im leaving it for now but will likely sell the SR3 and keep an eye out for a later SR series seat. Would have to be taller, more comfortable and has good support. SR6 maybe or later SRXX series. Z4 Msport Sway bars Picked these up from Ray - 25mm front and 19mm rear. Biggest OE front bar that is a direct fit (M3 one isnt really). I always thought that non M E46's with sport suspension came with bigger bars, turns out that was the earlier 98\01 cars with S226A\S338A option (24mm front and 19mm rear) From April '01 they all used 23\23.5mm front and 18mm rear (excl 'vert with 20mm rear option) Certainly helped with the turn in response, removed some understeer bias with no noticeable change in ride quality. Ended up using E60\E61 25,2mm Corteco synthetic rubber front bushings, genuine ones were overpriced and the only option at $80ea. Had some Lemforder 19mm bushings id ordered by accident awhile go so was good to make use of them. Clock fix Suffered the classic shitty BMW plastic failure and couldn't adjust the time due to the plastic tabs breaking. $25 Ebay 3D printed part to remedy.

Pick-a-part prices ok but sometimes rubbish for certain vehicles. Seats and trims come to mind https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/steering/listing/3899346639

1. Yeah they have been using sorely UPS for awhile now, at least 1 or 2 months. 2. Done 2 orders with them since they started using UPS, they arrived couple of days slower than Fedex but could be X-mas volumes. Rural delivery you dont have to rely on Aramex for the final delivery so its usually pretty reliable once its cleared customs. UPS tracking system is rubbish so im unsure of the particulars, it may just go to NZ post depot straight off the plane in that case. USPS is by far the worse postal option in my experience. Always taken 2-4 weeks to arrive and basically no tracking. Dont know what they are like today but probably still rubbish compared to DHL and Fedex. Havent really looked at Pelican for many years, i used to use them all the time. I see they have updated their site finally. They were always very slow to process orders and ship when i used to use them.

Comes up as a E36 M50\M52 pump Yeah should be easy enough to find one. I dont what the prices on them are but id assume a LF20 would be a ~$50 part.

Did the you hear the LF20 running on the car?. I dont know what the spec is for end play is on that pump but id expect around a couple of mm. Yeah the usual problem with most manual conversions, they rarely have all the bits to make it perfect. Luckily mine was already a manual as i got basically nothing with mine.

May well be the tidiest M54 in the country now. Are you planning the drive it once you get the engine\gearbox in? or are you still doing the rear end\suspension

Sporting the classic worn gear knob too. Looks it would need a big chunk a change to get it sorted.

Yeah no doubt, most good examples of older models do slowly increase. The 540iA is a decent car, but due to lack of manuals i think the 535iS manual is\will be the more sort after one, hence have more value.

Bytul cord\tape

Age would be a good one to test as the comment mention. Lots of factors but im sure you could come up with something.

Yeah k's and\or age are a factor for sure but lack of popularity is the main reason for lower values.

"Selling as is as I don’t want to good through the grief of repairing the trans" Translation: I dont want to fix the transmission because a transmission rebuild costs ~5k, which is what the car is worth.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/m3/listing/3891253702?bof=opEwfztv

Are you sure its not steering system that's causing the vague feeling? Idler arm\bushing is probably the most common wear item on that side of it. Wheel alignment and tyres could be another area. Complete Meyle HD or Lemforder control arms would be my pick, the ball joint isnt replaceable. Id probably do the lower arm at the same time unless you on a budget. Front sway bars bushings may yield a small improvement if they haven't been done already.

Thats a good run so yeah good call.

Yeah not a bad project, you'd certainly want a 3.4L to replace the 3L.. Reverse\1st gear thing is could be an issue if all the usual replacement stuff doesnt improve it.

Makes my Ti look good.

These have so many issues and are massive money pits that its probably cheaper to get rid of it now.

I think its overpriced given its likely on heaps of original 22 year old parts. @hqstu will sell you his blue one for around that price and it will be in far better condition despite the milage.