Hello from knee deep in the hoopla!

[D. Clay 0]

Hello from Texas! Found you guys surfing around "on the google". Two of my favorite things are New Zealand And BMW's. I was there for 10 days as a tourist in 2001. Mostly Northern part of North Island. Rangoon, Magic Mountain, Bridal Veil Falls, Ohopi Beach, etc. I've wanted to go back and see the South Island ever since.

I live in Austin which is the exception to the stereotype image of Texas. Liberals, artsies, tree huggers, queers, and eccentrics seem to gravitate here historically. For the last 20 years the growth has been tecnology types and it's become a bit more mainstream. The local BMW scene here has a few devotees of the older types such 2002's and E30's. Link to my friend Terry's place.

Terry Sayther Auto

[Gus 5]

yeeha..don't mess with Texas!

I got a couple of mates from texas over here...hours of entertainment doing my best cowboy impersonations

[Cale 36]

Howdy Partner!

Welcome to BimmerSport.

[D. Clay 0]

Some pictures of my 318is. It's pretty much original except for a 1995 318ti M42 engine. It still has the E30 M42 intake and electronics. I just used the long block. It has 210,000 miles on the odometer so basically everything has been redone in the last five years. The engine, trans and differential have about 90,000 miles on them.

[Jeddy 0]

Wow, very nice and welcome

[greenday-rulz21 6]

Looks fantastic! love the leather seats

[Cale 36]

Nice car.

Cool smoked crosshair headlights and nice seats.

[edit] Are they proper Hella headlights or did you do them yourself?

Edited April 14, 2008 by Quailboy

[tcbaurpower 5]

Welcome, nice car, i have the same wheels. Wheels from the same era always look so good.

[cainchapman 0]

Super looking vehicle. Welcome.

[bimmer boy 21]

Very nice wee car there mate! Those seats are so mint, vinyl rather than Leather right?

[deeveus 81]

Thats an awesome E30 there, I notice it has an airbag aswell!

[D. Clay 0]

The seats are "Pleather" which is fancy for vinyl. All of the US models from 1988-1991 had airbags and A/C. The 318is models were all very similar. I bought the crosshair pieces from a guy on r3vlimited that was selling them for US$30.

DIY - Hella Smoked Ellipsoids

Hella ellipsoid crosshair plates for sale

They were laser cut and very nice. I painted the upper part of the low beams just leaving the shiny part around the smilie to show. I may change it later, maybe not.

A lot of the purists here are down on the wheels because they're 17" and chrome finish. The "proper wheels" are period correct of course and 15's or 16's at the most. My 19 year old daughter insisted I get them. Srangely enough they're from your part of the world (Australia). They are a bit heavy but they have very good clearance for 4 piston calipers (from a 1990 Mazda RX7 Turbo) which is the next thing I'm working on.

It's funny how the cars imported to certain countries were so different. I see Australian and NZ models that we have nothing like. E30's are getting rarer in the US mainly due to age. A fellow from England was at my house a while back and he said E30's were common as dirt in the UK.

Edited April 15, 2008 by D. Clay

[aaronmartin 0]

A manual (stick shift) in USA? You really are bucking the trend :-) Nice looking car.

[Yuen 16]

Welcome D. Your car looks mint, especially the interior, it looks brand new. I like the headlights

[mr E34 11]

Very nice E30, if you come to Auckland look us up for a tour of the town.

[tonylauno1 7]

wow, so that's what they look like when it was in the showroom.

It reminds me that I need to clean up my e46, it's looks old when compared to your e30.

[bravo 35]

Nice car. You have the same wheels as on my e30 except mine are alloy finish, not chrome.

Welcome to the forum. I have an uncle in Austin. I've been promising to visit him for ages, but yet to do so.

Good to see an e30 stateside without the diving boards!

[E30stz 0]

Ohope beach is awesome .. welcome

[elmarco 56]

Mmmmm - nice E30...

Welcome onboard!

[BMW Sila 0]

Welcome To AOTEAROA BMW Freaks forum!!!

and damMmm...! Nice ride, and its a 318"IS" BOI!!!!