OSiRiS 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 I've recently acquired a 1999 328ci E46 in auto. I have been reading about the gearboxes and preparing myself if worse comes to worse. How much work is required and how much approx would it cost to convert it to manual? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pjay 8 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Budget 3k Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Budget 3k You forgot a "0" Peter... It can be done..but at a huge cost. Would be cheaper to buy a manual than convert one to manual by the time you take the cost of the car & the conversion... It can be done though..check some of the USA forums Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pjay 8 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Damn, I just assumed a similar cost to an E36. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Damn, I just assumed a similar cost to an E36. No...very different ... after 1998 most conversions would cost more than what the car is worth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSiRiS 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Hmmm I see. Also, I have to come and see you sometime today Glenn, this car I bought has a receipt for $8,200 worth of engine work carried out by you! Even though we haven't met I would like to have a quick chat (if you have time today) see if you can recall what exactly the work was carried out for I live and work 1 minute away from your workshop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Better make it soon then.. I might be leaving here shortly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 This has turned out to be interesting....someone has gone to the trouble to forge a false document with a home made copy of my letter head.... I'd like to get hold of the retarded a**hole (excuse language)... I am realy pissed off that someone has gone to all this trouble... obviously to deceive the new owner....theres more to it that the owner might like to disclose Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pjay 8 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Oooooohhh.. Popcorn. I need some Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSiRiS 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 First of all, I'd like to thank Glenn and Chris at Botany Motor Worx Ltd for their excellent service, professional advice and friendly support. As some of you might know I had been doing up an old school 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR4 Evo 0 RS for the last couple of years. I had become bored of it recently and found that it had only been driven 3000km over the last year, I thought I'd sell it and get a more useful car for work. Someone offered me this 99 328Ci with a receipt for $8,200 worth of work on the engine and proposed a straight swap. After much thought, checking over VIRs and carjams I thought this would suit me well and I would be even in the trade. So we met in Hamilton, after 2 hours of checking over both cars, test drives went ok both ways, both parties were happy, signed the proper documents and handed over the keys. The 1 hour drive back to Auckland was very good, car had no issues, no funny noises, vibrations or lack of power. Putting foot flat to the floor while overtaking provided a very good kick down response -not as powerful or raw as my old car, but that was a different kind of power, this was refined, smooth and, well, suited the "new" me. Happy with my trade I couldn't sleep at all last night. Kept looking out my bedroom window making sure my new car was still shiney and looked as good as when I first saw it. Drove to work this morning, all heater controls worked fine and made light work of the fog and morning frost. Went out to a couple of service jobs mid morning and air conditioning worked extremely well. Did I mention the reception for TV stations was excellent! While back in the office I decided to read through the "what to watch out for" threads etc. and hence me opening this thread, just so I could prepare for the manual conversion if it would ever come to that stage. Glenn had provided input to the matter (above) which reminded me that I had a receipt from his workshop. Went down to Botany Motor Worx Ltd with said receipt in hand expecting Glenn to have fond memories billing out $8,200 worth of work however this was certainly not the case. We figured out the person who I had bought the car from had made a fake invoice with all of Botany Motor Worx Ltd details along the top header and proceeded to create a really big list of parts and decription of the work done. As you can imagine, myself AND Glenn were very annoyed that this has happened, firstly me because I had swapped my car for this on the fact that all this engine work had been done, and secondly because someone has been using the name Botany Motor Worx Ltd creating fake invoices. All of a sudden my great, shiney, lovely BMW had a big question mark hanging over the bonnet. Glenn and Chris proceeded to put my car on the hoist to check over everything just to see if the work actually had been done. Nothing. Everything looked absolutely standard. Nothing had been touched. Because of their excellent service, professional advice and friendly support, going above what I thought would be a quick meet and greet to get to know the local specialist, turned out to be a nightmare into the history of my "new" car, I have booked my car in for a service on Wednesday so that they can have time to look over everything and provide advice on what I should do next. Obviously after the fact, the trade hasn't gone in my favour, thinking I wouldn't have to spend much money on the car for a while has gone to an emergency full service and checkup Again thanks to Glenn and his team at Botany Motor Worx Ltd I'm sure they can restore my faith in the BMW brand, remove the question mark over the engine's history and I can enjoy driving this beautiful piece of machinery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3 SERIES 92 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Please dont take any offence. Im trying to comprehend why someone would swap their 99 328ci E46 for a 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR4? Was this all done thru trade me? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscar90 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 really sorry to hear that, some people... Nice car tho, hopefully it serves you well Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscar90 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Please dont take any offence. Im trying to comprehend why someone would swap their 99 328ci E46 for a 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR4? Was this all done thru trade me? wasnt just a normal vr4 with an exhaust, going by his user name(have seen it on msport etc) , it is a very worked vr4...very nice aswell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 1956 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 The VR4 was one of the best ones in NZ. Heavily modified and not on a South Auckland budget. Sorry to hear about your woes already Erron. But Glenn and the boys will look after you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted February 23, 2009 I feel for you mate Leaves a very unpleasant taste in the mouth over what has happeneed. The car certainly looks mint, I hope it turns out to be so. I also hope you and Glenn manage to get some recourse on the twisted individual who did this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSiRiS 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 The VR4 was one of the best ones in NZ. Heavily modified and not on a South Auckland budget. Sorry to hear about your woes already Erron. But Glenn and the boys will look after you. Thanks Dan, like I said that VR4 represented the "old" me, I have since wanted to move on to more sensible things and cars but this has been a very bad start for me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matty104 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Personally I can not believe someone would do that, goes to show that you cant trust people now days. . I hope you get it all sorted , and im sure glenn will look after you. Bloody nice looking car i must add Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Holy moly - this is unbelievable. I certainly hope that the E46 is all ok, and you have no issues with it. Cheers Grant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yuen 16 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 +1 to the above! Hope your car checks out ok anyway and you'll be able to find some recourse for this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve R 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) New bmw a nightmare? Welcome to my world, pm me if you want info regarding your rights in this situation dont stress about it to much, do you know where the old owner lives? or have contact details for him? Edited February 23, 2009 by 328imobbin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stylish_division 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) man that sucks. that vr4 was quick and obviously had alot of work in it. Hope u get the guy back(legally ofcourse ). Edited February 23, 2009 by gdm.yo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
