The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T (Vol XVII)

[ATM]

ATM said:

Bought this yesterday. W reg 2000 528i with genuine bbs wheels and some dubious lowering springs which I'll probably change. Electric seats and steering column. Almost everything works except both passenger side windows and the boot lid doesn't hold itself closed. I am genuinely shocked at how good it is considering I only paid 600 quid for it.

Took this for MOT today. It failed on headlamp adjustment. Some of my friends were expecting uneconomical to repair problems. I had every faith in my 600 quid bruiser. Now I'm going to treat it to some 16 inch alloys and balloon tyres. Then I might even fix the boot lock, kph speedo and cloudy headlamps.

[l354uge]

Looking for an e46 touring manual for around £2>

330i preferred, the 328i and 325i's are cheaper though, how much worse are they compared to the 330i?

Any issues to look out for apart from cracked subframe, rusty wings and knackered electrics?

[S3_Graham]

l354uge said:

Looking for an e46 touring manual for around £2>

330i preferred, the 328i and 325i's are cheaper though, how much worse are they compared to the 330i?

Any issues to look out for apart from cracked subframe, rusty wings and knackered electrics?

Cooling system is a weak point on all of those engines.

[ATM]

l354uge said:

Looking for an e46 touring manual for around £2>

330i preferred, the 328i and 325i's are cheaper though, how much worse are they compared to the 330i?

Any issues to look out for apart from cracked subframe, rusty wings and knackered electrics?

I didn't realise the cracked subframe was an issue for tourings and / or saloons?

[4941cc]

S3_Graham said:

Cooling system is a weak point on all [s]of those engines.[/s] BMWs of the last 30 years after about 10 years/80k miles

[Patrick Bateman]

Are the cooling systems on M cars beefier across the board?

When I replaced my water pump preventatively the old one looked good as new, metal impeller too.

Other than that and the fan clutch (given the potential for disaster if that decides to go), the expansion tank, radiator, hoses etc. are all original at 144k. Not sure how many original radiators last past 100k on most x30i cars.

[ATM]

Patrick Bateman said:

Are the cooling systems on M cars beefier across the board?

When I replaced my water pump preventatively the old one looked good as new, metal impeller too.

Other than that and the fan clutch (given the potential for disaster if that decides to go), the expansion tank, radiator, hoses etc. are all original at 144k. Not sure how many original radiators last past 100k on most x30i cars.

Is the problem caused by external corrosion?

I'm hoping my 600 bruiser will be fine because it is a jap import and the under bonnet gubbins all looks brand new as it is all corrosion free.

[joesnow]

RicksAlfas said:

Congrats!! Life will never be the same again!

On the Golf, open the front doors as wide as they can and clear out all the crud at the bottom of the A-pillars.
Ours seems to gather all sorts in there and it would be a nasty place to sort any corrosion out.

Thanks everyone.

The Golf is proving a hit with the wife - its quite a likable car and feels much tighter than the MK6 that I drove before buying this MK5. I was trying to sell my old Alfa to fund a newer faster Golf and put some savings in the bank, but I've found alternative ways to finance, so looks like the little Italian is staying put. I've romantic ideas about me and Fred (baby) working on the car together and using it to do some events in the distant future, petrolicious style. In the meantime I might get some Isofix mounts welded in once I've removed the (useless) back seat.

On 330s, I have a 2003 330i sport as my daily. Its getting on a bit, and is well over 100k now, but I really like it, feels sturdy and runs like a top.

Preventative jobs:
- thermostat
- water pump
- radiator

Fixes:
- 2 coil packs
- numberplate light fitting corrosion
- sticky front calipers rebuilt

Potential concerns:
- Subframe cracks
- Broken sus springs
- Rear window motors
- vanos o rings?
- gear knob doesn't centre until warm

[NomduJour]

Bell Aurens on a budget:

[l354uge]

ATM said:

I didn't realise the cracked subframe was an issue for tourings and / or saloons?

Im not sure, my mate keeps mentioning it like its a e46 wide issue...but he is bit of n*ob

[deeen]

NomduJour said:

Bell Aurens on a budget:

Just... Why?

[E24man]

NomduJour said:

Bell Aurens on a budget:

Could you fit a V12 in there ....... or perhaps end to end Rover V8's for a V16 'Goldfish' type monster.

[RicksAlfas]

NomduJour said:

Bell Aurens on a budget:

I think I'd want a straight 16 before considering a bonnet of that length.

[rejn]

NomduJour said:

Bell Aurens on a budget:

I think I read somewhere that the original plan for the Bell Aurens was to have a Merlin (or similar), but the German authorities refused to allow it. That would be a great project!

[ATM]

Spotted yesterday on the way to work. Not sure if it was real but it was LHD and had correct looking flarred arches. Bootlid did look a little boggy. I know the genuine coupes have a different bootlid and the reinforcing strut over the roof above the rear window. Anyone know how to spot a real one of these?

[Output Flange]

Firstly, that's a 325i.

Secondly, his MOT expired on the 2nd April. Naughty boy.

[Frik]

I've seen an awful lot of E30s around recently, though it may just be confirmation bias. All of them had M badges. None of them were M3s.

[L100NYY]

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1990-lancia-de...

[L100NYY]

I never really fancied one of these until I had a good poke around at auction a few months ago and now I rather do....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-GTI-MK1-1983/301...

[31mph]

L100NYY said:

I never really fancied one of these until I had a good poke around at auction a few months ago and now I rather do....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-GTI-MK1-1983/301...

My mates old car that, he restored it, only had it a few months, but it was a hoot