Gordon

Just wondering since I have a Nardi wheel and I saw this Nardi wheel with a Porsche emblem in it. I think it would look cool with a BMW emblem instead of the Nardi emblem. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140044535499 G-Man

Lucas lighting, the prince of darkness. Why do the English drink their beer warm? Lucas refrigarators Jusk ask anyone who has owned an old Triumph, MG or Jaguar G-Man

These are your pics from Pumpkin run, remember the lights on my car? http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/alamarlab/pumpkin%20run/?action=view&current=hwy3306018.jpg They are early Hella lights, very cool G-Man

Hang on to that license plate frame, Vasek Polak was the first BMW dealer west of the Mississippi. I have the same license plate frame on my tii. I take it that your car is not an original tii, it just has a tii motor in it. Why not put a regular 02 motor in your car and pull the tii motor. The tii motor has a belt to run the fuel injection system. You are going to pull the FI system, just pull the motor and FI, it would worth a lot to a tii owner (along with the tii fuel tank). Just my 02 cents worth. G-Man

M-Technic I, Motorsport stripe toward the bottom of the middle spoke. I don't have a camera but I did a quick google search and here's a pic http://www.pbase.com/stylngle2003/image/46874139 there is a motorsport stripe below the middle horn button on the first version of the M-Technic wheel. Later E30 M-Technic steering wheel versions had the M logo on the steering wheel. Hope this helps. G-Man

They need some help, the car had 275K on it, so the seats had some abuse. That's why I passed since I have an 91 318i that the seats would look great in (same color as well). Rational thinking prevailed when I thought how much it would cost to have the seats reupholstered. I'll have to get the steering wheel redone but that's a helluva lot cheaper than Recarro seats. I had my E21 Recarro's reupholstored before I put them in my tii and that cost me a few hundred (and that was vinyl). Good luck in your search but trust me, you don't want these seats. G-Man

Since I had the day off due to President Ford, I went to the local pik-a-part yards near Nipomo CA. I scored an E30 insturment cluster for my daughters 86 E30 325. You need a working odometer if you have a M20 motor since you've got to keep track of the mileage come timing belt replacement time. I had to find an 86 base model (cloth interior) since I need one with the same rear end ratio to avoid speed error. I also found an 89 325is complete with recarro's, M-Technic steering wheel and rear view mirror with map lights. I passed on the Recarro's but I snagged the steering wheel and rear view mirror. The E30 BBS basketweaves were gone, they had been replaced by bottlecaps. All for the above parts for $50 bucks to include some new oil filters for my Toyota that I found in the back of a car. I'll hang on to the mirror for now, my tii already has an identical mirror with the map lights built into it. I love pik-a-part yards. the oldest BMW I saw there was an E21. E30 Bottlecaps were plentiful at the yards. G-Man

I had my tii out in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties this weekend. G-Man

This tii was totalled by a hit and run driver. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the armpits of the person who did this. I've already posted this link on the 02 FAQ parts classified section. This is a great parts car for someone who has a tii shell. http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/255054978.html G-Man

Vroomer, At least I know you are back in the beltway, so I won't be stopping by tomorrow on my way up to the Bay area. It's warmer in DC than it is here on the central coast. Don't worry, that storm that buried Denver is headed your way. G-Man

He was probably sending a text message on his cell phone...

I snagged mine at a pik-a-part yard for ten bucks, excellent condition. G-Man

Here is your 318i parts car in Austin, Offer him $200 and it may be yours. Usual disclaimers apply. http://austin.craigslist.org/car/250818688.html This ad has been on CL for a month, car may not be there, if so, give them a low ball offer just to get it off there hands. http://austin.craigslist.org/car/233387014.html G-Man

Where do you live? Craigslist is full of cheap 84-85 M10 318i. The pik-a-part yards have a lot of early E30's as well since they are over 20 years old now. Here is a good Craigslist example G-Man http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/249729397.html

Anyone have experience with Abarth exhaust systems? Good/bad, You don't see them advertised anymore, only Ansa exhaust. Just wondering since I bought a NOS E3 exhaust system (still had the Faza shipping label) on it. Some interesting reading regarding Abarth is here. http://www.italysfamousexhausts.com/exhaust.htm I've heard stories which I can't verify that Al Consentio, the guy who was running Faza (US importer of Abarth exhaust and Campagnalo wheels) was a real character. Concerning the Campy's, I heard a story from a fellow who races a vintage Fiat 850 with VARA. It seems Mr. Cosentino's deal with them ended unhappily to the point where he has a secret stash of wheels that Campangolo claims he owes them for. So he only meets buyers at neutral locations, strictly cash of course. Which explains why he hasn't advertised in recent years..... I wonder what happened to his inventory at the Thousand Oaks CA facility? I guess you would have to run around with the Fiat and Alfa crowd to learn more. G-Man

My Euro spec E3 2800 birthday is tomorrow. I bought a new NOS E3 Abarth exhaust system for it yesterday. I don't have a radio but who needs a radio when you have an Abarth exhaust system...., that shoud be music enough to the ears. The BMW 2800 VIN 2308632 was manufactured on December 18th, 1969 and delivered on March 12th, 1970 to the german BMW dealer Stapelmann in Düsseldorf. The original colour was Granada, paintcode 023. G-Man 91 318i 74 2002tii 73 Bavaria 70 2800, 4 speed, totally stock, 97K original KM's on car.

You should at least ask for a case of your favorite frosty beverage for the all work you did to pull the motor, I'm sure you need something to quench your thirst. G

Why would you want to swap motors? The M42 motor is DOHC 16V motor that loves high RPM's. I have a 91 E30 318i 4 door with a M42 motor that is a blast to drive, The 318is is a modern day tii. Stay with the M42 motor, by now, all have had the profile gasket problem fixed. I belive in 96, displacement went from 1.8L to 1.9L and the M42 became the M44. All E30 with a M42 came with 5 speed manual, E36 M42's had an optional automatic, the 5 speed is much more fun to drive. G-Man 91 318i 91 318i parts car 74 tii 73 Bavaria 70 2800 96 4Runner (parts hauler)

I spent six months in 2004 working as a contractor at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. I did an extensive amount of traveling while I was there and I only saw one 02 on the road. I did see several 02's at 02 "treffens" (02 rally's/meetings) and several 02's at the Nurburgring Historics at the BMW corral and parking lots across the street from the track. The use of road salt in Germany has done it's damage to cars of the 70's and 80s, due to very strict TUV inspection, old cars go to the crusher much quicker over there than here. Now road salt is illegal due to environmental laws but that is a little to late for us. At some of car shows (Veterama), I saw old US spec Benz's and Fiat's for sale that had been shipped back to Germany. I was looking at buying a 2002 to ship back to the states. Anything older than 25 years old is DOT exempt. I live in CA and the smog rules are 75 and older so I had to look for 30 years and older. The 1602/1802/2002's I saw seemed to be in two categories, restored or needs restoring. The restored were out of my price range and the needs restoring needed a lot of help. So I didn't buy a car over there (bought a lot of parts) but I found a Euro spec E3 with no rust/perfect body in Los Angeles a few months after I got back for only $300, go figure. G-Man 91 318i 91 318i (parts car) 86 325e daughters car 74 2002tii 73 Bavaria 70 2800 Euro spec 96 4Runner (parts hauler)

I just replaced the control arms, bushings, tie rods, thrust arm bushing and center track rod on my 73 Bavaria, ouch, that did hurt the pocketbook. It looked all stock on my car, hey every 30 years or so, you've got to break down and replace those bushings. As Steve can speak from experience, the down side of not replacing your old suspension parts can be much worse. My 74 tii has had the bushings replaced with polyurethane. Glad you are OK Steve, that will definately get your pucker factor way up G-Man

Trust me, you don't want Monroe shocks. Look at the piston diamter in a Monroe shock versus one from a boge, Bilstein, or Koni. it's huge and it makes all the difference in the world. My former 02 had Monroe shocks and the back right rear broke. Replaced them with used Bilsteins and it made all the difference in the world. The links page has links to numerous 02 parts houses where you will find some decent shocks. Save your pennies for some decent shocks, you 02 will thank you. G-Man 74 tii 73 Bavaria 70 2800

Walloth and Nesch has whole front end clips Shipping should be cheap since you live in Europe. Now the fun part is finding a body shop to do the work in Italy. http://www.wallothnesch.com/e/framewelcome.htm Click on spare parts, then body work, then 1502-2002 turbo and body parts will pop up. Good luck and keep us posted on the status. G-Man

If so, it looks like you got a great deal, tell us more about the car? G-Man http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/237237605.html

If you buy the E3, join the Senior Six email list for any questions you have on this car. Find the link on the Senior Six home page http://www.seniorsix.org/ For parts, recommend Mesa Performance http://www.mesaperformance.com/ Jim the owner gives E3 owners a 10% discount on parts. Another great source of parts is La Jolla Independent BMW in San Diego, Carl Nelson is the guru of old BMW ownership http://www.bimmerdoc.com/ Carl is a vital resource for owning an old BMW. Go for it, M30 engines E3, E9, E12, E24, E28 are a dime a dozen in the pik-a-part yards (mostly automatics that went south, manual gearboxes are bulletproof). G-Man

I have a 73 Bavaria that I did the automatic to a 5 speed conversion. Best thing I ever did to that car, it was transformed into a car that is really fun to drive. The E3 3.0S model (only available in 73-74) is the fancy version of the Bavaria, it came loaded with all the luxury features, leather interior, power windows, sunroof, etc.. Finding a 3.0S in a manual gearbox is rare. Just like 2002's, the pre big bumpers (73 and earlier) are more in demand. You can find some great deals on big bumper E3's. G-Man 91 318i 74 2002tii 73 Bavaria, 5 speed, Webers, bilstein's, E24 BBS basketweaves, etc.. 70 E3 2800, 4 speed, Euro spec, totally stock