Earl

The m3 bumper definitely isn't mounted right and has a weird bulge on the driver's side. 
That compact is also 100% a slick too which takes that car from a good deal all the way to a great deal if it is in somewhat decent shape. 

Thanks for the super anal comparison lol

If you don't have a new shifter I have a Ruff Short Shift lever a available if you're interested

Super awesome looking and a great find on your part. I've never seen the aero package but absolutely love it

Looks like a bushing for the wrong DIA Sway bar. 

My latest creation....

Started fitting the rear flares and figuring out where I need to cut/section them to fit better. 

I can ask to see if they have the numbers. My m44 feels a bit punchier but I also had swapped to the 4.10 at the same time.

I wish I would have took some of the M42 set. They are black anodized with the Ruff logo laser etched. 
Here is my M44 set that is their old anodizing color but they use the same design of the pulleys currently. 

Sorry for the long winded prelude to this feeler😎
Recently I've been working with a company named Ruff Automobile Technik out of Taiwan. They make aftermarket parts for BMW and now a few other European cars. I got in touch with them after I had picked up one of their M44 pulley kits from a seller on eBay and it arrived all beat up. I wanted to see if I could order a water pump pulley alone for my nice car and from there I ended up ordering myself one of their adjustable shifters. We got to talking and they don't have a rep set up in the United States, making it a market that they've been missing. They asked if I would be interested in starting to introduce their products here and I figured it is a win-win situation for the both of us. I'm not held to any minimum quantities and they get their foot in the door over here.
I just sold a run of their adjustable shift levers and an M42 Underdrive Pulley set. A few other people have been asking me about Underdrive Pulley sets for their cars so I figured I would see if anyone on here would be interested. I can get them for the following engines: M42, M44, M50, M52. M52TU, M54, S50, S52, and S54.  Each kit is $220 and includes a water pump pulley, an alternator pulley w/ spacers, and a power steering pump pulley. Since these are quite a bit pricier than the shifters, I would do the run as a preorder. The last shipment I ordered came within a week, as they are shipped via air freight. Please let me know if you'd like a set below and for what engine. Once I have enough interest I will place the order and collect payments at that time.

keep in mind that I make custom vinyl decals for cheap, including windshield banners. Check out my facebook page ... Rage Drift Designs ... for some pics of previous work I have done. I give a WIBIMMERS discount too. 👍

I chatted with @SteelBlue balls since he does things at RA, and have also emailed RA to see if we can sneak in and hang out for a bit. I think it would be awesome to have lunch at the concession stand

They have center caps in them from what I can see. All of the older Alpina wheels have exposed lugs with a cap popped in the center.

This thread has far exceeded my expectations.
carry on, ive got popcorn in the microwave

Rip

Rip

What's the point of owning the Datsun and an e9x M3? Maybe I'm too ignorant for this conversation, but they seem too similar to me. The e46 at least adds a little spice. I have limited experience, but my general impression is that e46s in general are kind of cheap and crappy, whereas e9x is a pretty solid car.
I think the e46 will be less reliable, and require more pain and suffering to live with, which results in more frequent and entertaining posts, so that's my vote.

Gotta change that thread title since neither of these are the BEST.

what is this, the 2016 election? you've only included the two worst candidates in the poll.
 

Engine cleanup is satisfying. 
I was watching these two  Black-Headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) the other day splashing about in a bird bath and I thought to myself how neat it would be if an engine could do the same thing!!!

https://www.blipshift.com/products/pixel-preservation-society?utm_source=blipshift+Updates&utm_campaign=02c9c39c8c-Pixel_Preservation_Society_2018_06_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0513fd2cb9-02c9c39c8c-346043725&mc_cid=02c9c39c8c&mc_eid=7d872e3755

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https://www.blipshift.com/products/pixel-preservation-society?utm_source=blipshift+Updates&utm_campaign=02c9c39c8c-Pixel_Preservation_Society_2018_06_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0513fd2cb9-02c9c39c8c-346043725&mc_cid=02c9c39c8c&mc_eid=7d872e3755

My favorite part are the Tanaka harnesses. 
Get in one crash and you get coloring books for Christmas for the rest of your life 

Looks like I'll be in the compact that week, but who knows...