Saved from the Scrapper - E36 Calypso Sedan
Discussion
Thank you everyone for all the words of appreciation! The popularity of E36s is certainly growing more within the enthusiast community and there is a much bigger appetite for a clean original example now, it seems.
Anyways, big bank holiday weekend update, 4 days of ULEZ paid and 1 day of congestion
Saturday morning was spent cleaning the brick for the first time, something I always love and hate doing after a new purchase. It means you end up getting close up in all sorts of areas and finding surprises. Washing the E36 unveiled a few things, namely how well it was kept. The water behaviour suggested it was wearing some sort of wax, the arches weren't full of dirt, there was no dirt in the shuts and jams and overall didn't really need a wash except to lift off a bit of dust! Attempted to deep clean all the wheels but some brake dust was completely embedded so will hit with some stronger stuff next time. Arches got a deep clean and then I finished it off with a polymer-based wax I always use which should see 3 months or so of durability and lovely gloss. Glass coating was applied to the windows, fresh Bosch Aerotwin wipers fitted and all bulbs were now working too
Washing it also really made the faded black plastics stand out so out came some Gtechniq C4 I had lying around and I coated away. The camera never picks it up properly but the difference is night and day. This product is semi-permanent and the best I have tried for faded plastics. I've never seen it fade and have seen it on daily driven cars for over 2 years, still looking fresh.
Left wiper blade coated, right uncoated.
I unfortunately didn't take a proper after photo but I tried the pears soap trick on the interior leathers (steering wheel, gear selector and armrest) and they came out mint. No more shiny slippery leather, hello matte finish!
After this, it was time for the E36s inaugural meet, so we went bright and early on Sunday morning near Tower Bridge with some friends. The weather was amazing, driving through the city at 9am with all 4 windows down and period correct music on the stereo through an FM transmitter was brilliant. Definitely the most boring car there but who cares! Arena Red is quite similar to Calyspo it seems...
Sadly I didn't get many photos of the car there but after this, it felt a waste of ULEZ to drive home so I made my own little route through the city and went for a nice little solo cruise. I haven't had this much enjoyment in a car for a long time. Having driven all sorts lately from supercars to classics, I haven't driven anything this basic and simple in a while and it was eye-opening. The auto box suits the car and it wafts along through London traffic so comfortably. It also turns more heads than I expected and even earns you a few thumbs up which is always nice. The route I made took me down embankment, to St Pauls, Covent Garden, Soho, Regent St, Mayfair and finally ended in South Kensington. I really wish I stopped for more photos, there were plenty of opportunities but I was too busy enjoying the drive. Yes, you can have fun driving in central London if you're in the right car.
Bank holiday Monday now and the family had decided to do a day trip to the Cotswolds. 2 hours of driving, some M40 and plenty of scenic A/B roads, beautiful little villages - of course I picked up the keys to the E36
Sadly, there was heavy downpour all the way down but with the new wipers and glass coating, visibility really wasn't an issue. It's also surprising how well insulated the E36 cabin is compared to some of the modern stuff I have kicking about, you really don't get much road noise. Motorway cruising is very pleasant and once you're off the motorway it continues to cruise and float along rutted A roads with ease. Nearing the end of a full tank I put in the car and close to returning almost 400 miles which is amazing! This also means I've clocked just under 1000 miles in under a week of ownership and it has genuinely been faultless. Every person has commented on how comfortable it is to sit in and I'm slowly starting to convert my non petrolhead friends towards the light with this car.
Sadly though, after much contemplating, I have decided I can't keep it around much longer. With not much space for parking left at home and arrivals imminent of a few other things, the E36 will have to make the sacrifice
I'll be giving it another wash this week, taking some new photos and making a proper listing but for anyone interested, please do let me know.
Anyways, big bank holiday weekend update, 4 days of ULEZ paid and 1 day of congestion
Saturday morning was spent cleaning the brick for the first time, something I always love and hate doing after a new purchase. It means you end up getting close up in all sorts of areas and finding surprises. Washing the E36 unveiled a few things, namely how well it was kept. The water behaviour suggested it was wearing some sort of wax, the arches weren't full of dirt, there was no dirt in the shuts and jams and overall didn't really need a wash except to lift off a bit of dust! Attempted to deep clean all the wheels but some brake dust was completely embedded so will hit with some stronger stuff next time. Arches got a deep clean and then I finished it off with a polymer-based wax I always use which should see 3 months or so of durability and lovely gloss. Glass coating was applied to the windows, fresh Bosch Aerotwin wipers fitted and all bulbs were now working too
Washing it also really made the faded black plastics stand out so out came some Gtechniq C4 I had lying around and I coated away. The camera never picks it up properly but the difference is night and day. This product is semi-permanent and the best I have tried for faded plastics. I've never seen it fade and have seen it on daily driven cars for over 2 years, still looking fresh.
Left wiper blade coated, right uncoated.
I unfortunately didn't take a proper after photo but I tried the pears soap trick on the interior leathers (steering wheel, gear selector and armrest) and they came out mint. No more shiny slippery leather, hello matte finish!
After this, it was time for the E36s inaugural meet, so we went bright and early on Sunday morning near Tower Bridge with some friends. The weather was amazing, driving through the city at 9am with all 4 windows down and period correct music on the stereo through an FM transmitter was brilliant. Definitely the most boring car there but who cares! Arena Red is quite similar to Calyspo it seems...
Sadly I didn't get many photos of the car there but after this, it felt a waste of ULEZ to drive home so I made my own little route through the city and went for a nice little solo cruise. I haven't had this much enjoyment in a car for a long time. Having driven all sorts lately from supercars to classics, I haven't driven anything this basic and simple in a while and it was eye-opening. The auto box suits the car and it wafts along through London traffic so comfortably. It also turns more heads than I expected and even earns you a few thumbs up which is always nice. The route I made took me down embankment, to St Pauls, Covent Garden, Soho, Regent St, Mayfair and finally ended in South Kensington. I really wish I stopped for more photos, there were plenty of opportunities but I was too busy enjoying the drive. Yes, you can have fun driving in central London if you're in the right car.
Bank holiday Monday now and the family had decided to do a day trip to the Cotswolds. 2 hours of driving, some M40 and plenty of scenic A/B roads, beautiful little villages - of course I picked up the keys to the E36
Sadly, there was heavy downpour all the way down but with the new wipers and glass coating, visibility really wasn't an issue. It's also surprising how well insulated the E36 cabin is compared to some of the modern stuff I have kicking about, you really don't get much road noise. Motorway cruising is very pleasant and once you're off the motorway it continues to cruise and float along rutted A roads with ease. Nearing the end of a full tank I put in the car and close to returning almost 400 miles which is amazing! This also means I've clocked just under 1000 miles in under a week of ownership and it has genuinely been faultless. Every person has commented on how comfortable it is to sit in and I'm slowly starting to convert my non petrolhead friends towards the light with this car.
Sadly though, after much contemplating, I have decided I can't keep it around much longer. With not much space for parking left at home and arrivals imminent of a few other things, the E36 will have to make the sacrifice
I'll be giving it another wash this week, taking some new photos and making a proper listing but for anyone interested, please do let me know.
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