The BMW 328i is rightly beloved by engine transplanters, which makes you wonder just how many clean, original, unhacked 328s are left on our roads. In this E36 328i Touring, could we be seeing the bottom of the market for such vehicles - and thus the top of the value for money curve?
Mmm, check out those M-tech side skirts...
To understand why folk like the 328, and to see just how much fun one of them can be, go
here
to watch our tame 'Ringmeister Dale dancing his '97 SE around the Nordschleife. Admittedly, Dale has gone on to spend a bit more than his £950 initial purchase price, but if you're looking for a similar project base at exactly this money, then
our '95 Touring
Shed looks like a very good place to start.
So what if it's an auto? Not having to juggling a gearstick is one less thing to worry abouton track, and of course it means you can use your left foot exclusively for braking. You'll be doing a fair bit of that because 328s are pretty rapid, even with slushboxes. Officially, the E36 328i produces 190 or 192hp, but many 328 buffs will give you a secret smile and tell you not to be surprised to see 200 plus on a dyno.
You thought the outside was clean!
Like any used 3 Series, the 328 is not perfect. It will have suspension foibles, broken rear springs being the favourite along with worn suspension bushes (given away by clonking or wandering). Then there's the wobbly cooling systems that use too many fragile parts like the water pump impeller and the thermostat housing. Pre-'97 cars had the notorious Nikasil block, but the one on this car will either have been replaced by now or will be running fine: either way, you shouldn't have problems. Thermostats can stick, window motors often fail, wheel bearings go and radiators rarely make it beyond 100K.
If by now you're reaching for your longest bargepole to not touch it with, the good news is that the previous owner of this Touring was clearly both a BMW lover and an avid reader of the Paul Garlick Big Book of Used Car Ownership, because just about all these trouble spots have been addressed. Plus there is a reassuringly large bagful of keys and alarm fobs.
Yes, it's an auto; no Shed's perfect!
As an aside, Shed reluctantly moved on his own E46 320d Touring recently after Mrs Shed complained that the grumbling from the clutch release bearing was overpowering the sound of her own grumbling. Although Shed knew that the bearing itself was fifty quid, he also knew the job would end up costing him well over a grand because only a complete nit would allow that work to go ahead without doing the clutch and flywheel at the same time.
Even though he admits to a definite sensation of having dodged a bullet there, Shed hated seeing his Touring being driven off by another man. He'd grown to love its practicality, its shapely lines - and yes, its class. As a driving and quality proposition, BMW Threes really are a noticeable step up from Volkswagens of equivalent age - a fact strangely unreflected in their relative secondhand values, given that VWs are hardly the paragons of reliability that they used to be.
Shed spies a track car project
All a reasonable buyer would need proof of to seal the deal on this 328i would be a full service history, a complete brake workover, and four decent tyres. Bang! It's all there. The only thing that isn't is the leather, but then again BMW cloth has a certain muddy boots appeal. Same goes for those alloys: they're not that flashy, but they are pleasingly workmanlike.
The idea of a subtly modded 328 Touring bouncing around the 'Ring is amusing, slightly scary and somehow horribly sensible. You could cart across a set of slicked-up alloys in the back and still have room to bring back some bratwurst for the missus. Shed commends this idea to you. Here's the ad that could be the start of a beautiful - and fast - friendship.
I am a BMW enthusiast and enjoy recommissioning older BMW's. I found out about this 328i through a friend of a friend. It belonged to an older local gentleman who had it from new. He then bought an E90 touring two years ago but could not bear to sell the 328i so literally just parked it in the garage where it sat for two years, it had only done a 1000 miles since its MOT when it was put into storage. I came to an agreement with the chap and bought the car. Here are the details:-
-1995 N BMW 328iA Touring
-Cosmos black metallic
- M-tech side skirts
-130,000 miles
-Electric Windows x4
-Electric Sunroof
-On board computer - fully working
-Parking distance sensors
- Kenwood Stereo and CD multi changer in boot
- All manuals and original wallet are present
- x2 main keys, x1 Master key, X2 alarm fobs
- Full BMW service history (Elms Bedford and specialist cars Stevenage) until 109,000 and then the last two are T and M BMW specialists (this is a BMW mechanic who does his own private work).
- Full MOT as of 23rd July 2013 until 24 July 2014
- New front brake pads
- New radiator, thermostat and water pump.
- New rear springs
- New brake lines and hoses all round
- Michelin Tyres all round with very good tread
In summary the car runs beautifully and has clearly been well serviced and cherished. It will need to be taxed and there are a few marks here and there with some rust bubbles on the rear arches and boot lid but as you can see it is exceptionally tidy. Car is in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, by all means come and have a look. Please no calls from agencies claiming they have buyers for the car, I will not ship the car to some far away land so please do not ask.