Friday 8th October 2010

PH Fleet Update: BMW 328i Touring

Riggers's very own Shed proves to be fun, practical and reliable (sort of)

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It's the worst nightmare for anybody hoping to run an old car on a shoestring: you hop in, turn the key in the ignition, and get nothing but a cough and a click.

After several trouble-free weeks of almost eerie reliability, it threatened to take the shine off the ownership experience of my endearingly shabby P-plate 328i Touring, a former SOTW star where I'd actually put money where my online mouth was, and gone and bought.

It looked like a severely dead battery - the way the electrics weren't working was the clue there - that wasn't giving the starter motor enough juice to engage properly. At least, that's what I desperately hoped it was. But a jump-start attempt using the ever-dependable PH Fleet Landie (the under front seat battery position on the Defender and the rear-mounted job on the BMW made for some interesting manoeuvring) muddied the waters somewhat when it failed to breathe life into the 328.

328i cuts a sleek figure compared with PH Landie

Fortunately salvation came in the form of Steve from National Rescue. Apart from being the world's most polite chap ( he could not have shoehorned in more 'sirs' into his sentences if he'd been an Edwardian butler), he diagnosed a flat battery immediately, whacked a heavy-duty charging pack on and had us on our way before you could say 'your car's ready, sir'.

Better still, he had the very same car himself and spent a good five minutes enthusiastically telling me how brilliant E36 Tourings are. He departed leaving me with a working car and a nicely massaged ego - rarely has an encounter with a breakdown service gone so well.

My car now has a brand new battery, the diagnosis from battery specialists CPC being that I was lucky the old one (which, oddly, was intended for a VW) had lasted so long, and has worked flawlessly since (touch wood).

Provided you remember to pump up the front nearside tyre every 10 days or so (the alloy is slightly mis shapen, presumably a legacy of an encounter with a kerb), my Boston Green Bee-em is so far proving to be a fine companion.

It provides comfortable, almost wafty performance in town, some proper fun of the sort that Garlick and his wobbly old Merc W124 can only dream of when you hit an empty country road, and it'll manage comfortably more than 30mpg even on a moderately brisk motorway run.

Peeling lacquer seems to be spreading...

It is, in short, bloody lovely and for 870 quid I can forgive it its dents and scratches, Although I plan to do something about the spots of peeling lacquer and intend to get the rear doors replaced for some less crumpled items.

Next up, however, is the MOT and, although a spot of research confirms that the stuck rear door will not constitute a failure, I'm still as nervous as I would be if I was taking an exam myself. Wish us luck...

[thetwistys]

lovely stuff... Freind of mine was considering a saloon 328 for a cheap track slag, but was scared off by rumours of nikasil cylinder liner issues... anyone got any experience of this?

[mattman]

top update - have undergone a similar path in a 99 528i Touring - bit scabby on the outside by mechanically fine (touch wood)
not quite the bargain of this though!

[spaceship]

Great update.

Mate of mine had a saloon 328i. Excellent car, sounded great and went like stink.

[cmackay81]

bought exactly the same car, albeit in white earlier on this year. annoyed to say I paid £80 more than you though :/

fantastic car, (touch wood) not a single issue so far, and alot of people you speak to still think they are worth a load?!? I have had the comment 'flash b*stard' a few times.

you could weld the rear door shut, remove the handle and claim it's only 4 door not 5??

[Garlick]

Riggers discussing his wreck said:

of the sort that Garlick and his wobbly old Merc W124 can only dream of

Sir, at least my Benz will reach it's destination with class and dignity, whereas yours looks like it's on the last voyage to the scrapyard. Handles well? On those old shocks

[Mitch2.0]

How's the clutch feeling and engaging?

I'm on my second 328, and in my current one I've removed the clutch delay valve, I have to say it feels a lot better on pull away. It also means there's no slip on up changes, and rev-matching downchanges actually has the desired effect because there's no half second delay between lifting up the clutch and it being fully engaged.

There is a little more drivetrain shock occasionally, which is why I think BMW put it in to begin with, however that's a small price to pay for increased clutch life and improved feel.

[louiebaby]

Garlick said:

Riggers discussing his wreck said:

of the sort that Garlick and his wobbly old Merc W124 can only dream of

Sir, at least my Benz will reach it's destination with class and dignity, whereas yours looks like it's on the last voyage to the scrapyard. Handles well? On those old shocks

[Elskeggso]

thetwistys said:

lovely stuff... Freind of mine was considering a saloon 328 for a cheap track slag, but was scared off by rumours of nikasil cylinder liner issues... anyone got any experience of this?

Many have been fixed under warranty, those that haven't should have gone pop by now - if they haven't then they should be fine.

[dubmonkey]

Didn't fancy using the positive terminal by the servo for the jump lead connections then???

[miloslespiros]

Enjoy the honeymoon! Agree with you on all the qualities of a wonderful engine in a compact car. My Touring regularly returned 34mpg on a run and all was well for a couple of months. However, look out for these soon:

Headlamp washers periodically decided to stick open slightly and drain the entire contents of the windscreen reservoir on to the road.

Engine coolant hose which runs around the back of the block (and gets cooked) blew on the M6 - with caravan in tow (I know, serves me right but caravan sold shortly afterwards).

On Board Computer spuriously throwing "Brake Light Circuit Failure" warnings. Various new switches and checks failed to cure.

Random ABS warning lights which new sensors, harnesses and cleaning failed to cure.

Rear suspension top mounts wearing too quickly.

Tailgate struts failed.

The highlight really was the howl of the straight six but it wasn't enough to justify keeping it. Swapped it for a mk1 Focus which rides and handles much better - but with a poo engine.

[Frimley111R]

louiebaby said:

Garlick said:

Riggers discussing his wreck said:

of the sort that Garlick and his wobbly old Merc W124 can only dream of

Sir, at least my Benz will reach it's destination with class and dignity, whereas yours looks like it's on the last voyage to the scrapyard. Handles well? On those old shocks

And...

[Garlick]

He's a cheeky bugger that Riggers.....

[williamp]

These young types dont know they're born, eh??

I take it the spare is a boring old steel, and not worth changing with the leaky alloy wheel then.

And who needs four opening doors anyhow? And green is such an autumnal colour.

[MarJay]

I've got a set of four of the same wheels that are on that 328 with some nearly new Falken FK452's on them if you want 'em... £200 for the lot.

[williamp]

MarJay said:

I've got a set of four of the same wheels that are on that 328 with some nearly new Falken FK452's on them if you want 'em... £200 for the lot.

psst. Sell them to Garlick and he can add a mark-up!

[bmw2002]

You need these on it...

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1539607.htm

[CampDavid]

MarJay said:

I've got a set of four of the same wheels that are on that 328 with some nearly new Falken FK452's on them if you want 'em... £200 for the lot.

Then nail the old ones on ebay and make £100 back, once you've suitably worn the tyres out. Score!

[GPT]

Mitch2.0 said:

How's the clutch feeling and engaging?

I'm on my second 328, and in my current one I've removed the clutch delay valve, I have to say it feels a lot better on pull away. It also means there's no slip on up changes, and rev-matching downchanges actually has the desired effect because there's no half second delay between lifting up the clutch and it being fully engaged.

There is a little more drivetrain shock occasionally, which is why I think BMW put it in to begin with, however that's a small price to pay for increased clutch life and improved feel.

How easy is it to remove the CDV?

[MarJay]

CampDavid said:

MarJay said:

I've got a set of four of the same wheels that are on that 328 with some nearly new Falken FK452's on them if you want 'em... £200 for the lot.

Then nail the old ones on ebay and make £100 back, once you've suitably worn the tyres out. Score!

Well, I need rid and they were only going to go on ebay anyway. You'd need to come out of the Big Smoke to Reading to collect, but its only 30 mins down the M4...

[MarJay]

Garlick said:

Riggers discussing his wreck said:

of the sort that Garlick and his wobbly old Merc W124 can only dream of

Sir, at least my Benz will reach it's destination with class and dignity, whereas yours looks like it's on the last voyage to the scrapyard. Handles well? On those old shocks

I've also got a set of Koni Str.T shocks and springs (Apparently its how the kids these days write 'Street' ) For an E36 saloon that were never fitted. They've got a bit of damage to the powder coat on the springs and one or two of the shocks which is why I've got them. I ordered them, they arrived damaged and I received replacements but the damaged ones were never collected. Dunno how much I'd want for those, £150 I'd guess?


In fact, what am I talking about...? I've got an E36 saloon that you can buy for spares. Its fine apart from the blown head gasket. Its a 1994 325i and its got some undamaged Koni Str.T shocks and springs, new brake discs, brake pads, brake lines, and all working electrics with straight doors and everything!

Its the MarJay E36 Sale! Everything MUST GO!

Edited by MarJay on Friday 8th October 11:46