My new toy - E36 323 Ci Cabby
Discussion
Picked this up on Friday for a grand total of £1850 with ticket till November. The owner and his wife were getting divorced and just wanted rid so I think I've picked up something of a bargain...
My fourth 3er but my first E36 and my first with a drop-top.
Now, it could hardly be described as "immaculate" - this, believe it or not, is after I had given it a jet-wash on the test drive just so I could work out what colour it was! Yes ladies and gentlemen, it is Montreal Blue - it came as a surprise to me as well.
After six hours with Meguiars' finest I was quite impressed with the results. I had never claybarred a car before, and it's bloody brilliant, no wonder all the detailing nerds go on about it! Equally impressive was the Megs' carnuba wax.
No pics of the interior yet because I haven't touched it and it's absolutely filthy! I have some carpet cleaner and a vacuum cleaner at the ready to give it the once over tomorrow. The front seats are in especially poor condition, the leather has cracked and turned green (!!) on the bolster, so I might see if I can pick up some new ones on eBay at some point. Back ones seem barely to have been sat in though.
The eagle-eyed among you will spot this car's secret weapon in the form of the second filler cap. Yes folks, I'm going to be running this beastie at 75p per litre... the LPG system is multi-point and seems really professionally done, you can't even tell when it switches over, and you don't seem to lose much in the way of poke. If I can average 25mpg (which I'm hoping for) then I'll be running this as cheaply as my girlfriend runs her Panda. Winner!
As this was such a bargain, I'm going to spend a few quid on getting it up to the standard that I would like. I'll update this list as I do things to the car...
- Inspection II service at a BMW indie. (Done)
- New rear screen (as you can see, the current one is in a real state, it's practically translucent and has a large crack)
- Replacement diff seals, as the diff is seeping some oil [It's now making a noise when using engine braking in second - think a replacement diff is needed, probably of the LS variety)
- E46 brakes - either discs and pads from a 325i, which will mean I can keep the current calipers, or discs, pads and calipers from a 330i. I'm thinking the latter.
- Either 328i Sport 16s or M Replica 17s depending on which option I take of the above (Bought)
- Braided brake hoses
- Powerflex suspension bushes all round
- Custom stainless catback exhaust system and possibly an induction kit if I can find one that gives voice to the six without being indiscreet.
- Pioneer DEH P77MP head unit (BOUGHT), Rainbow comps for the front, Infinity Kappa 4"s for the rear, and a nice Blaupunkt amp/sub combo if I can find one cheap. I had a similar setup on my old E30 318i Lux Touring, all of which was lovingly removed by whichever little scrote nicked the car on Christmas Day 2008, so I'm hoping to recreate the sound.
Anyway hope you like it, it's not exactly a minter but it's an honest car and it sounds bloody gorgeous. I'll post some pics of the interior when it's had a bit of a scrub...
Cheers,
Russell
My fourth 3er but my first E36 and my first with a drop-top.
Now, it could hardly be described as "immaculate" - this, believe it or not, is after I had given it a jet-wash on the test drive just so I could work out what colour it was! Yes ladies and gentlemen, it is Montreal Blue - it came as a surprise to me as well.
After six hours with Meguiars' finest I was quite impressed with the results. I had never claybarred a car before, and it's bloody brilliant, no wonder all the detailing nerds go on about it! Equally impressive was the Megs' carnuba wax.
No pics of the interior yet because I haven't touched it and it's absolutely filthy! I have some carpet cleaner and a vacuum cleaner at the ready to give it the once over tomorrow. The front seats are in especially poor condition, the leather has cracked and turned green (!!) on the bolster, so I might see if I can pick up some new ones on eBay at some point. Back ones seem barely to have been sat in though.
The eagle-eyed among you will spot this car's secret weapon in the form of the second filler cap. Yes folks, I'm going to be running this beastie at 75p per litre... the LPG system is multi-point and seems really professionally done, you can't even tell when it switches over, and you don't seem to lose much in the way of poke. If I can average 25mpg (which I'm hoping for) then I'll be running this as cheaply as my girlfriend runs her Panda. Winner!
As this was such a bargain, I'm going to spend a few quid on getting it up to the standard that I would like. I'll update this list as I do things to the car...
- Inspection II service at a BMW indie. (Done)
- New rear screen (as you can see, the current one is in a real state, it's practically translucent and has a large crack)
- Replacement diff seals, as the diff is seeping some oil [It's now making a noise when using engine braking in second - think a replacement diff is needed, probably of the LS variety)
- E46 brakes - either discs and pads from a 325i, which will mean I can keep the current calipers, or discs, pads and calipers from a 330i. I'm thinking the latter.
- Either 328i Sport 16s or M Replica 17s depending on which option I take of the above (Bought)
- Braided brake hoses
- Powerflex suspension bushes all round
- Custom stainless catback exhaust system and possibly an induction kit if I can find one that gives voice to the six without being indiscreet.
- Pioneer DEH P77MP head unit (BOUGHT), Rainbow comps for the front, Infinity Kappa 4"s for the rear, and a nice Blaupunkt amp/sub combo if I can find one cheap. I had a similar setup on my old E30 318i Lux Touring, all of which was lovingly removed by whichever little scrote nicked the car on Christmas Day 2008, so I'm hoping to recreate the sound.
Anyway hope you like it, it's not exactly a minter but it's an honest car and it sounds bloody gorgeous. I'll post some pics of the interior when it's had a bit of a scrub...
Cheers,
Russell
Edited by mig25_foxbat2003 on Monday 13th June 22:07
Don't really want to switch inlet manifolds, although I know it's the done thing, because I'd have to re-do all the LPG stuff! Not sure on the LPG range - I stuck 40 litres in and it lit up three of four lights on the doofer, so I guess it's got a 50-ish litre tank. 300 miles on that and I'd be pleased as punch... more, and I'd be laughing all the way to the bank.
Eddh said:
Jw Vw said:
Nice motor OP. And for £1850 with LPG that seems a great bargain to me.
It was...To be fair thought I wouldn't have bought it, the engine made a funny coughing noise at 3000 RPM, the suspension creeked when I drove over a pebble and 2 blokes driving a 3 series convertable defiently looked as bent as they come...
Oh and he is lying about having a girlfriend.
Quick update... just bought some 16" Style 30s from eBay for the princely sum of £70. Three had nearly-new Nankang Sport 225/50s on, one had a nearly-new Nankang Sport with a massive groove bored out of the inside sidewall where the previous owner's spring had disintegrated on him. So I'm having a couple of bargain Kumho Ecsta KU31s fitted on Wednesday, then I'll get all four balanced, fitted, and a four-wheel alignment done.
I've also got some clear front indicators in the post, and looking for clear side repeaters and OEM clear/red rear lights to complete the de-amberification. I'm also looking at suspension options - probably going to go for this kit - any opinions?
I've also got some clear front indicators in the post, and looking for clear side repeaters and OEM clear/red rear lights to complete the de-amberification. I'm also looking at suspension options - probably going to go for this kit - any opinions?
Fitted my Style 30s and my God, it looks a million times better!
Unfortunately, I now have significant rear arch scrubbage, specifically on the driver's side. Also, the driver's side rear wheel appears to be significantly closer to the bumper at the rear than the does the passenger side one. Does this mean that a bush of some description has deteriorated?
I appear now to have spent all my money on a deposit for a new flat, but when the old one is returned, I'm going to buy this...
http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk/framefix.asp?Prod...
Any comments/suggestions? Do we think that this will remove the rear arch scrubbing if combined with a full set of Powershell bushes? I know it is a set of lowering springs, but I'm only running 16" wheels on 50 section tyres, which should fit with ease, so I surmise that my rear springs have sagged, and stiffer (and lower) springs will actually improve matters - does this make sense, or am I talking b
ks?
Unfortunately, I now have significant rear arch scrubbage, specifically on the driver's side. Also, the driver's side rear wheel appears to be significantly closer to the bumper at the rear than the does the passenger side one. Does this mean that a bush of some description has deteriorated?
I appear now to have spent all my money on a deposit for a new flat, but when the old one is returned, I'm going to buy this...
http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk/framefix.asp?Prod...
Any comments/suggestions? Do we think that this will remove the rear arch scrubbing if combined with a full set of Powershell bushes? I know it is a set of lowering springs, but I'm only running 16" wheels on 50 section tyres, which should fit with ease, so I surmise that my rear springs have sagged, and stiffer (and lower) springs will actually improve matters - does this make sense, or am I talking b
ks?Couple of small but significant upgrades in the past few weeks. Firstly, I have fitted a replacement aerial from Car Masts UK, who I would thoroughly recommend. The old one had been snapped off at the base, so I had to replace a fair bit inside the car as well as the mast itself, but I now have Radio 1 for my morning commute, so it was all worthwhile! Speakers and an amplifier worthy of my sexy head unit are still pending...
Secondly, I have fitted clear lenses all round from a selection of written-off M3s and 328i Sports. I think these have completely transformed the look of the car, making the lines appear considerably younger and cleaner - like Olay for cars. I'm now quite pleased with how the car looks, with just a new hood (in black) and some new front fogs required to complete the exterior transformation.
When I have got my flat deposit and overtime money (recently moved house, so I'm completely skint!) the next projects are the above-mentioned suspension upgrade, Powerflex poly bushes, E46 325i brakes, braided brake hoses, CDV delete, and de-cat (LPG means I can get a valid MOT without one!) Target budget for that lot is £1k. Wish me luck...
Secondly, I have fitted clear lenses all round from a selection of written-off M3s and 328i Sports. I think these have completely transformed the look of the car, making the lines appear considerably younger and cleaner - like Olay for cars. I'm now quite pleased with how the car looks, with just a new hood (in black) and some new front fogs required to complete the exterior transformation.
When I have got my flat deposit and overtime money (recently moved house, so I'm completely skint!) the next projects are the above-mentioned suspension upgrade, Powerflex poly bushes, E46 325i brakes, braided brake hoses, CDV delete, and de-cat (LPG means I can get a valid MOT without one!) Target budget for that lot is £1k. Wish me luck...
St270 - great work and cheers for the link. I will definitely look into it - at Tue moment I have a loose heatshield which I haven't been arsed to rip off, so the aural pleasure of having a six is lost somewhat. It will be nice to properly let it sing.
Dave, yes, just recently moved from Aldsworth (near bibury) and my old dear lives in Ciren - are you from the shire too?
Dave, yes, just recently moved from Aldsworth (near bibury) and my old dear lives in Ciren - are you from the shire too?
Just a quick update...
The E36 has been my DD for the past few months, and it's now ticked over 126k miles (it was on 118k back in April when I bought it). Other than an alternator fail back in July (£270 for a new one) it has performed faultlessly. My motorway fast-cruise speed of 0.85L means that I'm only getting an average of 25mpg on gas, but I can happily average over 30 if I switch to petrol, so I think she's running correctly.
MOT is due on the 27th October, and mindful of the issues which still haven't been sorted, I have got my wallet out and bought...
4x Brembo discs (OEM size, couldn't be arsed with the big brake upgrade in the end).
4x sets of EBC Redstuff pads
1x set of Goodridge braided hoses
4x Spax PSX adjustable dampers
4x Spax SSX lowering springs
I will also be doing an oil and filters service while I have that lot fitted, and then four-wheel alignment and an LPG service to follow. Hopefully the MOT man will be impressed!
I have also purchased some Alpine front 5.25" drivers, but I haven't got as far as fitting them yet. Lazy I know.
Plans for once my finances have recovered after Christmas are either to have the current hood reconditioned (anyone know any decent places to do this?!) and have a new rear window fitted (at a most reasonable cost of £145 fitted by these chaps http://www.softtops.org.uk/rear-screens.htm), or to bite the bullet and buy a complete item. Then, I'll be heading to http://www.leathercaredirect.com/, as recommended on PistonHeads, to have the front seats reconditioned.
Then I'll probably get bored and chop it in for about a grand, but hey, it'll be fun while it lasts!
The E36 has been my DD for the past few months, and it's now ticked over 126k miles (it was on 118k back in April when I bought it). Other than an alternator fail back in July (£270 for a new one) it has performed faultlessly. My motorway fast-cruise speed of 0.85L means that I'm only getting an average of 25mpg on gas, but I can happily average over 30 if I switch to petrol, so I think she's running correctly.
MOT is due on the 27th October, and mindful of the issues which still haven't been sorted, I have got my wallet out and bought...
4x Brembo discs (OEM size, couldn't be arsed with the big brake upgrade in the end).
4x sets of EBC Redstuff pads
1x set of Goodridge braided hoses
4x Spax PSX adjustable dampers
4x Spax SSX lowering springs
I will also be doing an oil and filters service while I have that lot fitted, and then four-wheel alignment and an LPG service to follow. Hopefully the MOT man will be impressed!
I have also purchased some Alpine front 5.25" drivers, but I haven't got as far as fitting them yet. Lazy I know.
Plans for once my finances have recovered after Christmas are either to have the current hood reconditioned (anyone know any decent places to do this?!) and have a new rear window fitted (at a most reasonable cost of £145 fitted by these chaps http://www.softtops.org.uk/rear-screens.htm), or to bite the bullet and buy a complete item. Then, I'll be heading to http://www.leathercaredirect.com/, as recommended on PistonHeads, to have the front seats reconditioned.
Then I'll probably get bored and chop it in for about a grand, but hey, it'll be fun while it lasts!
The best-laid plans o'mice and men gang aft aglee, as someone once said.
So, my brake bits all turned up before MOT time, but my suspension didn't. In fact, when I called to enquire last week (two weeks after ordering it), I was told Spax hadn't even made it yet, let alone shipped it. Idle bds. This meant that the Saturday I had set aside to do the work on the car with my old mate Eddh was wasted, and the next one he has free is the second weekend in November - well after the MOT due date. The only saving grace was that I used the spare time to acquire and collect a Sparco (I think) front strut brace from a nice chap in Bristol, which will also be fitted.
With a heavy heart, I took her along to Bosch Auto Service in Hitchin (near where I work, and recommended to me by PHer E30M3SE). I normally enjoy my visits there, wallet-rapeage aside, because their carpark is always properly exciting - today, they had an E60 M5 Touring, a 2002Ti, a 2600CS, and an Arnage Red Label. But I knew in my heart that I was about to cause myself a world of financial difficulties, taking a car with known faults (collapsed rear springs, lopsided handbrake, suspect brake power, unknown emissions) for its test.
Well, I don't know who tested the bloody thing, but it only went and PASSED with no advisories!!
This leaves me free to tax her for another six months and concentrate on getting the (six months and counting) outstanding jobs sorted. The new plan is to go through the winter with the scraggly current hood, and then look for a new (or nearly-new) item in the Spring, complete with a rear window that you can actually see through. So as it stands...
November: Fit brakes, lines, suspension, de-cat, CDV delete, oil, filters, brake fluid change.
December:
January: Interior refresh (re-Connollised seats, do *something* about the manky carpet)
February: Custom stainless exhaust and manifold.
So, my brake bits all turned up before MOT time, but my suspension didn't. In fact, when I called to enquire last week (two weeks after ordering it), I was told Spax hadn't even made it yet, let alone shipped it. Idle b
ds. This meant that the Saturday I had set aside to do the work on the car with my old mate Eddh was wasted, and the next one he has free is the second weekend in November - well after the MOT due date. The only saving grace was that I used the spare time to acquire and collect a Sparco (I think) front strut brace from a nice chap in Bristol, which will also be fitted.With a heavy heart, I took her along to Bosch Auto Service in Hitchin (near where I work, and recommended to me by PHer E30M3SE). I normally enjoy my visits there, wallet-rapeage aside, because their carpark is always properly exciting - today, they had an E60 M5 Touring, a 2002Ti, a 2600CS, and an Arnage Red Label. But I knew in my heart that I was about to cause myself a world of financial difficulties, taking a car with known faults (collapsed rear springs, lopsided handbrake, suspect brake power, unknown emissions) for its test.
Well, I don't know who tested the bloody thing, but it only went and PASSED with no advisories!!
This leaves me free to tax her for another six months and concentrate on getting the (six months and counting) outstanding jobs sorted. The new plan is to go through the winter with the scraggly current hood, and then look for a new (or nearly-new) item in the Spring, complete with a rear window that you can actually see through. So as it stands...
November: Fit brakes, lines, suspension, de-cat, CDV delete, oil, filters, brake fluid change.
December:
January: Interior refresh (re-Connollised seats, do *something* about the manky carpet)
February: Custom stainless exhaust and manifold.
Woohoo! Long overdue, I've finally got my suspension and brakes fitted. Unfortunately, didn't get time to do the de-cat or CDV delete as we had to pack the work into one hectic day, but me and PHer and general legend Eddh managed to fit the suspension, braided hoses, discs and pads, to bleed the brakes and swap the brake fluid to shiny new stuff, and to swap the oil and filters.
Old suspension disposed of - she's only marginally more soggy with this set-up...
New struts in place
Sexy new EBC Redstuff pads, which gratifyingly you can see through the calipers when the wheels are on.
I don't have a picture of the finished article yet, but suffice to say the improvement in stance is phenomenal. The rear has actually raised a bit, confirming that the rear springs had sagged. One of the locators for the rear springs had shifted over, too, so the spring itself was out of position - we've corrected this, and the "clong" which the car used to make when you let the handbrake off on a slope has now evaporated.
In addition, the handling and braking have been transformed. The car now corners much more smoothly and without the "lurching" that it had before as the body sank onto its shocks (although there is still a bit of roll - I haven't touched stuff like ARB bushes yet). In terms of stopping, it's like night and day - progressive pedal feel with seriously effective braking power. Interestingly, the old pads were close to brand new, and the discs were in such good condition that we actually left the rears in place rather than replacing them - so I have no real idea why braking performance was so bad before. Nevertheless, I have now been able to ascertain (for the first time!) that my ABS is working as it should be!
Negatives? Well, there's a squeak/grind coming from the N/S/R suspension unit over bumps. The top mount bolts are done up nice and tight, so I can't really work out what's causing this - any suggestions? The brakes, too, squeal like a bh - I'm hoping this wears off once the pads have bedded in a bit. Finally, my dear friend Eddh decided it would be amusing to stick one of the 4 inch "SPAX" stickers (bundled with the suspension kit) onto my N/S/R window, and I can't get the bugger off again - I think they use Araldite on the damn things! Sugar soap and water tomorrow evening may do the trick... Otherwise I'm going to be driving round looking like a complete muppet!
Old suspension disposed of - she's only marginally more soggy with this set-up...
New struts in place
Sexy new EBC Redstuff pads, which gratifyingly you can see through the calipers when the wheels are on.
I don't have a picture of the finished article yet, but suffice to say the improvement in stance is phenomenal. The rear has actually raised a bit, confirming that the rear springs had sagged. One of the locators for the rear springs had shifted over, too, so the spring itself was out of position - we've corrected this, and the "clong" which the car used to make when you let the handbrake off on a slope has now evaporated.
In addition, the handling and braking have been transformed. The car now corners much more smoothly and without the "lurching" that it had before as the body sank onto its shocks (although there is still a bit of roll - I haven't touched stuff like ARB bushes yet). In terms of stopping, it's like night and day - progressive pedal feel with seriously effective braking power. Interestingly, the old pads were close to brand new, and the discs were in such good condition that we actually left the rears in place rather than replacing them - so I have no real idea why braking performance was so bad before. Nevertheless, I have now been able to ascertain (for the first time!) that my ABS is working as it should be!
Negatives? Well, there's a squeak/grind coming from the N/S/R suspension unit over bumps. The top mount bolts are done up nice and tight, so I can't really work out what's causing this - any suggestions? The brakes, too, squeal like a b
h - I'm hoping this wears off once the pads have bedded in a bit. Finally, my dear friend Eddh decided it would be amusing to stick one of the 4 inch "SPAX" stickers (bundled with the suspension kit) onto my N/S/R window, and I can't get the bugger off again - I think they use Araldite on the damn things! Sugar soap and water tomorrow evening may do the trick... Otherwise I'm going to be driving round looking like a complete muppet!Cheers Mr Dave. Is there an uprated ARB your mate would recommend? And which bushes has he replaced? I'm a bit scared of making it too "crashy", as it already rattles a bit (that's pillarless cabbies for you!) so I want it to be laterally taught but still with a bit of vertical give, if you see what I mean.
Here's a before/after comparison. Please excuse how horrendously muddy it is - it'll get a full clean and polish up this week, I promise (myself).
Before
After
Note the much improved gap on the front arches. The rears are about the same, maybe a tiny bit higher, which is what I wanted. The car has much more of an aggressive, nose-down stance now, which translates to much better driving feel.
Also note the ridiculous sticker. Thanks Eddh, and no, it won't come off. Grrr...
Here's a before/after comparison. Please excuse how horrendously muddy it is - it'll get a full clean and polish up this week, I promise (myself).
Before
After
Note the much improved gap on the front arches. The rears are about the same, maybe a tiny bit higher, which is what I wanted. The car has much more of an aggressive, nose-down stance now, which translates to much better driving feel.
Also note the ridiculous sticker. Thanks Eddh, and no, it won't come off. Grrr...
Edited by mig25_foxbat2003 on Thursday 9th February 14:17
Short update... sticker off, but squeak remains and may be getting worse. Heading back to the barn in the new year for investigation and a few other little tweaks - strut brace, CDV delete and possibly a de-cat depending on if I get a bonus in January!
I've switched to petrol for the time being, just to see if it makes much of a difference (and partly because I was fed up with having to fill up every 200 miles on gas!) I have to say that it's definitely keener to rev on petrol, and feels smoother at idle too, but there's not that much in it.
I did an economy run on the way back from work last night. 120 miles of mostly motorway but including 40 miles of A roads, I got the following...
I'm ecstatic with that figure... although I fear it may be a massive lie. I only normally average an indicated 29.1mpg (which equates to a true 27ish) so I'm obviously being a bit too heavy footed with it. Next week I'll do the same run on gas, driving in the same manner, and see what the difference is.
I've switched to petrol for the time being, just to see if it makes much of a difference (and partly because I was fed up with having to fill up every 200 miles on gas!) I have to say that it's definitely keener to rev on petrol, and feels smoother at idle too, but there's not that much in it.
I did an economy run on the way back from work last night. 120 miles of mostly motorway but including 40 miles of A roads, I got the following...
I'm ecstatic with that figure... although I fear it may be a massive lie. I only normally average an indicated 29.1mpg (which equates to a true 27ish) so I'm obviously being a bit too heavy footed with it. Next week I'll do the same run on gas, driving in the same manner, and see what the difference is.
A couple of pictures of the Cab after a quick clean. She's just ticked over 130k miles, and feels good for it!
One minor job I have completed since the last update was to work out what the hideous squeak was coming from the N/S/R strut. Turns out I'd fitted one of the top bushes upside-down so there was metal on metal contact over every bump... idiot.
With one problem down, I now face two more small issues. One is that the front top mounts are not coping too well with the lowering and consequent camber change - I'm going to need some inverse M3 Evo ones I think. And the rear screen is now getting beyond a joke
so that's going to have to be replaced as my next expense...
One minor job I have completed since the last update was to work out what the hideous squeak was coming from the N/S/R strut. Turns out I'd fitted one of the top bushes upside-down so there was metal on metal contact over every bump... idiot.
With one problem down, I now face two more small issues. One is that the front top mounts are not coping too well with the lowering and consequent camber change - I'm going to need some inverse M3 Evo ones I think. And the rear screen is now getting beyond a joke
so that's going to have to be replaced as my next expense...Edited by mig25_foxbat2003 on Thursday 9th February 14:16
Edited by mig25_foxbat2003 on Thursday 9th February 14:16
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