RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 325i (E36) Convertible

RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 325i (E36) Convertible

Friday 1st July 2016

Shed of the Week: BMW 325i (E36) Convertible

Well if some sunshine is on the way, what better vehicle for enjoying it than a drop-top 3 Series?



Apparently, Brexit is responsible for the price of eggs, the extinction of dinosaurs and the inclement weather we've been having recently.

Shed doesn't know about any of that, but if we do ever get some EU-style weather over here then this remarkably un-Barried 325i Convertible could be just the ticket for getting some of King Sol's rays onto one's tonsure.

Hood apparently still functions - result!
Hood apparently still functions - result!
Way back in the permanently sunlit uplands of the early 1990s, Shed attended the press launch of the E36 325i Convertible in the south of France. In truth it was meant to be the launch of the first 'modern' M3, the E36 six-cylinder one that could be had in Dakar Yellow. The 325 ragtop had been sort of chucked in there for the journos to use as an alternative means of getting to their next refreshment stop; and yes, if you liked, as a comparison to help them realise how much better the M3 was.

And of course by any measurable criteria the M3 was 'better'. It had more power and more torque and you only needed two gears to drive it quite rapidly more or less everywhere.

What it wasn't so good at was making a whizzy din. The 325 was good for that. Even now, more than a quarter of a century later (oh dear), Shed still remembers the metallic zing of the oh-so-sweet 2.5 bouncing off the rock faces north of Nice. It was a very tidy little handler too.

Finding a 21-year-old 325 Convertible in such unmolested condition and with such a low mileage suggests a car that's been loved by its four owners. The phrase '15 inch alloys' might look ridiculous when it's written down on an ad but these BMW ones are lovely and fit this car perfectly.

When BMW made wheels for normal hands
When BMW made wheels for normal hands
Sadly it's not a manual, but you can't have everything. At least it's not the sometimes troublesome SMG six-speed 'box that came later.

Here's some better news: the roof works. Well, it goes up and down anyway. If it's doing that electronically, rather than through physical force and a hell of a lot of swearing, then you're laughing - plenty of these Convertibles have lost the ability to doff their own hats. At this end of the market a Convertible with a non-functioning roof is effectively a write-off.

You still had 'ladies cars' back in the 1990s and this is definitely one of them. The vendor's camera seems to have some Vaseline on the lens, but even so you can make out the unusual body colour and matching interior. At the risk of stereotyping you can imagine this car having been ordered by a well-coiffed Cheshire-based lady of leisure or by the owner of a Midlands beauty salon.

Most PHers worthy of the name will know the E36's weak points, but here's a quick run-through of the usual suspects. Water pump (plastic impeller failure). Thermostat housing (plastic). Leaking cam cover gaskets. Rattly cam chain on the six-pots (can be tensioner or guides). Vanos seal trouble. Weeping power steering reservoir. Cutting out (usually air leaks from split pipes). Rough idling or poor starting (often a dirty idle control valve, easily fixable with a dose of throttle body cleaner).

This bit is looking good at least
This bit is looking good at least
Suspension generally. Specifically, perishing lower control arm bushes and worn front ARB links at the front and split damper mounts, broken springs and weak or perished trailing arm bushes at the rear.

Brake light switches, power seat actuators, heater control valves, crank position sensors. Less commonly, a loss of oil pressure caused by detached oil pump gear. You shouldn't have the window operation difficulties caused by faulty comfort relays on pre-'94 cars but windows can drop or tilt if the internal slider mechanisms break.

Don't get the impression from this long list that this week's Shed will be a barrel of bother. It's more a reflection of the depth of experience built up over time by many thousands of largely happy 325 owners.

Many will say you may as well save your money for a 328 as it will be almost as economical as the 325 and a fair bit faster. Others will be content with the knowledge that the 325 motor is one of the smoothest you can buy. Unlike another recent choice, picking between a 325 or a 328 is more of a no-lose decision between two rather nice things. Just put your X in the appropriate box.

Here's the ad.

Finished in Metalic Marea Grun Blue. Cloth and half leather matching sports seats. Black Mohair Automatic Power operated Hood. 15" 10 Spoke Light Alloy Sports Wheels. Sony stereo RDS Radio and Cassette Player and four speakers. Leather Sports Steering Wheel. Tinted glass. Electric Windows front and rear & door mirrors.

ABS Cornering Brake Control, Anti Skid & Traction Control. Active Roll Over System.

Twin Exhaust tail pipes. Full remote central locking alarm and immobiliser system complete to Manufacturers specifications.

Author
Discussion

tezzer

Original Poster:

983 posts

185 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Now't wrong with that for the money, cheap summer (?) fun.

mikeyr

3,118 posts

192 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Ooooh you buggers! That is soooooooo tempting - especially with a new MOT. Needs tyres all round apparently.

Wonder if it's rusty round the arches.

only1ian

684 posts

193 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Id have that! Top summer shed...

How different is the engine and gearbox from the last of the E30's? The auto shifter looks remarkably similar to the one in my 1990 E30 325

Scottie - NW

1,284 posts

232 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Good to see something different for a change...

...even if it's an auto convertible with eye watering interior smile

Those engines are lovely though.

24valve

96 posts

209 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
That is fantastic. Rare to see one with A/C as well.

Very fond memories of my 325i saloon and I'd love this too - lovely engine.

Back in the day I sold my 325i for a e46 323i. The 323i in that car was totally different and I really struggled to bond with it like I did the e36.

If this was a different colour combo, I'd be wanting it.

MadDog1962

890 posts

161 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Looks Ok for the money.

However, sorry to nit-pick, but there's no mention of an MoT... Isn't that a requirement for all SOTWs?

LayZ

1,619 posts

241 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Pictures look like they are from the 90s too!

5harp3y

1,942 posts

198 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
MadDog1962 said:
Looks Ok for the money.

However, sorry to nit-pick, but there's no mention of an MoT... Isn't that a requirement for all SOTWs?
its got MOT until June next year

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

X5TUU

11,907 posts

186 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
A yes all day long from me, always had a fancy for one of these since a neighbour had an L plated one as his new company motor back in the day ... I remember thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread at the time!

J4CKO

41,276 posts

199 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Tidy old thing, run it for summer and get your money back.

Master Bean

3,517 posts

119 months

Friday 1st July 2016
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Reminds me of Boaty Mcboatface.

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
I had a 328 Coupe auto with the same paint and trim combination. You eventually get used to it.

It was a lovely old thing. I sold it about seven years ago and the rear arches were pretty scabby back then.

Sounded fab with a Supersprint cat back exhaust.

If I wanted dirt cheap rag top motoring, I think I would get an Alfa Spider. But that BMW would undoubtedly be the more sensible choice.







Leins

9,412 posts

147 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Really like that, good shed! Some interesting smaller-engined Alpina E36s exist too that won't break the bank if you can find one


only1ian said:
Id have that! Top summer shed...

How different is the engine and gearbox from the last of the E30's? The auto shifter looks remarkably similar to the one in my 1990 E30 325
Not sure on the gearbox, but in terms of engine the E36's is a 24v unit, rather than the E30s 12v, producing an extra 20 or so bhp. IME, the later engines feel a little less "torquey" in reality, there seems like a bit more going on in the E30s lower rev-range, if that makes sense. Both still a joy to rev out to the red-line of course though smile

offshoreeddy

349 posts

140 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Sorry to nitpick, but the 'regular' E36 cars were never available with the first generation SMG gearbox, it was only the M cars that had it as an option, and that was only from about 1998 as I recall.

leon9191

752 posts

192 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
only1ian said:
Id have that! Top summer shed...

How different is the engine and gearbox from the last of the E30's? The auto shifter looks remarkably similar to the one in my 1990 E30 325
The motor in this is the M50 which is a 24v evolution/version of the M20 in your E30. The gearbox I couldn't say definitively is the same but its probably related at the least, very common swap putting E36 running gear in an E30. The basic engine block architecture remained unchanged from the E30 up to the E46 on the six cylinder motors.

This is a sweet old thing, I think the E36 has aged really well now when you compare them to everything else of the same vintage. They drive lovely as well.




Leins

9,412 posts

147 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Also, Alpina's SwitchTronic was available from an early stage in the E36 B3. It wasn't based on a manual box like SMG1 in the M3, but it did have changers on the steering wheel. Was this the first road-car offered with them?


Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Not a bad shed if it was a coupe, but a ropey old convertible? No thanks.

EnglishTony

2,552 posts

98 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Leins said:
Also, Alpina's SwitchTronic was available from an early stage in the E36 B3. It wasn't based on a manual box like SMG1 in the M3, but it did have changers on the steering wheel. Was this the first road-car offered with them?
Not sure. The Ferrari 355 F1 had them 1997. Was the Alpina available before that?

kellyt

158 posts

118 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Seems like such a nice car for no money at all, really. Has to be a horror lurking somewhere? But honestly, good looking, very sweet engines, quite comfy. I couldn't complain about any of that. As long as it doesn't go bang straight away, it's a lovely shed.

E36GUY

5,906 posts

217 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
leon9191 said:
I think the E36 has aged really well now when you compare them to everything else of the same vintage. They drive lovely as well.
Agreed. We have an S Reg 323i (325) Touring which is still in use daily. Only 90,000 on the clock and runs perfectly. Old faithful.