RE: PH Fleet: BMW 328i (E36)

RE: PH Fleet: BMW 328i (E36)

Author
Discussion

ecksjay

327 posts

151 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
E46's are pennies these days, a 328 e46 is around a grand or so from what i've seen. are they any cheaper to run? stiffer?

I love my e46 330i, it is a lovely cruiser and the engine really is a peach. it's an auto but is a really nice box, if a little slow to react if you're trying to move a little more sprightly than usual.

jaik

2,002 posts

212 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
I've never quite understood using cars like this as track toys, aren't they a bit dull for that? Or is it purely that they're cheap and plentiful (hence cheap to fix)?

And yes, I'm an E36 328i owner. It's a comfortable, practical, cheap daily with enough ability to be hustled along at a reasonable pace when you want to, but I never take it out just for the sake of going for a drive.

r7ehw

127 posts

236 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
ecksjay said:
E46's are pennies these days, a 328 e46 is around a grand or so from what i've seen. are they any cheaper to run? stiffer?

I love my e46 330i, it is a lovely cruiser and the engine really is a peach. it's an auto but is a really nice box, if a little slow to react if you're trying to move a little more sprightly than usual.
The E46 is a lovely car but its heavier which is why the e36 is the car of choice here.

I was seriously impressed with the driving. Bet the chap in the M3 was gutted and the guys in the GT2 and GT3 must have had a shock to see it staying with them.

Think you need to lose the 328 badge and replace with 320 or 318 for the ultimate sleeper look!


braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Maldini35 said:
I wouldn't so sure it's that far off the budget as we don't know what Dale spent on the mods and he'll need new rubber soon by the sound of it. A race seat and belts will probably follow soon to...

The e30 in the pic comes with a full spares package including a rebuilt 2.5l engine all for £3500.
Hard to argue with that.
Indeed. thumbup

kaliber

42 posts

175 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
great idea! much better than the rotary ring tool!

cheap to buy, cheap to mod and even cheaper for repairs if/when u bin it.

Also, from the video it sounds like theres a wheel bearing or somethin howling away, could just be road noise but has a definite howl in background.

keep us updated on the next steps for the beemer!

red997

1,304 posts

208 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
one question - how can the 4 door chassis be stiffer than the coupe ?
doesn't seem to add up - and surely the coupe is lighter ?
not trying to needle, just inquisitive !

I loved my E38 328 - first proper RWD car I owned
never had a FWD since


chilled

588 posts

223 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
red997 said:
one question - how can the 4 door chassis be stiffer than the coupe ?
doesn't seem to add up - and surely the coupe is lighter ?
not trying to needle, just inquisitive !

I loved my E38 328 - first proper RWD car I owned
never had a FWD since
Very large frameless doors & opening on the coupe is the theory. The two smaller door openings with the thick pillar in between adds strength just near the driver so may well feel better.

firman

1,407 posts

192 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
I picked up a E36 328 Tourer earlier this year and love it, pulls like a train for a £700 car, the rear seats in mine look a bit more run in than yours though Dale wink Will follow this with interest to see what I may try to get a bit more from my doggy carrier.

TameRacingDriver

18,048 posts

271 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
jaik said:
I've never quite understood using cars like this as track toys, aren't they a bit dull for that? Or is it purely that they're cheap and plentiful (hence cheap to fix)?

And yes, I'm an E36 328i owner. It's a comfortable, practical, cheap daily with enough ability to be hustled along at a reasonable pace when you want to, but I never take it out just for the sake of going for a drive.
Probably that they are cheap, not slow and RWD.

I had a 328 Sport and I'd generally agree, its a little too refined as a hooning toy.

lordgibbness

110 posts

180 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Good pass on the other E36, and good try keeping up with the Porkers.

Amazing how quickly that SEAT Leon went past you though...

McSam

6,753 posts

174 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Maldini35 said:
Great choice. Old 3 series make the best track cars.

If anybody wants a cheap but sorted E30 track car, there are a few very good cars for sale from the Production BMW Championship (PBMW) at the moment. £3k will get you a classic shaped 320i with full roll cage, race spec suspension, brakes and tyres.

Cheap RWD fun.

Oh, great. You just cost me about three grand, thanks for that... hehe

garypotter

1,483 posts

149 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Great fun on a little budget.

Couple of questions to throw out there...
1. I hear of a lot of people taking the 328I shell and fitting M3 running gear? yes a lot of time but to what benefit? I would have thought the M3 e36 would be as strong poss lighter once stripped?
2. the 3.0 M3 has a LSD does the 328I have one fitted as standard?


anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
garypotter said:
Great fun on a little budget.


2. the 3.0 M3 has a LSD does the 328I have one fitted as standard?

No, I think 99% of them are 2.91 open.

A 3.15 lsd from a m3 3.0 is a straight swap

M3 evo lsd into a 328 requires driveshaft modification, etc

McSam

6,753 posts

174 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
duckhunt said:
No, I think 99% of them are 2.91 open diffs.
Not so, if you get lucky you can find one that has a friction clutch-type LSD as standard. An original 328i Sport model that has no traction control should have an LSD, but they come in wildly varying states of wear and aren't that good.

The M3 ones have a similar issue, with the friction cones wearing out, so.. The diff of choice for these is the Quaife one, which I think can still be had for a grand or so.

Bezza1969

777 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Great car, the E36 328i. IMHO, candidate for best BMW 3 series (in its day) that wasnt an M car....I cant get over how quick these things were with just 193 BHP....quicker than the lighter Toyota GT 86....

sopaz

22 posts

168 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Snap! (but a 323i)





Just bought it... All seems OK? The heater fan doesn't work though, anyone got any experience with this?

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
chilled said:
red997 said:
one question - how can the 4 door chassis be stiffer than the coupe ?
doesn't seem to add up - and surely the coupe is lighter ?
not trying to needle, just inquisitive !

I loved my E38 328 - first proper RWD car I owned
never had a FWD since
Very large frameless doors & opening on the coupe is the theory. The two smaller door openings with the thick pillar in between adds strength just near the driver so may well feel better.
Also behind the back seats on the saloon is a solid metal plate (+/- ski hatch) whereas the coupe will have folding seats.

firman

1,407 posts

192 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
sopaz said:
Snap! (but a 323i)





Just bought it... All seems OK? The heater fan doesn't work though, anyone got any experience with this?
Here is my similar looking one biggrin


sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
The E36 is such a lovely car. A late 328 Sport would be great, I almost went for one instead of my E39.

varsas

4,004 posts

201 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
jaik said:
I've never quite understood using cars like this as track toys, aren't they a bit dull for that? Or is it purely that they're cheap and plentiful (hence cheap to fix)?

And yes, I'm an E36 328i owner. It's a comfortable, practical, cheap daily with enough ability to be hustled along at a reasonable pace when you want to, but I never take it out just for the sake of going for a drive.
I have a 328 I use for track days. To be honest I even enjoyed driving my Vectra on track and the 328 is a big step up from that. Yes there are better cars but everything is a balance, I really enjoy it so why spend more? I do hope one day to 'upgrade' but at the moment I'm happy as I am...

Edited by varsas on Tuesday 9th October 18:54