RE: PH Fleet: BMW 328i (E36)
Discussion
Lots of unanswered questions!
A stock M3 can't be compared to my cheap-but-upgraded 328i now. The 328i is in fine fettle, new arms, new rubbers, new clutch, engine compression at 14bar. It's on real suspension, caged up, etc... yes the M3 would have more power. But it would cost more to run, and I don't think it would be as quick standard. £4000 does not buy you a mint ready-for-a-season-on-track M3!
Yes, I work for Rent4Ring by day. Fredy has your E36 M3 GT stashed in our workshop.
The Turbo five was quicker. I hope one day to beat it, but I'll need to get the 325i manifold on, a nice intake and then a good chip. The turbo five would hit 150mph twice on a lap on the racelogic. With the aerodynamics of a brick - acceleration was in a different league to the 328i unfortunately.
Why don't I fit an M3 engine? Maybe one day I will, if I have the budget for it. But right now the 2.8 is enough power for chasing ill-driven Porsches and doesn't cost several months wages to replace or repair!
A stock M3 can't be compared to my cheap-but-upgraded 328i now. The 328i is in fine fettle, new arms, new rubbers, new clutch, engine compression at 14bar. It's on real suspension, caged up, etc... yes the M3 would have more power. But it would cost more to run, and I don't think it would be as quick standard. £4000 does not buy you a mint ready-for-a-season-on-track M3!
Yes, I work for Rent4Ring by day. Fredy has your E36 M3 GT stashed in our workshop.
The Turbo five was quicker. I hope one day to beat it, but I'll need to get the 325i manifold on, a nice intake and then a good chip. The turbo five would hit 150mph twice on a lap on the racelogic. With the aerodynamics of a brick - acceleration was in a different league to the 328i unfortunately.
Why don't I fit an M3 engine? Maybe one day I will, if I have the budget for it. But right now the 2.8 is enough power for chasing ill-driven Porsches and doesn't cost several months wages to replace or repair!
it's getting harder and harder. Maybe it's just the time of year but looking on Autotrader and on here the number of 328i and 323i on the market in decent condition has dropped right off. There's the odd 100k poverty spec car coming in at around the grand mark still but they are few and far between compared with a year or two ago, and clean ones with ~80k and full history are starting to command the same prices that E36 M3 would have done.
Very nice. I own a pretty special 328i coupe. It had £7000 spending on it by a track day company who subsequently went bust before it could be used. Top Gear bought it, and used it for a morning filming where England rugby stars were going for top times. Sadly never aired.
It then sat there not used for 12mths. I picked it up, new starter motor, thermostat, couple of rubber pipes and wipers and by god is it good. It is seriously as quick as a 3.0 M3. It's fully stripped, full custom cages cage, bucket seats, harnesses, ignition cut off, fire extinguisher, fully chequer plated, updated suspension, racing clutch, upgraded brakes. Now it's crazy! Driving a stock 325i which was lapped in 9mins 20 by my mate this would certainly challenge your BTG 8.20.
Currently using it on the road at the moment which is lively, will either track it all summer or move it on.
It then sat there not used for 12mths. I picked it up, new starter motor, thermostat, couple of rubber pipes and wipers and by god is it good. It is seriously as quick as a 3.0 M3. It's fully stripped, full custom cages cage, bucket seats, harnesses, ignition cut off, fire extinguisher, fully chequer plated, updated suspension, racing clutch, upgraded brakes. Now it's crazy! Driving a stock 325i which was lapped in 9mins 20 by my mate this would certainly challenge your BTG 8.20.
Currently using it on the road at the moment which is lively, will either track it all summer or move it on.
vsonix said:
it's getting harder and harder. There's the odd 100k poverty spec car coming in at around the grand mark still but they are few and far between compared with a year or two ago, and clean ones with ~80k and full history are starting to command the same prices that E36 M3 would have done.
To be fair, the newest ones are going to be 13 year old cars roughly, so finding one that's only done 80k is bound to be a bit hard nowadays
fastgerman said:
Have you done the 325i manifold + Dave F intake, engine remap etc? Suppose to be good for 220 bhp but never bothered with my old 328i Sport and just bought an M3.
From the noise it's making, none of the above!By my sums though (as a 328i owner I'm very interested) it should be 217bhp with just the inlet manifold, the open filter likely to add little more than a lovely howl at the top end, and a remap could perhaps bring you near 230bhp.
To Dale's credit though, it seems that so far this car isn't about power and is about handling and "feeling" like a proper track car. Which it seems it does! The two Donington videos are brilliant
It seems E36's are finally being appreciated.
Accessible, reliable, practical, manual & RWD. Not many new cars offer this spec.
'You don't know what you've got until it's gone'
At current prices you'll struggle to go faster for the money.
Here's hoping they continue to rise in popularity and value. (Just bought an E36 race car);)
Accessible, reliable, practical, manual & RWD. Not many new cars offer this spec.
'You don't know what you've got until it's gone'
At current prices you'll struggle to go faster for the money.
Here's hoping they continue to rise in popularity and value. (Just bought an E36 race car);)
Maldini35 said:
It seems E36's are finally being appreciated.
Accessible, reliable, practical, manual & RWD. Not many new cars offer this spec.
'You don't know what you've got until it's gone'
At current prices you'll struggle to go faster for the money.
Here's hoping they continue to rise in popularity and value. (Just bought an E36 race car);)
And so they should be Accessible, reliable, practical, manual & RWD. Not many new cars offer this spec.
'You don't know what you've got until it's gone'
At current prices you'll struggle to go faster for the money.
Here's hoping they continue to rise in popularity and value. (Just bought an E36 race car);)
. Great cars. having owned my for roughly 5 years now im totally in love with it ( not in a weird way).Polybushed and fettled here and there It holds it own amongst today's cars although would just love a bit more power. even so handling is spot on and great fun to drive. Would love to go down the stripping route one day and turn it into a kind of clubsport model ready for the track but i dont fancy driving the mrs TT everyday and i really haven't got the heart to do it to mine.
Heres a little pic of my 328i sport, any excuse
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff