RE: BMW 328i (E36): PH Carpool

[James 92]

The LSD I sourced from a 3.0 M3. Swapped the output flanges and it fits (it's a medium case diff). It's a 3.15 final drive so I had it at 147mph @ 6400rpm on the Autobahn

[hwajones]

Was an LSD standard in the 328i?
Or just the early Sports as inferred above??

[James 92]

hwajones said:

Was an LSD standard in the 328i?
Or just the early Sports as inferred above??

It was always an option on the e36. As I understand, early sports had LSDs until the introduction of traction control as standard in late 1996.. From then it was still an option but Sports no longer had them as standard.. The LSD option for the 328 was a 2.93 final drive.

Awaiting someone to correct me on this as I'm not 100%!

[Olivera]

I'm running a welded 318i diff with 328 driveshafts on mine, tops out at 137mph.

[Rawhide]

40mpg?

I could barely get my 320 coupe to 30mpg and it averaged 22mpg.

If that's really achievable at 70mph i would consider one as a second car.

[Bionic Billy Nav]

I had a 328 Coupe for two years did all the usual stuff and got the weight down to 1100kg would easily see 40mpg if not better at that weight, Ive also had 320 323 325 and the 328 is definitely best on fuel...

[Bionic Billy Nav]

And compared to my Cooper S and Clio 197 much better on tyres for track days..

[Dannbodge]

I didn't need to swap any flanges on the M3 3.0 LSD. It bolted straight on, as did my mates one.

I average around 26mpg in mine and that's mainly around town. A long motorway drive will get that into the mid to high 30s.

[McSam]

I'll add 3.0 M3 diffs to the shopping list, then, I didn't realise they could be done so easily. I knew the Evo one was a pain, but sounds like the early medium-case would be a good bet! Are they usually in serviceable condition, or need reconditioning?

My experience echoes the above about running costs.. 38mpg at 70mph isn't just achievable, it's easy, and while my E36 doesn't get many road miles, my ownership average in my E46 328i is 31mpg. When in good fettle, they're quite remarkable on fuel.

E36 doesn't seem to be using any tyres either, no matter how much you drift it around circuits

[varsas]

Rawhide said:

40mpg?

I could barely get my 320 coupe to 30mpg and it averaged 22mpg.

If that's really achievable at 70mph i would consider one as a second car.

Yeah, I used to get 40+ on the motorway and 35+ in normal driving in my standard 328i coupe, same as I had from a 2litre Vectra. My current Auto V6 S-type does 35/25+ in the same conditions. This was measuring fill-to-fill not from the fuel computer (although if you calibrate them they can be pretty accurate).

[James 92]

McSam said:

I'll add 3.0 M3 diffs to the shopping list, then, I didn't realise they could be done so easily. I knew the Evo one was a pain, but sounds like the early medium-case would be a good bet! Are they usually in serviceable condition, or need reconditioning?

My experience echoes the above about running costs.. 38mpg at 70mph isn't just achievable, it's easy, and while my E36 doesn't get many road miles, my ownership average in my E46 328i is 31mpg. When in good fettle, they're quite remarkable on fuel.

E36 doesn't seem to be using any tyres either, no matter how much you drift it around circuits

I guess it was entirely unnecessary for me to do the flanges then! Wish I knew that at the time! My diff was cheap and a complete gamble at £225. Turns out it does whistle a bit but locks up fine (I'm assuming the car it came off had done a few miles or it had been used for drifting). I changed the oil in it but it didn't quieten it down. I do need to do an input seal on it as it's weeping slightly.. It's the best modification I did by far though. LSDs are a gamble unfortunately

[kainedog]

varsas said:

my clk320 does 35 on a run easy so 40 mpg for the 328i does not surprise me

Yeah, I used to get 40+ on the motorway and 35+ in normal driving in my standard 328i coupe, same as I had from a 2litre Vectra. My current Auto V6 S-type does 35/25+ in the same conditions. This was measuring fill-to-fill not from the fuel computer (although if you calibrate them they can be pretty accurate).

[Devil2575]

varsas said:

Yeah, I used to get 40+ on the motorway and 35+ in normal driving in my standard 328i coupe, same as I had from a 2litre Vectra. My current Auto V6 S-type does 35/25+ in the same conditions. This was measuring fill-to-fill not from the fuel computer (although if you calibrate them they can be pretty accurate).

Really? My 328i did mid 30s on a run but averagex 28 mpg over the year or so I monitored the mpg, based on actual measurement. It did 38 mpg one on a trip to the lakes. If you got 35+ in normal driving you have a very light right foot and you don't encounter much traffic.

[Devil2575]

Rawhide said:

40mpg?

I could barely get my 320 coupe to 30mpg and it averaged 22mpg.

If that's really achievable at 70mph i would consider one as a second car.

If you only get 30 mpg out of a 320 don't buy a 328 and expect to get 40mpg.

[Olivera]

McSam said:

E36 doesn't seem to be using any tyres either, no matter how much you drift it around circuits

Me and fellow co-owner have blown 12 in one day

[Kawasicki]

I like the grey lower trim, nice car. One grand BMW or 30 grand fwd hot hatch? Easy choice for me.

[monthefish]

James 92 said:

The LSD I sourced from a 3.0 M3. Swapped the output flanges and it fits (it's a medium case diff). It's a 3.15 final drive so I had it at 147mph @ 6400rpm on the Autobahn

Did it cost more than the car??

[g3org3y]

Good car, I might be a bit biased as I've had two.

Saloon, Boston Green, manual box while I was at uni.

Leather, air con, sunroof. Added genuine Alpina Softline alloys, angel eyes (it was fashionable then!) and HIDs.

Unfortunately wrote it off on the way to a diabetes clinic (roundabout fail).


Current car is a Montreal Blue touring. Again with manual box. Originally purchased to serve as a winter car (for the E30 325i cabrio) has ended up staying. Properly impressed with it and the added practicality makes Ikea trips and the like easy (that sentence makes me sound old!). Our first road trip in it was to Berlin a month after purchase.

(Ditched those reps and back on genuine Alpinas now)


On winters, no problems with snow.

Now on 155k miles.

When looking for 328s ideally I wanted a coupe. Unfortunately so many had been modified/barried that I ended up looking at Tourings. Although I hear that now Tourings are quite big in the tuning/modding scene.

Good 328s are hard to find now. If you look around a good spec is manageable (i.e. 18 button OBC, leather, climate control). I don't like the normal seats, poor lumbar support. Not sure if the sport seats are better? Autos sap power and economy, stick to manual if possible.

James 92 said:

hwajones said:

Was an LSD standard in the 328i?
Or just the early Sports as inferred above??

It was always an option on the e36. As I understand, early sports had LSDs until the introduction of traction control as standard in late 1996.. From then it was still an option but Sports no longer had them as standard.. The LSD option for the 328 was a 2.93 final drive.

Awaiting someone to correct me on this as I'm not 100%!

That's my understanding also.

Early LSD Sports (with no ASC+T) are rare.

Rawhide said:

40mpg?

I could barely get my 320 coupe to 30mpg and it averaged 22mpg.

If that's really achievable at 70mph i would consider one as a second car.

I've often heard the 40mpg figure quoted but never seem to achieve it. I've managed 37mpg on a London to Scottish Borders run (and back). Perhaps if I slowed to a 65mph speedo indicated cruise?

[pSyCoSiS]

These cars represent excellent value for money.

Your's is a nice, subtle example.

If looked after, the engines are bullet proof and can take a good hammering.

The manual Touring models are a fun drive and can surprise quite a few cars on the road!

[McSam]

Thanks for the info on the diff, James and that sounds like a great deal to me!

Olivera said:

McSam said:

E36 doesn't seem to be using any tyres either, no matter how much you drift it around circuits

Me and fellow co-owner have blown 12 in one day

Nice going

Your Touring looks lovely, g3org3y. I've got the sports seats in both E36 and '46 and they're excellent, never a complaint whether doing 450 miles to Scotland or a track day. The design is extremely similar but the E46 ones are a bit better padded and mine have the optional four-way electrically adjustable lumbar. Wouldn't have a 3er without these seats now.