RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 325i (E36) Convertible
Discussion
Pat H said:
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.
Very niceIt 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.
Style 5 aloys?
I brought, well rescued a manual 328I cabriolet from the scrappage scheme. A one owner car with a hardtop, climate garaged from new. I brought it as a stop gap car on an Ebay whim. Incredibly good for £2,000, with 68,000 miles from new. Replaced the plastic water pump. The soft top was like brand new. Had the car for 2 years as a second car for the sunshine. Sold the car for £4,000 to a collector. The one and only person to see the car in the flesh. Plenty of people telling what it was worth 'mate' without even seeing it when it was for sale - as they do.
Worth paying extra for a good one. Cheap as chips now.
Worth paying extra for a good one. Cheap as chips now.
Edited by Bogracer on Saturday 2nd July 19:05
24valve said:
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.
I did exactly the same and agree ref e46. I had a very early 1992 325i coupe, pre vanos, it was one of the best cars I've owned and was totally reliable. I have a 328i convertible to play with at the moment as much fun as it is to work on it just doesn't have the same spark the old 325i did.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.
These really are great value for money and they are also so easy to work on.
M3333 said:
24valve said:
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.
I did exactly the same and agree ref e46. I had a very early 1992 325i coupe, pre vanos, it was one of the best cars I've owned and was totally reliable. I have a 328i convertible to play with at the moment as much fun as it is to work on it just doesn't have the same spark the old 325i did.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.
These really are great value for money and they are also so easy to work on.
dme123 said:
I actually cannot recall the last time I saw an E36 that didn't at least have a load of s
tty halfords badges stuck to it, and the vast majority I've seen over the last decade have been utterly ruined and driven in that inept, ham fisted way morons try to drive fast. That car looks really appealing, I think the time is rapidly coming for the E36 to return from the wilderness or knuckle dragging moron owners and take it's rightful place as a desirable car.
tty halfords badges stuck to it, and the vast majority I've seen over the last decade have been utterly ruined and driven in that inept, ham fisted way morons try to drive fast. That car looks really appealing, I think the time is rapidly coming for the E36 to return from the wilderness or knuckle dragging moron owners and take it's rightful place as a desirable car. Edited by dme123 on Friday 1st July 22:23
I actually think that ended about 5 years ago, most of the knuckle draggers are even finished with e46's these days and moving on up to E90/E60 territory. I have been quite surprised at the positive comments my 328i convertible gets, it is totally standard even down to its amber indicators
Have had a 325 coupe for 2 years now, recently bought a 328 to replace it.
2.5 is a bit lacking in torque at low revs so don't know how well it'd work with an auto. Lovely sounding engine but needs working hard to go quickly.
2.8 is a bit dull and quiet by comparison.
No nikasil issues with the 2.5 though which is pretty bombproof once the cooling system's sorted.
2.5 is a bit lacking in torque at low revs so don't know how well it'd work with an auto. Lovely sounding engine but needs working hard to go quickly.
2.8 is a bit dull and quiet by comparison.
No nikasil issues with the 2.5 though which is pretty bombproof once the cooling system's sorted.
Pat H said:
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.
What wheels are they? 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.
I want.
M3333 said:
I actually think that ended about 5 years ago, most of the knuckle draggers are even finished with e46's these days and moving on up to E90/E60 territory. I have been quite surprised at the positive comments my 328i convertible gets, it is totally standard even down to its amber indicators
dme123 said:
I spend a fair bit of time in the South Wales Valleys which somewhat skews my perspective I think. A man in an E90/E60 can still reasonably be expected to be the Don of Merthyr Tydfil, you've got to be a big swinging dick of the town to even get a 318i E46 in flat seamonster green.
To be fair you might be onto something, i have noticed a lot of the barried E36's left on eBay all seem to be in south wales. I spent ages looking for mine and noticed loads for sale in that area but very few up here in the north.M3333 said:
To be fair you might be onto something, i have noticed a lot of the barried E36's left on eBay all seem to be in south wales. I spent ages looking for mine and noticed loads for sale in that area but very few up here in the north.The downside is seeing the sad fate of cars that fall into the hands of the mouthbreathers.
In a similar vein, friend of mine and I bought an Audi Cabriolet 2.6 for £950 and took it on a 'Ring trip. It went surprisingly well four up.
http://www.racetracker.de/event/picture/1566177-a1...
http://www.racetracker.de/event/picture/1566177-a1...
s m said:
The 323i in the E46 was also a 2.5 litre like the E36 325i................but tuned for torque delivery rather than all out power. Was also about 20 bhp down on the earlier E36 325 and hence slower, a less 'revvy' nature. The 328i engine is similar in character to the 323...more of a slugger than a revver. 328 puts out similar power to the earlier E36 325 ....but is also a lot torquier
A slight aside, but can you remember the reason why BMW didn't offer the 323ti in RHD? Just wondering if it was market or technical issuesmatthias73 said:
What wheels are they?
I want.
Dunno. They were some flavour of BBS wheel with bolt in centres.I want.
When I got the car, the lacquer was peeling off the rims, so I took the wheels to bits, had the rims polished and got the centres powder coated in silver.
Over about three years, the powder coated centres lost their metallic finish and faded to grey. So I took them apart again and had the centres powder coated black for a change.
To be honest, I preferred them in silver.
The rims I left as bare polished alloy, so they needed plenty of Solvol to keep looking nice. I had all the bolts nickel plated, too.
The wheels were a pain to polish and a pain to keep clean. At least when they were black they didn't show the brake dust.
Pat H said:
Dunno. They were some flavour of BBS wheel with bolt in centres.
When I got the car, the lacquer was peeling off the rims, so I took the wheels to bits, had the rims polished and got the centres powder coated in silver.
Over about three years, the powder coated centres lost their metallic finish and faded to grey. So I took them apart again and had the centres powder coated black for a change.
To be honest, I preferred them in silver.
The rims I left as bare polished alloy, so they needed plenty of Solvol to keep looking nice. I had all the bolts nickel plated, too.
The wheels were a pain to polish and a pain to keep clean. At least when they were black they didn't show the brake dust.
Typically I really dislike modified cars, but those wheels look good and not at all ridiculous. Not keen on the randomly positioned aftermarket badge on the last pic though When I got the car, the lacquer was peeling off the rims, so I took the wheels to bits, had the rims polished and got the centres powder coated in silver.
Over about three years, the powder coated centres lost their metallic finish and faded to grey. So I took them apart again and had the centres powder coated black for a change.
To be honest, I preferred them in silver.
The rims I left as bare polished alloy, so they needed plenty of Solvol to keep looking nice. I had all the bolts nickel plated, too.
The wheels were a pain to polish and a pain to keep clean. At least when they were black they didn't show the brake dust.
Leins said:
A slight aside, but can you remember the reason why BMW didn't offer the 323ti in RHD? Just wondering if it was market or technical issues
It was supposed to be marketing.....analysis of the E36 buying market revealed mostly women purchasers/drivers and hence it was thought not worth offering the 170bhp 2.5 version hereGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff