'Upping my Green Credentials' - Meergrün E36 328i Trio

[vsonix]

Few bits for the convertible today -

£cheap coilovers. Controversial choice, I know, but considering this is a car that gets used in summer only and by its very nature isn't likely to be driven especially hard round corners, and that I want some degree of control over ride height, they seem to be pretty much the only option without spending more than on a decent spring/shock package. These ones are TuV certified and have a two year warranty, so for a hair over £170 I don't think that's too bad. I also got some Z3 rear strut tower reinforcement plates (I run front and rear on the coupé) but I'm thinking about camber adjustable top mounts on the front which cost about the same and negate the need for the plates up front.

As well as the coilies, some skinnier tyres for the rears (currently 215/45/17 dropping to 205/40) so they will be the same as the front... Hopefully with the drop this will mean a perfect fitment with no arch roll!

I also managed to snag another M50 manifold, conversion kit and remapped ECU for a decent price so I'm gonna go M50 on the 'vert too. I was planning to leave it standard but the MPG gains I have got since adding the remap to the coupé I'm finding the relatively high consumption coupled with the standard unmodded sluggishness a bit much to bear! So looks like the convertible's set to become a bit of a beast too!

Edited by vsonix on Friday 20th September 22:03

[vsonix]

So, got my coilovers (and strut tower reinforcement plates!) on the convertible... As usual the components were scrutinised by Cat Scan to investigate their suitability.



Yes I know she is a teeny bit low, and will be coming up a centimetre or so as I've already caught a couple of speed bumps in the immediate vicinity of my house! However, I actually really like the firm ride and the handling's tightened up loads. Obviously I haven't really driven her hard yet, but I think actually for £170-odd these coilies are OK, I mean they have a 2 year warranty and they're TuV approved so they can't be too awful, right?





Also, my M50 manifold and remapped ECU arrived but I will probably wait until the spring to fit it.

Edited by vsonix on Thursday 26th September 21:30

[vsonix]

Got a Boston Green hard top off of FleaBay for the 'vert... I actually like the 2-tone contrast with the darker green roof, but unfortunately in bright sunlight you see the very obvious difference in the metallic flake between the two shades. Whilst hopefully in very bright sunlight I'd have the top down anyway, I still think it could do with remedying so I'm going to have a look at Fern Green or Oxford Green to see if they'd be a better match, or possibly look at plasti-dipping the hard top in a colour that is closer to the original colour of the soft-top (which is quite badly faded and will be getting dyed soon).

There is also the option of colour-matching, but I'm not sure if I like the look of the hard top so much when it is a lighter shade...



Thoughts on the various options?

Oh, and I brought the ride up an inch or so as the sound of the X-brace scraping on things was making me cry. Stupid bad roads. My road hasn't been resurfaced in well over fifteen years and has developed undulations that rival the most fierce of speed bumps...

[Paul S4]

Perhaps get the hard top resprayed in black...I have a metallic violet 328 cab and bought a metallic black hard top. Black suits any colour and is easier to sell on as well!

[vsonix]

Paul S4 said:

Perhaps get the hard top resprayed in black...I have a metallic violet 328 cab and bought a metallic black hard top. Black suits any colour and is easier to sell on as well!

I actually tried a black one on for size, it looked kinda drab by comparison. I once saw a 'vert the same colour with a black soft top and that didn't really look right either. I think it's basically a choice of three options, (a) colour code (b) choose a better contrasting shade of green (c) plasti-dip a similar shade to the soft-top and leave it like a matte finish (almost like an oldskool vinyl hard-top)...

[sc4589]

I'd say do it Meergrün dude. It's a lovely colour, rare to boot, so you may as well show it off.

[dragonheart]

Agreed do it Meergrn, keep it looking factory. Should also be a big plus point when you come to sell the car on.

[2thumbs]

I agree with the above it has to be in the cars colour, it will look a bit micky mouse in a different shade to the car imo.

I love a hard top vert

[2thumbs]

I agree with the above it has to be in the cars colour, it will look a bit micky mouse in a different shade to the car imo.

I love a hard top vert

[vsonix]

Well, plasti-dip is a cheap, non-destructive option so I think I am gonna try a shade of plasti-dip similar to the soft top first of all, and if I don't like it, I'll go for a colour match... When it comes to resale (heaven forfend!) I may find it more lucrative selling a mint Boston Green hard top separately at the right time, than bundling it with the car.

Edited by vsonix on Tuesday 8th October 00:45

[Paul S4]

What is plasti-dip....never heard of that, presumably the clue is in the title....!!
That process has not reached the North East as far as I know !

[tomsnelling]

Paul S4 said:

What is plasti-dip....never heard of that, presumably the clue is in the title....!!
That process has not reached the North East as far as I know !

A plastic coating that you can spray on, like a paint. But peels off like a rubbery skin leaving the original surface untouched, clever really.

[Paul S4]

Also, if I wanted to get the complete M50 conversion done on my 1997 E36 328 auto, is there a specialist who would supply the correct parts, fit and do the remap in one visit ?
I am interested in the mpg gains for everyday use, and of course the performance improvement for the odd track day.

Distance may be a factor as I live near Newcastle, but I would be prepared to travel...but not too far.

[vsonix]

it's like a rubberised spray paint that sets into a nice protective finish that is durable (much more so than plastic wrap) yet can be easily peeled off when necessary. It's pretty awesome stuff, you can either use it clear/matt or you can mix it with metallic/pearl pigments as per conventional paint, and best of all, it's relatively cheap and doesn't require any specialist equipment. Have a flick through these vids, you'll see how versatile it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvkq-qyY9aY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNgoIbf9xio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE8EV2IkcA0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fjaWtduAV0

I've already seen people painting on plasti-dip as a kind of bonnet bra to ward of stone chips, which after seeing the state of the bonnet of the vert after an M5 jaunt up to Bracknell and back, also is starting to seem like a good idea! I like the idea of paint on/peel off protection, especially once I've had the cars in to the body shop...

Edited by vsonix on Tuesday 8th October 00:43

[Paul S4]

Thanks for such a quick reply!

[vsonix]

thanks for reading it before I'd finished editing it with an addendum

[vsonix]

Got some bits for the coupé today. I've long been after Sport seats for the front since they are considerably more comfy and supportive. I've also been toying with the idea of ditching the black leather in favour of silver grey - partly because it will match the convertible and partly because I think it makes the inside a slightly nicer place to be, especially when it's hot weather. I managed to pick up a very clean heated silver grey interior, and as an added bonus (although a bit of a mission to retrofit), heated seats, and as a bonus bonus, a mint black headlining. However, I want to retain the black plastic door cards and dash, but with the silver leather panels, so I will have to do a fair bit of fiddling around. Hopefully the end result will be along the lines of an E46 M3 I once saw which looked very classy, and a non-typical combination for an E36 but should look great against the exterior colour.

Edited by vsonix on Tuesday 29th October 14:43

[2thumbs]

I've always liked silver leather but hated the grey plastics usually found with it. I had a silver 328 sport like it & never did get used to it. It looked so dull. I like your plans to keep the black dash & cards, it will give a lovely contrast similar to my champagne & black

Edited by 2thumbs on Tuesday 29th October 01:06

[DanielJames]

I've got Silver/Grey in my 'coupe.


008.jpg by DanielJames., on Flickr

Although I very nearly bagged some alcantara vaders the other day...

[vsonix]

2thumbs said:

I've always liked silver leather but hated the grey plastics usually found with it. I had a silver 328 sport like it & never did get used to it. It looked so dull. I like your plans to keep the black dash & cards, it will give a lovely contrast similar to my champagne & black

Edited by 2thumbs on Tuesday 29th October 01:06

yup, thats's very much the kind of thing I'm going for!