Loving Every Minute - BMW E46 328i, still only 20..
Discussion
I'm a very happy boy:
In fact, I have been since May, when I picked this up! Ashamed that I've only just got round to making a thread, but at least it means I have plenty of content for the opening post
A 1999 328i SE, in very high spec and remarkably good condition, came with a fresh MOT (and some VED). 134,000 miles. I've got a sunroof, gorgeous tan leather sports seats, cruise, 6CD changer, parking sensors, automatic climate, headlamp washers.. The list goes on and on, I'd love to know what it cost new! As befits a car owned for eight years by a double-barrelled chap in Buckinghamshire, I have a huge raft of receipts and invoices totalling over ten grand, and the car really does look very well cared for. Anyway, some more photos:
Complete with retro Nokia phone holder
:
2793cc straight six, 190bhp, 207lb.ft. This is the later twin-VANOS engine, the M52TUB28. Having done my research, M50 inlet conversions are possible..
I'm still quite capable of looking at it all day long! When I started searching through these cars, and saw one with the tan seats, carpet and headlining paired with a black dashboard and the walnut trim, I knew I couldn't buy one without that interior. I spent my first month or two checking my nearside blindspot an inordinate amount of times for another cheeky glance around inside
I'm coming from a 1996 Audi A4 2.6 SE, and as nice as that car was, it's fuel consumption : power ratio was starting to take the mickey, as was its ride quality. I loved the way it looked but it was time to move on, and honestly, I think the BMW beats it in every major area.
This car handles very neatly indeed and has good body control but, especially on these 205/55R16 tyres, rides exceptionally for something of its size. If you want to get the best out of it you need to give it a damn good revving, but in reality there is plenty of poke wherever you are. The immediacy of the response higher up the rev range is addictive, though!
Surprisingly, quite a good amount of space in the back, too. Though I do sacrifice quite a lot of bootspace, I don't care because that's for a most excellent reason: the diff has to go somewhere!
I really like some of the details, too.
The wings are very sleek, but this wheel-hooding bulge is lovely..
Planning for every eventuality..
Really every single one!
So far, in an alarmingly short space of time, I've done nearly 5000 miles in it! This is a hell of a lot for a student with no commute, but a lot is due to travelling with a race team. I also took it up to Scotland, a 420 mile leg each way, for a week away with my girlfriend and her family. Six and a half hours in a day and neither of us felt a single twinge of discomfort - it turns into an excellent cruiser that also did the whole run on one tank both times! Also proves to be nice and easy to drive, as I let Emily drive for a couple of hours - a bit of a change from her 1.25 Fiesta, but no trouble
Awesome for an engine like that. I keep track of my fuel usage, and the trip is consistently about 2mpg high. 37mpg at 80mph in a thirteen-year-old straight-six saloon?! I could fall in love with it for that alone
Still sitting pretty, 400 miles from home:
To cover the essentials in a nutshell - a bloody brilliant car. Lovely place to sit, and looks great. Rides well but is sharp when pressing on, good steering feedback, wonderfully tail-happy in the wet, and with ever-present power but impressive economy capabilities. When you keep yourself from experiencing the gorgeous howl between 6000 and 6500rpm, that is
And all this for £1750.
Here she sits now, outside my student house with PHer 722Adam's 2.4T S60.. Not bad for two twenty-year-olds!
Actually, I think that could be one of the worst photos I've ever taken, but there you go..
So, looking forward.. The to-do list has boring and interesting stuff.
Cheers,
Sam
In fact, I have been since May, when I picked this up! Ashamed that I've only just got round to making a thread, but at least it means I have plenty of content for the opening post
A 1999 328i SE, in very high spec and remarkably good condition, came with a fresh MOT (and some VED). 134,000 miles. I've got a sunroof, gorgeous tan leather sports seats, cruise, 6CD changer, parking sensors, automatic climate, headlamp washers.. The list goes on and on, I'd love to know what it cost new! As befits a car owned for eight years by a double-barrelled chap in Buckinghamshire, I have a huge raft of receipts and invoices totalling over ten grand, and the car really does look very well cared for. Anyway, some more photos:
Complete with retro Nokia phone holder
:2793cc straight six, 190bhp, 207lb.ft. This is the later twin-VANOS engine, the M52TUB28. Having done my research, M50 inlet conversions are possible..
I'm still quite capable of looking at it all day long! When I started searching through these cars, and saw one with the tan seats, carpet and headlining paired with a black dashboard and the walnut trim, I knew I couldn't buy one without that interior. I spent my first month or two checking my nearside blindspot an inordinate amount of times for another cheeky glance around inside
I'm coming from a 1996 Audi A4 2.6 SE, and as nice as that car was, it's fuel consumption : power ratio was starting to take the mickey, as was its ride quality. I loved the way it looked but it was time to move on, and honestly, I think the BMW beats it in every major area.
This car handles very neatly indeed and has good body control but, especially on these 205/55R16 tyres, rides exceptionally for something of its size. If you want to get the best out of it you need to give it a damn good revving, but in reality there is plenty of poke wherever you are. The immediacy of the response higher up the rev range is addictive, though!
Surprisingly, quite a good amount of space in the back, too. Though I do sacrifice quite a lot of bootspace, I don't care because that's for a most excellent reason: the diff has to go somewhere!
I really like some of the details, too.
The wings are very sleek, but this wheel-hooding bulge is lovely..
Planning for every eventuality..
Really every single one!
So far, in an alarmingly short space of time, I've done nearly 5000 miles in it! This is a hell of a lot for a student with no commute, but a lot is due to travelling with a race team. I also took it up to Scotland, a 420 mile leg each way, for a week away with my girlfriend and her family. Six and a half hours in a day and neither of us felt a single twinge of discomfort - it turns into an excellent cruiser that also did the whole run on one tank both times! Also proves to be nice and easy to drive, as I let Emily drive for a couple of hours - a bit of a change from her 1.25 Fiesta, but no trouble
Awesome for an engine like that. I keep track of my fuel usage, and the trip is consistently about 2mpg high. 37mpg at 80mph in a thirteen-year-old straight-six saloon?! I could fall in love with it for that alone
Still sitting pretty, 400 miles from home:
To cover the essentials in a nutshell - a bloody brilliant car. Lovely place to sit, and looks great. Rides well but is sharp when pressing on, good steering feedback, wonderfully tail-happy in the wet, and with ever-present power but impressive economy capabilities. When you keep yourself from experiencing the gorgeous howl between 6000 and 6500rpm, that is
And all this for £1750.
Here she sits now, outside my student house with PHer 722Adam's 2.4T S60.. Not bad for two twenty-year-olds!
Actually, I think that could be one of the worst photos I've ever taken, but there you go..
So, looking forward.. The to-do list has boring and interesting stuff.
- Take that phone holder out
- Work out why my radiator fan has forgotten its purpose in this world
- Change the gearbox oil - the thing hates cold mornings
- Try and hunt down a small but evident exhaust manifold leak
- M50 inlet manifold - the M52-engined 328is use a deliberately restricted inlet manifold to keep the power output below an old German tax bracket. Fit one of the freer-flowing OEM ones from an earlier 325i and you see about 210bhp!
- Thinking hard about an exhaust really rather like this one..
- Track day!
Cheers,
Sam
Fantastic write up and great photos, been looking forward to this thread for a while
They are spectacularly good cars, and extremely capable too - long motorway trips are swallowed up with ease in comfort and economy, but when the roads start getting twisty and empty they are very good fun too.
Have to say, the pre facelift SE model is my favourite although I am a little biased.
So yes, and excellent thread - will be following with interest!
Black leather with walnut inserts is the way to go though
They are spectacularly good cars, and extremely capable too - long motorway trips are swallowed up with ease in comfort and economy, but when the roads start getting twisty and empty they are very good fun too.
Have to say, the pre facelift SE model is my favourite although I am a little biased.
So yes, and excellent thread - will be following with interest!
Black leather with walnut inserts is the way to go though
Ah, thanks guys 
It is indeed Aston Martins we work with, just at the race meetings themselves - Adam's a mechanic and I do data analysis, both for getting the drivers to go faster and for strategic planning, as the team has six cars and do mostly two-hour races. We run V8 Vantages in the AMOC GT4 Challenge, and yes, it's still awesome even after a whole season!
I really appreciate the comments and I'll definitely be keeping this up to date! I've serviced the car already, some photos to follow, as well as doing a very entertaining run with another PHer but I felt my first post was getting on a bit! She's really in amazing condition, I honestly think I have one of the best 328is in the country, certainly a class above any others that were for sale at the time.
Insurance is no major problem, actually. I'm always stunned by how much it costs for other people my age - I swapped from the Audi to this halfway through the policy so never paid the full premium, but it would have been around £1000. At renewal, I'll have just turned 21 and expect more like £750. I have a good postcode and a clean record, and have always been insured as a main driver, so perhaps that's where it comes from. I'm glad it enables things like this, though!
And cheers, Sandy, but..
It is indeed Aston Martins we work with, just at the race meetings themselves - Adam's a mechanic and I do data analysis, both for getting the drivers to go faster and for strategic planning, as the team has six cars and do mostly two-hour races. We run V8 Vantages in the AMOC GT4 Challenge, and yes, it's still awesome even after a whole season!
I really appreciate the comments
and I'll definitely be keeping this up to date! I've serviced the car already, some photos to follow, as well as doing a very entertaining run with another PHer but I felt my first post was getting on a bit! She's really in amazing condition, I honestly think I have one of the best 328is in the country, certainly a class above any others that were for sale at the time.Insurance is no major problem, actually. I'm always stunned by how much it costs for other people my age - I swapped from the Audi to this halfway through the policy so never paid the full premium, but it would have been around £1000. At renewal, I'll have just turned 21 and expect more like £750. I have a good postcode and a clean record, and have always been insured as a main driver, so perhaps that's where it comes from. I'm glad it enables things like this, though!
And cheers, Sandy, but..
BorkFactor said:
Black leather with walnut inserts is the way to go though
Nah Cheers Carter! Hope you enjoy yours just as much
I've thought of Eisenmann before, but on V8s and V10s they often seem a tad too aggressive. Have you got a video of yours? Would love to see what it's like on this engine!
Andy665 said:
The Esenmann exhaust is not cheap but quality is superb, have one on my 328 Sport
Hmmmm I've thought of Eisenmann before, but on V8s and V10s they often seem a tad too aggressive. Have you got a video of yours? Would love to see what it's like on this engine!McSam said:
Hmmmm I've thought of Eisenmann before, but on V8s and V10s they often seem a tad too aggressive. Have you got a video of yours? Would love to see what it's like on this engine!
I'm 45 so aggressive is not the note I'm looking for, its deep and since doing the M50 inlet manifold conversion I now have some pops and bangs on the overrun, no noisier than standard when at a constant speed I've thought of Eisenmann before, but on V8s and V10s they often seem a tad too aggressive. Have you got a video of yours? Would love to see what it's like on this engine!Thanks guys! Living the dream it really is. The versatility of the car is almost the best bit at the moment.. I can take my grandparents out for dinner in leather-lined luxury, or I can go seriously quick on a great road with a very well-balanced chassis.
Naturally I'm now biased, but when I was looking I always thought the pre-facelift cars looked nicer. There's something too "smiley" about the newer headlights, perhaps proven by them never being used on M3s!
Sparks, I saw some photos of your car in Sandy's thread, very nice I considered E39s myself, but as I don't need the space I thought I'd save myself the weight and potential costs. Plus if I did it I would be compelled to get a V8 one
Naturally I'm now biased, but when I was looking I always thought the pre-facelift cars looked nicer. There's something too "smiley" about the newer headlights, perhaps proven by them never being used on M3s!
Sparks, I saw some photos of your car in Sandy's thread, very nice
I considered E39s myself, but as I don't need the space I thought I'd save myself the weight and potential costs. Plus if I did it I would be compelled to get a V8 one Andy665 said:
I'm 45 so aggressive is not the note I'm looking for, its deep and since doing the M50 inlet manifold conversion I now have some pops and bangs on the overrun, no noisier than standard when at a constant speed
Hmmmm, that sounds lovely.. Just what I'm after. Is yours an E36? And do Eisenmann just do the one system for this car? I'll get myself on YouTube and see if I can find an example.McSam said:
mmmm, that sounds lovely.. Just what I'm after. Is yours an E36? And do Eisenmann just do the one system for this car? I'll get myself on YouTube and see if I can find an example.
Yes, mines an E36, Eisenmann do a few different systems, mine is the twin 76mm tailpipe version, there is probably a video on www.eisenmann.co.ukLovely! I recently (reluctantly) sold my E46 318 ti which was the same colour as this.
BMW seem to have this ability to make the wheels fit the arches exactly thus avoiding these bloody stupid huge gaps that completely ruin the looks of other modern cars (several people looked at mine and said, "I see you've lowered it ..." - I hadn't!).
BMW seem to have this ability to make the wheels fit the arches exactly thus avoiding these bloody stupid huge gaps that completely ruin the looks of other modern cars (several people looked at mine and said, "I see you've lowered it ..." - I hadn't!).
Thanks Andy - they do indeed have a video on there, and it's nice too, exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for. At £660, though, it's a bit steep - I presume that's from the cat back, not including the manifolds as well? I'll bear them strongly in mind when the time comes
I know exactly what you mean about the arches, Evangelion, I really like it for that. It's a good job, because the Audi filled its arches perfectly, but then lowered on 18" wheels it would do. This does it completely standard, and I really like it! It does have the factory sports suspension option too.
but sadly, as with everything in motorsport, it's down to who you know. This one I came upon quite by chance, through someone I know on my university course. It's turned out that, thanks to the experience I already had proving useful, the team are more than happy to keep me on - but they're not short of staff now, I'm afraid!
Back to the car, a new job has presented itself - I had a light but persistent scraping sound coming from what we identified as the rear left brake disc. I thought I might have picked up a stone or something, and it didn't seem to affect the braking performance at all - though, at the rear I wouldn't expect it to. Today we jacked her up and got the wheel off, and the mystery was immediately solved:
The rusty disc surface is purely down to the car having been washed, but it's looking decidedly shaky at the edges anyway, and the pad is clearly down to the backing plate. It's started to carve into the disc at the outside, hence the noise. The other side is well worn, but not as far, explaining why the noise was only from the left side. Pads and discs are being changed this week. Thankfully I can get Bosch ones for £65, despite them being vented discs at the rear! Someone engineered this properly
I know exactly what you mean about the arches, Evangelion, I really like it for that. It's a good job, because the Audi filled its arches perfectly, but then lowered on 18" wheels it would do. This does it completely standard, and I really like it! It does have the factory sports suspension option too.
danjama said:
Lovely car and good write up.
Sorry to go a bit off topic, and I hope this isn't rude, but what steps did you follow to find yourself working with Astons on track? Would love to do similar.
Thanks! Not rude in the slightest, worry not Sorry to go a bit off topic, and I hope this isn't rude, but what steps did you follow to find yourself working with Astons on track? Would love to do similar.
but sadly, as with everything in motorsport, it's down to who you know. This one I came upon quite by chance, through someone I know on my university course. It's turned out that, thanks to the experience I already had proving useful, the team are more than happy to keep me on - but they're not short of staff now, I'm afraid!Back to the car, a new job has presented itself - I had a light but persistent scraping sound coming from what we identified as the rear left brake disc. I thought I might have picked up a stone or something, and it didn't seem to affect the braking performance at all - though, at the rear I wouldn't expect it to. Today we jacked her up and got the wheel off, and the mystery was immediately solved:
The rusty disc surface is purely down to the car having been washed, but it's looking decidedly shaky at the edges anyway, and the pad is clearly down to the backing plate. It's started to carve into the disc at the outside, hence the noise. The other side is well worn, but not as far, explaining why the noise was only from the left side. Pads and discs are being changed this week. Thankfully I can get Bosch ones for £65, despite them being vented discs at the rear! Someone engineered this properly
McSam said:
Thanks! Not rude in the slightest, worry not but sadly, as with everything in motorsport, it's down to who you know. This one I came upon quite by chance, through someone I know on my university course. It's turned out that, thanks to the experience I already had proving useful, the team are more than happy to keep me on - but they're not short of staff now, I'm afraid!
Thanks very much. I better get networking! but sadly, as with everything in motorsport, it's down to who you know. This one I came upon quite by chance, through someone I know on my university course. It's turned out that, thanks to the experience I already had proving useful, the team are more than happy to keep me on - but they're not short of staff now, I'm afraid!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff