E36 328i Touring. When it breaks, upgrade it...
Discussion
Rich196 said:
Cannot believe I've missed a thread on the old bucket. Worth reading just to see the pic's of my car 
Share with everyone the Vtec clips
Oh no, it's you! Share with everyone the Vtec clips
The mental noise will be coming... not sharing the whole lot though, just a few random points, like where it sounds like it's got wastegate chatter because Pete couldn't drive her properly.
Cheers Bork- you know it makes sense, get on it. And if those grey Contours need a home...
DJ- yeah, we went on the Sunday, if you heard something very loud leaving Nurburg at around 3.30pm that would've been me with no functioning exhaust silencers!
Bear- cheers, she's come a long way since I got her. Don't think she'll realistically be finished until she's resprayed a lurid blue/turquoise (Atlantis Blue/Alpina Blue/Velvet Blue are the shortlist colours), and with a 4.4 V8 crammed under the bonnet! Thanks for the M3 rear ARB tip, will have a look around- although there's two Eibach 21mm ones going spare currently...
In other news, a remapped ECU is on the way. The poly ARB bushes have been fitted, and have really affected the handling positively. Also, the EBC Redstuffs are on- absolutely great on the E36. Stops on a sixpence now, and considering whether it's worth actually doing the 300mm upgrade.
DJ- yeah, we went on the Sunday, if you heard something very loud leaving Nurburg at around 3.30pm that would've been me with no functioning exhaust silencers!
Bear- cheers, she's come a long way since I got her. Don't think she'll realistically be finished until she's resprayed a lurid blue/turquoise (Atlantis Blue/Alpina Blue/Velvet Blue are the shortlist colours), and with a 4.4 V8 crammed under the bonnet! Thanks for the M3 rear ARB tip, will have a look around- although there's two Eibach 21mm ones going spare currently...
In other news, a remapped ECU is on the way. The poly ARB bushes have been fitted, and have really affected the handling positively. Also, the EBC Redstuffs are on- absolutely great on the E36. Stops on a sixpence now, and considering whether it's worth actually doing the 300mm upgrade.
molineux1980 said:
My MX5 may be coming to the end of it's life in the new year,with MOT looming and serious rust issues. I'm considering a bigger car, with room to lug a bike, and safely carry my 18 month old daughter. I was thinking of a Focus ST170. Now i'm thinking of a 328 Touring......
Room to lug a bike... questionable. The boot's good, but not amazing. Also, they are not safe cars these days. I think they scored 1.5 stars on the NCAP? Very few have passenger airbags, and they don't crash well.However, mine's been very reliable, they're very easy to work on and it's highly unlikely you'd get a unique problem. The engines sound great and pull well, the handling is good. Only thing to watch is rust. Buy on condition, not on mileage. Mine's done 175,000 miles and is in better nick than most...
Cheers for the tips. My brothers 5 door Focus is suprisingly big inside with the seats down, I'd throw the bike in wheels off, seats down . We have a mk5 Golf GTI as our 'main' car, so the little one wouldn't be in there much. It should be safer than a rusty, 22 year old MX-5 though!
There's not many around in the classifieds at the moment!
There's not many around in the classifieds at the moment!
molineux1980 said:
Cheers for the tips. My brothers 5 door Focus is suprisingly big inside with the seats down, I'd throw the bike in wheels off, seats down . We have a mk5 Golf GTI as our 'main' car, so the little one wouldn't be in there much. It should be safer than a rusty, 22 year old MX-5 though!
There's not many around in the classifieds at the moment!
They're getting thin on the ground, there are something like 63 manual 328i Tourings left on the road... grab one quick!There's not many around in the classifieds at the moment!
Seats down, you can fit loads in. 1320 litres of capacity with seats down, 370 seats up. Useable, basically. I'll keep my eyes peeled; there was one going for £400 just down the road from me...
molineux1980 said:
Cheers for the tips. My brothers 5 door Focus is suprisingly big inside with the seats down, I'd throw the bike in wheels off, seats down . We have a mk5 Golf GTI as our 'main' car, so the little one wouldn't be in there much. It should be safer than a rusty, 22 year old MX-5 though!
There's not many around in the classifieds at the moment!
I would have thought that a bike in the back shouldn't be too much trouble, I can get my road bike in he back of my 328 coupe with the rear seats folded down. There's not many around in the classifieds at the moment!
Nice car by the way, these old BMWs are underrated now, can't think of anything that I would want to replace mine with that is even vaguely affordable. Well done with your's good to see what can be done with a spot of bargain hunting.
Thanks Lance. Every time I peruse classifieds for something else, I'm struggling to think what else I could buy that blends my needs so well. It's reasonable enough to run (although 25mpg currently isn't really ringing my bell), goes well, handles well, holds lots, carries more than 2 people, is OK to insure (24 years old and £580 with all mods declared this year)... been looking at the BMW 540i, but it's a) much larger and will surely handle like a boat in comparison and b) will cripple me on fuel and insurance.
So... Claudia will do for now. as a little present for putting up with me for a year, just bought a remapped ECU and Eibach 21mm ARB with the polybushes for the fixing. Hopefully will take us above the 240bhp mark, whilst making that wiggly bum a little more controllable...
So... Claudia will do for now.
as a little present for putting up with me for a year, just bought a remapped ECU and Eibach 21mm ARB with the polybushes for the fixing. Hopefully will take us above the 240bhp mark, whilst making that wiggly bum a little more controllable...Right, done a few more bits and pieces.
The Powerflex wishbone bushes and E30 wishbones are on, and they feel fab-u-lous. Steering is magical now- very communicative, and no more slack/wobbly feel to it- clearly something was shagged in the wishbones!
The remapped ECU is on, and what a firebreather she is now. Strong and linear in every gear. Can't help but feel that she'll benefit from a live mapping session though, so will probably revert to the original once I've completed any further plans. US-spec M3 cams are tickling my fancy at the moment, a little too much for my liking too.
The Eibach ARB has arrived, but I really can't be bothered to fit it at the moment. The thermostat failed (rather usefully) at the start of a 300+ mile round trip, so a fairly s
tty 28mpg wasn't welcomed. Neither was dumping all of my coolant on the drive while changing the stat. Or working around the stupid viscous fan. But I know these things for next time. Water pump will be replaced & upgraded, thusforth providing me with a nice, bulletproof engine. Maybe some UUC pulleys too..? Any other suggestions welcomed.
Also... finally sorted the interior, and have put some winter boots on:
It's the 32s again! And I'm pleased to note that the black Vaders, whilst also in very good nick, are still electric. Interior now feels a lot more cohesive, and the grey Vaders have gone to the friend with the awesome convertible. Before we took off her Hartge shoes and generally messed around with her, we got a few nice shots one night...
Bon appetit, everybody.
The Powerflex wishbone bushes and E30 wishbones are on, and they feel fab-u-lous. Steering is magical now- very communicative, and no more slack/wobbly feel to it- clearly something was shagged in the wishbones!
The remapped ECU is on, and what a firebreather she is now. Strong and linear in every gear. Can't help but feel that she'll benefit from a live mapping session though, so will probably revert to the original once I've completed any further plans. US-spec M3 cams are tickling my fancy at the moment, a little too much for my liking too.
The Eibach ARB has arrived, but I really can't be bothered to fit it at the moment. The thermostat failed (rather usefully) at the start of a 300+ mile round trip, so a fairly s
tty 28mpg wasn't welcomed. Neither was dumping all of my coolant on the drive while changing the stat. Or working around the stupid viscous fan. But I know these things for next time. Water pump will be replaced & upgraded, thusforth providing me with a nice, bulletproof engine. Maybe some UUC pulleys too..? Any other suggestions welcomed.Also... finally sorted the interior, and have put some winter boots on:
It's the 32s again! And I'm pleased to note that the black Vaders, whilst also in very good nick, are still electric. Interior now feels a lot more cohesive, and the grey Vaders have gone to the friend with the awesome convertible. Before we took off her Hartge shoes and generally messed around with her, we got a few nice shots one night...
Bon appetit, everybody.
Usget said:
I know it's travesty but I think I prefer the 32s to the Hartges. Black Vaders look much better!
It's your opinion and you're entitled to it- even if it's wrong. I'm quite lucky in that, between me 'n' the man with the cabrio, we have an awesome selection of wheels. So we're always just basically swapping between each other and using whichever set may have some tread on the tyres!Love the new Vaders. They're gorgeous. They're the facelift ones, so have slightly bigger side bolsters and the storage nets for the rear passengers (as if legroom wasn't cramped enough!).
Agree about the style 32s and black Vaders but it's just personal preference. Gave up looking for a decent 328 touring a while back. Been offered a nice 323 convertible which I might go for as I know it's history even though it's the wrong engine. Still makes the right noise and can be m50 manifolded...
In a blizzard of speeding tickets, parking fines, insurance payments, car tax being paid and impending MOT (potentially doom), Claudia has had yet more work lavished on her.
Up on the lift to finally sort out...
The exhaust issues. She'll never pass in a million years with her rude, loud, stainless steel decat system. So 'the switch' has occurred. Standard system to be put back on... not before a little bit of fixing.
Size difference on the two exhausts.
Fixing the fk-ups from last time. Sheared two manifold branch bolts when fitting the naughty exhaust. Some patient drilling, a few snapped bits and a lot of swearing later...
Huzzah!!
So, I think my old fan was slightly broken.
Stat housing replaced with an aluminium jobbie. Much better. Can tighten it with impunity.
Water pumps! On the left is the EMP Stewart Components high-spec E36 water pump. Flows 20% more coolant, is twice as efficient, has a fk-off big metal impeller, and an upgraded bearing. Lifetime guarantee. Seemed a shame to stick it in the engine- it's a beautiful piece of engineering. Amazingly, the original plastic impeller pump had survived 115,000 miles... around 15,000 of those miles in my clumsy, oafish, lead-footed hands.
All at home, ready to be screwed back together. Thermostat replaced too.
Also found time to take some pretty pictures of her at night.
The 32s are growing on me, but I still miss the Hartges. Oh well... come spring, they'll probably be back on, and then we're onto the wonderful Cadbury's-flavoured BBSs as summer wheels.
Financially, I'm currently in the midst of sorting out Christmas, the aforementioned parking & speeding fines, tax has been paid, MOT is coming up and I'm busy sorting out an overdraft & various other financial maladies. Despite this, I have no plans of selling Claudia... just driving her less. All will be rectified in February. Until then, consider the project in hibernation. Merry Christmas everyone!
Up on the lift to finally sort out...
The exhaust issues. She'll never pass in a million years with her rude, loud, stainless steel decat system. So 'the switch' has occurred. Standard system to be put back on... not before a little bit of fixing.
Size difference on the two exhausts.
Fixing the f
k-ups from last time. Sheared two manifold branch bolts when fitting the naughty exhaust. Some patient drilling, a few snapped bits and a lot of swearing later...
Huzzah!!
So, I think my old fan was slightly broken.
Stat housing replaced with an aluminium jobbie. Much better. Can tighten it with impunity.
Water pumps! On the left is the EMP Stewart Components high-spec E36 water pump. Flows 20% more coolant, is twice as efficient, has a f
k-off big metal impeller, and an upgraded bearing. Lifetime guarantee. Seemed a shame to stick it in the engine- it's a beautiful piece of engineering. Amazingly, the original plastic impeller pump had survived 115,000 miles... around 15,000 of those miles in my clumsy, oafish, lead-footed hands.
All at home, ready to be screwed back together. Thermostat replaced too.
Also found time to take some pretty pictures of her at night.
The 32s are growing on me, but I still miss the Hartges. Oh well... come spring, they'll probably be back on, and then we're onto the wonderful Cadbury's-flavoured BBSs as summer wheels.
Financially, I'm currently in the midst of sorting out Christmas, the aforementioned parking & speeding fines, tax has been paid, MOT is coming up and I'm busy sorting out an overdraft & various other financial maladies. Despite this, I have no plans of selling Claudia... just driving her less. All will be rectified in February. Until then, consider the project in hibernation. Merry Christmas everyone!
So I'm now out the other side of the nastiest financial time of the year...
Claudia has been taxed, and she passed her MOT on the 18th with flying colours. 3 advisories- brake pipes each side for the rear, and slight play in steering rack. I planned on rectifying these anyway this year... but all in all, happy with that result!
Since the last update, she's just been ticking along happily on her new winter wheels, and I treated her to a new steering wheel for passing the MOT so well (had a budget for potential repairs that I could spend on the wheel!).
Style 30s on- best £50 I've spent in a while. Nearly new tyres all round, and add to the classic sleeper-ish look. Note standard exhaust- MOTs have their downsides...
but the cannon will be back on soon!
New wheel. It's a darker grey than that, but the camera was busy with long exposure stuff. Alcantara-wrapped with tri-colour stitching and genuine carbon fibre inserts (like that'll save me precious seconds at the 'Ring...).
Love these seats. Planning to make them heated.
That'll do for now. Enjoy.
Claudia has been taxed, and she passed her MOT on the 18th with flying colours.
3 advisories- brake pipes each side for the rear, and slight play in steering rack. I planned on rectifying these anyway this year... but all in all, happy with that result!Since the last update, she's just been ticking along happily on her new winter wheels, and I treated her to a new steering wheel for passing the MOT so well (had a budget for potential repairs that I could spend on the wheel!).
Style 30s on- best £50 I've spent in a while. Nearly new tyres all round, and add to the classic sleeper-ish look. Note standard exhaust- MOTs have their downsides...
but the cannon will be back on soon!
New wheel. It's a darker grey than that, but the camera was busy with long exposure stuff. Alcantara-wrapped with tri-colour stitching and genuine carbon fibre inserts (like that'll save me precious seconds at the 'Ring...).
Love these seats. Planning to make them heated.
That'll do for now. Enjoy.
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