E36 328i Touring. When it breaks, upgrade it...
Discussion
Sorry Sami, already got first dibs on it. 
cheers Mouse, glad you like it, been a labour of love for sure!! Still not done either. Now looking to refresh the entire front end- steering racks are cheap and plentiful, so a quicker one will be installed along with new wishbones (in the storage area), all the Powerflex stuff, new tie-rod ends, uprated E46 328i brakes (they use a 300mm disc and slightly bigger caliper carriers) and a convertible x-brace, when I can get my mitts on one.
Apart from that, a slightly fatter rear ARB is tempting. Keeping my eyes peeled for either Eibach or AC Schnitzer ones, if anyone has any laying around...
cheers Mouse, glad you like it, been a labour of love for sure!! Still not done either. Now looking to refresh the entire front end- steering racks are cheap and plentiful, so a quicker one will be installed along with new wishbones (in the storage area), all the Powerflex stuff, new tie-rod ends, uprated E46 328i brakes (they use a 300mm disc and slightly bigger caliper carriers) and a convertible x-brace, when I can get my mitts on one.Apart from that, a slightly fatter rear ARB is tempting. Keeping my eyes peeled for either Eibach or AC Schnitzer ones, if anyone has any laying around...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lx3zKPxyW8
First Nürburgring lap, complete with how the car sounds... enjoy!
First Nürburgring lap, complete with how the car sounds... enjoy!
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...
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...
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!).
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.
seismic22 said:
We will have to meet up again in Soton soon so I can remind you to put those bump strips back to black and get rid of those stickers!
Seriously though, Sam was good enough to let me have a go in this a while back and it is certainly far more rapid than a 328i has a right to be! Great mix of old skool fun, a bit of modern comfort and plenty of practicality. She's good for some predictable sideways action and prior to the standard set up howled like a 6 cylinder should!
Rory! I thought you were dead! Seriously though, Sam was good enough to let me have a go in this a while back and it is certainly far more rapid than a 328i has a right to be! Great mix of old skool fun, a bit of modern comfort and plenty of practicality. She's good for some predictable sideways action and prior to the standard set up howled like a 6 cylinder should!
WhatsApp me back, you fker!She's better now mate.
on some subtle winters, with new wishbones since you tried her, uprated bushes most of the way round... but the bump strips and stickers are staying. For now. Also... taking delivery of this shortly.
White 328i manual convertible, tax and test, full electric roof, £300.
It's being broken for bits (again). Engine is going in an E30 that's been stripped out and with rebuilt everything- going to Nürburgring with us this August. the rest of it is going to be harvested to keep Claudia alive, and other bits sold to get back purchase price. Diff will be removed and stripped down, then rebuilt as an LSD (if that's possible). X-brace will be finding its way onto Claudia, for that extra bit of cornering fun. And whatever else can be removed, will be removed...
White 328i manual convertible, tax and test, full electric roof, £300.
It's being broken for bits (again). Engine is going in an E30 that's been stripped out and with rebuilt everything- going to Nürburgring with us this August.
the rest of it is going to be harvested to keep Claudia alive, and other bits sold to get back purchase price. Diff will be removed and stripped down, then rebuilt as an LSD (if that's possible). X-brace will be finding its way onto Claudia, for that extra bit of cornering fun. And whatever else can be removed, will be removed...- blows dust off thread*
The white 328i convertible, as seen previously, has gone to the great scrapyard in the sky, leaving behind some nice parts for me- including something I've never seen before. In place of an x-brace, it has a truly massive and truly hardcore sump guard that attaches in the same way the x-brace does, and has a drain hole for the oil. Very thoughtful. It's also a genuine BMW part. So that'll be applied soon.
I've also been on a small buying spree for other parts. My lovely steering wheel has inspired a small influx of carbon fibre elsewhere- namely, AC Schnitzer clocks and AC Schnitzer mirrors.
Both are little resto projects- the mirrors are very yellow and delaminating somewhat. So the plan is to relacquer, then apply a subtle silver clearcoat- thus allowing for them to look 'normal' from 10 feet away, but clearly carbon up close. The clocks had a smashed face, so I need to transfer over some clock glass and get an oil temp sensor- luckily I've found one that screws straight into the sump. Job done.
Finally finished my BBS project too...
A glass and a half of joy. They've had a lot of attention in the few hours they've been on. I polished the lips myself, bought gold bolts, bought new BMW badges for them, then the centres were powdercoated with a base coat of Ultra Chrome, then Lollipop Purple laid over the top.
Next plans: I've sourced some fairly mental cams with proven 17whp gains from the good ol' US of A, at an attractive price. Those are booked for July. I also still have the AC Schnitzer short shifter to fit, but all in good time.
Slowly slowly catchy monkey.
jmflare said:
Lovely mate. Not really a fan of colour coding the trim to the car colour on E36's but your car seems to pull it off really well, oh and the wheels are ace
Cheers. I think on a non-obnoxious colour like silver you can get away with it, and Tourings seem to like being colour coded more than coupés/saloons.I'm so happy with the wheels! As are most of the neighbourhood, had a couple of people (pensioners, nonetheless!) actually come on the driveway to have a look at them...
The local kids have been warned upon pain of death to not try to nick them.
Few little bits and pieces sorted...
Finally fitted the AC Schnitzer short shift kit. My God... what a difference. It was the full linkage kit, so basically a case of getting the car up on a lift, dropping the gearbox, removing the exhaust for ease of access and then popping two circlips off to remove the shagged one. Then, as Haynes say, refitting is the reverse of removal... it's probably one of the easiest jobs I've done to the car. Changed the gearknob for the statutory Schnitzer one too.
I also changed the gearbox oil when I was under there- the old oil was the colour of coffee. Lifetime oil my arse.
The ridiculous exhaust has reappeared, and I have missed it... I won't lie!
Today I've cleaned up the interior, which mean removing some dribbled lithium grease off the passenger seat (looked like a cumstain, had to go) and generally vaccing... before I cannibalised two/three different sets of clocks to create my little masterpiece.
Took some pre-facelift clocks (they go to 160mph instead of 155), took the Schnitzer 'carbon' backing out of the M3 clocks, removed my clocks and then put them all together. Result: very happy. The interior's come together really nicely. The only thing I really want for the interior now is a carbon insert for above the glovebox.
Next up... I appear to have broken something.
That's one of my engine mount brackets. I appear to have torn it. No idea how, but there we go. A new one has turned up... time to get that fitted!
Rainy indulgent shot.
Finally fitted the AC Schnitzer short shift kit. My God... what a difference. It was the full linkage kit, so basically a case of getting the car up on a lift, dropping the gearbox, removing the exhaust for ease of access and then popping two circlips off to remove the shagged one. Then, as Haynes say, refitting is the reverse of removal... it's probably one of the easiest jobs I've done to the car. Changed the gearknob for the statutory Schnitzer one too.
I also changed the gearbox oil when I was under there- the old oil was the colour of coffee. Lifetime oil my arse.
The ridiculous exhaust has reappeared, and I have missed it... I won't lie!
Today I've cleaned up the interior, which mean removing some dribbled lithium grease off the passenger seat (looked like a cumstain, had to go) and generally vaccing... before I cannibalised two/three different sets of clocks to create my little masterpiece.
Took some pre-facelift clocks (they go to 160mph instead of 155), took the Schnitzer 'carbon' backing out of the M3 clocks, removed my clocks and then put them all together. Result: very happy. The interior's come together really nicely. The only thing I really want for the interior now is a carbon insert for above the glovebox.
Next up... I appear to have broken something.
That's one of my engine mount brackets. I appear to have torn it. No idea how, but there we go. A new one has turned up... time to get that fitted!
Rainy indulgent shot.
It's nice to see friends. It's even nicer to drive their cars.
They say you should never meet your heroes. In the case of the B8, go right ahead. It's a monster. Giggly-good levels of fun and fast. Even LHD feels normal after a short period of time. That's settled it- Claudia will either have to be converted to a V8, or I'll have to buy one of these brutes. There are worse ways to spend £12,000.
Engine mount to be fixed this week, thank God. £8 saw me sourcing the mounting bracket. Still no idea how I broke it...
They say you should never meet your heroes. In the case of the B8, go right ahead. It's a monster. Giggly-good levels of fun and fast. Even LHD feels normal after a short period of time. That's settled it- Claudia will either have to be converted to a V8, or I'll have to buy one of these brutes. There are worse ways to spend £12,000.
Engine mount to be fixed this week, thank God. £8 saw me sourcing the mounting bracket. Still no idea how I broke it...
dazz1871part2 said:
Love ur car mate, by any luck have you got any pics of the hardcore sump guard? And a part number? Need something to look after my sump as I'm low.
Hello mate- cheers for the kind words- she's certainly been a labour of love! Here's a picture, I will need to dig the damn thing out from under the house and under a mountain of other E36 parts before I can get you a part number- it is genuine BMW though. Also works with some mentally massive bracing- you know the regular 2-point bar that links the chassis rails? The sump guard has a huge one that replaces the original two-point one, it's about 2" thick...
Also, here's today's efforts before the pub.
Basically, my engine had been bouncing freely about in the bay. This certainly explained a lot of weird occurrences and horrid noises. Car feels incredible now that she's had the remedial work done. Mounts were fun- got the car up on the lift, jacked the engine up, unbolted the shagged bracket, popped the new mounts in, away we went. Didn't take too long and has massively improved the feel of the car.
Gratuitous shot from the pub club tonight. So nice to have her fighting fit. Everything blends together really nice now- short shift, fresh gearbox oil, new engine mounts/brackets, steering and general noise/feel/acceleration is just brilliant again. Strange that, at 180,000 miles, this is the best she's ever felt.
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