E36 328i Touring. When it breaks, upgrade it...

E36 328i Touring. When it breaks, upgrade it...

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sc4589

Original Poster:

1,958 posts

164 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
So I always wanted one of these since I was a kid... love the look of estates, the E36 Touring especially.

After dabbling with buying various E36s over the years (325tds saloon, 318is saloon, 316i Compact, 320i Touring and a 323i Coupe), I finally dumped my girlfriend and used the some of the house account money we'd saved to buy this:





1999 328i Touring SE in Titanium Silver... few bits of rust, sports half-leather interior, MTech wheel & gearknob, 18-function computer, a few dents and a couple of rusty spots. Arches were solid, car had been sent to BMW specialists for 7 years to be looked after, and even though it had a fairly porky 162,000 on the clock, the engine was 142,000 miles young... the first owner tried fording, at great expense. All for £750, including a nice stereo (my 'usual' Alpine), a pair of snow socks and a sat nav... couldn't say fairer than that!

Decided to make it look and go as I wanted it to, starting with a few bits...





16" Style 30s. Classic E36 Sport look.





Crystal rear lights, as I hated the standard ambers. Smoked the top parts with some fairly light film just to 'take the edge off' the immense clarity. Still bright as anything.



Illuminated MTech gearknob. The standard one was so, so rough... wobbled about on the shaft... not good at all. hehe

In between the 'early stages', I fitted a Dave F air filter to hear the straight six snarl a little better, replaced the dodgy boot struts, and popped some smoked side repeaters in to de-amber. Also bought an M50 manifold, but held off on fitting it as a friend had binned his 323i and had a converted one ready to fit. There's some MTech springs in the wings, but can't be bothered to fit them with the weather being decidedly uncooperative.

Calamity struck when I realised about 1/2 a mile into owning my new wheels that the previous owner hadn't been very forthright with a few things, namely an offset that was so wrong it beggared belief and buckling of epic proportions. Yay. I couldn't engage the throttle without the rear tyres rubbing and smelling rather beautiful. Cornering was much the same. So I got looking and found a set of these...









... but I decided they looked a little bit 'chav monster', so they're back up for sale already. jester

On one of my regular sites, someone posted they had a set of wheels for a BMW... no one was biting as it was a Skoda forum... so I made him a stupid offer that he, strangely, accepted. Cue roadtrip.



17" staggered Style 32s with decent Michelin Pilot Sports on them? Yes please.



Then, finally, sorted out the weedy front end. Smoked front indicators, a new nosecone without a socking great dent in it, de-washered it for a cleaner look and the fact that the system was kaput, and an M3 bumper that I swapped my M50 manifold for. As you do.

So, future plans thus far... secure an M50 manifold, fit some M3 exhaust manifolds, remap it (should be at least 230bhp). There's a scrappy breaking a Touring in the same colour, so I'll secure some of the panels and spray them as & when. Also want to bung the convertible X-brace on there to sharpen the steering, and get the suspension fitted.

Very much enjoying BMW ownership. smile


jaacck

188 posts

139 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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Nice, the last wheels definitely the best. Not keen on the black. Spray them silver tho and be nice. Style 5's good lookin wheel

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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jaacck said:
Nice, the last wheels definitely the best. Not keen on the black. Spray them silver tho and be nice. Style 5's good lookin wheel
they're not style 5s though - style 29s innit wink

Definitely liking the multi-spokes though. Easier to clean too! I always feel like they benefit from darkening a few shades so the brake dust doesn't make them look so obviously grimy once you've done a few miles. I was thinking about going down the Style 32 route had I not fallen for the Hartges


Edited by vsonix on Sunday 25th November 19:32

jaacck

188 posts

139 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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I was recommending style 5's but ye enjoy your wagon

sc4589

Original Poster:

1,958 posts

164 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
What's a number between friends?!

The 32s will be staying on for the foreseeable. RCs are on eBay, if anyone is interested!

RA500

251 posts

195 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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I would be, but not at that price, I've seen cars with them fitted sell for less than you want for them!

sc4589

Original Poster:

1,958 posts

164 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
RA500 said:
I would be, but not at that price, I've seen cars with them fitted sell for less than you want for them!
You've seen E36s sell for 99p with RC041s on? I'm impressed... you need to let me know where your nearest used car broker is... wink

RA500

251 posts

195 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
sc4589 said:
You've seen E36s sell for 99p with RC041s on? I'm impressed... you need to let me know where your nearest used car broker is... wink
Sorry, I saw the ones at £450!

STW2010

5,714 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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I like that. I have a set of 18 inch 32s in my garage- I don't see that many cars with that style fitted, but I really like them

getawayturtle

3,560 posts

173 months

Monday 26th November 2012
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Very nice OP, love the E36 touring shape. Love the engine noise too, only I fell out with my 328 somewhat hehe

I have an M50 manifold for sale, it has the throttle body still attached, injectors & fuel rail too I think.
PM me if you're interested smile

petrolveins

1,780 posts

172 months

Monday 26th November 2012
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Very nice OP. Looked at a 328i Touring myself a few weeks ago as a second car, chap wanted £500 for it, but it was a Nikasil and cylinder 6 was already at half compression, full spec but I didn't think it a sensible purchase.

Enjoy yours though, big fan of the style 30s and the 32s.

BorkFactor

7,258 posts

157 months

Monday 26th November 2012
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That is a fantastic looking car, it is amazing how a few simple modifications can make such a big difference. I have a very similar engine to yours in my E46 and it really is lovely - I hear they respond very well to induction kits if you feel like releasing a bit more noise.

On the subject of modifying, how did you smoke the indicators? Did you use the original ones? I still have amber ones and would like to do something similar. I don't want to derail your thread, so drop me a PM if you like thumbup

sc4589

Original Poster:

1,958 posts

164 months

Monday 26th November 2012
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Getaway- you have an email!! Payday on Friday, you see. biggrin

Petrolveins- they sell for so cheap. I think 98 onwards was Alusil. I saw a Boston Green one with 73k and full heated leather go for 895 on eBay! A lot of straight six for your money, and a huge parts/user base.

Bork- cheers! I was determined to essentially turn it into a Sport, never been a fan of amber or weedy bumpers! I bought the indicators, they're made by Depo- not brilliant quality, mind. Clear ones you can smoke really easily with some cheapo Chinese tint film. Not too dark either, so you don't look like a chavvy barstool!

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
sc4589 said:
Getaway- you have an email!! Payday on Friday, you see. biggrin
if you don't want it, I'll have it biggrin

sc4589

Original Poster:

1,958 posts

164 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
vsonix said:
sc4589 said:
Getaway- you have an email!! Payday on Friday, you see. biggrin
if you don't want it, I'll have it biggrin
Bagsied. wink swap your Hartges for it... biggrin

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
ha! No tongue out


Just got the car back from a full valet in & out plus engine bay clean; was too dark to take any pics but hopefully we might see a spot or two of sun tomorrow in which case pics will be forthcoming biggrin

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Tuesday 27th November 2012
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I really like that...

Although IMO it looks soo much better with the amber indicators.

If they made a return and it had a subtle drop it would look really cool. Bit retro.

Liquid Tuna

1,398 posts

155 months

Tuesday 27th November 2012
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Looks ace!

mig25_foxbat2003

5,426 posts

210 months

Tuesday 27th November 2012
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Looking very smart. It's amazing how the M kit and the right wheels can turn these from rather sad, dated looking cars to ones which look very fresh and modern for their age. I find a lot of BMWs to be like this, actually (E46 coupe being another example)

sc4589

Original Poster:

1,958 posts

164 months

Tuesday 27th November 2012
quotequote all
Cheers guys. Phil- I absolutely despise amber, so they won't come back, but I have a photo with them on with the M3 bumper and I could almost see the appeal. biggrin

The whole point was modernising her, the rear lights and the smoked indicators/repeaters made the biggest difference. Looking forward to the next stages- MTech suspension to drop the front a touch, M50 courtesy of Mr. Getaway... the engine is fascinating on these cars. Various rumours fly around, but the ones with most gravitas involve an M50'd car with a remap and an M3 exhaust manifold reaching an easy 245bhp on the rollers. The M3 exhaust mani also serves to pump back in some of the low end torque that gets shifted further up the rev range when you go M50.

An LSD is also on the list, and if I find a cheap M3 6-speed gearbox, that'll be going on too. I know to many it will seem bizarre modifying some sub-1k, leggy Touring... but I want to see what she can do...