Synchromesh's £350 BMW 328i saloon
Discussion
WeirdNeville said:
lots of useful stuff
Thanks Weird one, I'll look into those fixes soon.Thought I'd also mention how pleasantly surprised I am with the MPG this car returns. If the OBC is to be believed, I just got 38.2 mpg on a trip from seeing Level 42 at the O2 arena to rural Buckinghamshire. I'll do the readout calibration soon, but if I'm getting anything close to that, I'm a very happy man.
It's been a month now, so time for an update. Firstly, I've done almost 2500 miles in the last four weeks, and all without incident. Actually, there was one incident, but that was down to me rather than the car, but more of than in a minute.
- One of the first things I did was have the car checked out by Redish Motorsport in Bristol. They gave the car the thumbs up, commenting specifically on the lack of rust or oil leaks. They did, however, confirm what was on the MOT report, and suggested I changed the brakes. They also said some of the bushes would need doing, but for now that'll take a much lower priority on my list of jobs.
- So, picked up a full set of discs, pads, sensors, and ATE Superblue fluid for £180 from ECP, and had my local garage sort it out. Brakes are one area I'd definitely rather leave to the professionals, even if it cost £120 in labour.
- Went to Kwik-Fit to get the AC re-gassed. When I had this done on the MR2 it only worked for about a day, but they happily refunded me, so with nothing to loose I gave it go again. This time, however, it's been rather more sucessful, and a week and a half later it's still blowing ice cold. Shame the weather's just taken a turn for the worse.
- With the tyres looking a little low on rubber, and a track day imminent, I picked up a set of 'Style 27' alloys. They may only be 15", but they ride very well and shod on four brand new tyres, for £65 I can't complain. OK so the tyres are 'Acceleras' (yes I've read the thread on them), but relegated to the role of track day rubber they'll be fine, and hopefully the hard compound should last longer than any premium brands.
- Unfortunately, I'm now having to use these as my daily wheels. The day after I picked them up, and with the car still wearing its origional 16" alloys, I hit a rock on lying in the carriageway on the A4069 (the one in Wales with that hairpin). First time I've ever buckled I wheel, but I did it in style, making both nearside rims rather less round. Only the rear was leaking air so we got the spare on and headed home. Amazingly the front held pressure all the way, so someone must've been on our side that day!
- Yesterday was KAN's first track outing, with an afternoon an Keevil. As suspected, the car felt totally unsuitable for track work, but was hilarious fun at the same time. The Acceleras weren't as bad (in the dry) as the internet said they would be, and the relative lack of grip made it predictable and progressive. With no LSD it's all too keen to spin an inside wheel under power, but I had a lot of fun trail braking into bends, pitching the car sideways then getting straight onto the power to hold it for as long as I could. Video at the bottom if this post.
- Today was my first time with said ditchfinders in the wet, and this is the first time I've driven a RWD car with ditchfinders on the rear. Roundabouts were entertaining, but reminded me I need to be cautious on higher speed corners where I might not have the time or space to deal with the unexpected.
In-car action from Saturday's track day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5QhSCUbYxU
- One of the first things I did was have the car checked out by Redish Motorsport in Bristol. They gave the car the thumbs up, commenting specifically on the lack of rust or oil leaks. They did, however, confirm what was on the MOT report, and suggested I changed the brakes. They also said some of the bushes would need doing, but for now that'll take a much lower priority on my list of jobs.
- So, picked up a full set of discs, pads, sensors, and ATE Superblue fluid for £180 from ECP, and had my local garage sort it out. Brakes are one area I'd definitely rather leave to the professionals, even if it cost £120 in labour.
- Went to Kwik-Fit to get the AC re-gassed. When I had this done on the MR2 it only worked for about a day, but they happily refunded me, so with nothing to loose I gave it go again. This time, however, it's been rather more sucessful, and a week and a half later it's still blowing ice cold. Shame the weather's just taken a turn for the worse.
- With the tyres looking a little low on rubber, and a track day imminent, I picked up a set of 'Style 27' alloys. They may only be 15", but they ride very well and shod on four brand new tyres, for £65 I can't complain. OK so the tyres are 'Acceleras' (yes I've read the thread on them), but relegated to the role of track day rubber they'll be fine, and hopefully the hard compound should last longer than any premium brands.
- Unfortunately, I'm now having to use these as my daily wheels. The day after I picked them up, and with the car still wearing its origional 16" alloys, I hit a rock on lying in the carriageway on the A4069 (the one in Wales with that hairpin). First time I've ever buckled I wheel, but I did it in style, making both nearside rims rather less round. Only the rear was leaking air so we got the spare on and headed home. Amazingly the front held pressure all the way, so someone must've been on our side that day!
- Yesterday was KAN's first track outing, with an afternoon an Keevil. As suspected, the car felt totally unsuitable for track work, but was hilarious fun at the same time. The Acceleras weren't as bad (in the dry) as the internet said they would be, and the relative lack of grip made it predictable and progressive. With no LSD it's all too keen to spin an inside wheel under power, but I had a lot of fun trail braking into bends, pitching the car sideways then getting straight onto the power to hold it for as long as I could. Video at the bottom if this post.
- Today was my first time with said ditchfinders in the wet, and this is the first time I've driven a RWD car with ditchfinders on the rear. Roundabouts were entertaining, but reminded me I need to be cautious on higher speed corners where I might not have the time or space to deal with the unexpected.
In-car action from Saturday's track day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5QhSCUbYxU
Edited by Synchromesh on Tuesday 22 October 19:41
Benbay001 said:
Looks like alot of fun on track.
Some great slides!
Are you missing the MR2?
It was as fun as it looked. I've now gone and booked a further two airfield days to do before the year's out. Need to book Oulton for early next year too. Fancy joining me and introducing the Jag to some track work?Some great slides!
Are you missing the MR2?
I couldn't deny that there are aspects of the MR2 I miss, but the BMW is proving a well-rounded car. Swings and (going sideways round) roundabouts really.
Synchromesh said:
It was as fun as it looked. I've now gone and booked a further two airfield days to do before the year's out. Need to book Oulton for early next year too. Fancy joining me and introducing the Jag to some track work?
I couldn't deny that there are aspects of the MR2 I miss, but the BMW is proving a well-rounded car. Swings and (going sideways round) roundabouts really.
I currently cannot afford to do a track day, im also worried about burning through consumables, as that could get expensive, very quickly.I couldn't deny that there are aspects of the MR2 I miss, but the BMW is proving a well-rounded car. Swings and (going sideways round) roundabouts really.
But its definitely on the back of my mind.
I spent a couple weeks entertaining the idea of selling my car and getting an MR2, but you maybe able to remember my dash warning lights? I cant afford to mend them, and cant sell it with them.
GRR!
To stop this blog getting too wordy, I've decided to tell this month's entry though the medium of photography 
As discussed earlier, KAN came with no history, so it seemed prudent to service it...
Old cabin filter next to the new one
I then did the classic "my first BMW" mod, and sprayed the kidney grill surrounds matt black. Without the chrome, I think it looks more assertive and less bling.
You can see in some of the pictures how the fog lights don't "match". One was full of water and heavily cracked, so the pair have now been replaced (second hand set from ebay - £15).
Finally, I sorted out the fuel gauge by installing a new pump. Unfortunately, it was clear that the connecting wires were starting to corrode, so this necessitated a trip to the local garage to have them re-wired.
Other than these general maintenance tasks, the "E-dirty-6" has been on not one but two track days this month! First, a day up at Bruntingthorpe sliding about with the esteemed car control guru Don Palmer, and latterly at Abingdon, where PHer 'Geekman' came along in his (my old) MR2.
From right to left: current car, previous car, future car
The 3er has also been making friends with some PHer's cars including Dalto123's Skoda, Geekman's Jaaag and Airbrakes' Disco.
Finally, the 328 has coped with, arguably, its most arduous task: transporting five students (none particularly small) and a boot stuffed with their karting clobber to a race at Bayford Meadows in Sittingbourne. I'll admit there were complaints from the middle seat passenger, but 300 miles were covered in 24 hours with no such murmurings from the car. The 'Official karting transport car' (as it was soon dubbed) ate up the miles and barely seemed to feel the weight of its cargo. The three-hour slog home was completed without me ever feeling like I needed to stop for a rest - testimony to the cruising ability of BMW.
The keener eyed will have noticed the 'Brodit Proclip' charging phone cradle mounted into the car in these shots. Brilliant (but not cheap) bit of kit, now very neatly hardwired into the car - cheers for doing that Wackojacko!
As discussed earlier, KAN came with no history, so it seemed prudent to service it...
Old cabin filter next to the new one
I then did the classic "my first BMW" mod, and sprayed the kidney grill surrounds matt black. Without the chrome, I think it looks more assertive and less bling.
You can see in some of the pictures how the fog lights don't "match". One was full of water and heavily cracked, so the pair have now been replaced (second hand set from ebay - £15).
Finally, I sorted out the fuel gauge by installing a new pump. Unfortunately, it was clear that the connecting wires were starting to corrode, so this necessitated a trip to the local garage to have them re-wired.
Other than these general maintenance tasks, the "E-dirty-6" has been on not one but two track days this month! First, a day up at Bruntingthorpe sliding about with the esteemed car control guru Don Palmer, and latterly at Abingdon, where PHer 'Geekman' came along in his (my old) MR2.
From right to left: current car, previous car, future car
The 3er has also been making friends with some PHer's cars including Dalto123's Skoda, Geekman's Jaaag and Airbrakes' Disco.
Finally, the 328 has coped with, arguably, its most arduous task: transporting five students (none particularly small) and a boot stuffed with their karting clobber to a race at Bayford Meadows in Sittingbourne. I'll admit there were complaints from the middle seat passenger, but 300 miles were covered in 24 hours with no such murmurings from the car. The 'Official karting transport car' (as it was soon dubbed) ate up the miles and barely seemed to feel the weight of its cargo. The three-hour slog home was completed without me ever feeling like I needed to stop for a rest - testimony to the cruising ability of BMW.
The keener eyed will have noticed the 'Brodit Proclip' charging phone cradle mounted into the car in these shots. Brilliant (but not cheap) bit of kit, now very neatly hardwired into the car - cheers for doing that Wackojacko!
Dalto123 said:
He's actually a rather nice chap!
You didn't mention what happened at Windsor Park did you, James, with the park ranger (or whatever the title is)
You didn't mention what happened at Windsor Park did you, James, with the park ranger (or whatever the title is)
I'd forgotten all about that. Amazed we managed to stop for his "roadblock", might have been something to do with the fact we were doing around 15MPH....
MagicalTrevor said:
Bit envious that you've got one actually, I'd like to find a good one as a toy.
They're a bit too heavy and a lot too soft for a track toy I would say. Unless you're prepared to strip it out and get some new suspension on it you'd be better off with an MR2 or MX5. I can vouch for the MR2, in particular, working 'out the box'.It's also worth bearing in mind that I've spent £1k on maintenance in the two months I've had it. Having said that, it has been comprehensively serviced, treated to new discs/pads/uprated fluid, and now has no 'issues'.
MagicalTrevor said:
Sounds like you're not keen, I'll take it off your hands for £350
You can funk right off... But really, it's a great all-rounder just, in its standard guise, not a track car. More a comfy baby-barge with a lovely engine, that's acceptable for the occasional foray to the track. I say occasional, I've done two track days in it in the last two months, and have a further four booked!
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