The road-going racing car - Sam McKee's BMW E36 328i
Discussion
Hope you don't mind if I ask about the front seats....I have a mint E36 318iS which has the original M sport interior ( ie half leather/cloth) but I would ideally like a set of black leather front seats ( my previous E36 had the heated leather ones and I really miss them !)
I don't really need the rears as they are never used !
I have just realised that perhaps the saloon fronts are different to the coupe/convertible....in which case they would not really suit?
I don't really need the rears as they are never used !
I have just realised that perhaps the saloon fronts are different to the coupe/convertible....in which case they would not really suit?
geeks said:
Yup cant help but like the Legoland houses, had a look at one when they were being built and nearly bought ourselves one then!
Count yourself lucky you didn't, they might look pretty funky but they're an absolutely appalling design that retains water and then rots from the inside 
they've lost over a third of their value in five years and there's a huge residents' petition for remedial works and compensation going around! Fortunately I was only renting one for a year. Thanks for your kind offer of mechanical help and a look around your car, I would have been keen to take you up on that but as I mentioned, I'm out of MK now and living back up in Loughborough while I finish my degree. I hope this wouldn't be too far to come if you still want the rear seats, though! I'll send you a PM when I get them out, just depends how much time I have before my next event.
Paul, the saloon front seats are indeed different to coupé/convertible ones, and of course they don't fold forward! I think the mountings are the same, but I imagine it would be a real pain for your access to the rear of the car, even if you do only use it rarely. Mine aren't heated either, unfortunately, such luxury is reserved for my E46
New brake pads ordered, Mintex 1155 front and 1144 rear, £127.50 delivered. Not bad at all, scarcely more than just one set of DS3000s would cost and these seem to have better road manners too. I'll get the rears fitted straight away, and keep the fronts as spares, since there's still some life left in the Redstuff there. I'm going to leave the wear sensor off them as well, it'll get pretty tiresome replacing those, so I'll plug a new one in and just cable tie it up out of the way somewhere. If those Mintex pads are good, they're cheap enough for me to carry spares at a track day so it doesn't matter so much if I wear right through an inside pad unexpectedly!
What a car, what a read!
I currently drive an E46 325Ci (first car) and it's your first post that sums up pretty much every reason as to why I want an E36. The E46 does make a magnificent cruiser however I see it as a car more suited to the older driver than me, a 20 year old, looking for a more back to basics drivers car. I love the whole mechanical approach that the E36 represents in comparison, especially because I can't bloomin' stand electric throttle pedals yet it retains a more than sufficient level of comfort and refinement making it still more than usable as a daily. I couldn't believe your 328i had done nearly 180k, it does look in superb condition and clearly has held up well!
Unfortunately I only have space for the 1 car, so come summer time the E46 will be sold making way for hopefully an E36 328i coupe. Many see this as a downgrade but I genuinely think I won't regret it, and it's posts like this that make me more confident in that, so for that I thank you
I will continue to follow this thread with pleasure!
I currently drive an E46 325Ci (first car) and it's your first post that sums up pretty much every reason as to why I want an E36. The E46 does make a magnificent cruiser however I see it as a car more suited to the older driver than me, a 20 year old, looking for a more back to basics drivers car. I love the whole mechanical approach that the E36 represents in comparison, especially because I can't bloomin' stand electric throttle pedals
yet it retains a more than sufficient level of comfort and refinement making it still more than usable as a daily. I couldn't believe your 328i had done nearly 180k, it does look in superb condition and clearly has held up well!Unfortunately I only have space for the 1 car, so come summer time the E46 will be sold making way for hopefully an E36 328i coupe. Many see this as a downgrade but I genuinely think I won't regret it, and it's posts like this that make me more confident in that, so for that I thank you
I will continue to follow this thread with pleasure!
Thanks for the kind words! It's always nice to hear people enjoy reading about the car.
Nice going on the E46 as your first car. I've had my E46 328i since I was your age, and I agree it's a really capable car but certainly more grown-up. Personally that suits me, as I do a few very long trips every year and I need something that can be a nice cruiser as well as good fun down a B-road, it's a nice balance for me. Everything about the E36 is more mechanical. The throttle certainly is a joy, but I'm always amazed how basic and visceral it is when I jump from one to the other! Definitely take one for a drive before you decide, because for me it's just a little too lacking in comfort and refinement to be an everyday car. It's absolutely perfect for this application, though
and I reckon I'm getting a bit soft anyway..
Nice going on the E46 as your first car. I've had my E46 328i since I was your age, and I agree it's a really capable car but certainly more grown-up. Personally that suits me, as I do a few very long trips every year and I need something that can be a nice cruiser as well as good fun down a B-road, it's a nice balance for me. Everything about the E36 is more mechanical. The throttle certainly is a joy, but I'm always amazed how basic and visceral it is when I jump from one to the other! Definitely take one for a drive before you decide, because for me it's just a little too lacking in comfort and refinement to be an everyday car. It's absolutely perfect for this application, though
and I reckon I'm getting a bit soft anyway..
McSam said:
Living in luxury in a garage for a change
I must admit I have stopped booking trackdays where I can't hire a pit. As I usually split the cost of the day between a few friends the garage isn't usually more than 7 quid each. After the rain at Bedford last year and having to replace a lower arm at Donington the year before when I ripped a ball joint off. I guess I'm just a snob, lol. Mine is coming back out this afternoon for some work. I will give you a more specific answer about the brakes on my thread later.
Thanks Jordan, I've been watching yours with interest too, it's quite a transformation you've brought about! Never miss an opportunity to get it out on track, they love it
I'm undecided about the value of having a garage. We didn't need it at all, and it was a nice day, but I can definitely see how changing parts in the rain would get old very quickly.. I might take to just doing it on off-season days. More chance of it coming in handy with crap weather, and starting off with a cheaper entry fee makes it easier to justify.
I'm undecided about the value of having a garage. We didn't need it at all, and it was a nice day, but I can definitely see how changing parts in the rain would get old very quickly.. I might take to just doing it on off-season days. More chance of it coming in handy with crap weather, and starting off with a cheaper entry fee makes it easier to justify.
Hooray, a delivery 
These certainly look purposeful. Nankang NS-2Rs, 205/55R16 in 180 (medium) compound. Apart from feeling pretty sticky, they're extremely stiff, just as I hoped! These will get fitted and run in next week, possibly on my E46 to begin with.
I also have one enormous nut.
This is for the new front hub still lurking in the box, all I need now is for my 46mm impact socket to turn up. Also there is a new rear brake pad wear sensor, which is going on the car but not into the pad. Speaking of pads, £120 has got me some well-reviewed Mintex goodness to try out:
Little busy with work at the moment but I'm hoping to get all this sorted next week. Exciting, if rather expensive, times
These certainly look purposeful. Nankang NS-2Rs, 205/55R16 in 180 (medium) compound. Apart from feeling pretty sticky, they're extremely stiff, just as I hoped! These will get fitted and run in next week, possibly on my E46 to begin with.
I also have one enormous nut.
This is for the new front hub still lurking in the box, all I need now is for my 46mm impact socket to turn up. Also there is a new rear brake pad wear sensor, which is going on the car but not into the pad. Speaking of pads, £120 has got me some well-reviewed Mintex goodness to try out:
Little busy with work at the moment but I'm hoping to get all this sorted next week. Exciting, if rather expensive, times
Tyres look good, they are the control tyre for the BMW e36 compact cup so should serve you well 
CLICK ME
CLICK ME
McSam said:
.....Also there is a new rear brake pad wear sensor, which is going on the car but not into the pad.....
To cancel the dash warning? Why not just solder the two wires together?Edited by JordanTurbo on Wednesday 22 April 17:21
The NS-2Rs are awsome, never thought I would say that about a Nankang, but mine feels stuck to the track now.
Not sure why you would put them on your day to day car first. They are totally normal tyres until you get them hot. Unless you drive in a very silly way on the roads you won't get them hot.
Not sure why you would put them on your day to day car first. They are totally normal tyres until you get them hot. Unless you drive in a very silly way on the roads you won't get them hot.
Ah, I didn't know these were now the control tyre for Compact Cup, that's encouraging. It's a shame they don't use an appropriate size for my car, their cast-offs could've made a good source!
I don't run the E36 on the road regularly and my next event is a sprint, so I won't be able to get enough miles on the new tyres to scrub them in properly. That's the only reason for putting them on the E46 for now. Handy advantage of having two very interchangeable cars, but I haven't decided yet, depends how soon I've got all my jobs done on the '36.
I don't run the E36 on the road regularly and my next event is a sprint, so I won't be able to get enough miles on the new tyres to scrub them in properly. That's the only reason for putting them on the E46 for now. Handy advantage of having two very interchangeable cars, but I haven't decided yet, depends how soon I've got all my jobs done on the '36.
JordanTurbo said:
To cancel the dash warning? Why not just solder the two wires together?
I did think about that, but I want to keep the option of the wear sensor. The car's still totally roadable and while I don't want to be using up sensors on track days where I'm carrying spare pads anyway, I might decide it'll come in handy at a later date. For the sake of a £6 sensor it beats running through a set of pads unexpectedly and having to drive home with one the backing plate, done that before!McSam said:
geeks said:
Yup cant help but like the Legoland houses, had a look at one when they were being built and nearly bought ourselves one then!
Count yourself lucky you didn't, they might look pretty funky but they're an absolutely appalling design that retains water and then rots from the inside they've lost over a third of their value in five years and there's a huge residents' petition for remedial works and compensation going around! Fortunately I was only renting one for a year. Thanks for your kind offer of mechanical help and a look around your car, I would have been keen to take you up on that but as I mentioned, I'm out of MK now and living back up in Loughborough while I finish my degree. I hope this wouldn't be too far to come if you still want the rear seats, though! I'll send you a PM when I get them out, just depends how much time I have before my next event.
Happy to travel to collect them, in fact if you want a hand for the day doing interior things then give me a shout, have some experience in that area that might help...
Also about that Compact Cup thing.... You may well be chatting with one of the organisers *cough cough*
JordanTurbo said:
Cut the plug off of the old wear sensor and join the wires together on that. Then you can fit/remove it when required
Ah, I see. That's a good idea and would save me leaving my new wear sensor strapped under the car while it's not even in use, cheers. It's nice to have such a primitive sensor on a relatively modern car!geeks, how about that, small world.. you have mail
Love this. Great work so far and a real inspiration. You might have seen my M3 thread. It's a slow process at the moment. I had hoped to be doing track days by now but I'm nowhere near.
A month without any contract work and being committed to spending £335 a month on the daily (WRX STI) has slowed things down somewhat!
I don't think anything on mine is in good condition, but I'll get there. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the Nankangs. I actually used the NS-2 road tyres on my last E46 330D and found them to be a fantastic tyre.
My plan of action is to change the RTABs and the FCABs next, having already done the Z3 rack, but short funds mean the front control arms will need to wait a month.....
A month without any contract work and being committed to spending £335 a month on the daily (WRX STI) has slowed things down somewhat!
I don't think anything on mine is in good condition, but I'll get there. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the Nankangs. I actually used the NS-2 road tyres on my last E46 330D and found them to be a fantastic tyre.
My plan of action is to change the RTABs and the FCABs next, having already done the Z3 rack, but short funds mean the front control arms will need to wait a month.....
OP I hope you don't mind me bumping this to ask a question, but I am interested in how you think the HSD coilovers are for a dedicated track car? I've been looking at a few options and was thinking about the ST X ones made by KW as well as wondering whether I should spend the extra and get the HSD MonoPros.
I do think those DualTecs look amazing value for money though.... Am I right in thinking that you get front and rear top mounts with them?
Sorry for the hijack!
I do think those DualTecs look amazing value for money though.... Am I right in thinking that you get front and rear top mounts with them?
Sorry for the hijack!
love this thread! anyone who saves another E36 and then turns it into a track toy is alright in my books .
love the work and love going into it.
They are quite simply a superb car.
Had mine now for 9 years and alot of love and effort has gone into making it what it is today.
One thing i must say is get an M50 mani on there, combined with a remap suitable the car will be transformed
Good stuff mate
I feel the need to share some E36 love with you , heres my 328i sport
.love the work and love going into it.
They are quite simply a superb car.
Had mine now for 9 years and alot of love and effort has gone into making it what it is today.
One thing i must say is get an M50 mani on there, combined with a remap suitable the car will be transformed
Good stuff mate
I feel the need to share some E36 love with you , heres my 328i sport
Hi guys - sorry for the delay in getting back to this, I've been very busy recently but having now finished my degree, I have a lot more time to spend on the car!
Thanks for the kind words, TroubledSoul - been enjoying your exploits too! A Z3 rack is on the hit list, and perhaps coming sooner rather than later since my track rod ends don't look too clever. The Nankangs have finally been tested, see below
No worries about bumping, I'm happy to answer anything I can, it's advice from forums that got me this far! First I must confess I haven't been in any other E36 on track, so my direct comparisons are limited, but I have driven a wide variety of other stuff from road to race spec so hope to know whether my car's at least near the mark. I'm very, very impressed with the HSD Dualtechs. Apart from the excellent value - I haven't seen any other reputable coilover that offers half as much adjustment in this price range - they've performed brilliantly. The fit is good, the damper adjustment range is quite wide and is very effective in playing with the stiffness and balance of the car, and the springs seem quite well judged. I would not recommend them for a road car, as they are very stiff. They don't feel jarring or underdamped or anything like that, just very stiff, but of course for a track-only car this is no problem. You can run kerbs without any issue, as you can see in my videos. You do indeed get front and rear top mounts, the fronts are camber/caster adjustable which is very nice, and the rears are useful because the standard ones have been known to fail.
Things to watch out for are the need for front spacers - I have 15mm hubcentric ones, nobody seems to tell you but there's no way they'll fit without - and difficulty accessing the rear brakes. I now can't get any of my tools into the rear caliper slider bolts because the HSD damper tube is much bigger than standard, so I'm currently taking the whole carrier off to get to the pads, but a 7mm hex key of the right size would fit. Additionally, I have the rear springs wound as high as they'll go and they wheels still tuck under the arch quite a bit, if you had 245-section rears this could present a problem but my 225s don't rub.
Hi Rossi - thanks for your kind comments! Your car looks to be in superb condition, a really fine example. Did you happen to dyno it before and after fitting the M50 manifold? I've done the calculations but hard data is tricky to come by. The manifold is certainly on my to-do list, but at the moment the very last thing the car needs is more power - the first thing it needs is a limited-slip diff!
This is from Curborough a couple of weeks ago, where I first got to try out the Nankang NS-2Rs. I have 205/55R16s in the medium (180) compound. Because the sprint series rules place anyone using track day tyres in Class A with the kit cars and the turbo nutter b
ds, I set my competitive times on my Kumhos, but had the NS-2Rs for testing in the morning and I did do some timed runs at the end of the day. Because my Kumhos are getting below 1.6mm in places I actually drove to the circuit on the semi-slicks, then took them off to compete, that's a bit backwards... Anyhow.
I personally probably couldn't put up with the NS-2Rs as a road tyre - they're not as stiff as I expected, but perhaps as this car already feels so stiff compared to my E46 daily I just didn't notice a little bit extra. Where they fall down is road noise, they howl something awful at high speed and generally throw out a lot of resonances you would never normally get. Made me glad I still have the interior in! But this isn't what they're for, nor what you want to hear about, so here's some track action comparing the Kumhos first to the Nankangs afterwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mlwNMihxow&fe...
Despite my lap being nowhere near as good, I shaved off over half a second with the NS-2Rs. In untimed practice in the morning the car felt far better, with sharper turn-in and considerably more overall grip. These tyres do need a little heat, and I had some understeer and a bit of a slippy feeling until they warmed up. What was most telling was bolting the Kumhos on having been running the NS-2Rs all morning - I immediately found myself sliding around on exit and slightly outbraking myself. The Kumhos been a very good tyre, but the NS-2Rs showed them up good and proper, and they only seem to get better the more you drive them. Absolute potential is certainly over a second a lap, which is a really good result! I'm sure more work on longer runs on track days, and figuring out the ideal pressures for them, will make them perform even better but I'm happy with them so far
Thanks for the kind words, TroubledSoul - been enjoying your exploits too! A Z3 rack is on the hit list, and perhaps coming sooner rather than later since my track rod ends don't look too clever. The Nankangs have finally been tested, see below
No worries about bumping, I'm happy to answer anything I can, it's advice from forums that got me this far! First I must confess I haven't been in any other E36 on track, so my direct comparisons are limited, but I have driven a wide variety of other stuff from road to race spec so hope to know whether my car's at least near the mark. I'm very, very impressed with the HSD Dualtechs. Apart from the excellent value - I haven't seen any other reputable coilover that offers half as much adjustment in this price range - they've performed brilliantly. The fit is good, the damper adjustment range is quite wide and is very effective in playing with the stiffness and balance of the car, and the springs seem quite well judged. I would not recommend them for a road car, as they are very stiff. They don't feel jarring or underdamped or anything like that, just very stiff, but of course for a track-only car this is no problem. You can run kerbs without any issue, as you can see in my videos. You do indeed get front and rear top mounts, the fronts are camber/caster adjustable which is very nice, and the rears are useful because the standard ones have been known to fail.
Things to watch out for are the need for front spacers - I have 15mm hubcentric ones, nobody seems to tell you but there's no way they'll fit without - and difficulty accessing the rear brakes. I now can't get any of my tools into the rear caliper slider bolts because the HSD damper tube is much bigger than standard, so I'm currently taking the whole carrier off to get to the pads, but a 7mm hex key of the right size would fit. Additionally, I have the rear springs wound as high as they'll go and they wheels still tuck under the arch quite a bit, if you had 245-section rears this could present a problem but my 225s don't rub.
Hi Rossi - thanks for your kind comments! Your car looks to be in superb condition, a really fine example. Did you happen to dyno it before and after fitting the M50 manifold? I've done the calculations but hard data is tricky to come by. The manifold is certainly on my to-do list, but at the moment the very last thing the car needs is more power - the first thing it needs is a limited-slip diff!
This is from Curborough a couple of weeks ago, where I first got to try out the Nankang NS-2Rs. I have 205/55R16s in the medium (180) compound. Because the sprint series rules place anyone using track day tyres in Class A with the kit cars and the turbo nutter b
ds, I set my competitive times on my Kumhos, but had the NS-2Rs for testing in the morning and I did do some timed runs at the end of the day. Because my Kumhos are getting below 1.6mm in places I actually drove to the circuit on the semi-slicks, then took them off to compete, that's a bit backwards... Anyhow.I personally probably couldn't put up with the NS-2Rs as a road tyre - they're not as stiff as I expected, but perhaps as this car already feels so stiff compared to my E46 daily I just didn't notice a little bit extra. Where they fall down is road noise, they howl something awful at high speed and generally throw out a lot of resonances you would never normally get. Made me glad I still have the interior in! But this isn't what they're for, nor what you want to hear about, so here's some track action comparing the Kumhos first to the Nankangs afterwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mlwNMihxow&fe...
Despite my lap being nowhere near as good, I shaved off over half a second with the NS-2Rs. In untimed practice in the morning the car felt far better, with sharper turn-in and considerably more overall grip. These tyres do need a little heat, and I had some understeer and a bit of a slippy feeling until they warmed up. What was most telling was bolting the Kumhos on having been running the NS-2Rs all morning - I immediately found myself sliding around on exit and slightly outbraking myself. The Kumhos been a very good tyre, but the NS-2Rs showed them up good and proper, and they only seem to get better the more you drive them. Absolute potential is certainly over a second a lap, which is a really good result! I'm sure more work on longer runs on track days, and figuring out the ideal pressures for them, will make them perform even better but I'm happy with them so far
Nice update OP
Glad those DualTechs are working out. I'm going to get the MonoPros on mine ASAP. I want to get the front and rear bushes and the wishbones as well before paying for it all set up really.
I'm interested in hearing a bit more about the spacers. Which width front wheels are you running? I've got the 7.5J Evo wheels up front, and have been advised I will get away with 5mm spacers (which I bought as a result). I'm a bit worried they won't be enough now though.
I'd love to get the car to a track day this summer with some of the other E36 owners on here if possible.
What are your next plans for the car?
Glad those DualTechs are working out. I'm going to get the MonoPros on mine ASAP. I want to get the front and rear bushes and the wishbones as well before paying for it all set up really.
I'm interested in hearing a bit more about the spacers. Which width front wheels are you running? I've got the 7.5J Evo wheels up front, and have been advised I will get away with 5mm spacers (which I bought as a result). I'm a bit worried they won't be enough now though.
I'd love to get the car to a track day this summer with some of the other E36 owners on here if possible.
What are your next plans for the car?
Some lovely cars on this thread!
Well done OP on developing yours. It's really taking shape.
I'm on to my 3rd 328 Sport (my 6th E36 including an M3 Evo). I've had newer BMWs and driven loads of 'em but I just love the weight of controls in an E36 and the look.
I bought this one in January, then Sod's law barely 2 weeks later I found the Technoviolet one below it. It had all the work done I had planned for the blue one and only cost £800 more despite having had about £8k spent over the last 4 years.
Well done OP on developing yours. It's really taking shape.
I'm on to my 3rd 328 Sport (my 6th E36 including an M3 Evo). I've had newer BMWs and driven loads of 'em but I just love the weight of controls in an E36 and the look.
I bought this one in January, then Sod's law barely 2 weeks later I found the Technoviolet one below it. It had all the work done I had planned for the blue one and only cost £800 more despite having had about £8k spent over the last 4 years.
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