E36 328, soft top, £575, What's the worst that could happen?
Discussion
So why am I off buying Audi parts?
With the weather warming up and the top being down more, I decided to get a wind deflector. Problem is, proper e36 ones are getting rare and therefore expensive. Luckily I came across some information online saying the Audi A4 deflector from 2004-2009 will fit almost perfectly.
Decided to get one to see for myself and found this one for a third of the price a BMW deflector would cost
Comparison with the E36 one (Google image)
Fitment is unbelievably good, especially considering its designed for a different car and not even from the same manufacturer.
Another benefit with the Audi deflector is that it folds into quarters instead of just half, making it easier to store.
I decided to go one step further and sourced an e46 space saver spare wheel. Never used and with the e46 cover
You can probably see where this is going
Standard E36 spare.
Removed and securing rod cut down.
Space saver in.
A little trimming on the cover and it fits like a glove.
Leaving just enough room for the Wind deflector above it
Boot carpet back in. Plenty of luggage space left
With the weather warming up and the top being down more, I decided to get a wind deflector. Problem is, proper e36 ones are getting rare and therefore expensive. Luckily I came across some information online saying the Audi A4 deflector from 2004-2009 will fit almost perfectly.
Decided to get one to see for myself and found this one for a third of the price a BMW deflector would cost
Comparison with the E36 one (Google image)
Fitment is unbelievably good, especially considering its designed for a different car and not even from the same manufacturer.
Another benefit with the Audi deflector is that it folds into quarters instead of just half, making it easier to store.
I decided to go one step further and sourced an e46 space saver spare wheel. Never used and with the e46 cover
You can probably see where this is going
Standard E36 spare.
Removed and securing rod cut down.
Space saver in.
A little trimming on the cover and it fits like a glove.
Leaving just enough room for the Wind deflector above it
Boot carpet back in. Plenty of luggage space left
Edited by JordanTurbo on Wednesday 6th May 22:16
Great hack with the wind deflector!
I've got to say though that the angel eyes are just not cool.
I've been looking at LED headlights for my e36, although I really want to keep the 3000K standard colour (maybe go to 4000K). It's one of my pet hates seeing varying colour temps on the front of one car. Hazards of working in the lighting industry i guess!
I've got to say though that the angel eyes are just not cool.
I've been looking at LED headlights for my e36, although I really want to keep the 3000K standard colour (maybe go to 4000K). It's one of my pet hates seeing varying colour temps on the front of one car. Hazards of working in the lighting industry i guess!
OK, last I looked in here I wasn't at all convinced by the angel eyes, I thought you were lowering yourself to the level of "everyone else". Boy am I glad I came back in when I saw an update that dimming function is excellent, working with the headlights is one thing but the indicators is top class, I bet it looks great on the road.
Interested to hear the wind deflector compatibility, that's good knowledge, and the idea to store it in the spare wheel well is very clever! How have you found the car with it fitted? I just got one for my mum's E46 320cd and it's a transformation.
that dimming function is excellent, working with the headlights is one thing but the indicators is top class, I bet it looks great on the road.Interested to hear the wind deflector compatibility, that's good knowledge, and the idea to store it in the spare wheel well is very clever! How have you found the car with it fitted? I just got one for my mum's E46 320cd and it's a transformation.
Thanks guys.
As I said, angel eyes always divide opinion. I like to think mine are better than most though. I love them
It's a nice treat to see it working when I'm behind a dark clean car. Coming off roundabouts is a good one for it.
As I said, angel eyes always divide opinion. I like to think mine are better than most though. I love them
McSam said:
.....That dimming function is excellent, working with the headlights is one thing but the indicators is top class, I bet it looks great on the road.
Don't often see them myself It's a nice treat to see it working when I'm behind a dark clean car. Coming off roundabouts is a good one for it.
McSam said:
Interested to hear the wind deflector compatibility.....How have you found the car with it fitted?
Not tried it out properly yet. The PH east anglia fish & chip run is this weekend though so hopefully the weather is good. Just read this thread start to finish (resting up after a motorbike accident).
I feel inspired and will be looking out for a similar project I think.
I had a 328i saloon which was subtly modded, I too fitted an Ai606 to replace the BMW effort.
Do you plan to change the inlet manifold and throttle body? It made a good solid 210bhp on mine which livened things up a bit.
I feel inspired and will be looking out for a similar project I think.
I had a 328i saloon which was subtly modded, I too fitted an Ai606 to replace the BMW effort.
Do you plan to change the inlet manifold and throttle body? It made a good solid 210bhp on mine which livened things up a bit.
Quick post to say the BMW is still going well.
It's been half term this week to the kids have been off school. They were promptly dropped off at the grandparents and my wife and I disappeared off to Wales for a few days.
Mainly a relaxing adult holiday, but I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for some good driving roads
Few pics for you....
The 328 didn't put a foot wrong all week and was great fun hooning around the Welsh mountains with the top down (new wind deflector working perfectly).
Yes the convertible chassis is a bit wobbly, and scuttle shook like hell across the many cattle grids. But (IMO) it's a small price to pay to spend some quality time with that straight 6 noise
The windy roads did confirm what I already knew though - I really need to fit a shorter ratio diff. Coming out of slower corners or doing the classic 30-NSL sprint, the revs are almost always too low for a good pull but high enough to make changing down for all of 2 seconds pointless.
The 328 has a 2.92 diff and a common straight swap is to fit the 3.0ltr M3 item which has a 3.15 ratio and the benefit of a LSD too. I've planned to do this for a while but after the trip this week I think the 3.23 from the M3 evo would be better still, the only down side being it's physically larger so requires the full evo subframe etc...
It's been half term this week to the kids have been off school. They were promptly dropped off at the grandparents and my wife and I disappeared off to Wales for a few days.
Mainly a relaxing adult holiday, but I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for some good driving roads
Few pics for you....
The 328 didn't put a foot wrong all week and was great fun hooning around the Welsh mountains with the top down (new wind deflector working perfectly
). Yes the convertible chassis is a bit wobbly, and scuttle shook like hell across the many cattle grids. But (IMO) it's a small price to pay to spend some quality time with that straight 6 noise
The windy roads did confirm what I already knew though - I really need to fit a shorter ratio diff. Coming out of slower corners or doing the classic 30-NSL sprint, the revs are almost always too low for a good pull but high enough to make changing down for all of 2 seconds pointless.
The 328 has a 2.92 diff and a common straight swap is to fit the 3.0ltr M3 item which has a 3.15 ratio and the benefit of a LSD too. I've planned to do this for a while but after the trip this week I think the 3.23 from the M3 evo would be better still, the only down side being it's physically larger so requires the full evo subframe etc...
Edited by JordanTurbo on Tuesday 16th June 17:55
There's been a lot of updates from the e36 guys in here recently. Think it's best I should join in.
Nothing special as I'm spending my free time building a new Rover V8 for my Land Rover. Just some maintenance in the form of rear pads, rear discs and handbrake shoes.
Went for standard OEM compound Pagids. I don't see much point in "posh pads" on the rear, not for the little amount of work they do on the road.
Rear in the air and wheel off.
Stripped
And back together after a clean up and handbrake set up.
Only other update is that I spotted this on my travels.
I've fancied a set of staggared 5 series "style 32" wheels for a while and this didn't help the want at all. Really like them on the e36 (although I'd have them in a slightly darker gunmetal grey).
Nothing special as I'm spending my free time building a new Rover V8 for my Land Rover. Just some maintenance in the form of rear pads, rear discs and handbrake shoes.
Went for standard OEM compound Pagids. I don't see much point in "posh pads" on the rear, not for the little amount of work they do on the road.
Rear in the air and wheel off.
Stripped
And back together after a clean up and handbrake set up.
Only other update is that I spotted this on my travels.
I've fancied a set of staggared 5 series "style 32" wheels for a while and this didn't help the want at all. Really like them on the e36 (although I'd have them in a slightly darker gunmetal grey).
Hi guys, not updated this in a while as I've been busy on the V8 Discovery and moving house.
328 is still giving trouble free service in the meantime though. New garage means I'll have room for the car AND tools Instead of just tools.
Drive way is smaller though, only room for one car instead to 2/3. Slight slope is good for an oil change though, means it's level for the refill.
Service light reset, back to 5 greens.
Finished of with a new MOT, can't believe I've had this over a year already. Flew through with no advisories of course. The emissions results were better than last year too, regular running is obviously doing it good.
328 is still giving trouble free service in the meantime though. New garage means I'll have room for the car AND tools Instead of just tools.
Drive way is smaller though, only room for one car instead to 2/3. Slight slope is good for an oil change though, means it's level for the refill.
Service light reset, back to 5 greens.
Finished of with a new MOT, can't believe I've had this over a year already. Flew through with no advisories of course. The emissions results were better than last year too, regular running is obviously doing it good.
Reading this from the start has really inspired me to get cracked on with my 328i Convertible I bought 4 months ago. The story of mine starts off so similarly its untrue - difference being I'm learning how to do the technical stuff as I progress!
I'll certainly be pinching some ideas from this though mate, especially regarding the roof!
I'll certainly be pinching some ideas from this though mate, especially regarding the roof!
i have had my 328i convertible out today, its not seen much use the last few months. Started first turn of the key. Bought it earlier this year as a project and this thread kind of made me start looking for one. Mine came with loads of history, low owners and is an ex BMW management car. I have done loads to it including a full insp2 service, water pump, stat, stat housing, radiator, brake calipers, rear shocks, gearbox and diff fluid change. Have been underneath and rectified any rust spots and painted, fitted some genuine M3 wheels and new tyres, it is getting there now. Really enjoy how nimble it is, no idea what ill do with it long term but its shirley cant go down in value now I wouldn't have thought.
mister-auto is great for cheap (branded) parts, even got the buttons for the key remote from there!
My drivers side jacking point is a bit crusty so this will need attention other than that it doesn't need much else now. The roof is okay and works fine, I have got a brand new screen to go into it, an eBay bargain, just need some time to get it fitted.
mister-auto is great for cheap (branded) parts, even got the buttons for the key remote from there!
My drivers side jacking point is a bit crusty so this will need attention other than that it doesn't need much else now. The roof is okay and works fine, I have got a brand new screen to go into it, an eBay bargain, just need some time to get it fitted.
Edited by M3333 on Saturday 24th September 14:43
Hi guys 
The E36 is still here. Happily performing my daily commuting duties, while my V8 Land Rover Discovery does the family stuff.
The thread has been quiet mainly because she's been so well behaved. The dash has just ticked over 120,000 miles bringing the total in my ownership to about 17,300.
Still enjoying every mile, and getting the roof down where ever and when ever possible.
Apart from another scheduled oil and filter service over the summer, the only work I've had to do was on the front brakes. Where the EBC pads that I fitted when I first got the car two years ago, had worn down and now required changing.
While sorting out replacement pads, I heard that a simple upgrade may be to swap to e46 328i discs. The rumour being that unlike the more common 330i conversion, which has a larger caliper and ideally requires an M3 master cylinder to keep a good pedal feel, the 328i setup uses the same caliper with a larger carrier to suit the bigger discs.
A quick search on RealOEM.com for the part numbers seemed to confirm that.
Seeing as I was doing the pads anyway, I decided I might as well slot in an upgrade while I was at it. So I ordered the required parts - Discs, pads, and the e46 carriers from a breakers.
With the old bits off, you can see the difference in the carriers (old on the left, new on the right)
To allow for the slightly larger discs. 300mm on the e46 Vs 286mm on the e36.
All bolted up perfectly as planned using the original e36 calipers, so I didn't even need to do any bleeding. I'm not normally fussed about coloured brakes, but seeing as the used carriers that I bought were painted red, I decided to give the rest lick of paint to match.
I'm happy with the upgrade. No increase in pedal travel, but a little bit more bite.
With that done, here's a few more pictures of the 328 out and about. She makes a regular appearance at the monthly Haynes Motor museum breakfast meeting.
As well as the Castle Combe car park at the numerous events over the summer.
As always, thanks for reading and all comments welcome.
The E36 is still here. Happily performing my daily commuting duties, while my V8 Land Rover Discovery does the family stuff.
The thread has been quiet mainly because she's been so well behaved. The dash has just ticked over 120,000 miles bringing the total in my ownership to about 17,300.
Still enjoying every mile, and getting the roof down where ever and when ever possible.
Apart from another scheduled oil and filter service over the summer, the only work I've had to do was on the front brakes. Where the EBC pads that I fitted when I first got the car two years ago, had worn down and now required changing.
While sorting out replacement pads, I heard that a simple upgrade may be to swap to e46 328i discs. The rumour being that unlike the more common 330i conversion, which has a larger caliper and ideally requires an M3 master cylinder to keep a good pedal feel, the 328i setup uses the same caliper with a larger carrier to suit the bigger discs.
A quick search on RealOEM.com for the part numbers seemed to confirm that.
Seeing as I was doing the pads anyway, I decided I might as well slot in an upgrade while I was at it. So I ordered the required parts - Discs, pads, and the e46 carriers from a breakers.
With the old bits off, you can see the difference in the carriers (old on the left, new on the right)
To allow for the slightly larger discs. 300mm on the e46 Vs 286mm on the e36.
All bolted up perfectly as planned using the original e36 calipers, so I didn't even need to do any bleeding. I'm not normally fussed about coloured brakes, but seeing as the used carriers that I bought were painted red, I decided to give the rest lick of paint to match.
I'm happy with the upgrade. No increase in pedal travel, but a little bit more bite.
With that done, here's a few more pictures of the 328 out and about. She makes a regular appearance at the monthly Haynes Motor museum breakfast meeting.
As well as the Castle Combe car park at the numerous events over the summer.
As always, thanks for reading and all comments welcome.
Edited by JordanTurbo on Sunday 25th September 15:25
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