E36 328, soft top, £575, What's the worst that could happen?
Discussion
^^^^ what he said. Another thing to check when it's up in the air is the mountings for the convertible x-brace, they occasionally need a tighten but it's also worth checking the inserts are still seated properly.
I used to regularly visit a local breakers to acquire them as they were a popular mod for non-convertible cars to help stiffen the chassis. The number I saw that were pretty much hanging off was scary - possibly why the cars were at the breakers of course...
Out of interest I may also have a spare M3 front bumper lying about, would need to check it's condition but pretty sure it would be salvageable if you did want to go down that route.
I used to regularly visit a local breakers to acquire them as they were a popular mod for non-convertible cars to help stiffen the chassis. The number I saw that were pretty much hanging off was scary - possibly why the cars were at the breakers of course...
Out of interest I may also have a spare M3 front bumper lying about, would need to check it's condition but pretty sure it would be salvageable if you did want to go down that route.
Update from the last few days.
Started fitting the new bits on Wednesday. The weather was miserable but I wasn't going to let that stop play, so out with the tent
.
Here is my make-shift press for fitting the new rear bushes onto the wishbones, big heavy work bench plus a socket and bottle jack.
Wishbones, lollipops and drop links fitted.
Discs and pads fitted.
Then off for MOT today which it obviously passed. Only one advisory for a faded rear number plate but I'll be putting my private plate across once I get the full V5 back anyway. A quick trip to the direct-gov website to sort road tax and she's back on the road!
Decided to treat her to some Liquid leather to celebrate.
Did a quick 50/50 on the drivers seat to test. Obviously it can't remove the cracks but Imm well pleased with the colour difference! Will update again once I've done the rest of the interior
Started fitting the new bits on Wednesday. The weather was miserable but I wasn't going to let that stop play, so out with the tent
.Here is my make-shift press for fitting the new rear bushes onto the wishbones, big heavy work bench plus a socket and bottle jack.
Wishbones, lollipops and drop links fitted.
Discs and pads fitted.
Then off for MOT today which it obviously passed. Only one advisory for a faded rear number plate but I'll be putting my private plate across once I get the full V5 back anyway. A quick trip to the direct-gov website to sort road tax and she's back on the road!
Decided to treat her to some Liquid leather to celebrate.
Did a quick 50/50 on the drivers seat to test. Obviously it can't remove the cracks but Imm well pleased with the colour difference! Will update again once I've done the rest of the interior
Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 17th April 19:39
Update from yesterday.
Did the remaining parts of the full engine service including replacement of the water pump.
Had a helper to speed things up. Proper petrol head in training
.
Old plugs looked good.
Was surprised to find I already had a metal impeller water pump even though it was stamped BMW. I fitted the new one anyway along with new drive belts and coolant.
Lastly I reset the service light using the paperclip method so I'm back to 5 green lights
Did the remaining parts of the full engine service including replacement of the water pump.
Had a helper to speed things up. Proper petrol head in training
.Old plugs looked good.
Was surprised to find I already had a metal impeller water pump even though it was stamped BMW. I fitted the new one anyway along with new drive belts and coolant.
Lastly I reset the service light using the paperclip method so I'm back to 5 green lights
Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 17th April 19:42
Bit of an update, been playing with the exhaust
As you may know, the standard exhaust on the 328 is valved. The valve stays closed until 3.5k revs and opens above that giving a nicer sound.
A popular modification is the "golf tee" which involves removing and plugging the vacume line to the valve and thereby keeping it open all the time.
I have done the above mod which is great but wanted some more. Searching has revealed people, mainly in the US, that have opened the back box up and removed the pipework to make it a straight through system like below. (Not a 328 box but you get the idea)
I decided to take it a step further and be a bit smarter about what I remove.
Removed my rear box and opened it up like so.
Looking at the pipework, it works like this:
I decided to remove the section of pipe between the dashed white lines in the picture below so that when the valve is open gasses can exit straight out of the back of the box.
The idea being that the exhaust sound should be improved, while leaving the "valve closed" sound relatively unaffected as it still has to go through all the other pipework.
Got the box welded up by a mate.
Refitted with the vacuum pipe connected as standard.
I then located the butterfly control solenoid under the boot carpet and interrupted the power feed to it.
The two wires were then fed through to the center console and connected to an on/off switch which means the exhaust can be switched between quiet and loud when ever I choose.
The above switch is only a cheap temporary one to test how well the exhaust works. I plan to change it for a BMW Harmon kardon switch like this (with the "hifi" wording blacked out)
The end result is quite good I think. The standard sound hasn't been effected at all but the "valve open" sound has been made quite a bit louder. Lot's better than just the "golf tee" mod on it's own. A little on the raspy side for my liking but maybe that's just me being used to a 4.2 V8. I may pop it open again and adjust it to make it a bit deeper but for now I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Well worth it
As you may know, the standard exhaust on the 328 is valved. The valve stays closed until 3.5k revs and opens above that giving a nicer sound.
A popular modification is the "golf tee" which involves removing and plugging the vacume line to the valve and thereby keeping it open all the time.
I have done the above mod which is great but wanted some more. Searching has revealed people, mainly in the US, that have opened the back box up and removed the pipework to make it a straight through system like below. (Not a 328 box but you get the idea)
I decided to take it a step further and be a bit smarter about what I remove.
Removed my rear box and opened it up like so.
Looking at the pipework, it works like this:
- Valve closed - air takes a long trip round the box.
- Valve opened - air can take a more direct route.
I decided to remove the section of pipe between the dashed white lines in the picture below so that when the valve is open gasses can exit straight out of the back of the box.
The idea being that the exhaust sound should be improved, while leaving the "valve closed" sound relatively unaffected as it still has to go through all the other pipework.
Got the box welded up by a mate.
Refitted with the vacuum pipe connected as standard.
I then located the butterfly control solenoid under the boot carpet and interrupted the power feed to it.
The two wires were then fed through to the center console and connected to an on/off switch which means the exhaust can be switched between quiet and loud when ever I choose.
The above switch is only a cheap temporary one to test how well the exhaust works. I plan to change it for a BMW Harmon kardon switch like this (with the "hifi" wording blacked out)
The end result is quite good I think. The standard sound hasn't been effected at all but the "valve open" sound has been made quite a bit louder. Lot's better than just the "golf tee" mod on it's own. A little on the raspy side for my liking but maybe that's just me being used to a 4.2 V8. I may pop it open again and adjust it to make it a bit deeper but for now I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Well worth it
Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 17th April 19:44
Big bill today, more than I payed for the car in the first place infact, but it's worth it
Had the soft top and duct tape rear "window" replaced by car hood warehouse in Chessington.
Before:
During (rubbish picture unfortunately):
After:
Decided to go for a black hood to match the bits I have planned in future. The new roof and particularly the new window lifts the whole car and makes it look so much nicer. It's nice being able to see where I've been too
I'm very happy with the quality of the work carried out. Dropped her off at 8am and went to get some breakfast down the road. The roof was done by 11 when I came back.
Had the soft top and duct tape rear "window" replaced by car hood warehouse in Chessington.
Before:
During (rubbish picture unfortunately):
After:
Decided to go for a black hood to match the bits I have planned in future. The new roof and particularly the new window lifts the whole car and makes it look so much nicer. It's nice being able to see where I've been too
I'm very happy with the quality of the work carried out. Dropped her off at 8am and went to get some breakfast down the road. The roof was done by 11 when I came back.
Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 17th April 19:46
Looks loads better! I replaced a vinyl hood with mohair on an MX-5 I had a while back - transformed the car!
On another note, did I read somewhere that you were in the forces? Even more un-related, but just wondering where the pre-fab houses in your photos are as they are not very common and I'm lucky enough to live in one!
On another note, did I read somewhere that you were in the forces? Even more un-related, but just wondering where the pre-fab houses in your photos are as they are not very common and I'm lucky enough to live in one!
Max M4X WW said:
Looks loads better! I replaced a vinyl hood with mohair on an MX-5 I had a while back - transformed the car!
On another note, did I read somewhere that you were in the forces? Even more un-related, but just wondering where the pre-fab houses in your photos are as they are not very common and I'm lucky enough to live in one!
Cheers, it is a huge transformation. On another note, did I read somewhere that you were in the forces? Even more un-related, but just wondering where the pre-fab houses in your photos are as they are not very common and I'm lucky enough to live in one!
Yes I work in the army as an Aircraft engineer.
The pre-fabs are at the in-laws near Dorking in Surrey. I see from your profile you're in Haslemere
Edited by JordanTurbo on Sunday 24th August 07:37
You‘ve done some top work on that mate! It‘s looking really, really good. Impressed.
I paid £480 for one a little rougher than that - could‘ve gone the same way, I guess but instead just ripped the drivetrain out and dropped it into my E30. The E36 is a very nice car in its own right though and it does look like you‘re going to get what you wanted from it
I paid £480 for one a little rougher than that - could‘ve gone the same way, I guess but instead just ripped the drivetrain out and dropped it into my E30. The E36 is a very nice car in its own right though and it does look like you‘re going to get what you wanted from it
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