E36 328, soft top, £575, What's the worst that could happen?
Discussion
Hi guys, update time again. 
Over the last couple of weeks I've got the sport bumper and wheels fitted along with a couple of other bits.
Here's a close up of the damage that meant the nose cone had to be changed too.
Before the bumper went on, I decided to swap the center sport bars for some Aluminium mesh (sprayed satin black before fitting).
Front end stripped.
New parts fitted along with wheels. The broken kidneys were repaired and sprayed black. The pass side rear was still jacked up hence the funny dragster forward rake.
The new parts meant I felt compelled to wash it for the first time since I bought it
Snow foam
New soft top cleaned and waterproofed using Auto Glym hood kit. It's waterproof from the factory but I wanted to add some extra protection to keep it looking nice.
Paint/glass masked off (It's a b
d to get off) and treatment applied.
And the results after polish and wax
Over the last couple of weeks I've got the sport bumper and wheels fitted along with a couple of other bits.
Here's a close up of the damage that meant the nose cone had to be changed too.
Before the bumper went on, I decided to swap the center sport bars for some Aluminium mesh (sprayed satin black before fitting).
Front end stripped.
New parts fitted along with wheels. The broken kidneys were repaired and sprayed black. The pass side rear was still jacked up hence the funny dragster forward rake.
The new parts meant I felt compelled to wash it for the first time since I bought it
Snow foam
New soft top cleaned and waterproofed using Auto Glym hood kit. It's waterproof from the factory but I wanted to add some extra protection to keep it looking nice.
Paint/glass masked off (It's a b
d to get off) and treatment applied.And the results after polish and wax
Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 17th April 20:08
You are doing a great job, all the things you have done have only improved it. I think a good 328 convertible will always be £2k, I think they are currently bottom market price, and getting thinner on the ground. I didnt read enough when I bought mine, so I ended up with a 96 328 sport coupe down on compression on one cylinder, just need to find a nice strong engine to replace it with.
Good work! 
I used the Autoglym stuff on the E30's cabrio roof and found it very decent actually.
And yes, I'm sad enough to have taken a photo of the water beading!
Watch you don't get any of it on the glass as if it dries can be a bit of a mission to remove. I've also heard very good things about Renovo.
I used the Autoglym stuff on the E30's cabrio roof and found it very decent actually.
And yes, I'm sad enough to have taken a photo of the water beading!
Watch you don't get any of it on the glass as if it dries can be a bit of a mission to remove. I've also heard very good things about Renovo.
Thanks a lot guys. I'm pleased with it
So about £2000 including the original purchase price. Some might say a lot money, especially for a non sport, but like I said at the start of this thread. I set out with a budget of £2500 but couldn't find anything in the right spec or condition.
In my opinion, I now have a much better car than any I had viewed previously, and I know that all of the work underneath is done to my own high standards with good quality parts which to me is worth 10x more than a big folder or recipts.
Any modifications from this point forward will be taking it above standard sport spec, so are things I would have done to a good car anyway.
GreatGranny said:
Just out of interest, any idea of total spend?
Just to compare buying a dog and making it into a good car to buying a good car straight off.
Roughly:Just to compare buying a dog and making it into a good car to buying a good car straight off.
- Car - £575.90
- Brand new roof and window fitted - £600
- Full service (inc metal water pump and front brakes) - £200
- Suspension bush and ball joint refresh - £150
- Sport bumper, new nose cone and genuine M3 evo staggered wheels with decent tyres - £500
So about £2000 including the original purchase price. Some might say a lot money, especially for a non sport, but like I said at the start of this thread. I set out with a budget of £2500 but couldn't find anything in the right spec or condition.
In my opinion, I now have a much better car than any I had viewed previously, and I know that all of the work underneath is done to my own high standards with good quality parts which to me is worth 10x more than a big folder or recipts.
Any modifications from this point forward will be taking it above standard sport spec, so are things I would have done to a good car anyway.
Edited by JordanTurbo on Tuesday 14th October 12:46
g3org3y said:
I used the Autoglym stuff on the E30's cabrio roof and found it very decent actually.
Watch you don't get any of it on the glass as if it dries can be a bit of a mission to remove. I've also heard very good things about Renovo.
Yes I did mask everything off before applying the waterproofing.Watch you don't get any of it on the glass as if it dries can be a bit of a mission to remove. I've also heard very good things about Renovo.
JordanTurbo said:
Paint/glass masked off (It's a bd to get off) and treatment applied.
It looks a bit magic, the way it repels water as this vid shows.d to get off) and treatment applied.http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac39/bridges070...
Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 17th April 20:10
Good tip on the masking up before re-proofing, I have just ordered the Turtle wax equivalent to do my shed roof:
(I almost bought an E36, but ended up with a SAAB)
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I hope to be taking water bobbling pictures, as it just soaks in at the moment (but doesn't seem to leak too bad)
(I almost bought an E36, but ended up with a SAAB)
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I hope to be taking water bobbling pictures, as it just soaks in at the moment (but doesn't seem to leak too bad)
As others have said, it looks brilliant (although the black kidneys are not to my taste). Just shows that a silk purse can be made out of a sow's ear if someone know's what they're doing.
Are you sure you dont want a set of amber front repeaters to match the rears?! (Or failing that, smoked rear clusters and side repeaters?)
Are you sure you dont want a set of amber front repeaters to match the rears?! (Or failing that, smoked rear clusters and side repeaters?)
Thanks for the comments guys. Plenty more to come yet, dont worry
The black kidneys were a half forced modification. The right one was broken and once I repaired it, I couldn't paint it chrome again. They are growing on me though.
Before that however, I want to finish the suspension off. I have a set of 40/10mm H&R lowering springs that will go on once I've chosen some new dampers to go with them.
The black kidneys were a half forced modification. The right one was broken and once I repaired it, I couldn't paint it chrome again. They are growing on me though.
Usget said:
Are you sure you dont want a set of amber front repeaters to match the rears?! (Or failing that, smoked rear clusters and side repeaters?)
Next modicication on the outside will be non amber rear clusters and a sport rear bumper to match the front. Before that however, I want to finish the suspension off. I have a set of 40/10mm H&R lowering springs that will go on once I've chosen some new dampers to go with them.
essayer said:
g3org3y said:
Great thread. 
Wish I had a fraction of your skill in doing all that work.
Love this:
+1 awesome effortWish I had a fraction of your skill in doing all that work.
Love this:
Car looks great! Any leaks in this grim weather? Hopefully not with that new roof.
Plus, that is the most inspirational/practical/funniest pic I've seen on PH this year
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff