Yet another rescued E36 328i M Sport project...
Discussion
Afternoon peeps.
I have decided to register with Piston Heads as I have been looking through a number of discussions related to some issues I have with the 1997 328 i Sport that I recently bought. It is a solid decent example but, as is to be expected with any sixteen year-old car, has instantly become a long-term project to keep me busy for the next year or two...
Cost: £1,200
I have already done a number of tidy-up jobs, due to the car having been sat in a garage for the last year and a half; engine and gearbox oil and filter changes, new bonnet struts, bonnet catches and the odd light bulb. Apart from that, it started first-time when the battery was reconnected, and drives like a dream...
Cost: £230
However, I've been bitten!!! I am about to replace the rear arches, have sourced a perfect condition boot lid and passenger door and the car goes to my mates body shop next week to have the work done, before a total re-spray. Will, hopefully, have chance to take photos as this work progresses and post some up here.
Cost: £1,400 - Actual cost for this turned out to be more like £1,650, but more on that later...
You need deep pockets if you're gonna take one of these on.
Car info stuff:
Data for vehicle identification number: WBABGXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - masked the VIN code, obviously!...
Model description: 328I
Market: Europa
Type: BG12
E-Code: E36 (2)
Chassis: Coupé
Steering: rechts
Doors: 2
Engine: M52 - 2,80l (142kW)
Drive: Heckantrieb
Transmission: manuell
Body Colour: Arktissilber Metallic (309)
Upholstery: Leder Casual/hellgrau (P7TH)
Production date: 22.07.1997
Assembled in: Regensburg
Code Standard Equipment
S214A Automatic stability control (ASC+T)
S246A Manually adjust. steering column
S285A BMW LA wheel BMW Styling
S410A Window lifts, electric, front
S465A Through-loading system
S510A Headlight aim control
S520A Fog lights
S542A Check Control
S853A Language version English
Code Optional Equipment
S302A Alarm system
S314A Door mirror / driver's lock, heated
P337A M Sports package
S354A Green windscreen, green shade band
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S441A Smoker package
S473A Armrest front
S481A Sports seat
S498A Headrests, rear, mechanically adjustable
S528A AUTOMATIC AIR FLOW CONTROL
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S554A On-board computer V with remote control
S687A Radio preparation
S704A M Sports suspension
S710A M leather steering wheel
S767A Performance Package
S785A White direction indicator lights
S786A Action pack for 17" wheels
L812A NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A Additional Export tank filling
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English
S962A Deleted, licence plate support front
And finally, a pic:
I'll stop waffling now...
I have decided to register with Piston Heads as I have been looking through a number of discussions related to some issues I have with the 1997 328 i Sport that I recently bought. It is a solid decent example but, as is to be expected with any sixteen year-old car, has instantly become a long-term project to keep me busy for the next year or two...
Cost: £1,200
I have already done a number of tidy-up jobs, due to the car having been sat in a garage for the last year and a half; engine and gearbox oil and filter changes, new bonnet struts, bonnet catches and the odd light bulb. Apart from that, it started first-time when the battery was reconnected, and drives like a dream...
Cost: £230
However, I've been bitten!!! I am about to replace the rear arches, have sourced a perfect condition boot lid and passenger door and the car goes to my mates body shop next week to have the work done, before a total re-spray. Will, hopefully, have chance to take photos as this work progresses and post some up here.
Cost: £1,400 - Actual cost for this turned out to be more like £1,650, but more on that later...
You need deep pockets if you're gonna take one of these on.
Car info stuff:
Data for vehicle identification number: WBABGXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - masked the VIN code, obviously!...
Model description: 328I
Market: Europa
Type: BG12
E-Code: E36 (2)
Chassis: Coupé
Steering: rechts
Doors: 2
Engine: M52 - 2,80l (142kW)
Drive: Heckantrieb
Transmission: manuell
Body Colour: Arktissilber Metallic (309)
Upholstery: Leder Casual/hellgrau (P7TH)
Production date: 22.07.1997
Assembled in: Regensburg
Code Standard Equipment
S214A Automatic stability control (ASC+T)
S246A Manually adjust. steering column
S285A BMW LA wheel BMW Styling
S410A Window lifts, electric, front
S465A Through-loading system
S510A Headlight aim control
S520A Fog lights
S542A Check Control
S853A Language version English
Code Optional Equipment
S302A Alarm system
S314A Door mirror / driver's lock, heated
P337A M Sports package
S354A Green windscreen, green shade band
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S441A Smoker package
S473A Armrest front
S481A Sports seat
S498A Headrests, rear, mechanically adjustable
S528A AUTOMATIC AIR FLOW CONTROL
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S554A On-board computer V with remote control
S687A Radio preparation
S704A M Sports suspension
S710A M leather steering wheel
S767A Performance Package
S785A White direction indicator lights
S786A Action pack for 17" wheels
L812A NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A Additional Export tank filling
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English
S962A Deleted, licence plate support front
And finally, a pic:
I'll stop waffling now...
Edited by RickBristol on Friday 12th August 22:07
Edited by RickBristol on Wednesday 26th April 21:08
Nice! I am looking at one of these as a good winter shed whilst I decide what to replace the XK with
Interestingly these seem to rust far less than the E46s that follow it and I loved my old E36 318 SE company car in the '90s (with full M Sport suspension Upgrade)
I am hoping that a 328 coupe will be a kind of poor-man's Porsche 968 in terms of driving and handling and if so, it might just stay for a while...
Interestingly these seem to rust far less than the E46s that follow it and I loved my old E36 318 SE company car in the '90s (with full M Sport suspension Upgrade)
I am hoping that a 328 coupe will be a kind of poor-man's Porsche 968 in terms of driving and handling and if so, it might just stay for a while...
StuntmanMike said:
Looks nice, we need more pictures, on the polybush thing, I don't think it suits them at all, genuine BMW bushes IMO are far superior, replace the suspension with the standard items.
Agreed, original stuff is really very good when refreshed. If you want a little more control, I ran a 325i coupe years ago with just a set of Konis/ Eibach and OEM bushes, it was one of the most compliant chuckable road cars I've had. To echo the poly bush thing, I'm about to remove them on my current toy that were fitted by the previous owner and through them in the skip.Smanks, Looked at your example - looks lovely - Arctic Silver boys rule!
Mine is going to the body shop next week, however, my rear spoiler is a bit loose and wobbly, and has been bodged-up by some previous owner. As I have managed to source a perfect/rust-free replacement boot - from an E36 318 is with no 'wing' - for my restoration, after seeing the pics of yours, not sure if I want to leave the spoiler off of my car........
Mine is going to the body shop next week, however, my rear spoiler is a bit loose and wobbly, and has been bodged-up by some previous owner. As I have managed to source a perfect/rust-free replacement boot - from an E36 318 is with no 'wing' - for my restoration, after seeing the pics of yours, not sure if I want to leave the spoiler off of my car........
Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 2nd September 06:50
OK, time for an update...
I have managed to get the insurance part of it sorted - through a company called ACH - that have dealt with the damage to my passenger door after someone hit the car and then tried to deny responsibility...
Anyway, here goes a load of pics from day one of the strip-down:
Sorry, but I think that it looks much sexier when it's been stripped....
If only we could drive our cars around the street like this... Naked baby!!!
Can you imagine being able to legally drive this around?...
I have managed to get the insurance part of it sorted - through a company called ACH - that have dealt with the damage to my passenger door after someone hit the car and then tried to deny responsibility...
Anyway, here goes a load of pics from day one of the strip-down:
Sorry, but I think that it looks much sexier when it's been stripped....
If only we could drive our cars around the street like this... Naked baby!!!
Can you imagine being able to legally drive this around?...
Edited by RickBristol on Wednesday 27th August 22:53
And I managed to pick-up this replacement rear spoiler from a guy in Leeds... From his E36 M3 that he has since 'tracked'... Thanks' Damian.
As this is a genuine BMW 'Rainbow' spoiler, I happily paid a hundred quid for it too, bargain!
Cost £120 - including postage
As this is a genuine BMW 'Rainbow' spoiler, I happily paid a hundred quid for it too, bargain!
Cost £120 - including postage
Edited by RickBristol on Friday 10th October 22:24
Day 2 at the body shop - they have actually had the car for nearly a week to get this far...
Wondered why they fibre glass the arches after welding metal replacement arches to the car...
Its apparently to make a much better repair...
BTW: I also noticed that the shock is knackered... More money!!!...
Wondered why they fibre glass the arches after welding metal replacement arches to the car...
Its apparently to make a much better repair...
BTW: I also noticed that the shock is knackered... More money!!!...
Edited by RickBristol on Sunday 31st August 09:42
Onto day 3...
This is all about finding any irregularities in the bodywork and repairing them...
I think this project is - maybe - a bit different. It's not all about performance or 'bling'. Its about rescuing a decent Beemer that may even be worth a lot of money in a few years... There won't be many originals left.
How many other projects have you seen that start with the basic fabric - the bodywork?
This is all about finding any irregularities in the bodywork and repairing them...
I think this project is - maybe - a bit different. It's not all about performance or 'bling'. Its about rescuing a decent Beemer that may even be worth a lot of money in a few years... There won't be many originals left.
How many other projects have you seen that start with the basic fabric - the bodywork?
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