Yet another rescued E36 328i M Sport project...

Yet another rescued E36 328i M Sport project...

Author
Discussion

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
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...

Edited by RickBristol on Friday 12th August 22:07


Edited by RickBristol on Wednesday 26th April 21:08

Fat Albert

1,392 posts

180 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
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...

StuntmanMike

11,671 posts

150 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
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.

mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
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

3,100 posts

186 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
Hello fellow Arctic Silver owner wavey

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Sunday 10th August 2014
quotequote all
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........

Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 2nd September 06:50

dsme94

97 posts

128 months

Sunday 10th August 2014
quotequote all
Smanks said:
Hello fellow Arctic Silver owner wavey
x2

Looking forward to your updates!

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
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?...




Edited by RickBristol on Wednesday 27th August 22:53

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
New Boots and panties!

Have managed to pick-up this replacement boot, as mine was full of rust - take a close look as I thought I wouldn't be able to find one rust-free and in this good condition...










Cost: £60

Edited by RickBristol on Friday 10th October 20:16

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
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

Edited by RickBristol on Friday 10th October 22:24

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
Boy am I sad!

This car is now gonna stand me in at around four and-a-half grand, and I have already decided to go for a second-hand 325i M50 inlet manifold, conversion kit, ECU remap and a cold air induction kit next month...

Probably another £650 - £700!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody STOP ME!

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
Anyway... When the panel beater gets back from Reading festival, he's gonna cut-out the rear arches... Hope he is in a fit state to weld them the right way up!

Pics here shortly

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
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!!!...



Edited by RickBristol on Sunday 31st August 09:42

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
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?

Dr G

15,157 posts

241 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
RickBristol said:
There won't be many originals left.
I was just thinking that; look forward to more updates smile

Joe Sp

33 posts

116 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
Don't forget to check the condition of the boot wiring loom while it is easy to examine. The insulation breaks where the loom has to flex when you open/close the boot and causes all kinds of issues.

Great project BTW.

RickBristol

Original Poster:

330 posts

115 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Day 4...

this is where the repairs are sanded-back ready for priming












Max M4X WW

4,788 posts

181 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Please don't put the spoiler back on!


LanceRS

2,171 posts

136 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all


I'm voting to keep the spoiler.

Demanvilles

40 posts

119 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Way cooler without the spoiler.
Sleek!