rDavid's E36 328i Sport
Discussion
Hi all and thanks for taking the time to read my thread.
I used to own a DC2 which unfortunately ended up in a sorry state after hitting a dear. This is the second E36 we have had in the family, my Dad being the first owning a red 318 around 8 years ago which was an awesome car.
So yeah, I hit a deer in my Integra and it damaged the front end resulting in me having to replace the bonnet, bumper, passenger headlight and sidelight. I picked up the parts and fitted them but unfortunately the panels didn't align up properly. The car had been nothing but bad luck since I had got it so I decided to cut my losses and move on. Hopefully the E36 sees me well.
Anyway, enough of the talking. Here are a few pictures of my DC2 and my new E36.
I performed the golf tee mod shortly after purchase.
I found this thing which came out of a Pizza from Dominoes so I rammed it in the pipe:
The pipe came off this thing:
Cable tied to ensure it wasn't coming out
I've been keeping up to date with keeping it clean, just jet washing it every day to rinse any dirt off.
A good few weeks into ownership I got an error on the OBC which stated the coolant was low. E36s are notorious to cooling issues. This went on for a good while and I couldn't find out where the leak was coming from until I noticed a hairline crack down the thermostat housing.
A short video of the leak can be seen here: http://davidelliott.tk/images/328/waterleak.html
I had decided I was going to do a cooling overhaul so this was the perfect excuse to do it. So I went ahead and bought these parts:
New radiator
Upper and Lower radiator hoses
Thermostat housing
Thermostat
Water pump
Serpentine Belt
Radiator cap
Coolant
Tools:
Viscous fan removal tool from halfords, 32mm and 36mm spanner
Water pump pulley holding tool
The majority of the parts arrived on Tuesday with the rest arriving Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I started the job on Tuesday and everything came off ever so easily, unfortunately I spoke too soon.
Big boxes
Unfortunately I did end up getting a plastic thermostat housing. All parts are branded Meyle which I think is German?
I attempted to remove the viscous fan and I just couldn't get it to budge using the screwdriver to hold the pulley in place and the 32mm I bought from Halfords. So I opted for a pulley holding tool from i6autmotive on ebay, which I paid extra for delivery to ensure it arrived the next again day. Slotted that over the bolts on the pulley, couple wacks on the 32mm with a hammer and kaching, it came off.
Fan off, hoses off, serpentine belt off and manky, manky water.
A better look at my cracked thermostat housing x( if you imagine the system under pressure the gap would certainly have been more open.
Just as well I had ordered a new belt, as this one was pretty guff.
Water pump was a bit tight but it came out eventually. It does test your patience. Looking here I did have a metal water pump (or brass)?
Here is the tool I bought, along with the website if anyone would like to purchase one in the future.
Here is the tool I bought from halfords, they are purposely for Viscous fans. One end is 32mm and the other is 36mm.
I used a few guides, one being on bimmerworld - a user done an overhaul and written a guide. I also use pelican parts which provides guides on removing the serpentine belt, water pump, thermostat etc which is all worth a read before attempting the job.
This job was not difficult at all and if you are handy with a spanner it's very easy to do.
I have an expansion cap on the way as well as I forgot to order this.
I shall be attending this years Edition38 festival and JAE.
I used to own a DC2 which unfortunately ended up in a sorry state after hitting a dear. This is the second E36 we have had in the family, my Dad being the first owning a red 318 around 8 years ago which was an awesome car.
So yeah, I hit a deer in my Integra and it damaged the front end resulting in me having to replace the bonnet, bumper, passenger headlight and sidelight. I picked up the parts and fitted them but unfortunately the panels didn't align up properly. The car had been nothing but bad luck since I had got it so I decided to cut my losses and move on. Hopefully the E36 sees me well.
Anyway, enough of the talking. Here are a few pictures of my DC2 and my new E36.
I performed the golf tee mod shortly after purchase.
I found this thing which came out of a Pizza from Dominoes so I rammed it in the pipe:
The pipe came off this thing:
Cable tied to ensure it wasn't coming out
I've been keeping up to date with keeping it clean, just jet washing it every day to rinse any dirt off.
A good few weeks into ownership I got an error on the OBC which stated the coolant was low. E36s are notorious to cooling issues. This went on for a good while and I couldn't find out where the leak was coming from until I noticed a hairline crack down the thermostat housing.
A short video of the leak can be seen here: http://davidelliott.tk/images/328/waterleak.html
I had decided I was going to do a cooling overhaul so this was the perfect excuse to do it. So I went ahead and bought these parts:
New radiator
Upper and Lower radiator hoses
Thermostat housing
Thermostat
Water pump
Serpentine Belt
Radiator cap
Coolant
Tools:
Viscous fan removal tool from halfords, 32mm and 36mm spanner
Water pump pulley holding tool
The majority of the parts arrived on Tuesday with the rest arriving Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I started the job on Tuesday and everything came off ever so easily, unfortunately I spoke too soon.
Big boxes
Unfortunately I did end up getting a plastic thermostat housing. All parts are branded Meyle which I think is German?
I attempted to remove the viscous fan and I just couldn't get it to budge using the screwdriver to hold the pulley in place and the 32mm I bought from Halfords. So I opted for a pulley holding tool from i6autmotive on ebay, which I paid extra for delivery to ensure it arrived the next again day. Slotted that over the bolts on the pulley, couple wacks on the 32mm with a hammer and kaching, it came off.
Fan off, hoses off, serpentine belt off and manky, manky water.
A better look at my cracked thermostat housing x( if you imagine the system under pressure the gap would certainly have been more open.
Just as well I had ordered a new belt, as this one was pretty guff.
Water pump was a bit tight but it came out eventually. It does test your patience. Looking here I did have a metal water pump (or brass)?
Here is the tool I bought, along with the website if anyone would like to purchase one in the future.
Here is the tool I bought from halfords, they are purposely for Viscous fans. One end is 32mm and the other is 36mm.
I used a few guides, one being on bimmerworld - a user done an overhaul and written a guide. I also use pelican parts which provides guides on removing the serpentine belt, water pump, thermostat etc which is all worth a read before attempting the job.
This job was not difficult at all and if you are handy with a spanner it's very easy to do.
I have an expansion cap on the way as well as I forgot to order this.
I shall be attending this years Edition38 festival and JAE.
Edited by dsme94 on Sunday 10th August 16:24
Well, I finally have another update. As you may know from a few of my threads I have ordered coilovers for the car and I managed to get them fitted yesterday. All went well apart from the drivers side strut and I'll explain why shortly.
So the obligatory box picture :lol:
Got the car in the air
Got the struts unbolted:
New ones bolted in:
Unfortunately I never got a picture with the springs in. So rears done, piss easy. Top mounts were replaced with Lemforder parts.
Moved on to the front. I noticed the shocks were yellow and had red springs. Is this a standard setup?
I had a better look, suddenly I became deeply concerned... Can you spot why?
After scraping away the rust and smashing on 17 spanners and sockets, I finally got the strut out:
So I got on the phone to BMW to order new bolts and some parts for the rear suspension, the parts consist of:
Rear plates
Rear shims
Front camber nut and bolt
Strut bolts
Now inspecting the struts, I am glad I done the suspension.
So finally with the coilovers fully fitted, I had to raise the front up slightly as if I kept it like this then I smash my arches up when going round corners. I can't wait to get the original wheels for it.
Adjusted for how it will sit just now:
So the obligatory box picture :lol:
Got the car in the air
Got the struts unbolted:
New ones bolted in:
Unfortunately I never got a picture with the springs in. So rears done, piss easy. Top mounts were replaced with Lemforder parts.
Moved on to the front. I noticed the shocks were yellow and had red springs. Is this a standard setup?
I had a better look, suddenly I became deeply concerned... Can you spot why?
After scraping away the rust and smashing on 17 spanners and sockets, I finally got the strut out:
So I got on the phone to BMW to order new bolts and some parts for the rear suspension, the parts consist of:
Rear plates
Rear shims
Front camber nut and bolt
Strut bolts
Now inspecting the struts, I am glad I done the suspension.
So finally with the coilovers fully fitted, I had to raise the front up slightly as if I kept it like this then I smash my arches up when going round corners. I can't wait to get the original wheels for it.
Adjusted for how it will sit just now:
Edited by dsme94 on Tuesday 13th January 09:34
Another Fluffer said:
Possibly interested in the wheels if you're after selling? also I have a set of genuine 328i sport wheels I can offer in return?
I am interested, are the staggered? (RC041 and RC042)?rallycross said:
Yellow shocks are correct bilsteins factory fit on the sport.
Looking at that rust I'd guess that car has lived a lot of its life in Scotland.
All it's life in Scotland, central to be precise. The car has very little rust for being 17 year old, that's the only rot there is. Looking at that rust I'd guess that car has lived a lot of its life in Scotland.
dsme94 said:
Moved on to the front. I noticed the shocks were yellow and had red springs. Is this a standard setup?
Not so sure about the red springs but the 318/328 sports could be specced with the Avus package which consisted of bilstein shocks and thicker anti roll bars. I'm not sure about this though but I think the coupes had this fitted as standard
it would appear that the rear shocks have probably been replaced at some point with standard E36 shocks
No idea! I'm just happy that the rotten s
t has been replaced.
At the weekend I attended the German Invasion day at Crail Raceway and I went up the strip with the BMW.
I was going to go all out and strip it but I didn't have the time, so with literally a full tank of fuel and full interior I managed to run a 14.8 which I am personally really happy with. Going again soon so hoping to get an induction kit and m50 inlet before hand. I have some videos but I'll upload them when I receive them from mates.
t has been replaced. At the weekend I attended the German Invasion day at Crail Raceway and I went up the strip with the BMW.
I was going to go all out and strip it but I didn't have the time, so with literally a full tank of fuel and full interior I managed to run a 14.8 which I am personally really happy with. Going again soon so hoping to get an induction kit and m50 inlet before hand. I have some videos but I'll upload them when I receive them from mates.
disco!!!! said:
dsme94 said:
Moved on to the front. I noticed the shocks were yellow and had red springs. Is this a standard setup?
Not so sure about the red springs but the 318/328 sports could be specced with the Avus package which consisted of bilstein shocks and thicker anti roll bars. I'm not sure about this though but I think the coupes had this fitted as standard
it would appear that the rear shocks have probably been replaced at some point with standard E36 shocks
All 328 coupes incl the Sport got option 704 M-tech suspension (25.5mm FARB, 18mm RARB ) which could also be specified on a saloon as an option. It was a No cost option delete on the coupes to have the normal suspension and standard 24mm FARB, 15mm RARB.
So, generally all 328 Coupes should have the 704 ARBs and Mtech suspension but on the Sport also got the eccentric lollipop bushes and yellow Bilsteins over and above that. Plus early Sports got a factory LSD ( replaced by ASC on later cars )
Lovely, just lovely 
I had an Arctic Silver M3 some years ago and I've yearned for another since selling it on.
Any movement on the wheel front? This will look much better when/if you get the RCs on. I actually have a set of RC041s on my Corrado at the moment (with H&R adapters), they're great looking wheels.
I had an Arctic Silver M3 some years ago and I've yearned for another since selling it on.Any movement on the wheel front? This will look much better when/if you get the RCs on. I actually have a set of RC041s on my Corrado at the moment (with H&R adapters), they're great looking wheels.
s m said:
The AVUS pack was actually the yellow Bilsteins and eccentric bushes for the lollipops - this gave it slightly more caster and the wheelbase was increased about 10mm.
All 328 coupes incl the Sport got option 704 M-tech suspension (25.5mm FARB, 18mm RARB ) which could also be specified on a saloon as an option. It was a No cost option delete on the coupes to have the normal suspension and standard 24mm FARB, 15mm RARB.
So, generally all 328 Coupes should have the 704 ARBs and Mtech suspension but on the Sport also got the eccentric lollipop bushes and yellow Bilsteins over and above that. Plus early Sports got a factory LSD ( replaced by ASC on later cars )
Mines has ASC, I'll be looking at getting an LSD shortly. All 328 coupes incl the Sport got option 704 M-tech suspension (25.5mm FARB, 18mm RARB ) which could also be specified on a saloon as an option. It was a No cost option delete on the coupes to have the normal suspension and standard 24mm FARB, 15mm RARB.
So, generally all 328 Coupes should have the 704 ARBs and Mtech suspension but on the Sport also got the eccentric lollipop bushes and yellow Bilsteins over and above that. Plus early Sports got a factory LSD ( replaced by ASC on later cars )
Ferosferio said:
Lovely, just lovely I had an Arctic Silver M3 some years ago and I've yearned for another since selling it on.
Any movement on the wheel front? This will look much better when/if you get the RCs on. I actually have a set of RC041s on my Corrado at the moment (with H&R adapters), they're great looking wheels.
Currently in talk with Another Fluffer, could have them by the end of the month. I'm very excited to get a set. I had an Arctic Silver M3 some years ago and I've yearned for another since selling it on.Any movement on the wheel front? This will look much better when/if you get the RCs on. I actually have a set of RC041s on my Corrado at the moment (with H&R adapters), they're great looking wheels.
DanielJames said:
Looking good matey, didn't know you were at JAE should have said!
Cheers mate! Yeah I was at JAE, wasn't in this unfortunately 
. I was sad your 'teg wasn't there .I got my finger out and purchased myself a Dave.f induction kit from FAB_BMW on bmwenthusiasts and wow what a noise!!
Video: http://davidelliott.tk/images/328/davef/index.html
Pictures:
Video: http://davidelliott.tk/images/328/davef/index.html
Pictures:
dazz1871part2 said:
I was looking at getting a heat shield from him (£80 no?) where u get ur filter from? U think u get good cold air from the head light without cold feed pipe?
I got the kit from a member on http://bmwenthusiasts.co.uk/. The induction kit is made by davef which is a k&n filter with a heatshield which is better than no heatshield, it stops the filter drawing in warm air from the engine. Lastly, I doubt it - I am going to get a pipe that runs from the bumper up to the filter.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff