BMW E36 328i Sport Coupe
Discussion
So, browsing the BMW section of this forum i noticed a post looking for an engine for a 328.
I sent fellow PHer a message saying that I don't have an engine, but I am looking for a 328 E36 Sport Coupe as a project, it turns out this was a manual E36 sport coupe!
After a couple of emails/texts and calls back and forth we agreed a price and I hired a car transporter and drove the 180 miles to collect the car.
This was Sunday, my wife thinks that it is just going to sit on the driveway and do nothing, I on the other hand have been busy trying to source engines/donor cars etc.
I have managed to track down part of an engine which I hope will suffice to repair the car (appears the cylinders have had some heat introduced to them) and then work on the outside of the car!
So, this is the picture I decided to buy the car from:
This is the collection (Sorry have nothing more exciting yet)
Work is to start soon, hopefully collecting the engine on Sunday and with this being the Non TU version it has made finding a replacement engine a little easier! (I'm sure it'll turn out to be a TU model and i've wasted money on a useless engine!)
I sent fellow PHer a message saying that I don't have an engine, but I am looking for a 328 E36 Sport Coupe as a project, it turns out this was a manual E36 sport coupe!
After a couple of emails/texts and calls back and forth we agreed a price and I hired a car transporter and drove the 180 miles to collect the car.
This was Sunday, my wife thinks that it is just going to sit on the driveway and do nothing, I on the other hand have been busy trying to source engines/donor cars etc.
I have managed to track down part of an engine which I hope will suffice to repair the car (appears the cylinders have had some heat introduced to them) and then work on the outside of the car!
So, this is the picture I decided to buy the car from:
This is the collection (Sorry have nothing more exciting yet)
Work is to start soon, hopefully collecting the engine on Sunday and with this being the Non TU version it has made finding a replacement engine a little easier! (I'm sure it'll turn out to be a TU model and i've wasted money on a useless engine!)
I was under impression all 10/98 onward were TU and when it went into the E46 it became the M54?
Could have misread it, but either way, it's underway.
Went to remove all the engine parts from the boot and start cleaning them out last night and the battery is flat and can't open the boot because the key doesn't appear to operate the boot. Bit annoying but just means I have to use a jump pack.
Oh, if anyone is interested here is the spec:
Automatic Stability Control+traction
246 Steering Column Adjustment Mechanical
285 Lt/aly Wheels Bmw Styling
410 Window Lifts, Electric At Front
440 Non-smoker Package
465 Through-load System
510 Headlight Beam-throw Contr. F Low Beam
520 Foglights
542 Check Control
853 Language Version English
314 Heated Windscreen Washer Nozzles
337 M Sport Package
354 Green Stripe Windscreen
428 Warning Triangle
431 Interior Rr Vw Mirror W Aut Anti-d
473 Armrest, Front
481 Sport Seats F Driver/front Passenger
494 Seat Heating F Driver/front Passenger
498 Headrests In Rear, Mechanic. Adjustable
528 Automatic Air Recirculation Control(auc)
534 Automatic Air Conditioning
554 On-board Computer
669 Radio Bmw Business Rds
674 Hifi Loudspeaker System Harman Kardon
694 Preparation For Cd Changer
704 M Sport Suspension
710 M Leather Steering Wheel
767 Individualserie Schweiz
785 White Direction Indicator Lights
786 Measures 17"-wheels
812 England Version England
850 Add Fuel Tank Filling For Export
863 Europe/dealer Directory Service
880 English / On-board Documentation
Could have misread it, but either way, it's underway.
Went to remove all the engine parts from the boot and start cleaning them out last night and the battery is flat and can't open the boot because the key doesn't appear to operate the boot. Bit annoying but just means I have to use a jump pack.
Oh, if anyone is interested here is the spec:
Automatic Stability Control+traction
246 Steering Column Adjustment Mechanical
285 Lt/aly Wheels Bmw Styling
410 Window Lifts, Electric At Front
440 Non-smoker Package
465 Through-load System
510 Headlight Beam-throw Contr. F Low Beam
520 Foglights
542 Check Control
853 Language Version English
314 Heated Windscreen Washer Nozzles
337 M Sport Package
354 Green Stripe Windscreen
428 Warning Triangle
431 Interior Rr Vw Mirror W Aut Anti-d
473 Armrest, Front
481 Sport Seats F Driver/front Passenger
494 Seat Heating F Driver/front Passenger
498 Headrests In Rear, Mechanic. Adjustable
528 Automatic Air Recirculation Control(auc)
534 Automatic Air Conditioning
554 On-board Computer
669 Radio Bmw Business Rds
674 Hifi Loudspeaker System Harman Kardon
694 Preparation For Cd Changer
704 M Sport Suspension
710 M Leather Steering Wheel
767 Individualserie Schweiz
785 White Direction Indicator Lights
786 Measures 17"-wheels
812 England Version England
850 Add Fuel Tank Filling For Export
863 Europe/dealer Directory Service
880 English / On-board Documentation
Nice car, and with a nice spec. My brother has a 98 version in Technoviolet, got a 323 cab myself but always hankered after the 328 Sport.
IIRC it's considered an easier job to change the engine than repair a head gasket, and they are a nice easy car to work on for the most part.
Keep on top of the rust and it is a fabulous car, falls right in the middle of old enough to be an involving drive and not too complicated to work on, and being modern enough to start on the key and be a comfortable and viable daily driver.
IIRC it's considered an easier job to change the engine than repair a head gasket, and they are a nice easy car to work on for the most part.
Keep on top of the rust and it is a fabulous car, falls right in the middle of old enough to be an involving drive and not too complicated to work on, and being modern enough to start on the key and be a comfortable and viable daily driver.
mk4gtiturbo said:
Look out for a company called "JustDeutsch", based near Southampton. Run by a bloke called Sam who is very knowledgeable (he's on here as well), he breaks a few so might have any missing bits for you, and is pretty good with the mods (try an M50 and his hot cams!!)
Thanks for the plug, Matt If you have any questions, drop me an email. Currently in the middle of finishing up a full engine rebuild on a 328i Sport very similar to yours, and I'm building a 3.3 for my E36 Touring.
They're great cars to work on.
FYI, all E36 323i/328i were single Vanos M52 lumps, E46s were all twin Vanos M52TU, swapping to M54 in about 2000.
EDIT: the key will operate the boot. There's an art to it though. I'll try it when I get home, but you have to put the key in the lock, push the button in, and then twist left/right until it opens... something along those lines!
Dannbodge said:
Lovely.
Get rid of the spoiler, the wheels refurbed and amber indicators fitted and you've won.
The spoiler was a dealer fit option and I quite like it so it'l stay on, i know what your saying about amber indicators but they are horribly dated so i'll leave the clear ones on as it looks a lot neater - but it's all personal choice! Get rid of the spoiler, the wheels refurbed and amber indicators fitted and you've won.
Thanks Matt, picking up most of an engine on Sunday (If I can get a van) and thanks for the advice on the boot - i'm sure we will talk during the process, i'm only in Worthing anyway!
Dannbodge said:
Lovely.
Get rid of the spoiler, the wheels refurbed and amber indicators fitted and you've won.
Or, keep it the way it came from the factory. PROPER clear indicators were standard on the Sport, and the spoiler was an official option and is in keeping with the car IMHO - just make sure it was fitted properly and rustproof the holes. Your car of course but these cars look great as BMW intended - so sick of seeing them on cheap ebay coilovers and a "hydro & welded diff for skidz" Get rid of the spoiler, the wheels refurbed and amber indicators fitted and you've won.
Keep the BBS wheels for summer and get some 16" style 30s for the winter. My brother reckons the ride is far better on the 16s and it tramlines less.
NiceCupOfTea said:
Or, keep it the way it came from the factory. PROPER clear indicators were standard on the Sport, and the spoiler was an official option and is in keeping with the car IMHO - just make sure it was fitted properly and rustproof the holes. Your car of course but these cars look great as BMW intended - so sick of seeing them on cheap ebay coilovers and a "hydro & welded diff for skidz"
Keep the BBS wheels for summer and get some 16" style 30s for the winter. My brother reckons the ride is far better on the 16s and it tramlines less.
I'm going to get the original ones refurbished and leave it as standard really - just have fun in it and a nice European trip!Keep the BBS wheels for summer and get some 16" style 30s for the winter. My brother reckons the ride is far better on the 16s and it tramlines less.
ChrisDT said:
The spoiler was a dealer fit option and I quite like it so it'l stay on, i know what your saying about amber indicators but they are horribly dated so i'll leave the clear ones on as it looks a lot neater - but it's all personal choice!
Thanks Matt, picking up most of an engine on Sunday (If I can get a van) and thanks for the advice on the boot - i'm sure we will talk during the process, i'm only in Worthing anyway!
I'm Sam, Matt is mk4gtiturbo the Facebook page, if you do such things, is www.facebook.com/justdeutschThanks Matt, picking up most of an engine on Sunday (If I can get a van) and thanks for the advice on the boot - i'm sure we will talk during the process, i'm only in Worthing anyway!
Drop me a line whenever, I sort of live and breathe these bd things.
This is my current daily:
And this is the track car:
I agree with the comment about the wheels... My 1998 E36 318iS came on some staggered 5 series Style 32s when I bought it in 2013. I sold them on and got a decent set of OEM Style 30s. The ride is so much better, and it handles fine. I also have a set of 17 Style 44s which I use on track days; the handling is sharper but it does tramline more.
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As you can see I removed the spoiler....!!
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As you can see I removed the spoiler....!!
Paul S4 said:
Santorini Blue. It's what I like. I had an MX5, which was too irritating. Then I switched straight to a 530d Sport Touring, which was the best all-round car I've ever owned but it didn't tickle my pickle. Swapped it for that and I'm happy. Refined enough to use daily, but it has an M50 manifold, S50 exhaust, M3 3.15 LSD and Bilstein B12 Sportline kit for when I want to get lairy. Perfect blend.
First thing I would do if that was my E36 is to take the jacking point covers off and check for rot... Hopefully if it's a goodun it will be ok and then spray inside the holes under the covers with some waxoyl and give the inside of the jacking point covers a smear of grease.
Also get the sill covers off and clean all the old mud out of them.
The problem you will find is one E36 won't be enough.. I'm on my 5th now and still have 3 if you include the Z3
Also get the sill covers off and clean all the old mud out of them.
The problem you will find is one E36 won't be enough.. I'm on my 5th now and still have 3 if you include the Z3
Edited by Vince70 on Wednesday 25th January 20:42
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