BMW E36 328i Sport Coupe
Discussion
ChrisDT said:
Love the fact you knowingly paid too much for it, but I can see mine being a money pit soon!
Ordered the gaskets for the inlet and exhaust manifolds yesterday for delivery today - chased them up and they are not in yet so won't be putting it together this weekend.
Make sure you get a 7mm stud extractor! Just fitted a set of exhaust manifolds today and I was amazed at how much easier my new toy made proceedings. Ordered the gaskets for the inlet and exhaust manifolds yesterday for delivery today - chased them up and they are not in yet so won't be putting it together this weekend.
wind the studs in the perfect length, then slap them on... new nuts are £5.95 for 12 off eBay, you'll need 24... 
Also, that interior is EPIC.
love it!Luckily the manifolds are already off the old engine and on my workbench so all I ahve to do is find the correct bolts from the box of assorted nuts and bolts left over from the engine dismantle (not done by me but the garage that did the work) and put it together. Gaskets turned up today and grabbing an engine lift on the way home!
It' a pretty boring update but I had a go at the bootlid and rear 1/4 with a clay bar.
It' a pretty boring update but I had a go at the bootlid and rear 1/4 with a clay bar.
Not much of an update sadly, started tearing down the front end but my toes and fingers started to freeze yesterday so this is about as far as I got. Aim to have it all stripped down for Sunday and would be amazing to get the engine out and new one in Sunday but thats not going to happen!
ChrisDT said:
Stunning looking car, thanks very much!
Don't get me wrong it's never going to be concorse but if it's smart and presentable and reliable i'll be a happy bunny. Just got to find an original head unit to go in it to work with the Harmon Kardon audio as it currently doesn't have a head unit but let's be honest, i need to get the engine in it first!
Go for it if u want OEM - but otherwise an Alpine head unit with a reasonable level of built in amplification drives the e36 Harmon Kardon really really well. Can also hook up Bluetooth connection etc.Don't get me wrong it's never going to be concorse but if it's smart and presentable and reliable i'll be a happy bunny. Just got to find an original head unit to go in it to work with the Harmon Kardon audio as it currently doesn't have a head unit but let's be honest, i need to get the engine in it first!
To the comments above I had an e36 M3 after owning this 328 Sport and whilst it was quicker and more visceral it was also much more expensive to run - a total money pit tbh even though I bought one that had a lot of money spent at BMW. I was just happy to get out of it whereas I always thought the 328 was special. Maybe if you are in a position to do all the work yourself it's different.
I think this car has the best e36 interior I've seen.
Edited by five50 on Friday 10th February 22:51
If your not worried about originality with the stereo but want something that isn't to blingy but need all the mod cons that looks right for the car then I would go for a blaupunkt.
I've a couple in my BMWs and the hands free and Bluetooth work brilliant plus the Barcelona is iPod compatible and sound quality is good.
These units don't have the depth at the back either when fitting so are easier to install it might not effect the coupe but on the compact every mm counts as the amount I've seen with the stereo sticking half out the dash.
The best place for buying them is eBay Germany and can be had for around £60 a pop.
Obviously don't fit it upside down lol.
I've a couple in my BMWs and the hands free and Bluetooth work brilliant plus the Barcelona is iPod compatible and sound quality is good.
These units don't have the depth at the back either when fitting so are easier to install it might not effect the coupe but on the compact every mm counts as the amount I've seen with the stereo sticking half out the dash.
The best place for buying them is eBay Germany and can be had for around £60 a pop.
Obviously don't fit it upside down lol.
Edited by Vince70 on Saturday 11th February 07:07
Didn't get a lot done yesterday as it was so cold and sleeting a little but managed to get the front end off - No idea if it will go back together properly or not yet and the intake manifold off to start building the new engine in the garage to put back in it.
It has created room for me to get in the and degrease most of it before the new engine goes in though.
So, standard E36 engine swap pic alert!
It has created room for me to get in the and degrease most of it before the new engine goes in though.
So, standard E36 engine swap pic alert!
With regards to the stereo head unit, this is going into mine.
Hard to find, but nearly period correct and a great sound, especially when powered by an Alpine V12 amp.
The looks really fit in with the E36 interior and has orange lighting that can be turned off completely at night. You sacrifice the mod cons or any connectivity, but it does any classic BMW justice
Hard to find, but nearly period correct and a great sound, especially when powered by an Alpine V12 amp.
The looks really fit in with the E36 interior and has orange lighting that can be turned off completely at night. You sacrifice the mod cons or any connectivity, but it does any classic BMW justice
My 323 cab has a CD43 which is actually a really nice stereo - obviously they look totally factory. They fitted them to Rover 75s as well and you can pick them up cheaper if you don't mind a Rover longship in your car! (or just use a magic marker on them!)
I have plumbed a Parrot BT handsfree into mine so it looks stock but also has bluetooth / USB / iPod etc.
It was a nightmare getting it all behind the dash though, pretty tight in there!
I have plumbed a Parrot BT handsfree into mine so it looks stock but also has bluetooth / USB / iPod etc.
It was a nightmare getting it all behind the dash though, pretty tight in there!
Lots of excellent stuff in this thread.
I love these cars. Never owned a 328i but used to have an M3 Evo and have often looked at the '28 with a view to buy, albeit haven't looked for a long time. You've got me looking again now though!
The E36 just coupe gets prettier as time goes by. Ambers, Style 5s & spoiler-less = perfection.
I love these cars. Never owned a 328i but used to have an M3 Evo and have often looked at the '28 with a view to buy, albeit haven't looked for a long time. You've got me looking again now though!
The E36 just coupe gets prettier as time goes by. Ambers, Style 5s & spoiler-less = perfection.
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