1996 BMW E36 328i Coupe - we have history...

[Scoobydrew95]

Glad after all that you had a fairly successful track day. Peculiar about the overheating. Wonder if like you say, it is an absence of the plastics you removed. Are you still using the factory intake system?

Something to help with all the squeaks and rattles i've found is felt tape. Was an absolute god send in my car. When i first got it, so much was making annoying sounds. Now it's nearly silent. Bar the passenger seat moving about which i can't seem to do much about. However i think skuttle shake is part and parcel of older convertibles.

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

Scoobydrew95 said:

Glad after all that you had a fairly successful track day. Peculiar about the overheating. Wonder if like you say, it is an absence of the plastics you removed. Are you still using the factory intake system?

Something to help with all the squeaks and rattles i've found is felt tape. Was an absolute god send in my car. When i first got it, so much was making annoying sounds. Now it's nearly silent. Bar the passenger seat moving about which i can't seem to do much about. However i think skuttle shake is part and parcel of older convertibles.

It’s a BDS cold air intake, which sits down low behind the bumper, where the horns used to be.

Scuttle shake is definitely a thing with young Derek. Interestingly though, driving with the roof down today there was an absence of squeaks. Maybe it’s the roof. I then did some driving with the roof up and windows down, which precipitated what felt like a blizzard inside the car as the rotten disintegrating membrane that sits between headliner and roof canvas made its way piecemeal into the cabin, swirling around m head and into my eyes.

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

I’ve been considering this for a little while, and made a bit of an impulsive decision today whilst browsing Facebook marketplace. True to form, I got it cheap… because it’s buggered.

Smashed at one end, but I reckon I’m up to the job of making it slightly less crap. I started this evening with some filler and aluminium mesh that I had in the garage. I’ll iteratively stick it back together, then sand, prime, and paint, and it’ll look like it was always part of the car, if you look at it from the other end of the pit lane. With your eyes closed.

[Scoobydrew95]

buy_cheap_pay_later said:

It’s a BDS cold air intake, which sits down low behind the bumper, where the horns used to be.

Scuttle shake is definitely a thing with young Derek. Interestingly though, driving with the roof down today there was an absence of squeaks. Maybe it’s the roof. I then did some driving with the roof up and windows down, which precipitated what felt like a blizzard inside the car as the rotten disintegrating membrane that sits between headliner and roof canvas made its way piecemeal into the cabin, swirling around m head and into my eyes.

Ahh that should be fine then. I know if people slap a cone filter on them they can be a bit funny. On my M44 i did the fog mod which was about removing restrictions in the factory air box. And adding an additional feed. Worked well.

That sounds awful.

Good choice on the bumper - I was going to say the SE bumper is about as ugly as BMW gets. Then i remembered the IX and also the GT 6 series.

[B'stard Child]

buy_cheap_pay_later said:

I’ve been considering this for a little while, and made a bit of an impulsive decision today whilst browsing Facebook marketplace. True to form, I got it cheap… because it’s buggered.

Smashed at one end, but I reckon I’m up to the job of making it slightly less crap. I started this evening with some filler and aluminium mesh that I had in the garage. I’ll iteratively stick it back together, then sand, prime, and paint, and it’ll look like it was always part of the car, if you look at it from the other end of the pit lane. With your eyes closed.

Those cheap ebay hot metal stitches would gave done a much better job if it was splits you were trying to fix - rather than wob and mesh (lighter too - because race car)

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

B'stard Child said:

Those cheap ebay hot metal stitches would gave done a much better job if it was splits you were trying to fix - rather than wob and mesh (lighter too - because race car)

You’re absolutely right, of course, but my principle was to try and use what I’ve already got. If I go buying additional bits of kit to repair it then I get into the financial realms of ‘should have just bought an un-buggered one in the first place’.

So I shall improvise with whatever materials I have lying around, to the point at which it all just falls apart again and I go and buy a hot staple thingy.

[B'stard Child]

buy_cheap_pay_later said:

B'stard Child said:

Those cheap ebay hot metal stitches would gave done a much better job if it was splits you were trying to fix - rather than wob and mesh (lighter too - because race car)

You’re absolutely right, of course, but my principle was to try and use what I’ve already got. If I go buying additional bits of kit to repair it then I get into the financial realms of ‘should have just bought an un-buggered one in the first place’.

So I shall improvise with whatever materials I have lying around, to the point at which it all just falls apart again and I go and buy a hot staple thingy.

I appreciate the ethos Those metal stitch things are buttons you'll need one sooner than you think - put it on the christmas list

PS I am expecting an application from you for Sprint "track time" at Retro Rides Gathering in August (the sprint format is a little different to a normal track day) as I think you are local ish to the circuit?

I've got fond memories of doing my first sprint there in 2007 at the first retro rides event but I won't we out the picture again

[Court_S]

That’s a ball ache re the wheel bearing, at least you were able to cabbage one from the other car.

Our old 125i had a few rattles and clonks with they roof up, better with the roof down though. I think I quite like the colour of the wheels on yours. The roof repair doesn’t look too bad: is it watertight?

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

B'stard Child said:

I appreciate the ethos Those metal stitch things are buttons you'll need one sooner than you think - put it on the christmas list

PS I am expecting an application from you for Sprint "track time" at Retro Rides Gathering in August (the sprint format is a little different to a normal track day) as I think you are local ish to the circuit?

I've got fond memories of doing my first sprint there in 2007 at the first retro rides event but I won't we out the picture again

I’m not as local as I used to be, but still not all that far away. Looks like a good gig, and it’s on a weekend I don’t have the kids (if my adding up works that far into the future). I’ll see about getting myself there.

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

Court_S said:

That’s a ball ache re the wheel bearing, at least you were able to cabbage one from the other car.

Our old 125i had a few rattles and clonks with they roof up, better with the roof down though. I think I quite like the colour of the wheels on yours. The roof repair doesn’t look too bad: is it watertight?

I’ve figured out that the squeak is just the passenger window against the seal. If I roll it down a fraction the car goes to silent(ish) running. I might be able to lubricate the seal or something.

Roof repair is doing ok. The only test it’s had is when I rinsed off the cleaning product with the hose. It kept that out, so hopefully will stand up to any sterner test it might face in the future.

The wheels are growing on me, I must admit. I quite like that they’re a bit different, and the colour does kind of go with the steel blue.

Gratuitous picture, because too many words:

[JeremyH5]

Hi, thanks again for passenger rides at Donington, enjoyed it immensely!

The drop top does look good.

For the squeaky window I believe gummy pflege is the best thing, do not use Vaseline as it attacks the rubber over time.
https://www.detailersdomain.com/products/nextzett-...

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

JeremyH5 said:

Hi, thanks again for passenger rides at Donington, enjoyed it immensely!

The drop top does look good.

For the squeaky window I believe gummy pflege is the best thing, do not use Vaseline as it attacks the rubber over time.
https://www.detailersdomain.com/products/nextzett-...

No problem at all, it was a pleasure. Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll check it out.

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

Possibly the shoddiest repair and paint job ever seen, but that just means it matches the rest of the car pretty well!









Of course, today is the day I learned that the trim pieces on sport and non-sport bumpers are different, so that’s as far as I can go with it at the moment. It’s the centre trim piece that the number plate screws to.

After swapping the wheel bearings back over the other day, I’ve now built the brake assembly back up, using anti-squeal shims and brake grease. These things are designed to prevent squeal rather than rattle, but it’s got to be worth a try for a few quid.



I do wonder if that gap at the top between the pads and the caliper carrier is my problem. I’ll do the other side and then go for a drive (with the number plate in the windscreen for now I guess!) and see if it’s made any difference.

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

Sad face.

Three of the jacking points look pretty suspect too. It’s probably time to get them sorted out before the rot really sets in.

[JeremyH5]

Ouch! Yes our 323i of the same age is showing signs of similar on rears of both sills, offside worse.

When I, finally , get my E38 back from similar repairs it will be booked in.

[Court_S]

That’s a bummer re the rust, but given the age of the E36 and their propensity to rust yours doesn’t seem too bad.

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

Court_S said:

That’s a bummer re the rust, but given the age of the E36 and their propensity to rust yours doesn’t seem too bad.

No, I don’t think it’s too bad. I’ve got a mobile welder coming to have a look next week though, and then we’ll see how bad it is!

[B'stard Child]

buy_cheap_pay_later said:

Court_S said:

That’s a bummer re the rust, but given the age of the E36 and their propensity to rust yours doesn’t seem too bad.

No, I don’t think it’s too bad. I’ve got a mobile welder coming to have a look next week though, and then we’ll see how bad it is!

You've been pretty handy at most stuff - buy a welder and DIY

[buy_cheap_pay_later]

B'stard Child said:

You've been pretty handy at most stuff - buy a welder and DIY

I love the vote of confidence, and I quite fancy giving it a go. Can’t help thinking I’d just make a big old mess of it though!

[B'stard Child]

buy_cheap_pay_later said:

B'stard Child said:

You've been pretty handy at most stuff - buy a welder and DIY

I love the vote of confidence, and I quite fancy giving it a go. Can’t help thinking I’d just make a big old mess of it though!

Go to a scrap yard and get some old panels - practice on them - cutting sections out and welding them back in initially and then go for cutting sections out and making sections to fit back in

With a little practice you'll do a much better job than "MOT std pass" patches.