Bought myself an E36 328i

Bought myself an E36 328i

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SidewaysSi

Original Poster:

10,742 posts

233 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Bought my first BMW, an E36 328i Coupe - more of a write up in "Reader's Cars":

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

It's going to be fun!





Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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You bought that just in time.

Please don't "drift" it!

SidewaysSi

Original Poster:

10,742 posts

233 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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No chance of that. It does need a few modifications to sharpen it up but it won't be bastardised! The aim is to keep it looking as is but to convert it to my perfect everyday practical roadcar

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Looks very tidy! Love the colour too.

4rephill

5,040 posts

177 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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I washed and polished My old Montreal blue E36 328i sport shed last weekend and when I had finished I stood back and couldn't help thinking how cool the E36 design really is (even the rust came up looking good! hehe ).

A well looked after E36 is going to be one of the coolest cars on the road in a few years time! (I think the E30 3 series will become like a MK1 Escort and the E36 will be the equivalent of a MK1 Capri when it comes to looking cool later on in life!).

Keep a close eye on those rear wheel arches! - At the first sign of bubbling, get them sorted! - Trust Me! wink

Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
No chance of that. It does need a few modifications to sharpen it up but it won't be bastardised! The aim is to keep it looking as is but to convert it to my perfect everyday practical roadcar
Sounds perfect. Look forward to seeing this take shape smile

These are starting to thin out now.

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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I think that it's just such a well-proportioned shape. Same with the E39 as well. The pinnacle of BMW's design imo.

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Congrats! cool

Good colour too. Let us know how you get on with the mods.

Funk said:
I think that it's just such a well-proportioned shape. Same with the E39 as well. The pinnacle of BMW's design imo.
Agreed, especially in Touring form biggrin [/biased]




I feel bad neglecting mine of late tbh. frown

Leins

9,422 posts

147 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Very nice, that looks lovely - congrats!

As does that Touring G3org3y

SidewaysSi

Original Poster:

10,742 posts

233 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Thanks all-it is in great condition with barely a mark on it. I will be sure to keep it on the same condition as it is-will be fully waxolyed very soon.

It is soggy though-18 year old suspension means it doesn't quite handle as it should. Let's see what I can do...

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
4rephill said:
Keep a close eye on those rear wheel arches! - At the first sign of bubbling, get them sorted! - Trust Me! wink
Mine are starting to go but I'm not spending any money on it that's not linked to keeping it rolling.

It'd be easier and cheaper to just buy another one.

4rephill

5,040 posts

177 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Funk said:
4rephill said:
Keep a close eye on those rear wheel arches! - At the first sign of bubbling, get them sorted! - Trust Me! wink
Mine are starting to go but I'm not spending any money on it that's not linked to keeping it rolling.

It'd be easier and cheaper to just buy another one.
I was of the same opinion with Mine and didn't worry about it too much as it was only supposed to be a daily hack to get Me to work and back, so it has been neglected a fair old bit (the plan was to run it for the bare minimum whilst saving up for an M3/M5 which would be looked after forever and a day).

Now after 8 years the old girl has grown on Me quite a bit, and as the years go by the design looks cooler than ever (at least the 2 door coupe's and convertibles do. To be fair, the Touring's can look pretty good with the right, subtle mods but the 4 door saloons have never struck Me as being as good looking).

Looking at the car last weekend, I fully appreciated how good the design looks now, and could see how cool the design is going to become in the coming years (as I have previously posted, think a modern day equivalent of a MK1 Capri).

Yes you could just ditch the car and replace it easily and cheaply enough at the moment, just as you used to be able to do with MK1 Escorts/Capri's/Cortina's/Granada's etc., but as with those cars, one day that will no longer be the case.

As the years go by they are getting rarer and rarer, and so if you find a good one, it is worth looking after it properly now before the rot gets severe.

The E36 coupe/convertible is a car that I can see becoming sought after in years to come, and the values of unmolested/very subtly modified cars (not the "The Fast and the Pathetic" wannabe's that have been slammed to the ground and had their interiors butchered to fit stupid sized stereo systems in), are going to take off one day. When that day comes, many an ex-E36 owner will look back fondly and wish they had looked after theirs better and still had it.

Trust Me, at the moment people are not seeing the full potential of the E36 coupe/convertible as a future classic, just as people didn't with the Capri and Escort, but it's going to happen, so get a good one now whilst they're still affordable, look after it/restore it properly now and one day you'll own one of the coolest cars on the road that people will want to buy for serious money!

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I had the less sought after saloon - only cost a couple of grand- ran it for 7 years and nearly 100k miles ( starting at 130k )



Went all over Europe in it on hols and it was fun to drive plus pretty economical



Had a 2.93 (then a 3.07) LSD, Z3 rack, Eibach adj ARBS, Xbrace, Bilsteins, RTAB limiters, Z3 rear and M3 front strut reinforcers

Like all the E36/E46 saloons I've had, had the folding rear seats which can be handy for carrying wheels, extra stuff



As 4rephill says, these are (or were ) so cheap for an affordable rwd, DIY-able car - taken over for me from the old Mk2 Escort/Hipo 4 cyl or V6 Sierras
Aircon, heated seats, sunroof, leather...all thrown in for minimal outlay

Good luck with your new car thumbup

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
4rephill said:
Funk said:
4rephill said:
Keep a close eye on those rear wheel arches! - At the first sign of bubbling, get them sorted! - Trust Me! wink
Mine are starting to go but I'm not spending any money on it that's not linked to keeping it rolling.

It'd be easier and cheaper to just buy another one.
I was of the same opinion with Mine and didn't worry about it too much as it was only supposed to be a daily hack to get Me to work and back, so it has been neglected a fair old bit (the plan was to run it for the bare minimum whilst saving up for an M3/M5 which would be looked after forever and a day).

Now after 8 years the old girl has grown on Me quite a bit, and as the years go by the design looks cooler than ever (at least the 2 door coupe's and convertibles do. To be fair, the Touring's can look pretty good with the right, subtle mods but the 4 door saloons have never struck Me as being as good looking).

Looking at the car last weekend, I fully appreciated how good the design looks now, and could see how cool the design is going to become in the coming years (as I have previously posted, think a modern day equivalent of a MK1 Capri).

Yes you could just ditch the car and replace it easily and cheaply enough at the moment, just as you used to be able to do with MK1 Escorts/Capri's/Cortina's/Granada's etc., but as with those cars, one day that will no longer be the case.

As the years go by they are getting rarer and rarer, and so if you find a good one, it is worth looking after it properly now before the rot gets severe.

The E36 coupe/convertible is a car that I can see becoming sought after in years to come, and the values of unmolested/very subtly modified cars (not the "The Fast and the Pathetic" wannabe's that have been slammed to the ground and had their interiors butchered to fit stupid sized stereo systems in), are going to take off one day. When that day comes, many an ex-E36 owner will look back fondly and wish they had looked after theirs better and still had it.

Trust Me, at the moment people are not seeing the full potential of the E36 coupe/convertible as a future classic, just as people didn't with the Capri and Escort, but it's going to happen, so get a good one now whilst they're still affordable, look after it/restore it properly now and one day you'll own one of the coolest cars on the road that people will want to buy for serious money!
Hmmm. It'd be taking a bit of a flyer on spending a lot of money now hoping you might be one of the lucky ones with a desirable one in future... I would think only the mintest of minters will be sought after, and even then probably not for another decade or so yet.

If it were an E36 M3 then I'd completely agree, however.

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
Leins said:
Very nice, that looks lovely - congrats!

As does that Touring G3org3y
Thanks. Alpina reps now swapped for proper Softlines. wink


E36s values may start to rise but unless miles are low, they'll struggle to achieve top prices.

SidewaysSi

Original Poster:

10,742 posts

233 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks all - I am not bothered about future values etc. as often running costs are far more than any appreciation (something most people don't want to factor in).

I am looking to just create my perfect long term everyday road car out of it (maybe 10 years plus) - something sharp, light, agile, feelsome and with a penchant for oversteer...This will not be the fastest car on the block but hopefully just a sweet handling and great fun old BMW that can also carry the family when needed.

I don't want to make it overtly stiff and want to keep it standard looking (so no stripped out interiors etc.) but it sorely needs more focus - my old Integra R was a much more exciting drive and I want to gain some of that spark with this.

I appreciate a near 1400Kg car will never be as fun as a lightweight but let's see what can be done...

Edited by SidewaysSi on Monday 25th May 20:33

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Looks nice. The rear arch rust won't be too expensive to put right if caught early. I've been quoted £140 to have one rear arch done on my E39 where it's started to bubble, better than waiting a couple of years and having a £400 bill!

S26VE P

35 posts

106 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Must have been a weekend for it, 328i convertible purchased yesterday, 61k miles all for a massive £1300. hopefully a bargain. biggrin

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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S26VE P said:
Must have been a weekend for it, 328i convertible purchased yesterday, 61k miles all for a massive £1300. hopefully a bargain. biggrin
Blimey, that is a good price for that mileage!

Pics up please!

SidewaysSi

Original Poster:

10,742 posts

233 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
S26VE P said:
Must have been a weekend for it, 328i convertible purchased yesterday, 61k miles all for a massive £1300. hopefully a bargain. biggrin
That is very cheap, good buy-mine was certainly more than that!