Yet another rescued E36 328i M Sport project...

[RickBristol]

Afternoon peeps.

I have decided to register with Piston Heads as I have been looking through a number of discussions related to some issues I have with the 1997 328 i Sport that I recently bought. It is a solid decent example but, as is to be expected with any sixteen year-old car, has instantly become a long-term project to keep me busy for the next year or two...
Cost: £1,200

I have already done a number of tidy-up jobs, due to the car having been sat in a garage for the last year and a half; engine and gearbox oil and filter changes, new bonnet struts, bonnet catches and the odd light bulb. Apart from that, it started first-time when the battery was reconnected, and drives like a dream...
Cost: £230

However, I've been bitten!!! I am about to replace the rear arches, have sourced a perfect condition boot lid and passenger door and the car goes to my mates body shop next week to have the work done, before a total re-spray. Will, hopefully, have chance to take photos as this work progresses and post some up here.
Cost: £1,400 - Actual cost for this turned out to be more like £1,650, but more on that later...

You need deep pockets if you're gonna take one of these on.

Car info stuff:

Data for vehicle identification number: WBABGXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - masked the VIN code, obviously!...
Model description: 328I
Market: Europa
Type: BG12
E-Code: E36 (2)
Chassis: Coupé
Steering: rechts
Doors: 2
Engine: M52 - 2,80l (142kW)
Drive: Heckantrieb
Transmission: manuell
Body Colour: Arktissilber Metallic (309)
Upholstery: Leder Casual/hellgrau (P7TH)
Production date: 22.07.1997
Assembled in: Regensburg

Code Standard Equipment
S214A Automatic stability control (ASC+T)
S246A Manually adjust. steering column
S285A BMW LA wheel BMW Styling
S410A Window lifts, electric, front
S465A Through-loading system
S510A Headlight aim control
S520A Fog lights
S542A Check Control
S853A Language version English

Code Optional Equipment
S302A Alarm system
S314A Door mirror / driver's lock, heated
P337A M Sports package
S354A Green windscreen, green shade band
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S441A Smoker package
S473A Armrest front
S481A Sports seat
S498A Headrests, rear, mechanically adjustable
S528A AUTOMATIC AIR FLOW CONTROL
S534A Automatic air conditioning
S554A On-board computer V with remote control
S687A Radio preparation
S704A M Sports suspension
S710A M leather steering wheel
S767A Performance Package
S785A White direction indicator lights
S786A Action pack for 17" wheels
L812A NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A Additional Export tank filling
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English
S962A Deleted, licence plate support front

And finally, a pic:



I'll stop waffling now...

Edited by RickBristol on Friday 12th August 22:07

Edited by RickBristol on Wednesday 26th April 21:08

[RickBristol]

Smanks, Looked at your example - looks lovely - Arctic Silver boys rule!

Mine is going to the body shop next week, however, my rear spoiler is a bit loose and wobbly, and has been bodged-up by some previous owner. As I have managed to source a perfect/rust-free replacement boot - from an E36 318 is with no 'wing' - for my restoration, after seeing the pics of yours, not sure if I want to leave the spoiler off of my car........

Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 2nd September 06:50

[RickBristol]

OK, time for an update...

I have managed to get the insurance part of it sorted - through a company called ACH - that have dealt with the damage to my passenger door after someone hit the car and then tried to deny responsibility...

Anyway, here goes a load of pics from day one of the strip-down:









Sorry, but I think that it looks much sexier when it's been stripped....

If only we could drive our cars around the street like this... Naked baby!!!

Can you imagine being able to legally drive this around?...

Edited by RickBristol on Wednesday 27th August 22:53

[RickBristol]

New Boots and panties!

Have managed to pick-up this replacement boot, as mine was full of rust - take a close look as I thought I wouldn't be able to find one rust-free and in this good condition...










Cost: £60

Edited by RickBristol on Friday 10th October 20:16

[RickBristol]

And I managed to pick-up this replacement rear spoiler from a guy in Leeds... From his E36 M3 that he has since 'tracked'... Thanks' Damian.













As this is a genuine BMW 'Rainbow' spoiler, I happily paid a hundred quid for it too, bargain!

Cost £120 - including postage

Edited by RickBristol on Friday 10th October 22:24

[RickBristol]

Boy am I sad!

This car is now gonna stand me in at around four and-a-half grand, and I have already decided to go for a second-hand 325i M50 inlet manifold, conversion kit, ECU remap and a cold air induction kit next month...

Probably another £650 - £700!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody STOP ME!

[RickBristol]

Anyway... When the panel beater gets back from Reading festival, he's gonna cut-out the rear arches... Hope he is in a fit state to weld them the right way up!

Pics here shortly

[RickBristol]

Day 2 at the body shop - they have actually had the car for nearly a week to get this far...





Wondered why they fibre glass the arches after welding metal replacement arches to the car...



Its apparently to make a much better repair...

BTW: I also noticed that the shock is knackered... More money!!!...

Edited by RickBristol on Sunday 31st August 09:42

[RickBristol]

Onto day 3...

This is all about finding any irregularities in the bodywork and repairing them...















I think this project is - maybe - a bit different. It's not all about performance or 'bling'. Its about rescuing a decent Beemer that may even be worth a lot of money in a few years... There won't be many originals left.

How many other projects have you seen that start with the basic fabric - the bodywork?

[RickBristol]

Day 4...

this is where the repairs are sanded-back ready for priming

[RickBristol]

Well guys, I had agonised over whether or not to re-fit the spoiler - before I managed to find the replacement. However, I have decided to put it back on the car as it is what was originally fitted.

[RickBristol]

Here are the pictures from day 5 at the body shop.

The car has now had the repair areas primed...





The job on the rear arches is really good. They are going to stone-chip around all the arches, wax-oil them and re-paint the insides as well...









The boot lip repair...



The front wings...





And finally, they have even stripped the rubber seals from the tops of the doors...

Edited by RickBristol on Monday 1st September 19:02

Edited by RickBristol on Monday 1st September 19:04

Edited by RickBristol on Monday 1st September 19:08

Edited by RickBristol on Monday 1st September 20:09

[RickBristol]

The wheels are also going to be re-furbed - outer edges polished and the centres re-painted - will put the pics up when they are done...

[RickBristol]

vsonix said:

No point in having a 328i without it... but, shouldn't cost more than £400 for that, supplied and fitted.

Well...

£100 for the M50 325i inlet manifold.
£70 for the conversion kit.
£300 for fitting - around 3 and a half hours labour.
£200 - £300 for the remap.
£160 for the cold air induction kit.

That is, realistically - £830 to £930...

Sorry dude, but you are way-out / very hopeful!

Just managed to get hold of a manifold, and will get all of the above done towards the end of the month, when I will have the cash!!!

Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 2nd September 19:41

[RickBristol]

Now on to day 6...

It has finally gone into the spray booth.

This is the view from the back...







Look at those F%£"*^+ ARCHES!!!

The guys really have done a cracking job on my car - apparently they have spent almost twice as much time as they would have on most customers' cars - even though they always do a top-class job... Bentley Continental GT, Audi R8 and an Aston DB9 - all of which have been through their doors while my car has been with them. Enough said!!!

Now for the front.







Does anyone remember the quite large 'ding' above the indicator on the front of the driver's side wing? - If not, look back at the project pictures, and take another look at the picture below - lush job!



They have also removed the front arch-liners and cleaned-out the inner arches - which aren't in bad nick...





Got to take another look at the work on one of the rear arches... All the trim has also been checked, to make sure that it will re-fit perfectly after final painting...

[RickBristol]

The wheels are also going to be done as part of this 'phase' of the project.

Here they are before their restoration...

[RickBristol]

Why aren't there any PistonHeads moderators/admin guys following/commenting on this project??? 'Hello', anybody there?

[RickBristol]

Escy said:

I'm no bodywork expert but I can't help thinking the body shop is amateur hour. Painting up to a masked like is a no no isn't it? The way they put the body filler on looks like it's done by a kid on work experience. Looks like it's applied with a shot gun.

"I'm no bodywork expert" Enough said!

Escy said:

I hope the car comes out well. With how much you've spent on it, wouldn't you have rather gone for an M3?

This car goes into storage in the New Year... Will be worth a lot of money in a few years time.

Then I want to move onto an E36 M3 Evolution - If I could afford the odd £10,000 to £20,000, an E36 Imola Individual GT2...

Edited by RickBristol on Tuesday 2nd September 20:41

[RickBristol]

Wh00sher said:

You really think so ? I can`t really see why at all. M3`s seem to be desirable, but this is just a 328i

I don't want to get into a discussion about money spent vs what its worth... As I clearly said at the beginning of this thread: "its about rescuing a decent Beemer" and "there won't be many of them left in the years to come".

This car WILL be worth more than I have spent on it! Just that, if I finish renovating it, I then have to decide whether I put it to one side - just getting it out on weekends - to avoid running the risk of some idiot 'pulling-out on me' at some side road, and T-boning it, as I drive it to work...

[RickBristol]

vsonix said:

If you don't mind a trip up to Norfolk, I can point you in the direction of some people who will supply and
fit manifold and do you a very good ECU map for somewhere in the region of £400. I know my E36s mate, I run 3x 328i at the moment. PM me and I'll pass on the details. Can vouch for the quality of the remap. You can get a K&N 57i with heat shield for about 130 if you buy at the right time (they are frequently on sale at ECP)

How do I PM you? Let me know, and I will look into your suggestion further...