Discussion
On a return A-road Welsh trip the weekend I was very surprised by the performance of this little compact 3 series
The handling seemed well sorted in the twisties and and it was no slouch
I was chatting with a motorsport mate and he was saying they are popular with for tracking as they're lightweight and the M3 engine fits easily
I was looking at specs and they are listed as 'only' 170bhp, so what are they like to drive??
Looking for real world feedback
Cheers
The handling seemed well sorted in the twisties and and it was no slouch
I was chatting with a motorsport mate and he was saying they are popular with for tracking as they're lightweight and the M3 engine fits easily
I was looking at specs and they are listed as 'only' 170bhp, so what are they like to drive??
Looking for real world feedback
Cheers
Pretty rare car in this country in factory spec. A lot of people have converted E36 Compacts with 328 or M3 lumps though.
There was a twin test in a mag some 12 years back and IIRC the verdict was along the lines of, nice car but outclassed dynamically by the later E46 6-cyl car.
Anything is open to be modified though
There was a twin test in a mag some 12 years back and IIRC the verdict was along the lines of, nice car but outclassed dynamically by the later E46 6-cyl car.
Anything is open to be modified though
Never seen a 6-cylinder E36 Compact in the UK. The only one that was sold here was the E46 Compact 325ti??
I seem to recall the rear suspension of the E36 compact was compromised compared to the saloon and that the E46 compact had a better set-up?
If so, you might be better using an E46 325ti compact as a starting point. It already has 192hp as well.
I seem to recall the rear suspension of the E36 compact was compromised compared to the saloon and that the E46 compact had a better set-up?
If so, you might be better using an E46 325ti compact as a starting point. It already has 192hp as well.
Well I bought one last year, as a cheap third car to just throw a LSD at and go drifting.
It did not take long before it made my "real" car, a Clio 200 RS Cup, completely redundant.
Obviously I spent quite some money on the brakes, springs/dampers, wheels and tyres and of course that diff etc. before it turned in similar laptimes at Zandvoort as the Clio, but i do prefer the fact it is RWD, does drifts and has a terrific sounding and super-smooth engine where the Renault merely has a powerplant. And much like the Clio it only weighs 1230kg.
The engine on a 323 has a 2.0 intake manifold for torque but which limits power to 170hp.
It is NOT the old 12v engine from the E30 325, but the lighter aluminium M52.
And with some small modifications the E36 325 intake manifold can be installed on the 323, letting the engine breathe much more freely above 5000rpm and liberating a cheap and easy extra 20bhp. It's called the M50 mod.
Anyway, since it wasn't sold in the UK you might try this for a track-tool: get a 318ti and pop in an E36 M3 engine.
It is apparently a very straightforward swap. Then sort out the handling with some Bilsteins or KW's, fit some decent brake-pads and an E30 lsd and you have a pretty decent and quick car for little money.
The E36 328 engine will fit easily too if an M3 engine is too expensive. With the M50 mod that will put out about 220bhp.
It did not take long before it made my "real" car, a Clio 200 RS Cup, completely redundant.
Obviously I spent quite some money on the brakes, springs/dampers, wheels and tyres and of course that diff etc. before it turned in similar laptimes at Zandvoort as the Clio, but i do prefer the fact it is RWD, does drifts and has a terrific sounding and super-smooth engine where the Renault merely has a powerplant. And much like the Clio it only weighs 1230kg.
The engine on a 323 has a 2.0 intake manifold for torque but which limits power to 170hp.
It is NOT the old 12v engine from the E30 325, but the lighter aluminium M52.
And with some small modifications the E36 325 intake manifold can be installed on the 323, letting the engine breathe much more freely above 5000rpm and liberating a cheap and easy extra 20bhp. It's called the M50 mod.
Anyway, since it wasn't sold in the UK you might try this for a track-tool: get a 318ti and pop in an E36 M3 engine.
It is apparently a very straightforward swap. Then sort out the handling with some Bilsteins or KW's, fit some decent brake-pads and an E30 lsd and you have a pretty decent and quick car for little money.
The E36 328 engine will fit easily too if an M3 engine is too expensive. With the M50 mod that will put out about 220bhp.
Edited by 323ti on Tuesday 1st July 10:25
BGarside said:
I seem to recall the rear suspension of the E36 compact was compromised compared to the saloon and that the E46 compact had a better set-up?
If so, you might be better using an E46 325ti compact as a starting point. It already has 192hp as well.
A great car IMO with a much nicer interior and ride than the E36, but as a pointy fun or indeed a track-car the E36 is much better I reckon, more raw but more importantly; 150 kgs lighter!If so, you might be better using an E46 325ti compact as a starting point. It already has 192hp as well.
Indeed, the E36 compact retained the rear trailing arms from the E30 iso the more advanced multi-link rear suspension on the E36 sedan and coupe or all E46's. Trailing arms don't take up as much bootspace as the multilink, and the compact obviously didn't have much room in the boot in the first place.
"Problem" with trailing arms is the shifting wheel-geometry as the rear damper is compressed (especially while cornering), where a multilink is better at maintaining the geometry and the tyre's contact-patch with the road.
IRL this means the multilink has safer handling, i.e. more understeer. I bought my compact initially to go drifting however, so the more oversteery trailing arms suit me fine, although I find that with some semi-slick tyres on a dry trackday the amount of rear grip the car builds is almost too much. Must get less sticky tyres...
323ti said:
Well I bought one last year, as a cheap third car to just throw a LSD at and go drifting.
It did not take long before it made my "real" car, a Clio 200 RS Cup, completely redundant.
Obviously I spent quite some money on the brakes, springs/dampers, wheels and tyres and of course that diff etc. before it turned in similar laptimes at Zandvoort as the Clio, but i do prefer the fact it is RWD, does drifts and has a terrific sounding and super-smooth engine where the Renault merely has a powerplant. And much like the Clio it only weighs 1230kg.
The engine on a 323 has a 2.0 intake manifold for torque but which limits power to 170hp.
It is NOT the old 12v engine from the E30 325, but the lighter aluminium M52.
And with some small modifications the E36 325 intake manifold can be installed on the 323, letting the engine breathe much more freely above 5000rpm and liberating a cheap and easy extra 20bhp. It's called the M50 mod.
Anyway, since it wasn't sold in the UK you might try this for a track-tool: get a 318ti and pop in an E36 M3 engine.
It is apparently a very straightforward swap. Then sort out the handling with some Bilsteins or KW's, fit some decent brake-pads and an E30 lsd and you have a pretty decent and quick car for little money.
The E36 328 engine will fit easily too if an M3 engine is too expensive. With the M50 mod that will put out about 220bhp.
Sorry for OT but don't some people put the 325 intake on the 328 engine too? Or am I making that up? It did not take long before it made my "real" car, a Clio 200 RS Cup, completely redundant.
Obviously I spent quite some money on the brakes, springs/dampers, wheels and tyres and of course that diff etc. before it turned in similar laptimes at Zandvoort as the Clio, but i do prefer the fact it is RWD, does drifts and has a terrific sounding and super-smooth engine where the Renault merely has a powerplant. And much like the Clio it only weighs 1230kg.
The engine on a 323 has a 2.0 intake manifold for torque but which limits power to 170hp.
It is NOT the old 12v engine from the E30 325, but the lighter aluminium M52.
And with some small modifications the E36 325 intake manifold can be installed on the 323, letting the engine breathe much more freely above 5000rpm and liberating a cheap and easy extra 20bhp. It's called the M50 mod.
Anyway, since it wasn't sold in the UK you might try this for a track-tool: get a 318ti and pop in an E36 M3 engine.
It is apparently a very straightforward swap. Then sort out the handling with some Bilsteins or KW's, fit some decent brake-pads and an E30 lsd and you have a pretty decent and quick car for little money.
The E36 328 engine will fit easily too if an M3 engine is too expensive. With the M50 mod that will put out about 220bhp.
Edited by 323ti on Tuesday 1st July 10:25
I've had 2, great little cars. LHD only. Fitting a 6 in 318 is certainly possible but bear in mind there is more than just the engine difference, the 323 has a bigger (medium) diff, rear discs, battery relocated to a well in the boot & some other stuff. I think maybe something about the gear linkage (?). Plenty of conversions out there so very do-able but check out the issues first.
I bought it because I wanted a hatch for practical reasons as a daily knock-about car but also wanted RWD and a bit more poke than typical vanilla 4's
That means I can also use it as a wet weather drift trainer. Mine is still stock so pretty soft and wobbly on the worn out shocks (250k km).
Before I bought it I had plans to put an M3 lump in it. Since owning it I'm not that bothered any more, its entertaining enough as is although if I was dry tracking it with other mods like the poster above I'd probably put a 328 lump in as its lighter (ally) and much cheaper than an M3 motor.
I have a diff I'll stick in it at some point, you can manage without it though.
Skidtastic
http://youtu.be/jkwhy5ZEm40
http://youtu.be/f0elPbo8H1I
323ti said:
I bought my compact initially to go drifting however, so the more oversteery trailing arms suit me fine,
My thoughts exactly. So the back end is a bit less stable than other E36? Good! :-)Have you been to Papenburg with Driftdagen? I think maybe I saw you there last year?
Since no 6-cylinder E36 compact was sold in the UK and converting one would be a major hassle, just buy this one!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
BGarside said:
Since no 6-cylinder E36 compact was sold in the UK and converting one would be a major hassle, just buy this one!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Nice... why are you selling http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Iirc the E36 323ti was not sold in the UK. As to whether it is LHD only I'm not sure.
As mentioned above, has the same (M52) 2.5 litre alloy block M52 as the rest of the E36 range. 170bhp standard but as per the M52 2.8 it is amenable to modification in the form of the M50 inlet manifold and BBTB.
E30 rear suspension the E36 Compacts.
As mentioned above, has the same (M52) 2.5 litre alloy block M52 as the rest of the E36 range. 170bhp standard but as per the M52 2.8 it is amenable to modification in the form of the M50 inlet manifold and BBTB.
E30 rear suspension the E36 Compacts.
SM - I remember that article, thought I had a scan of it on my pc but can't find it right now.
The best of the factory mod E36 Compacts must be the AC Schnitzers 3.0l
http://testdrivejunkie.com/1997-bmw-318ti-ac-schni...
and 3.2
http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-cars/products-mo...
The best of the factory mod E36 Compacts must be the AC Schnitzers 3.0l
http://testdrivejunkie.com/1997-bmw-318ti-ac-schni...
and 3.2
http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-cars/products-mo...
aka_kerrly said:
SM - I remember that article, thought I had a scan of it on my pc but can't find it right now.
The best of the factory mod E36 Compacts must be the AC Schnitzers 3.0l
http://testdrivejunkie.com/1997-bmw-318ti-ac-schni...
and 3.2
http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-cars/products-mo...
There's been lots of crazy modded ones with V12s and V8s in, not to mention the factory M3 CompactThe best of the factory mod E36 Compacts must be the AC Schnitzers 3.0l
http://testdrivejunkie.com/1997-bmw-318ti-ac-schni...
and 3.2
http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-cars/products-mo...
Amazing the prices of even the tuner 318ti ones
M52 328i E36 is a nice conversion - there's a guy by me who has done a few - thing is you can buy BMs E46 effort for around £1000 upwards now anyway
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