Yet another rescued E36 328i M Sport project...
Discussion
Incredible that BMW have those Side panels sitting in a warehouse. What was the cost of you don’t mind me asking?
I had my side skirts off a few months ago to check for rot and thankfully they were sound apart from the dreaded front wing bottoms although I am just on with replacing the drivers front outrigger section which has gone through, I think from careless jacking in the past!
I had my side skirts off a few months ago to check for rot and thankfully they were sound apart from the dreaded front wing bottoms although I am just on with replacing the drivers front outrigger section which has gone through, I think from careless jacking in the past!
Leptons said:
Incredible that BMW have those Side panels sitting in a warehouse. What was the cost of you don’t mind me asking?
I had my side skirts off a few months ago to check for rot and thankfully they were sound apart from the dreaded front wing bottoms although I am just on with replacing the drivers front outrigger section which has gone through, I think from careless jacking in the past!
Well, I think that BMW must still manufacture a small number of the side panels and other hard to get parts. You'd have to ask them though. Cost was £440 each, including VAT, but they gave me a 'sympathy' discount and gave me their maximum trade discount of £90. I had my side skirts off a few months ago to check for rot and thankfully they were sound apart from the dreaded front wing bottoms although I am just on with replacing the drivers front outrigger section which has gone through, I think from careless jacking in the past!
RickBristol said:
If you're thinking of checking behind the side skirts on your pride and joy, take a VERY deep breath before doing so.....
This is something I've been meaning to do since spring this year, but, as you say, it's the fear of finding a whole load of rot that is putting me off.Edited by RickBristol on Sunday 24th September 12:05
I did have both front arch liners out this year to change both front fog light holders, and the inner front wings are in great shape, I hope this is a good indicator to the sills being good, I think I'll man up next year once the car come back out from it's winter layup.
Good to see you've wasted no time in confronting the rust properly and not cheaping out on the repair, top work.
Edited by Drew986 on Sunday 24th September 12:30
Drew986 said:
This is something I've been meaning to do since spring this year, but, as you say, it's the fear of finding a whole load of rot that is putting me off.
I did have both front arch liners out this year to change both front fog light holders, and the inner front wings are in great shape, I hope this is a good indicator to the sills being good, I think I'll man up next year once the car come back out from it's winter layup.
Good to see you've wasted no time in confronting the rust properly and not cheapening out on the repair, top work.
Going by what we found - it was the rusted underside jacking points that gave rise to needing to remove the side skirts in the first place - the rust appears to have worked its way along the sills from there. If your jacking points are solid, then there's probably nothing to worry about. However, although the underside of the car - floor pan, chassis, spare wheel well etc are all good on my car, any of these places can be a real problem if rust gets a hold...I did have both front arch liners out this year to change both front fog light holders, and the inner front wings are in great shape, I hope this is a good indicator to the sills being good, I think I'll man up next year once the car come back out from it's winter layup.
Good to see you've wasted no time in confronting the rust properly and not cheapening out on the repair, top work.
Its time for some more updates. Where to start....
OK. Think I'll start with the mechanical issues that had to be resolved.
After getting the car back to Bristol, some two months ago, it was found that the car still wouldn't run properly, and would either completely refuse to start or would only idle at around 2.5k revs.... Infuriating, after all the money that I've sunk into this project AND after having a replacement Alusil engine completely rebuilt.
The starting issue was eventually traced to a faulty starter motor relay at the cost of £4.50 for a replacement. Wow! something that's been done on the car that didn't cost a small fortune.....
Now onto the poor running. The symptoms were identical to those with the old engine - only idled at 2.5k, smoke coming from the exhaust - What! On what is basically a brand new engine!
AND didn't like being revved at all... So, the mechanic stripped the intake system down and found a number of issues.
Now how do expect an engine to run properly if the CCV valve, oil return pipe and return pipe branch on the dip stick are all completely blocked with s
t?
Now who in their right mind would put that stuff back on the car in the condition they were in??????
Anyway, off to the local BMW dealer to buy...
A new CCV - only cost £38 too
Oh, and a new fuel flow pipe for the fuel rail - was broken and leaking fuel - cost another £55. And a new pipe from the carburetor to the inlet manifold - had a large split in it...
Now onto another issue that reared its ugly head. I paid good money for a set of upgraded replacement 24lb/foot fuel injectors. Before fitting them, my mechanic sent them off to get them checked, when it was found that they were completely ste!... So, at a further cost of £120 - and that was mates' rates - had the springs replaced, recalibrated, the spray patterns set correctly and the rubber seals replaced.
Although the engine hasn't been tuned properly yet, or been remapped, it now starts and runs very nicely, without any smoking at all...
Have had the M3 X-brace, that I had shot blasted and powder coated, fitted.
Got the anti roll bar, upgraded e46 330i front brake calipers and carriers back from te powder coaters.
Have had the brake calipers rebuilt with a refurb kit.
Will get new braided brake caliper cables made and fitted for front and back brakes. Have also bought a pair of new grooved and drilled discs and new pads for the front brakes too. Then the front end will be completely sorted. Phew!
And bought a new 3.0 litre M3 clutch slave cylinder, that will also be fitted with a new braided clutch cable.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll do the the sill replacement prep. Stripping out the interior, and external panels....
OK. Think I'll start with the mechanical issues that had to be resolved.
After getting the car back to Bristol, some two months ago, it was found that the car still wouldn't run properly, and would either completely refuse to start or would only idle at around 2.5k revs.... Infuriating, after all the money that I've sunk into this project AND after having a replacement Alusil engine completely rebuilt.
The starting issue was eventually traced to a faulty starter motor relay at the cost of £4.50 for a replacement. Wow! something that's been done on the car that didn't cost a small fortune.....
Now onto the poor running. The symptoms were identical to those with the old engine - only idled at 2.5k, smoke coming from the exhaust - What! On what is basically a brand new engine!
AND didn't like being revved at all... So, the mechanic stripped the intake system down and found a number of issues.Now how do expect an engine to run properly if the CCV valve, oil return pipe and return pipe branch on the dip stick are all completely blocked with s
t?Now who in their right mind would put that stuff back on the car in the condition they were in??????
Anyway, off to the local BMW dealer to buy...
A new CCV - only cost £38 too
Oh, and a new fuel flow pipe for the fuel rail - was broken and leaking fuel - cost another £55. And a new pipe from the carburetor to the inlet manifold - had a large split in it...
Now onto another issue that reared its ugly head. I paid good money for a set of upgraded replacement 24lb/foot fuel injectors. Before fitting them, my mechanic sent them off to get them checked, when it was found that they were completely s
te!... So, at a further cost of £120 - and that was mates' rates - had the springs replaced, recalibrated, the spray patterns set correctly and the rubber seals replaced.Although the engine hasn't been tuned properly yet, or been remapped, it now starts and runs very nicely, without any smoking at all...
Have had the M3 X-brace, that I had shot blasted and powder coated, fitted.
Got the anti roll bar, upgraded e46 330i front brake calipers and carriers back from te powder coaters.
Have had the brake calipers rebuilt with a refurb kit.
Will get new braided brake caliper cables made and fitted for front and back brakes. Have also bought a pair of new grooved and drilled discs and new pads for the front brakes too. Then the front end will be completely sorted. Phew!
And bought a new 3.0 litre M3 clutch slave cylinder, that will also be fitted with a new braided clutch cable.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll do the the sill replacement prep. Stripping out the interior, and external panels....
Edited by RickBristol on Saturday 28th October 18:28
Just collected a small consignment of parts from my local BMW dealership. These are mostly to tidy the car up when it all goes back together. Wouldn't want to let it down with tired/scruffy details...
These include a new scuttle - as the original plastic was looking tired and the rubber seal that abuts the windscreen was split in numerous places. New kick plates for the door sills - as the originals were tired and started to split when I tried to remove them. A new strip that covers the edge of the carpet on the passenger side - as mine was broken. A couple of body trims - as the originals were in poor condition. A new front wing indicator lens and various clips.
These include a new scuttle - as the original plastic was looking tired and the rubber seal that abuts the windscreen was split in numerous places. New kick plates for the door sills - as the originals were tired and started to split when I tried to remove them. A new strip that covers the edge of the carpet on the passenger side - as mine was broken. A couple of body trims - as the originals were in poor condition. A new front wing indicator lens and various clips.
helix402 said:
I hope you get a Christmas card from the parts dept! Sure it’ll all be worth it when it’s finished.
After ordering yet more parts from BMW in Bristol - this time the spring retention clips for the new disc brake pads - I did ask if I was on their Christmas list, which did raise a laugh... 
MitchT said:
I was never a fan of the grey interiors either. On the E36 it seemed to be about 50 shades of grey and all very wishy-washy. Had the light grey leather been set against a black interior it would look a million times better. I always fancied an Estoril Blue E36 M3 but so many of them had the grey interior, which really didn't go well with the blue paintwork (in my opinion), that I never got as far as buying one. I wanted one with a black interior which offered a much more attractive contrast and there simply weren't enough around. I did once see one with the lovely "Individual" champagne leather/black interior combo, which looked spectacular, but it was an SMG.
Oddly enough the earlier models did have mid-grey on black as an option. I won one on ebay once for £50 - and then realised that it was in Norfolk (I live in Devon). Still, I bit the bullet and drove up to collect it - the vendor was so impressed I'd actually made good on my word to come get it, that he threw in a load of other useful bits gratis. They also had the light grey on black as an option, so it baffles me a little why they stopped doing both of those and made half their cars have the mid grey plastic instead, which looks pretty naff by comparison. It's OK when it's super clean but as it ages it just looks foul. Mind you a lot of E46s had even worse (to my eyes) interior combos ...So, here I go again.
I now have to strip out the interior to prepare the car for the major welding work involved in replacing the outer sills.
At least this time it will be me doing it, along with a little help from numerous YouTube "how to's"... Not going to bore you with loads of unnecessary details.
Stripped the seats, centre consoles, glove box, dash - which was a complete bd to do - and steering wheel.
Removed the door cards - happily!
Carpet.
And took the opportunity to install the M3 solid metal door handles.
I am becoming an e36 expert, although would never have considered it when I bought this 'thing'....
I now have to strip out the interior to prepare the car for the major welding work involved in replacing the outer sills.
At least this time it will be me doing it, along with a little help from numerous YouTube "how to's"... Not going to bore you with loads of unnecessary details.
Stripped the seats, centre consoles, glove box, dash - which was a complete b
d to do - and steering wheel.Removed the door cards - happily!
Carpet.
And took the opportunity to install the M3 solid metal door handles.
I am becoming an e36 expert, although would never have considered it when I bought this 'thing'....
And so, a couple of days later, I took the opportunity to get off-site - at work - and spend the day in the garage stripping the external parts...
When I arrived in the morning.
Removed the head lights.
Doors off.
Removed the bonnet.
And the front wings.
Inner bodywork is totally rust free behind the wings.
Now that I have the opportunity to get 'hands-on' with it myself, since it has come back to Bristol, and that it is now in the hands of a mechanic that really cares and shares my passion for sorting it properly, I am feeling a lot better about all the pain and cash that it has cost me so far...
The mechanic then set about removing the outer sills.
The inner sills were found to be, VERY fortunately, rust free.
A good thing that the outer sills were removed. Just take a look at the state of the inner jacking points.
Next will be fitting the new replacement sills and wings.... Wish me luck...
When I arrived in the morning.
Removed the head lights.
Doors off.
Removed the bonnet.
And the front wings.
Inner bodywork is totally rust free behind the wings.
Now that I have the opportunity to get 'hands-on' with it myself, since it has come back to Bristol, and that it is now in the hands of a mechanic that really cares and shares my passion for sorting it properly, I am feeling a lot better about all the pain and cash that it has cost me so far...
The mechanic then set about removing the outer sills.
The inner sills were found to be, VERY fortunately, rust free.
A good thing that the outer sills were removed. Just take a look at the state of the inner jacking points.
Next will be fitting the new replacement sills and wings.... Wish me luck...
Edited by RickBristol on Thursday 2nd November 19:59
Some impressive strip down action in those photos!
What's scary is that when you had the arches sorted and the respray in 2014 the sills looked pretty good.
Mine needs the rear arches done but first the rtab consoles need sorted. Slightly worried it could well be terminal. Depending on the state of the subframe mounts it'll either be the console sections both sides or the whole rear carrier. Not a small job either way.
With your brake upgrade, doing anything for the rears? Might be a bit imbalanced with the 330 kit at the front. When I get round to it I'm looking at the e46 328i carriers and discs for the front, just to fill the wheel out a bit more..
What's scary is that when you had the arches sorted and the respray in 2014 the sills looked pretty good.
Mine needs the rear arches done but first the rtab consoles need sorted. Slightly worried it could well be terminal. Depending on the state of the subframe mounts it'll either be the console sections both sides or the whole rear carrier. Not a small job either way.
With your brake upgrade, doing anything for the rears? Might be a bit imbalanced with the 330 kit at the front. When I get round to it I'm looking at the e46 328i carriers and discs for the front, just to fill the wheel out a bit more..
There's definitely a hint of 'Trigger's Broom' round this 328i!
I can't wait to see the damn thing running, driving and at a local meet.
Although if it was me, after doing all this immense amount of hardcore resto work I'd be loathe to see it used on the road in case it got a stone chip or something!
Your chap did a sterling job on those front seats by the way. I might have to go see him to get the leather on my E38 brought up to scratch. It's in very nice condition but has one or two scuffs that I'd like to see vanquished.
I can't wait to see the damn thing running, driving and at a local meet.
Although if it was me, after doing all this immense amount of hardcore resto work I'd be loathe to see it used on the road in case it got a stone chip or something!
Your chap did a sterling job on those front seats by the way. I might have to go see him to get the leather on my E38 brought up to scratch. It's in very nice condition but has one or two scuffs that I'd like to see vanquished.
nosuchuser said:
.......
Mine needs the rear arches done but first the rtab consoles need sorted. Slightly worried it could well be terminal. Depending on the state of the subframe mounts it'll either be the console sections both sides or the whole rear carrier. Not a small job either way.
It shouldn't be terminal, either way. You might need to buy new rtab consles and you may need to get the bodywork that they fit into, plated/reinforced. But shouldn't be too expensive. I'll be poly bushing my rtabs getting the trailing arms powder coated, when I get to that part.
With your brake upgrade, doing anything for the rears? Might be a bit imbalanced with the 330 kit at the front. When I get round to it I'm looking at the e46 328i carriers and discs for the front, just to fill the wheel out a bit more..
Just about to do the brake system update.... Fronts AND rears
Mine needs the rear arches done but first the rtab consoles need sorted. Slightly worried it could well be terminal. Depending on the state of the subframe mounts it'll either be the console sections both sides or the whole rear carrier. Not a small job either way.
It shouldn't be terminal, either way. You might need to buy new rtab consles and you may need to get the bodywork that they fit into, plated/reinforced. But shouldn't be too expensive. I'll be poly bushing my rtabs getting the trailing arms powder coated, when I get to that part.
With your brake upgrade, doing anything for the rears? Might be a bit imbalanced with the 330 kit at the front. When I get round to it I'm looking at the e46 328i carriers and discs for the front, just to fill the wheel out a bit more..
Just about to do the brake system update.... Fronts AND rears
vsonix said:
There's definitely a hint of 'Trigger's Broom' round this 328i!
Yep! I like the reference/analogy, by the way
I can't wait to see the damn thing running, driving and at a local meet.
Early spring 2018.....
Although if it was me, after doing all this immense amount of hardcore resto work I'd be loathe to see it used on the road in case it got a stone chip or something!
Your chap did a sterling job on those front seats by the way. I might have to go see him to get the leather on my E38 brought up to scratch. It's in very nice condition but has one or two scuffs that I'd like to see vanquished.
I know. I put his contact details in an earlier post. Thanks a lot mate, for sourcing the replacement interior and the front seats. Good effort and much appreciated!
Yep! I like the reference/analogy, by the way
I can't wait to see the damn thing running, driving and at a local meet.
Early spring 2018.....
Although if it was me, after doing all this immense amount of hardcore resto work I'd be loathe to see it used on the road in case it got a stone chip or something!
Your chap did a sterling job on those front seats by the way. I might have to go see him to get the leather on my E38 brought up to scratch. It's in very nice condition but has one or two scuffs that I'd like to see vanquished.
I know. I put his contact details in an earlier post. Thanks a lot mate, for sourcing the replacement interior and the front seats. Good effort and much appreciated!
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