BMW E36 318IS
Author
Discussion

BDR529

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Sunday 22nd May 2011
quotequote all
Had this for just over a week now. smile




(Yes the badge is coming off!!)





Pretty happy with it so far, it's quite nippy compared to what I'm used to.
It has the bigger 1.9 M44 16v engine which I've found pretty fun hehe along with the M sport suspension.

As with any used car, it has had a couple of foibles, firstly the battery turned out to be knackered, so I've taken the one out the E30 and plonked it in, and it works fine. Secondly is a steering wheel vibration at 50-55mph which I still haven't got the bottom of!

It needs the rear arches de-rustified, and the M badge on the boot needs to come off, once those are done it will be looking how I want it. biggrin


Maybe with some cheeky 17" rims on it...

R12HCO

826 posts

187 months

Sunday 22nd May 2011
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Miss my old one, would of been a 'cheap' run around if i still had it now days.

Only think i found them to feel really flat, and you had to really rev them to get them to go which made them feel quiet slow. Yet agaisnt other cars which you think would be considerable quicker they were stick with them.

wackojacko

8,581 posts

218 months

Sunday 22nd May 2011
quotequote all
Nice example.


I welded the diff on my mates 318 and that is sensational fun ! crap skinny tyres on the rear and you don't even need it to be wet to have a giggle........shame my efforts to teach him to slide it and hold are not working so far .... I'm positive he has less car control than my Grandmother...

chriscoates

817 posts

188 months

Sunday 22nd May 2011
quotequote all
BDR529 said:
Secondly is a steering wheel vibration at 50-55mph which I still haven't got the bottom of!
IIRC that could be knackered suspension bushes.





Jw Vw

4,916 posts

191 months

Sunday 22nd May 2011
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Nice motor OP smile

BDR529

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Monday 23rd May 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the comments guys biggrin

chriscoates said:
IIRC that could be knackered suspension bushes.

It could be, I've ended up with a list of these also:
Thrust arm bushes
Track control joints
Wheel bearings

the fun never ends hehe

Egg Chaser

4,954 posts

195 months

Monday 23rd May 2011
quotequote all
BDR529 said:
Secondly is a steering wheel vibration at 50-55mph which I still haven't got the bottom of!
Could just be that the front wheels need balancing, should be pretty cheap to get done.

Looks like a very tidy car by the way smile

Colonial

13,553 posts

233 months

Monday 23rd May 2011
quotequote all
Nice.

I had an alpine white one as my first car. Lovely things to drive.

BDR529

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
quotequote all
It's a very fun car to drive, I keep going out driving in it just for the sake of it, which is racking up the fuel bills hehe

And I've had the front wheels balanced, sadly this didn't get rid of the problem frown

328BMW

7 posts

219 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
quotequote all
As with any used car, it has had a couple of foibles, firstly the battery turned out to be knackered, so I've taken the one out the E30 and plonked it in, and it works fine. Secondly is a steering wheel vibration at 50-55mph which I still haven't got the bottom of!

Had a similiar problem with mine a couple of years ago, turned out the calipers where knackered, for some reason at that speed the pads bound up slightly and caused the vibration, might be worth a look.

BDR529

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Monday 30th May 2011
quotequote all
328BMW said:
As with any used car, it has had a couple of foibles, firstly the battery turned out to be knackered, so I've taken the one out the E30 and plonked it in, and it works fine. Secondly is a steering wheel vibration at 50-55mph which I still haven't got the bottom of!

Had a similiar problem with mine a couple of years ago, turned out the calipers where knackered, for some reason at that speed the pads bound up slightly and caused the vibration, might be worth a look.
Both the calipers have been taken off (they were sticking), forced the piston back and forth a few times, hoping they will be alright. But if brake dust starts appearing at a rapid rate again, I have another set of calipers.

Discs are warped now though. grumpy

Edited by getawayturtle on Friday 29th July 04:43

getawayturtle

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Friday 29th July 2011
quotequote all
Egg Chaser said:
Could just be that the front wheels need balancing, should be pretty cheap to get done.

Looks like a very tidy car by the way smile
Thanks biggrin Had the wheels balanced, but the problem hasn't gone away. Saying that, it was done by my mate at Kwik Fit, so if it's done right is anyones guess hehe

The car has sadly taken a bit of punishment.

Some post car park ding & badger-impact pics:




Professional foglight repair wobble

Grill was smashed to bits, so had a new one off BMW. Then typically a cheaper one came up on ebay a few days later. grumpy

Hoping to have it fitted on and have the foglights on properly again soon.

getawayturtle

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Friday 29th July 2011
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Some arse end pictures.




danposs86

275 posts

182 months

Friday 29th July 2011
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Love that, looks great in black. Wouldn't mind one of these myself.

Needs a clean though!

getawayturtle

Original Poster:

3,560 posts

202 months

Friday 29th July 2011
quotequote all
What are you on about, it's absolutely spotless grumpy


hehe