1999 E36 323i Touring Shed
Discussion
Figured I'd start a thread on my E36 touring that I've just picked up for the other half to pootle around in.
My original plan was to give her the company car (2011 520d) so when she inevitably pranged it against something, I could get it fixed for free and didn't have to worry, leaving me free to get another comfy barge (was eying a BMW 750/XJR) to get to work in. However, after a week of trying to drive the five, culminating in an incident with a nice old man helping to push her out of a space she couldn't reverse out of in Aldi, we decided maybe something a bit less cumbersome would do and that's where the E36 came in.
The other car at the time was a battered old Ford Galaxy with a 156,000 on the clock that had been doing skip/tip/shed duty faithfully for the last six months there was no way she could drive this around as it was massive and it also stank. As the tax was due and it needed two new tyres, I decided to chop it in and go shed shopping for any estate I could find. I'm renovating a house so still need a long/flexible load space so I settled on a budget of £500 plus the Galaxy.
The other half doesn't really do cars so after a few evenings of showing her photos of Volvo V70's, 850's, E39 540 Touring's, Mercs and being told - too big, it's ugly, that's a tank, I'm not having a yellow one, etc. I showed her the E36 (although I was surprised to find one at £750 so wasn't expecting much). I took the fact she wasn't immediately horrified as a green light and got on the phone to the dealer to arrange a time to go down and view it.
At this point I have to apologise to the poor guy that arrived at the dealer just after me to view it. I was sat in it with the keys and poking about when they arrived. They were clearly here to view the same car but they politely waited while I took it out for a test drive with the dealer. It started, stopped and steered ok so I did some driving and haggling with the dealer. It made it hard to negotiate knowing there was another punter waiting for me to get back but as I had the cash on me, the dealer took the £750 screen price as £500 cash and 'Brenda' (the other half's name for Galaxy) as a p/ex.
SWMBO wasn't fussed about the test drive so I'd left her talking to guy and his dad that arrived while I took the car off with the dealer. The lad looked gutted when I got back and told him I was buying it so I let them have the keys to look round while I did the paperwork as he wanted to see how it felt in a BMW. Seemed a sound lad and we had a bit of chat about them before I jumped in and got on my way...It was only on the way home the bird explained the lad and his dad has driven over to Leeds from Macclesfield that morning to look at it but had got there before the dealer so gone off to have a bacon butty to kill time. I turned up in the middle and nicked it from under his nose. In a way I'm glad I didn't know that when I told them I was buying it or I'd have almost have thought about letting him have first refusal but I didn't and here it is!
If you're wondering, the other car and the wheelie bin were from me teaching my beloved how to park to avoid another Aldi moment.
The good bits
It's a straight six and I'd forgotten how lovely the engine is. In the 323 it's a 2.5 and produces around 170BHP and still feels very lively. It has a lovely racy noise as you take it up through the revs and is so much more involving than the 520d, I forgot how much I missed a good petrol engine.
It has decent alloys and tyres all round and as said before a full new clutch and brakes last year.
It's a 323i Sport and has all the M bodykit, sports steering wheel, interior and toys. So I have an on board computer currently telling me I'm getting 31mpg on my commute and without any dodgy pixels. It has aircon that needs re-gassing but it also has a sunroof.
It's only got 87,000 on the clock and having a look underneath and at all the components, there's nothing that suggests otherwise, although seeing as there's only paperwork for a new clutch and brakes last year and nothing but a bunch of tax discs, I don't trust it that much. Saying that, the car feels solid and mechanically ok and for this money who trusts mileages?
The Bad Bits
Horror of horrors, I've become one of 'those' people, you know the ones who get M sport BMW's and have an //M badge on the back as if I've got a real M3? I like my cars debadged as a rule but don't want to pull this off just yet until I get round to sorting the tinworm. Sod's law says the only two BMW's I saw one the first drive home was a new M3 that pulled behind me and an E39 M5 that overtook me on the motorway - the shame
There's also a receipt for a new front outer wing and a paintwork blend in the history. Now I know it can be hard to blend metallics but the drivers side front wing is almost two tone up close. Still It's ashed and she'll prang it so no point worrying.
What's more worrying is the amount of tinworm around the door corners and bubbles on the tailgate. Not of them are terminal and a warm weekend with a sander is on the cards to stop it from spreading. The chassis is fine though and MOT should be a doddle in a months time.
Looking forward to having something to tinker with again
My original plan was to give her the company car (2011 520d) so when she inevitably pranged it against something, I could get it fixed for free and didn't have to worry, leaving me free to get another comfy barge (was eying a BMW 750/XJR) to get to work in. However, after a week of trying to drive the five, culminating in an incident with a nice old man helping to push her out of a space she couldn't reverse out of in Aldi, we decided maybe something a bit less cumbersome would do and that's where the E36 came in.
The other car at the time was a battered old Ford Galaxy with a 156,000 on the clock that had been doing skip/tip/shed duty faithfully for the last six months there was no way she could drive this around as it was massive and it also stank. As the tax was due and it needed two new tyres, I decided to chop it in and go shed shopping for any estate I could find. I'm renovating a house so still need a long/flexible load space so I settled on a budget of £500 plus the Galaxy.
The other half doesn't really do cars so after a few evenings of showing her photos of Volvo V70's, 850's, E39 540 Touring's, Mercs and being told - too big, it's ugly, that's a tank, I'm not having a yellow one, etc. I showed her the E36 (although I was surprised to find one at £750 so wasn't expecting much). I took the fact she wasn't immediately horrified as a green light and got on the phone to the dealer to arrange a time to go down and view it.
At this point I have to apologise to the poor guy that arrived at the dealer just after me to view it. I was sat in it with the keys and poking about when they arrived. They were clearly here to view the same car but they politely waited while I took it out for a test drive with the dealer. It started, stopped and steered ok so I did some driving and haggling with the dealer. It made it hard to negotiate knowing there was another punter waiting for me to get back but as I had the cash on me, the dealer took the £750 screen price as £500 cash and 'Brenda' (the other half's name for Galaxy) as a p/ex.
SWMBO wasn't fussed about the test drive so I'd left her talking to guy and his dad that arrived while I took the car off with the dealer. The lad looked gutted when I got back and told him I was buying it so I let them have the keys to look round while I did the paperwork as he wanted to see how it felt in a BMW. Seemed a sound lad and we had a bit of chat about them before I jumped in and got on my way...It was only on the way home the bird explained the lad and his dad has driven over to Leeds from Macclesfield that morning to look at it but had got there before the dealer so gone off to have a bacon butty to kill time. I turned up in the middle and nicked it from under his nose. In a way I'm glad I didn't know that when I told them I was buying it or I'd have almost have thought about letting him have first refusal but I didn't and here it is!
If you're wondering, the other car and the wheelie bin were from me teaching my beloved how to park to avoid another Aldi moment.
The good bits
It's a straight six and I'd forgotten how lovely the engine is. In the 323 it's a 2.5 and produces around 170BHP and still feels very lively. It has a lovely racy noise as you take it up through the revs and is so much more involving than the 520d, I forgot how much I missed a good petrol engine.
It has decent alloys and tyres all round and as said before a full new clutch and brakes last year.
It's a 323i Sport and has all the M bodykit, sports steering wheel, interior and toys. So I have an on board computer currently telling me I'm getting 31mpg on my commute and without any dodgy pixels. It has aircon that needs re-gassing but it also has a sunroof.
It's only got 87,000 on the clock and having a look underneath and at all the components, there's nothing that suggests otherwise, although seeing as there's only paperwork for a new clutch and brakes last year and nothing but a bunch of tax discs, I don't trust it that much. Saying that, the car feels solid and mechanically ok and for this money who trusts mileages?
The Bad Bits
Horror of horrors, I've become one of 'those' people, you know the ones who get M sport BMW's and have an //M badge on the back as if I've got a real M3? I like my cars debadged as a rule but don't want to pull this off just yet until I get round to sorting the tinworm. Sod's law says the only two BMW's I saw one the first drive home was a new M3 that pulled behind me and an E39 M5 that overtook me on the motorway - the shame
There's also a receipt for a new front outer wing and a paintwork blend in the history. Now I know it can be hard to blend metallics but the drivers side front wing is almost two tone up close. Still It's ashed and she'll prang it so no point worrying.
What's more worrying is the amount of tinworm around the door corners and bubbles on the tailgate. Not of them are terminal and a warm weekend with a sander is on the cards to stop it from spreading. The chassis is fine though and MOT should be a doddle in a months time.
Looking forward to having something to tinker with again
So far so good with the motor but it's got a few niggles.
First one, after the oil change, the battery was flat, my fault for leaving the door open and draining the battery via the interior light I forgot about. You can tell it's a while since I did some decent spannering.
There's an intermittent fault on the starter motor where it seems the solenoid doesn't kick in or something and the car doesn't crank, but turning it off for a second and back on seems to fix it so I'm riding that one out for now as it's a 1 in 30 occurrence so I can't be arsed to fix it yet.
The handbrake needs tightening as it doesn't do anything for the first few clicks - bit of a problem for a handbrake obsessed newly passed driver so that's number now one on the list to fix. Back wheels off and screwdriver job, if it wasn't for the F1 and the the drivers window going bonkers today I'd have done it., which brings me on to the major shed related event of the day in the house...
The drivers electric window had a catastrophic failure today so with rain clouds looming this was today's task.
Turned out to be relatively simple to fix but one of those tricky jobs where three hands are often needed.
The window mechanism had popped out because there was a spring clip that wasn't holding it on properly and then the whole window fell out of the guides. Off with door card, and half an hour swearing whilst I fumbled with one hand through the door gap at the front, trying to keep the window located in the guide whilst keeping the other end of the window from popping out of the rubbers or rolling them inside at the back. Just a case of snapping in the lifters and spring clips, whilst trying not to get grease everywhere.
Nice simple job that left me feeling very smug.
Mechanism on the wonk
Sure there should be something connected here
That looks better...but will it work?
Yes!
Tried it a few times and all ok - Warned the other half to be careful as sods law says it'll break again when she uses it during a hailstorm or something
First one, after the oil change, the battery was flat, my fault for leaving the door open and draining the battery via the interior light I forgot about. You can tell it's a while since I did some decent spannering.
There's an intermittent fault on the starter motor where it seems the solenoid doesn't kick in or something and the car doesn't crank, but turning it off for a second and back on seems to fix it so I'm riding that one out for now as it's a 1 in 30 occurrence so I can't be arsed to fix it yet.
The handbrake needs tightening as it doesn't do anything for the first few clicks - bit of a problem for a handbrake obsessed newly passed driver so that's number now one on the list to fix. Back wheels off and screwdriver job, if it wasn't for the F1 and the the drivers window going bonkers today I'd have done it., which brings me on to the major shed related event of the day in the house...
The drivers electric window had a catastrophic failure today so with rain clouds looming this was today's task.
Turned out to be relatively simple to fix but one of those tricky jobs where three hands are often needed.
The window mechanism had popped out because there was a spring clip that wasn't holding it on properly and then the whole window fell out of the guides. Off with door card, and half an hour swearing whilst I fumbled with one hand through the door gap at the front, trying to keep the window located in the guide whilst keeping the other end of the window from popping out of the rubbers or rolling them inside at the back. Just a case of snapping in the lifters and spring clips, whilst trying not to get grease everywhere.
Nice simple job that left me feeling very smug.
Mechanism on the wonk
Sure there should be something connected here
That looks better...but will it work?
Yes!
Tried it a few times and all ok - Warned the other half to be careful as sods law says it'll break again when she uses it during a hailstorm or something
Boring spot of routine servicing.
Took out the old oil filter and oil...It's a hunch but I don't think it had been done that recently...
Would have done the spark plugs too but my plug spanner is too bulky to get down into the plugs so it'll have to wait till the weekend. when I can get a new one.
Took out the old oil filter and oil...It's a hunch but I don't think it had been done that recently...
Would have done the spark plugs too but my plug spanner is too bulky to get down into the plugs so it'll have to wait till the weekend. when I can get a new one.
It's a 2.5 with a factory 170bhp and its actually pretty good performance wise my 520d has marginally more power but I find myself overtaking more in the E36 than the five, probably because it feels faster and makes a much better noise when you rev it
Its also not averse to spinning up an inside rear wheel if its wet or ypu overcook it. Very happy with it for the money and not a bad first car for the missus!
Just want summer to get here so I can sort the tinworm out over a weekend.
Its also not averse to spinning up an inside rear wheel if its wet or ypu overcook it. Very happy with it for the money and not a bad first car for the missus!
Just want summer to get here so I can sort the tinworm out over a weekend.
Well,
At this end of the market I always buy on condition more than mileage but I've outdone myself on this one. I never trusted the mileage - burred dash screws, a well worn gearstick and door pull are dead giveaways. I'd put her around the 100-140k mark but it was cheap and has only got to last until October.
Given she looked fine underneath and under the bonnet and she ran smooth with no grumbles through the revs/gears and no water in the oil, although it clearly needed a change, I was happy spending the cash but I've never guessed so far out on a mileage before.
My inability top read a cars mileage as verified by VOSA now I've finally got round to checking the MOTs...
MOT 24/05/2012 - 82,652 miles
MOT 08/05/2006 - 145,845 miles
MOT 10/05/2007 - 165,493 miles
MOT 25/04/2008 - 188,081 miles
MOT 27/04/2009 - 210,460 miles
MOT 02/06/2010 - 222,026 miles
MOT 03/06/2011 - 234,167 miles
I'm probably more amazed at how well the engine still runs and pulls for something that's nearing a quarter million miles.
Spent an hour on Saturday morning cleaning the interior, dropping in a panel filter and changing the spark plugs, went for some NGK R plugs rather than some cheapo ones to see if it made any difference, turns out I won't be able to tell as the plugs I took out were also NGK R plugs (should probably have checked that first). Good news that all six plugs had a nice clean burn on the old ones, no sign of fouling, yet again leaving me surprised by how well this thing has lasted.
100k or 200k looking interior?
Really needs the rust bubble sorting and a good polish.
At this end of the market I always buy on condition more than mileage but I've outdone myself on this one. I never trusted the mileage - burred dash screws, a well worn gearstick and door pull are dead giveaways. I'd put her around the 100-140k mark but it was cheap and has only got to last until October.
Given she looked fine underneath and under the bonnet and she ran smooth with no grumbles through the revs/gears and no water in the oil, although it clearly needed a change, I was happy spending the cash but I've never guessed so far out on a mileage before.
My inability top read a cars mileage as verified by VOSA now I've finally got round to checking the MOTs...
MOT 24/05/2012 - 82,652 miles
MOT 08/05/2006 - 145,845 miles
MOT 10/05/2007 - 165,493 miles
MOT 25/04/2008 - 188,081 miles
MOT 27/04/2009 - 210,460 miles
MOT 02/06/2010 - 222,026 miles
MOT 03/06/2011 - 234,167 miles
I'm probably more amazed at how well the engine still runs and pulls for something that's nearing a quarter million miles.
Spent an hour on Saturday morning cleaning the interior, dropping in a panel filter and changing the spark plugs, went for some NGK R plugs rather than some cheapo ones to see if it made any difference, turns out I won't be able to tell as the plugs I took out were also NGK R plugs (should probably have checked that first). Good news that all six plugs had a nice clean burn on the old ones, no sign of fouling, yet again leaving me surprised by how well this thing has lasted.
100k or 200k looking interior?
Really needs the rust bubble sorting and a good polish.
To be fair, it was a dealer that had taken it as a part-ex in and he played it straight and told he me he trusted the mileage as far as he could throw it and wouldn't/couldn't warrant the miles so I'm not upset, I expected it had been clocked, if it had ponly done 86k in that time, there's no way the body would be as cosmetically shagged as it was.
The drivers bolster isn't too bad, I gave them a good clean with some armor all leather cleaner - £5 and elbow grease well spent, the passenger seat has come up well but there's a hole in the thigh bolster that needs repairing. When I get round to checking the interior colour off the VIN panel, I'll patch it up and repair it.
The drivers bolster isn't too bad, I gave them a good clean with some armor all leather cleaner - £5 and elbow grease well spent, the passenger seat has come up well but there's a hole in the thigh bolster that needs repairing. When I get round to checking the interior colour off the VIN panel, I'll patch it up and repair it.
stewjohnst said:
Boring spot of routine servicing.
Took out the old oil filter and oil...It's a hunch but I don't think it had been done that recently...
Would have done the spark plugs too but my plug spanner is too bulky to get down into the plugs so it'll have to wait till the weekend. when I can get a new one.
My filter actually disintegrated when i did the first filter change on my (£550) 328!!! had to fish bits out with a screw driver!! haha.Took out the old oil filter and oil...It's a hunch but I don't think it had been done that recently...
Would have done the spark plugs too but my plug spanner is too bulky to get down into the plugs so it'll have to wait till the weekend. when I can get a new one.
My drivers side window did exactly the same too, the top bit of the securement on the clip broke, so i just flipped it around, greased the runners (had to bend the mechanism back a bit). and its been perfect!! I did buy two new clips for £2 off ebay, just incase for next time it goes though!!.
Looks good condition, considering the mileage!! mine has work paintwork and has done half those miles (apparantly
)Edited by orangesrule on Monday 29th April 20:45
sc4589 said:
Ah, another one.
Welcome to the club. Is that Avus Blue? Looks good, they're very good all-rounders. Unless you have very tall rear passengers or a penchant for carrying wardrobes, they cover all the bases well.
Enjoy it, look forward to seeing updates.
Yep, its Avus blue, with a few bits of iron oxide here and there. The underside has been waxoyled though so its only the door skin corners and a few spots around the body.Welcome to the club. Is that Avus Blue? Looks good, they're very good all-rounders. Unless you have very tall rear passengers or a penchant for carrying wardrobes, they cover all the bases well.
Enjoy it, look forward to seeing updates.
Mot is due in May so just checking it over next weekend and sending it in...Fingers crossed!
stewjohnst said:
MOT 24/05/2012 - 82,652 miles
MOT 08/05/2006 - 145,845 miles
MOT 10/05/2007 - 165,493 miles
MOT 25/04/2008 - 188,081 miles
MOT 27/04/2009 - 210,460 miles
MOT 02/06/2010 - 222,026 miles
MOT 03/06/2011 - 234,167 miles.
The bare faced cheek of it MOT 08/05/2006 - 145,845 miles
MOT 10/05/2007 - 165,493 miles
MOT 25/04/2008 - 188,081 miles
MOT 27/04/2009 - 210,460 miles
MOT 02/06/2010 - 222,026 miles
MOT 03/06/2011 - 234,167 miles.
I suppose if your going to pick a mileage, you may as well pick one 152,000 miles lower than the one you've got!After a day out to Whitby to sort the missus her engagement ring, I managed to negotiate some tinkering time on the shed this evening so gave me a chance to put all the fleabay items I've been stocking up on the last few days
Have decided to keep the interior honest to it's age and original(unlike the speedo) so rather than fill it with aftermarket bits, I've just been finding original items to get it looking decent again.
First off, the gear knob was worn out and twisted all over the shop in use. Turned out the interior was cracked but £20 later and a quick tug and the new one was on.
Took the opportunity to clean the leather gaiter too with some of the stuff I'd used on the seats...feel free to enter a knob/tugging joke here but its not what it looks like, honest.
Next up, the ASC switch that appeared to be held on by an allen bolt.
I saw a switch on ebay and took a punt on it being the right part number without checking. Turned out to be £5 well spent and a piss easy swap but needed cleaning up first so I got the closest solvent to hand - It worked a treat.
As these two fixes were mind bogglingly easy, I thought I'd try and swap the cabin pollen filter. It's not a very complex job but from reading around can be a bit fiddly to get the new one in.
Basically, it's a couple of screws to drop the lower dash and then a case of unhooking a vent, twisting a widget and pulling out the old filter. It's located behind the consooe where the yellow arrow is.
Evidently, it is such a b
d of a job that whoever did the last one, managed to take out the old one and adopted the 'fk it, nobody will ever know' approach to servicing and never bothered putting a replacement in 
as I was greeted by a noticeably filterless hole.
Shoving the new one in was a pain, with wiring looms in the way stopping me pushing it in straight and access was further hindered by the clutch pedal. After much swearing and a moment of weakness where I too almost decided not to fit one, I finally got it in by lying on my back using my head to put the clutch down and *gently* ramming the filter home.
After all of this, I had one technical job left for the day. To fix the headlight and fog interior bulbs. It's a common e36 fault and I'd got two bulbs from my local parts shop for 50p each. However, by some miracle, fannying about under the dash with the pollen filter made my existing bulbs fix themselves so that was one less job to do
I also went round the cabin with some 303 aerospace protectorant as detailers swear by it. A detailer I am not though - my idea of detailing involves the local Albanian car wash and me shelling out a fiver. Nevertheless, I was impressed how it came up.
So final before/after pics
Before...
After...
And another, with working headlight switch
Have decided to keep the interior honest to it's age and original(unlike the speedo) so rather than fill it with aftermarket bits, I've just been finding original items to get it looking decent again.
First off, the gear knob was worn out and twisted all over the shop in use. Turned out the interior was cracked but £20 later and a quick tug and the new one was on.
Took the opportunity to clean the leather gaiter too with some of the stuff I'd used on the seats...feel free to enter a knob/tugging joke here but its not what it looks like, honest.
Next up, the ASC switch that appeared to be held on by an allen bolt.
I saw a switch on ebay and took a punt on it being the right part number without checking. Turned out to be £5 well spent and a piss easy swap but needed cleaning up first so I got the closest solvent to hand - It worked a treat.
As these two fixes were mind bogglingly easy, I thought I'd try and swap the cabin pollen filter. It's not a very complex job but from reading around can be a bit fiddly to get the new one in.
Basically, it's a couple of screws to drop the lower dash and then a case of unhooking a vent, twisting a widget and pulling out the old filter. It's located behind the consooe where the yellow arrow is.
Evidently, it is such a b
d of a job that whoever did the last one, managed to take out the old one and adopted the 'fk it, nobody will ever know' approach to servicing and never bothered putting a replacement in as I was greeted by a noticeably filterless hole.Shoving the new one in was a pain, with wiring looms in the way stopping me pushing it in straight and access was further hindered by the clutch pedal. After much swearing and a moment of weakness where I too almost decided not to fit one, I finally got it in by lying on my back using my head to put the clutch down and *gently* ramming the filter home.
After all of this, I had one technical job left for the day. To fix the headlight and fog interior bulbs. It's a common e36 fault and I'd got two bulbs from my local parts shop for 50p each. However, by some miracle, fannying about under the dash with the pollen filter made my existing bulbs fix themselves so that was one less job to do
I also went round the cabin with some 303 aerospace protectorant as detailers swear by it. A detailer I am not though - my idea of detailing involves the local Albanian car wash and me shelling out a fiver. Nevertheless, I was impressed how it came up.
So final before/after pics
Before...
After...
And another, with working headlight switch
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