BMW E36 328i "Individual" Convertible
Discussion
After 10+ years of Jap car ownership (Subaru/Nissan/Mitsubishi), I decided to go a completely different route and buy my first convertible car, an itch I needed to scratch.
Being a fan of the BMW straight 6, I went for the 3 series E36, as in my opinion it has bags of character. Parts, new and used, are decently priced and easy to come by.
With a £2000 budget I went searching for my car, but came across many examples in poor condition, described as "mint" that I simply walked away from.
Eventually I found my car...... here it is:
SPEC:
ENGINE: 328i - 2.8L engine - straight 6
TRANS: Manual
MILEAGE: 94500
YEAR: 1998 (08/98)
COLOUR: Techno violet 299
EXTERIOR: colour coded hard top, dark blue soft top, 18x8.5" AC Schnitzer alloys, lowering springs, M3 rear lights.
INTERIOR: Blue individual leather seats, part blue leather door cards, blue carpets, blue mats.
Here are the photos of how it looked when I bought it (11/9/13)
Standard diffuser already removed, I don't muck around
and new diffuser fitted......
I bought an M3 style front bumper seen test fitted here and this will be sprayed this coming week...
(M-sport bumper still only loosely fitted....)
I then washed the car and gave it a quick clay bar, then tried on my new M3 mirrors (which are blue and also will be colour coded..
Here's a little comparison of before and after the mirrors and bumper
Now for the surprise element LOL!!! some blue footwell lights (I didn't fit them)
I hope you like so far
Being a fan of the BMW straight 6, I went for the 3 series E36, as in my opinion it has bags of character. Parts, new and used, are decently priced and easy to come by.
With a £2000 budget I went searching for my car, but came across many examples in poor condition, described as "mint" that I simply walked away from.
Eventually I found my car...... here it is:
SPEC:
ENGINE: 328i - 2.8L engine - straight 6
TRANS: Manual
MILEAGE: 94500
YEAR: 1998 (08/98)
COLOUR: Techno violet 299
EXTERIOR: colour coded hard top, dark blue soft top, 18x8.5" AC Schnitzer alloys, lowering springs, M3 rear lights.
INTERIOR: Blue individual leather seats, part blue leather door cards, blue carpets, blue mats.
Here are the photos of how it looked when I bought it (11/9/13)
Standard diffuser already removed, I don't muck around
and new diffuser fitted......
I bought an M3 style front bumper seen test fitted here and this will be sprayed this coming week...
(M-sport bumper still only loosely fitted....)
I then washed the car and gave it a quick clay bar, then tried on my new M3 mirrors (which are blue and also will be colour coded..
Here's a little comparison of before and after the mirrors and bumper
Now for the surprise element LOL!!! some blue footwell lights (I didn't fit them)
I hope you like so far
Edited by Cliff J on Sunday 15th September 14:14
PapaC said:
Lovely car! One of my favourite colours!
It's a funny car to photograph though, you can look at the car in the sun and it's purple, but through the camera it's blue The M3 mirrors look odd in the photos being blue, but in real life you can hardly tell the difference in colour from the bodywork!!E31Shrew said:
Superb. I'm on the hunt for an E46 330 or M3 but looking at yours has opened my eyes to a slightly earlier model
I'd definitely have an E46 M3 in any form, but wasn't won over by many other non-M3 convertibles in that shape. I know it's all personal choice and taste but this is also just a 2nd car, I have a 2009 Mondeo estate company car for everyday usage, hence it doesn't need to perfect and I also don't like a 10k sitting in the garage doing nothing for most of the winter, it feels less of a waste at 2k Cliff J said:
E31Shrew said:
Superb. I'm on the hunt for an E46 330 or M3 but looking at yours has opened my eyes to a slightly earlier model
I'd definitely have an E46 M3 in any form, but wasn't won over by many other non-M3 convertibles in that shape. I know it's all personal choice and taste but this is also just a 2nd car, I have a 2009 Mondeo estate company car for everyday usage, hence it doesn't need to perfect and I also don't like a 10k sitting in the garage doing nothing for most of the winter, it feels less of a waste at 2k Got to flog this first so if you know anyone let me know!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Cheers!
E31Shrew said:
Agree totally. Off to hunt for E36 now.
Got to flog this first so if you know anyone let me know!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Cheers!
Good luck with the sale Got to flog this first so if you know anyone let me know!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Cheers!
That's a STUNNING car!!! Edited by Cliff J on Sunday 15th September 19:51
g3org3y said:
Nice 
My only minor gripe would be the replica M3 mirrors (Hagus?). I reckon get the proper ones (which look lovely) or keep them standard.
You're right, just looked them up and they're Hagus mirrors. Inside they're fully stamped up with BMW wording etc, I thought they were M3, but to be honest I quite like them regardless. My only minor gripe would be the replica M3 mirrors (Hagus?). I reckon get the proper ones (which look lovely) or keep them standard.I'll keep them on over the standard square mirrors as they're old and really date the car.
Cliff J said:
2thumbs said:
That is a great looking car. I prefer the look of a vert with a hard top to a coupe
So do I. The downside is the weight of the roof, it takes 2 people to remove an refit, and the storage issues I have now with it off But to be honest it's a nice problem to have Thanks for the comments re the 8.
Cliff J said:
2thumbs said:
That is a great looking car. I prefer the look of a vert with a hard top to a coupe
So do I. The downside is the weight of the roof, it takes 2 people to remove an refit, and the storage issues I have now with it off But to be honest it's a nice problem to have E31Shrew said:
I used to have a 380SL Merc and had the roof on a pulley system so it could be lowered from the garage roof. Theres a challenge for the winter nights!
I wish I was that clever I might have to get a man in, which upsets my manliness, but needs must Glenred said:
I loved my old M3 Cab in that shape, looks damn fine with the roof down 
Yeah, I liked the car, but loved it when the roof went down 2thumbs said:
Yeh they are stupidly heavy. My hard top is stuck on the car as I have nowhere to keep it anymore. Oh well, winter is coming anyway!
Is yours the red E36 M3? If so, is it an individual model?
2thumbs said:
Yes mine is an imola red individual. It's been of the road for 18 months but I insured it again this week, MOT on Thursday. Fingers crossed!
That's beautiful, I thought it had to be an individual with that exterior/interior trim. I can see your mirrors are nicer than mine too, but I'll keep the ones I have now Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff