E36 Compact

[esmyth124]

Hello , I would like to introduce my new "Project"

Just purchased a 316 Compact with the 1.9 engine.

112k Miles, some history, overall tidy enough with very minor rusting in the usual spots.

First things to be done will be a deep clean and service.




Sorry for the poor quality photos will upload some later when it's clean.

Anyone any suggestion on Mods/Improvements?

Thanks for reading

[amc_adam]

That looks a nice honest example! if its a 316 does it have the 1.8 8v? Those are brilliant little cars, I had one as my first BMW many years ago.... ended up puting the M Sport front bumper on etc, at least yours is already an M Sport. You could always lower it slightly and put some e36 m3 wheels on it?

[Ste372]

Alwys had a soft soft for the e36 compact. Will keep an eye on where this goes with interest

[Mr Tidy]

Looks good. I'll be watching to see how this goes.

I've always liked them, but never had one. Although I have had 2 E46 Compacts and enjoyed them both - albeit the 325ti more than the 320td.

[JamesRR]

Was this advertised on Jon44? Think I recognise it from the ad! Nice buy, these are a lot nicer looking than the E46 compacts in my opinion.

If it was mine, I’d probably do the M3 front lip, lower 40mm or so and put a set of motorsports on it. Maybe a set of twin DTM style exhaust tips too, and a backbox delete.

[Paul S4]

That 1.9 M44 ( ?) engine is very nice: I had an E36 318iS for a while, did a few track days with it and took it to Monaco (!)

The engine seems to get better with more revs, it felt like it had VVC timing when you opened it up !

[Vince70]

I’ve got one myself which is a manual M44 Ti and bought it solely because the M44 engine is an amazing lump as I’ve got the same engine in my Z3 and wanted a Z3 hardtop for the winter months.
I’ve had mine now for about 5 years but the only problem I have is it’s very low mileage and immaculate so I don’t like getting any road salt on it so it defeats the object really so I bought a mini to replace it in that role but can’t part with it.

Every year though come MOT time it has problems getting through the emissions because it basically doesn’t get used but on a recent holiday I took it on a road trip and it was achieving 40 to the gallon and never uses a drop of oil or coolant but I do advise giving the cooling system a refresh ( pump, belt, thermostat, and radiator plus cap.) and it’s cheap as chips to do with good quality components and easily doable in a couple of hours with plenty of tea breaks in between.

It really is a case as they don’t make them like that anymore to keep mine rust free I do coat the underside and rear wheel arch’s in waxoyl plus throw old engine in the side jacking points.

I also have an M43 engined E36 with the sill covers like yours and the first thing I did when I bought it was take the sill covers off and clean the dirt and crap out as they do trap a lot of muck but a couple of clips will be brittle and break but are available cheap new on eBay.

If yours is the M43 it isn’t a bad engine and yours will be TU upgrade on that year so shouldn’t have any issues but check for mayo in the oil and clean out the idle control valve plus the CCV occasionally with some pound shop carb cleaner if you get a lumpy tick over.

Edited by Vince70 on Friday 7th June 06:48

[esmyth124]

JamesRR said:

Was this advertised on Jon44? Think I recognise it from the ad! Nice buy, these are a lot nicer looking than the E46 compacts in my opinion.

If it was mine, I’d probably do the M3 front lip, lower 40mm or so and put a set of motorsports on it. Maybe a set of twin DTM style exhaust tips too, and a backbox delete.

Hi James,

I think it could have been advertised, was up for very little money so I've taken a punt on it .

Yeah, that would be the plan , unfortunately, parts seem to thin on the ground for these lol.

Vince70 said:

I’ve got one myself which is a manual M44 Ti and bought it solely because the M44 engine is an amazing lump as I’ve got the same engine in my Z3 and wanted a Z3 hardtop for the winter months.
I’ve had mine now for about 5 years but the only problem I have is it’s very low mileage and immaculate so I don’t like getting any road salt on it so it defeats the object really so I bought a mini to replace it in that role but can’t part with it.

Every year though come MOT time it has problems getting through the emissions because it basically doesn’t get used but on a recent holiday I took it on a road trip and it was achieving 40 to the gallon and never uses a drop of oil or coolant but I do advise giving the cooling system a refresh ( pump, belt, thermostat, and radiator plus cap.) and it’s cheap as chips to do with good quality components and easily doable in a couple of hours with plenty of tea breaks in between.

It really is a case as they don’t make them like that anymore to keep mine rust free I do coat the underside and rear wheel arch’s in waxoyl plus throw old engine in the side jacking points.

I also have an M43 engined E36 with the sill covers like yours and the first thing I did when I bought it was take the sill covers off and clean the dirt and crap out as they do trap a lot of muck but a couple of clips will be brittle and break but are available cheap new on eBay.

If yours is the M43 it isn’t a bad engine and yours will be TU upgrade on that year so shouldn’t have any issues but check for mayo in the oil and clean out the idle control valve plus the CCV occasionally with some pound shop carb cleaner if you get a lumpy tick over.

Edited by Vince70 on Friday 7th June 06:48

All very good points, but I have genuine fears if I pull them sill covers off

To make clear this is the 1.9 engine, It's my first bmw so not quite up to scratch on engines etc.

There's been no progress on this as of yet due to the truly poor weather in NI. First thing is that its going to a local welder as one of the ARB brackets is rusty so it's away on Tuesday to get that sorted. Then a pair of rear brake shoes and It's off to MOT.

Will Post pictures today hopefully when its been Cleaned.

Thanks for reading.

[helix402]

Looks good. I’d keep it looking standard.

[andye30m3]

Looks clean, have fond memories of my 318ti, it was great as a cheap run around.

As for mods, Mine came on H&R lowering springs, dearer than most other lowering springs but did seem to work well, the car was good fun on the back roads around here.

[s m]

[Paul S4]

Mine had Schnizer -50mm springs on it when I bought it, plus a Miltek S/S cat back exhaust with an AMD chip,
and a set of 5 series staggered alloys that rubbed the arches....( not recommended !)

Those springs were too low, as it kept grounding so I would not recommend them !

It also had the OEM rear spoiler which I quickly replaced with a silver S/H clean boot lid...( I have never liked spoilers ...at all !!)

I found a set of 17 E46 alloys that I had refurbed ( second pic above) and fitted an Eibach ATB kit ( at great expense for what it is !!).

Then did a few track days at Croft circuit, great car for that....but it was never quite the same after a full 'open pit lane' session.....!!!

I am pleased that I owned one and that engine is brilliant !

[Kawasicki]

Being a 316i this must be the M43 8 valve, not the M44 16 valve.

[Yadizzle1]

Changing the front control arms and the lollipop bush will make a really noticeable difference to the front end handling of the car. Mine felt miles tighter after just getting two new arms and bushes on. Shifter bushings are also worth doing to restore a bit of tightness to the mechanism, there's a guide on how to get it all done on "Peicanparts". Car looks great btw!

[esmyth124]

Kawasicki said:

Being a 316i this must be the M43 8 valve, not the M44 16 valve.

Just goggled and I can confirm it is just an 8 Valve

Yadizzle1 said:

Changing the front control arms and the lollipop bush will make a really noticeable difference to the front end handling of the car. Mine felt miles tighter after just getting two new arms and bushes on. Shifter bushings are also worth doing to restore a bit of tightness to the mechanism, there's a guide on how to get it all done on "Peicanparts". Car looks great btw!

Yeah that was one thing I've noticed.

I have always had FWD diesels, Remapped etc. but this ropey e36 is about 10x better in the corner and thats with old bushed .

Thanks I will look into this after I get word back on welding.

[DannyScene]

Me and a mate built one of these into a budget drift car, stripped interior, welded diff, coilovers, hydro handbrake and some buckets/harnesses, think it owed us about £400 all in including the car

[helix402]

The M43 is quite reliable. Head gaskets go but can be changed in a couple of hours. Check the coolant hose at the back of the cylinder head where it meets a plastic flange for leaks.

They are quite good on fuel too.