BMW E36 328i Sport
Discussion
Afternoon all,
At the time of writing this, it’s a damp Sunday afternoon. And I have nothing else better to do.
Rewind just over 2 years ago, I bought my BMW e36 328i sport.
I had been in the market for a replacement for my Focus RS powered Mk5 Fiesta Track car. I had sold 2 or 3 months prior. Whilst the car was an absolute monster on the track, it wasn’t very reliable and utterly useless on the road. I had done a handful of track days in the car, with varying amounts of heartache, being turbo failures and a clutch failure which was the beginning of the end for the car. £2000 later I got the clutch replaced, and not too much longer it was the classifieds and eBay up for sale.
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So with that in mind, I was after a replacement for that car. I was already the owner of a garage queen Clio 172 cup, that I’d owned for 8 years at that point. Which I bought at 19 years old, was originally a daily driver, then a weekend toy, then a track car, and eventually ending up being a garage queen, and literally never used as the clock ticked closer and closer to the dreaded 100000 miles.
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So whilst I wasn’t after a track car, nor a garage queen I had in the back of my mind, I wanted to delve into some RWD. My heart was set on a BMW E46 M3, in standard drivers spec, manual, 18’s, HK, facelift model etc. Non out there particularly were right, plus we was just on the cusp of the prices of these things, just getting out of touch for me at that time.
But then along came this, a beautifully present, but slightly leggy 160k BMW E36 328i Sport Individual, in Santorini Blue. I couldn’t particularly remember ever seeing this colour before, but I knew from the moment of seeing the advert, it was the car for me. So booked a viewing in London, drove down put a deposit on it, much to the dismay of my Fiancée.
“Why do you need another car you won’t use?”. I’m sure you all know the drill.
Forgiveness is easier to gain, than acceptance. The following weekend I got onto the train to near Heathrow, collected the car. Drove the long way home back to Nottinghamshire, and I was the proud owner of this brilliant car.
These are pictures of the car just after I bought it, with a few suspect ///M badges and plates etc on it.
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I’ll update this thread later, with work I’ve done over the past couple of years on the car.
Thanks for reading.
At the time of writing this, it’s a damp Sunday afternoon. And I have nothing else better to do.
Rewind just over 2 years ago, I bought my BMW e36 328i sport.
I had been in the market for a replacement for my Focus RS powered Mk5 Fiesta Track car. I had sold 2 or 3 months prior. Whilst the car was an absolute monster on the track, it wasn’t very reliable and utterly useless on the road. I had done a handful of track days in the car, with varying amounts of heartache, being turbo failures and a clutch failure which was the beginning of the end for the car. £2000 later I got the clutch replaced, and not too much longer it was the classifieds and eBay up for sale.
So with that in mind, I was after a replacement for that car. I was already the owner of a garage queen Clio 172 cup, that I’d owned for 8 years at that point. Which I bought at 19 years old, was originally a daily driver, then a weekend toy, then a track car, and eventually ending up being a garage queen, and literally never used as the clock ticked closer and closer to the dreaded 100000 miles.
So whilst I wasn’t after a track car, nor a garage queen I had in the back of my mind, I wanted to delve into some RWD. My heart was set on a BMW E46 M3, in standard drivers spec, manual, 18’s, HK, facelift model etc. Non out there particularly were right, plus we was just on the cusp of the prices of these things, just getting out of touch for me at that time.
But then along came this, a beautifully present, but slightly leggy 160k BMW E36 328i Sport Individual, in Santorini Blue. I couldn’t particularly remember ever seeing this colour before, but I knew from the moment of seeing the advert, it was the car for me. So booked a viewing in London, drove down put a deposit on it, much to the dismay of my Fiancée.
“Why do you need another car you won’t use?”. I’m sure you all know the drill.
Forgiveness is easier to gain, than acceptance. The following weekend I got onto the train to near Heathrow, collected the car. Drove the long way home back to Nottinghamshire, and I was the proud owner of this brilliant car.
These are pictures of the car just after I bought it, with a few suspect ///M badges and plates etc on it.
I’ll update this thread later, with work I’ve done over the past couple of years on the car.
Thanks for reading.
Lovely car !!!
I think the 328i's need the M3 front splitters at the very least, to make them look superb like yours, and the rear splitter and spoiler just adds even more class.
Is it a genuine 'is' ? ie does it have an LSD ?
Lovely car in a lovely colour.
Just enough power with the M50 intake mod, to have fun, yet reliable and not too horrific if things go wrong.
Did you do the CDV delete ?
Absolutely loved my old one, which I regret selling, as the buyer turned it into a drift car and ruined it.
I think the 328i's need the M3 front splitters at the very least, to make them look superb like yours, and the rear splitter and spoiler just adds even more class.
Is it a genuine 'is' ? ie does it have an LSD ?
Lovely car in a lovely colour.
Just enough power with the M50 intake mod, to have fun, yet reliable and not too horrific if things go wrong.
Did you do the CDV delete ?
Absolutely loved my old one, which I regret selling, as the buyer turned it into a drift car and ruined it.
Yeah, they need the splitters and bits and pieces. Standard fit on them though.
It’s a genuine I Sport; but being a late run out car it came with ACS rather than LSD. LSD is probably next thing on the list, the price of them is mad these days. Circa £1000 for one in unknown condition, and nearer £1500 rebuilt.
It’s had CDV mod done already; and it’s got an M50 on it already.
So many are drift cars, but there are a healthy amount of really good condition ones about with owners spending a lot of money on them currently.
It’s a genuine I Sport; but being a late run out car it came with ACS rather than LSD. LSD is probably next thing on the list, the price of them is mad these days. Circa £1000 for one in unknown condition, and nearer £1500 rebuilt.
It’s had CDV mod done already; and it’s got an M50 on it already.
So many are drift cars, but there are a healthy amount of really good condition ones about with owners spending a lot of money on them currently.
Nik Gnashers said:
Lovely car !!!
I think the 328i's need the M3 front splitters at the very least, to make them look superb like yours, and the rear splitter and spoiler just adds even more class.
Is it a genuine 'is' ? ie does it have an LSD ?
Lovely car in a lovely colour.
Just enough power with the M50 intake mod, to have fun, yet reliable and not too horrific if things go wrong.
Did you do the CDV delete ?
Absolutely loved my old one, which I regret selling, as the buyer turned it into a drift car and ruined it.
I think the 328i's need the M3 front splitters at the very least, to make them look superb like yours, and the rear splitter and spoiler just adds even more class.
Is it a genuine 'is' ? ie does it have an LSD ?
Lovely car in a lovely colour.
Just enough power with the M50 intake mod, to have fun, yet reliable and not too horrific if things go wrong.
Did you do the CDV delete ?
Absolutely loved my old one, which I regret selling, as the buyer turned it into a drift car and ruined it.
Nice! Can’t recall ever seeing one in Santorini Blue bet that was a costly option back in the day. A stripped 328i with some sticky tires will more than hold it’s own on a track day, good choice.
I nearly swapped a X-Type Jag and money my way for a leggy Dakar Yellow 3.0 E36 M3 about 15 odd years ago, though couldn’t insure the bloody thing as a young driver. You couldn’t give them away then, how times have changed bet it would be worth a fortune now
Do miss my E46 M3, mine had the HK and TV but I wouldn’t hunt them out or pay a premium for them now.
More on the 172 please, that looks ace. Sourcing and fitting those Trophy Recaros can’t of been cheep?
I nearly swapped a X-Type Jag and money my way for a leggy Dakar Yellow 3.0 E36 M3 about 15 odd years ago, though couldn’t insure the bloody thing as a young driver. You couldn’t give them away then, how times have changed bet it would be worth a fortune now
Do miss my E46 M3, mine had the HK and TV but I wouldn’t hunt them out or pay a premium for them now.
More on the 172 please, that looks ace. Sourcing and fitting those Trophy Recaros can’t of been cheep?
That is a stunning E36.
I had a 328 E36 convertible, that was my Late Uncle's car, an automatic, which, had it been a manual, I would still have !
I then bought a nice E36 318iS which had a few modifications, not all to my liking.....!
I eventually got that car to where I wanted it, drove it to Monaco and did a couple of track days with it.
Mine was silver, but yours is a very rare colour, in fact I have never seen one in that shade of blue.
They are good cars, but let down a bit by the interior quality, that I am sure you will discover !
The door cards are very poor, they rattle and the clips etc break. the windows can be problematical with the 'drop' function etc.
The rear wheel arches are prone to rusting, as is the boot lid IIRC.
However, when they are sorted, they are very good.
Looking forward to your journey !
I had a 328 E36 convertible, that was my Late Uncle's car, an automatic, which, had it been a manual, I would still have !
I then bought a nice E36 318iS which had a few modifications, not all to my liking.....!
I eventually got that car to where I wanted it, drove it to Monaco and did a couple of track days with it.
Mine was silver, but yours is a very rare colour, in fact I have never seen one in that shade of blue.
They are good cars, but let down a bit by the interior quality, that I am sure you will discover !
The door cards are very poor, they rattle and the clips etc break. the windows can be problematical with the 'drop' function etc.
The rear wheel arches are prone to rusting, as is the boot lid IIRC.
However, when they are sorted, they are very good.
Looking forward to your journey !
One of nine, that’s why you probably haven’t seen one!
I’ve been speaking to a few people, and this car wouldn’t have been far off list of an M3 at the time.
It has quite a few extra’s on it.
Individual Colour
Individual Leather with Piping
Harman Kardon
Lux Interior
Passenger Airbag
172 Cup was a labour of love. It had Trophy Seats, Trophy V6 spoiler, plus the mega money boot struts. Lowered on H&R coilovers, cam’s, Quaife LSD, KTEC exhaust, Sabelt RS wheel, short shift.
Car probably owed me best part of £15k once I’d done with it!
I’ve been speaking to a few people, and this car wouldn’t have been far off list of an M3 at the time.
It has quite a few extra’s on it.
Individual Colour
Individual Leather with Piping
Harman Kardon
Lux Interior
Passenger Airbag
172 Cup was a labour of love. It had Trophy Seats, Trophy V6 spoiler, plus the mega money boot struts. Lowered on H&R coilovers, cam’s, Quaife LSD, KTEC exhaust, Sabelt RS wheel, short shift.
Car probably owed me best part of £15k once I’d done with it!
jwwbowe said:
Nice! Can’t recall ever seeing one in Santorini Blue bet that was a costly option back in the day. A stripped 328i with some sticky tires will more than hold it’s own on a track day, good choice.
I nearly swapped a X-Type Jag and money my way for a leggy Dakar Yellow 3.0 E36 M3 about 15 odd years ago, though couldn’t insure the bloody thing as a young driver. You couldn’t give them away then, how times have changed bet it would be worth a fortune now
Do miss my E46 M3, mine had the HK and TV but I wouldn’t hunt them out or pay a premium for them now.
More on the 172 please, that looks ace. Sourcing and fitting those Trophy Recaros can’t of been cheep?
I nearly swapped a X-Type Jag and money my way for a leggy Dakar Yellow 3.0 E36 M3 about 15 odd years ago, though couldn’t insure the bloody thing as a young driver. You couldn’t give them away then, how times have changed bet it would be worth a fortune now
Do miss my E46 M3, mine had the HK and TV but I wouldn’t hunt them out or pay a premium for them now.
More on the 172 please, that looks ace. Sourcing and fitting those Trophy Recaros can’t of been cheep?
Thanks for the kind words.
I’ve repaired most of them issues, I have one arch which has a tiny amount of bubbling, I plan to buy a whole rear quarter from BMW. I’ve just carried out a full underside resto, which I’ll document here at some point in the week. Here’s a photo of the work completed though
.HEIC)
Door cards have been sorted, windows occassionally have been problematic.
I’ve repaired most of them issues, I have one arch which has a tiny amount of bubbling, I plan to buy a whole rear quarter from BMW. I’ve just carried out a full underside resto, which I’ll document here at some point in the week. Here’s a photo of the work completed though
Door cards have been sorted, windows occassionally have been problematic.
Paul S4 said:
That is a stunning E36.
I had a 328 E36 convertible, that was my Late Uncle's car, an automatic, which, had it been a manual, I would still have !
I then bought a nice E36 318iS which had a few modifications, not all to my liking.....!
I eventually got that car to where I wanted it, drove it to Monaco and did a couple of track days with it.
Mine was silver, but yours is a very rare colour, in fact I have never seen one in that shade of blue.
They are good cars, but let down a bit by the interior quality, that I am sure you will discover !
The door cards are very poor, they rattle and the clips etc break. the windows can be problematical with the 'drop' function etc.
The rear wheel arches are prone to rusting, as is the boot lid IIRC.
However, when they are sorted, they are very good.
Looking forward to your journey !
I had a 328 E36 convertible, that was my Late Uncle's car, an automatic, which, had it been a manual, I would still have !
I then bought a nice E36 318iS which had a few modifications, not all to my liking.....!
I eventually got that car to where I wanted it, drove it to Monaco and did a couple of track days with it.
Mine was silver, but yours is a very rare colour, in fact I have never seen one in that shade of blue.
They are good cars, but let down a bit by the interior quality, that I am sure you will discover !
The door cards are very poor, they rattle and the clips etc break. the windows can be problematical with the 'drop' function etc.
The rear wheel arches are prone to rusting, as is the boot lid IIRC.
However, when they are sorted, they are very good.
Looking forward to your journey !
Clippedtheapex said:
One of nine, that’s why you probably haven’t seen one!
I’ve been speaking to a few people, and this car wouldn’t have been far off list of an M3 at the time.
It has quite a few extra’s on it.
Individual Colour
Individual Leather with Piping
Harman Kardon
Lux Interior
Passenger Airbag
172 Cup was a labour of love. It had Trophy Seats, Trophy V6 spoiler, plus the mega money boot struts. Lowered on H&R coilovers, cam’s, Quaife LSD, KTEC exhaust, Sabelt RS wheel, short shift.
Car probably owed me best part of £15k once I’d done with it!
Nine! Wonder how many of those are still on the road. Does look good, if it wasn’t a track car I’d of been tempted with a set of M3 Vadar seats for it to. Have you ever thought of going mad and doing a S54 swap on it? I’ve been speaking to a few people, and this car wouldn’t have been far off list of an M3 at the time.
It has quite a few extra’s on it.
Individual Colour
Individual Leather with Piping
Harman Kardon
Lux Interior
Passenger Airbag
172 Cup was a labour of love. It had Trophy Seats, Trophy V6 spoiler, plus the mega money boot struts. Lowered on H&R coilovers, cam’s, Quaife LSD, KTEC exhaust, Sabelt RS wheel, short shift.
Car probably owed me best part of £15k once I’d done with it!
The 172 sounds a near perfect spec, they look great on the Speedline Turini wheels. Did the short shift kit last? I heard mixed reviews on them i.e. being great for 5mins before they break linkages.
Very tempting to get a 172/182 now whilst they are still reasonable and tuck it away in the garage.
jwwbowe said:
Nine! Wonder how many of those are still on the road. Does look good, if it wasn’t a track car I’d of been tempted with a set of M3 Vadar seats for it to. Have you ever thought of going mad and doing a S54 swap on it?
The 172 sounds a near perfect spec, they look great on the Speedline Turini wheels. Did the short shift kit last? I heard mixed reviews on them i.e. being great for 5mins before they break linkages.
Very tempting to get a 172/182 now whilst they are still reasonable and tuck it away in the garage.
S54 is long term plan, but the price of them just keep rising and rising.The 172 sounds a near perfect spec, they look great on the Speedline Turini wheels. Did the short shift kit last? I heard mixed reviews on them i.e. being great for 5mins before they break linkages.
Very tempting to get a 172/182 now whilst they are still reasonable and tuck it away in the garage.
172 was perfect tbh. It didn’t need for anything, was a proper car. Thoroughly enjoyed the ownership experience of it, and thought I’d never sell it. But I did, partially due to this E36, and partially down to needing a daily, and buying an Hyundai I30N Performance.
Shortshift was great - had no issues in 8 years / 30k miles it was fitted. Lovely direct feel to it, was a B&M kit that we’re not available for long. I’ve not seen on before, or since.
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S54 is long term plan, but the price of them just keep rising and rising.
172 was perfect tbh. It didn’t need for anything, was a proper car. Thoroughly enjoyed the ownership experience of it, and thought I’d never sell it. But I did, partially due to this E36, and partially down to needing a daily, and buying an Hyundai I30N Performance.
Shortshift was great - had no issues in 8 years / 30k miles it was fitted. Lovely direct feel to it, was a B&M kit that we’re not available for long. I’ve not seen on before, or since.
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Didn’t realise a S54 was so much now, just had a look on the Bay, £6k for one with a manual gearbox, diff and prop
It is a fantastic engine though, I’ve not driven anything with a better throttle response than a E46 M3. Would be awesome in your E36. Would love to do a E30 conversion were money no object. Ah shame about the 172, I try not to look back on the cars I’ve sold, it’s too depressing seeing how much they are worth now
Three lovely cats there OP, I especially like the 172 and 328.
The colour of the 328 is stunning. I remember a friend had a 328 in he early 2000’s in dark blue with cream leather. It sounded lovely and compared to my cars at the time, it felt really quick.
The underbody restoration looks good.
The colour of the 328 is stunning. I remember a friend had a 328 in he early 2000’s in dark blue with cream leather. It sounded lovely and compared to my cars at the time, it felt really quick.
The underbody restoration looks good.
Yeah that. ^^^^
Proper unicorn that. Nice one.
I’ve had 3 328 Sports over the years, the last one being a thoroughly sorted Technoviolet one from a lad on here. Hi Dan if you’re out there.
As said, enough power to have fun yet not ruinous to run. Compared to M3s they offer great value for money and don’t feel that much slower.
Here’s 2 of my 3 old ones.
Enjoy the car. Looking forward to updates.
Proper unicorn that. Nice one.
I’ve had 3 328 Sports over the years, the last one being a thoroughly sorted Technoviolet one from a lad on here. Hi Dan if you’re out there.
As said, enough power to have fun yet not ruinous to run. Compared to M3s they offer great value for money and don’t feel that much slower.
Here’s 2 of my 3 old ones.
Enjoy the car. Looking forward to updates.
marky911 said:
Yeah that. ^^^^
Proper unicorn that. Nice one.
I’ve had 3 328 Sports over the years, the last one being a thoroughly sorted Technoviolet one from a lad on here. Hi Dan if you’re out there.
As said, enough power to have fun yet not ruinous to run. Compared to M3s they offer great value for money and don’t feel that much slower.
Here’s 2 of my 3 old ones.
Enjoy the car. Looking forward to updates.
Hello Mark!Proper unicorn that. Nice one.
I’ve had 3 328 Sports over the years, the last one being a thoroughly sorted Technoviolet one from a lad on here. Hi Dan if you’re out there.
As said, enough power to have fun yet not ruinous to run. Compared to M3s they offer great value for money and don’t feel that much slower.
Here’s 2 of my 3 old ones.
Enjoy the car. Looking forward to updates.
That's my old 328i (S418)
Do you still have it?
Literally the one car I regret selling, I see a E36 thread and cant stay away!
I think I recognise the santorini one from my E36 days.
Edited by Dannbodge on Tuesday 5th January 15:32
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