E36 Conertible

[junglie]

Good morning all,

I recently sold my 1993 325i SE and kept the mondeo (don't ask!) and regret the moment. I am going to buy a 530d M Sport or an Audi a4 3.0 tdi quattro but wanted a cheap, fun convertible to pair up with it. I have a few questions that I wish to ask:

1. Is the premium of the 328i wort it over the 325i? I know there is slightly more torque witht he 328i but I also know there are more issues with reliability.
2. What is wind noise like roof up on the motorway where I will spend some time?
3. Is the option of trying to buy a hard top worth the extra outlay.

Has anyone good experience, good or bad, of running one of these cars and is it a better bet over something like a audi cabriolet of the same vintage.

Thanks

Dan

[Ciaran]

I used to have a 328i Sport - or Limited as it was also called. Fantastic motor, never once let me down. As others will tell you, history is important. Mine didn't have a hard top but I wish it did as it was very cold in the winter mornings (it didn't have heated leather either).

The noise wasn't too bad to be honest, you will get used to it. The engine was great, nice noise and when using the "sport" mode the car went like a bat out of hell (for me anyway).

I have to say I really miss it and wish I never sold it. My vote would be for the 328i over the 325. The post 98/99 models didn't have the engine block issues I think.

[wpo750]

I bought my Evo in vert format and I wish I hadn't but I suffer from in cabin OCD and the rag top on the e36 I found to be pretty creaky and rattly. Wind noise wasn't too bad but there was mandatory leakage from the top of the A pillar (driver side for me). I found the car 100x more enjoyable with the roof down as the squeaks and creaks were non apparent but allowed me more time to focus on the scuttle shake. You will no doubt experience issues with the folding action and tension straps for the roof will be stretched causing the roof to foul the cover during operation but there are well documented 'cures' for this online.

A hard top will keep you warmer in the winter and it keeps the e36 looking modern but the extra weight of the lid will compress the rubbers on the top of the screen and A pillars and you will find that this causes leakage too. You can replace the rubber at dealer part only prices (quite dear last time I checked).

I'm giving the e36 vert a hard time but it's probably down to fact that it was detrimental to my M3 experience. I never set out to get a roofless car, it was merely a deal too good to miss at the time. If you are willing to put up with the characteristics then it's an attractive package as I still believe it to be a very pretty car with the roof down.

A 325 vert will be that much older and will only come with a semi auto roof. Digital climate will also not be an option and you're more likely to encounter the flimsy looking early style seats. Find a 328 vert (preferably with alusil block - factory fitted after May 98 build) or even a 323 with all the options. Quite a few late cars came from factory with the M-Sport styling too.

[MitchT]

Ciaran said:

The post 98/99 models didn't have the engine block issues I think.

You think right. Earlier cars had Nikasil liners which were sensitive to the relatively high sulphur in unleaded petrol at that time. Later cars had Alusil liners which weren't a problem. Many of the Nikasil cars had new blocks put in under warranty, but check with BMW that it hasn't just had another Nikasil block put in as that might have degraded a bit by now if it has also had a substantial dose of the older type unleaded. Modern unleaded doesn't seem to cause Nikasil cars a problem, but there's plenty of 328s around with Alusil, so don't take the risk!