All this talk of 328i Sports.....

[pstruck]

....has got me REALLY wanting one!

There seem to have been a few threads recently, both on here and BMWLand, with people showing off their E36 328i Sports. When it was the current model I remember thinking what a fine looking beast it was.

Ok, so it's getting on a bit now, but I still think it looks great and there are plenty of owners out there extolling its virtues. Prices seem to be rock bottom and I'm seriously considering getting one as a second car/toy/project.

Nikasil and worn suspension compenents aside, what else is there to be wary of on these?

Anyone want to convince me it's a really bad idea before I part with cash (and potentially upset the Mrs)?

There seem to be some really nice examples out there for well under £3k. Is a car like this going to end up being a bit of a money pit?

[declasm]

How much are you looking to spend? I just did it (upsetting the mrs in the process...) and I came in at the very low-budget end but the car I found is decent enough (everything works!) and happily survived a load of laps around the new Silverstone layout yesterday without any surprises.

I would suggest that if you're buying a car to use (maintain and repair as necessary) then I'm hoping these cars can be owned by the budget conscious. I have seen however that many owners are capable of spending huge sums on them - there are plenty of options for performance and styling upgrades.

As you say prices are rock bottom and these cars are huge value at the moment (far better than the equivalent E30). I say go for it, you won't be disappointed (well I wasn't).

[pstruck]

Well given that I've seen what appear to be some nice ones at £2 - 3k, then I'd say my budget will sit in that range somewhere. I don't want to spend a fortune running it, as it would be a second car. I'm reasonably competent with a spanner, so would anticipate doing routine stuff myself.

I'm not given to carrying out loads of mods, perhaps a few, if decent gains are there to be had for little outlay.

[andy665]

Theres a couple of nice ones for sale here:

http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/index.php

[MiniMadMike]

I'm looking to sell mine, i want £3800 for it. Its a pretty mint one and the spec list is HUGE! The colour is techno violet metallic - they only made 117 in that colour. It also has a folder full of history with even a copy of the original invoice for £32k! PM me if you're interested!

[BalhamBadger]

Well I have recently bitten the bullet and purchased a 328i Sport of my own. It is in very good condition though the mileage is high at 140k.

It has full BMWSH for most of its life, then specialist service history for the last few years at good intervals. I fell for it when I went to see it and paid £3k which is probably a little over the top, you could get a good one for a few £100s less than that.

Apart from a few niggles with the electrics (which I hope to get sorted this week) it runs very well indeed, with no clanking/creaking from the suspension and the interior is in great nick. For my first car I am blown away by the performance and I'm really happy with it.

The only things I'd like to fix apart from the electrics is putting in a new stereo and addressing the wind noise that creeps in through the passenger door when hitting 80 leptons on the mway, but I guess you have to expect a few issues like this with a car that's 10 years old+. Happy to answer any questions I can though there are people far more qualified/knowledgeable on here than I!

A lot of them on the PH classifieds have been barried up in a most objectionable fashion but good ones do come up, e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2017017.htm. Looks better than mine, half the mileage for just over the price I paid(!).

[pstruck]

Thanks for the info guys. Re the point about convincing me that it would be a bad idea.... you're not doing very well!

MMM - now that is a fine looking car. It temps me so! More than I'm willing to pay though by about a grand I reckon.

Edited by pstruck on Monday 6th September 18:33

[BalhamBadger]

pstruck said:

Thanks for the info guys. Re the point about convincing me that it would be a bad idea.... you're not doing very well!

MMM - now that is a fine looking car. It temps me so! More than I'm willing to pay though by about a grand I reckon.

Edited by pstruck on Monday 6th September 18:33

Probably a tad overpriced without knowing more about the spec but it is a lovely colour.

[neil_bolton]

By the way chaps, my 328i Sport is up for sale again.

Just flew through it's MOT without a fault, and a couple of simple advisories...

[andy665]

I paid more than £3800 for mine three months ago but I knew it needed no money spending on it - the fact that I have spent money is down to choice rather than requirement. Unlike sales departments I have found after sales (at my local dealer anyway) people at BMW absolutely superb and parts prices actually a little lower than on my previous Mk4 Golf and a lot lower than on my Corrados

[MiniMadMike]

BalhamBadger said:

pstruck said:

Thanks for the info guys. Re the point about convincing me that it would be a bad idea.... you're not doing very well!

MMM - now that is a fine looking car. It temps me so! More than I'm willing to pay though by about a grand I reckon.

Edited by pstruck on Monday 6th September 18:33

Probably a tad overpriced without knowing more about the spec but it is a lovely colour.

Thanks guys. You're right it is top money but it really is lovely. Its covered 90k which isn't unusually low, but it's really good to drive and the bodywork is very good. Just had an MOT in August and a service. FSH part dealer and then the last two at a specialist. In terms of spec it has pretty much everything you could want. I need to put an ad together once i've picked up my new company wagon that is replacing it (MINI Convertible Diesel - bit of a contrast!). To give you an overview, its got the M3 interior, upgraded sound system (no sub, just speakers and head unit), clifford alarm, M3 LSD, remap, M50 manifold, quick shift kit, X-brace, HIDs...the list goes on. Theres more but like i say PM me if interested!

OP - best of luck with the search, I hope you find a nice one within budget! They are a great car, bit pricey to run but worth every penny! I wish I could keep mine but the time has come to move out of the parents place, so unfortunately sacrifices must be made!

[BalhamBadger]

MiniMadMike said:

BalhamBadger said:

pstruck said:

Thanks for the info guys. Re the point about convincing me that it would be a bad idea.... you're not doing very well!

MMM - now that is a fine looking car. It temps me so! More than I'm willing to pay though by about a grand I reckon.

Edited by pstruck on Monday 6th September 18:33

Probably a tad overpriced without knowing more about the spec but it is a lovely colour.

Thanks guys. You're right it is top money but it really is lovely. Its covered 90k which isn't unusually low, but it's really good to drive and the bodywork is very good. Just had an MOT in August and a service. FSH part dealer and then the last two at a specialist. In terms of spec it has pretty much everything you could want. I need to put an ad together once i've picked up my new company wagon that is replacing it (MINI Convertible Diesel - bit of a contrast!). To give you an overview, its got the M3 interior, upgraded sound system (no sub, just speakers and head unit), clifford alarm, M3 LSD, remap, M50 manifold, quick shift kit, X-brace, HIDs...the list goes on. Theres more but like i say PM me if interested!

OP - best of luck with the search, I hope you find a nice one within budget! They are a great car, bit pricey to run but worth every penny! I wish I could keep mine but the time has come to move out of the parents place, so unfortunately sacrifices must be made!

I take it all back. Sounds great. Mine is totally standard as far as I can tell but a few choice upgrades are definitely in the pipeline.

[BalhamBadger]

MiniMadMike said:

BalhamBadger said:

pstruck said:

Thanks for the info guys. Re the point about convincing me that it would be a bad idea.... you're not doing very well!

MMM - now that is a fine looking car. It temps me so! More than I'm willing to pay though by about a grand I reckon.

Edited by pstruck on Monday 6th September 18:33

Probably a tad overpriced without knowing more about the spec but it is a lovely colour.

Thanks guys. You're right it is top money but it really is lovely. Its covered 90k which isn't unusually low, but it's really good to drive and the bodywork is very good. Just had an MOT in August and a service. FSH part dealer and then the last two at a specialist. In terms of spec it has pretty much everything you could want. I need to put an ad together once i've picked up my new company wagon that is replacing it (MINI Convertible Diesel - bit of a contrast!). To give you an overview, its got the M3 interior, upgraded sound system (no sub, just speakers and head unit), clifford alarm, M3 LSD, remap, M50 manifold, quick shift kit, X-brace, HIDs...the list goes on. Theres more but like i say PM me if interested!

OP - best of luck with the search, I hope you find a nice one within budget! They are a great car, bit pricey to run but worth every penny! I wish I could keep mine but the time has come to move out of the parents place, so unfortunately sacrifices must be made!

I take it all back. Sounds great. Mine is totally standard as far as I can tell but a few choice upgrades are definitely in the pipeline.

[MiniMadMike]

BalhamBadger said:

MiniMadMike said:

BalhamBadger said:

pstruck said:

Thanks for the info guys. Re the point about convincing me that it would be a bad idea.... you're not doing very well!

MMM - now that is a fine looking car. It temps me so! More than I'm willing to pay though by about a grand I reckon.

Edited by pstruck on Monday 6th September 18:33

Probably a tad overpriced without knowing more about the spec but it is a lovely colour.

Thanks guys. You're right it is top money but it really is lovely. Its covered 90k which isn't unusually low, but it's really good to drive and the bodywork is very good. Just had an MOT in August and a service. FSH part dealer and then the last two at a specialist. In terms of spec it has pretty much everything you could want. I need to put an ad together once i've picked up my new company wagon that is replacing it (MINI Convertible Diesel - bit of a contrast!). To give you an overview, its got the M3 interior, upgraded sound system (no sub, just speakers and head unit), clifford alarm, M3 LSD, remap, M50 manifold, quick shift kit, X-brace, HIDs...the list goes on. Theres more but like i say PM me if interested!

OP - best of luck with the search, I hope you find a nice one within budget! They are a great car, bit pricey to run but worth every penny! I wish I could keep mine but the time has come to move out of the parents place, so unfortunately sacrifices must be made!

I take it all back. Sounds great. Mine is totally standard as far as I can tell but a few choice upgrades are definitely in the pipeline.

Thanks. I'd really recommend the 'Dave F' induction kit, or a Gruppe M one if you can stretch to it. Mine has a standard exhaust and the sound it makes is

[andy665]

I'd also recommend an Eisenmann exhaust, superb quality and produces a lovely note - not loud or intrusive, just deeper than standard

Edited by andy665 on Tuesday 7th September 08:52

[BalhamBadger]

andy665 said:

I'd also recommend an Eisenmann exhaust, superb quality and produces a lovely note - not loud or intrusive, just deeper than standard

Edited by andy665 on Tuesday 7th September 08:52

Cor they look like a bit of alright!

[andy665]

They are - always had Millteks in the past and been happy with them but the Eisenmann is in a different league quality wise