RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 323i Coupe
Discussion
I wouldn't call this a shed. Sadly these unmolested E36s are becoming so hard to find. BMW got these spot on .
I preferred these later models as they are better equipped and trimmed nicer.
Ive driven the E36 328I coupe one of the nicest cars ive ever driven the feeling in the steering is great.
looks like a bargain at £1495 buy it keep it original as values my well rise in future .
I preferred these later models as they are better equipped and trimmed nicer.
Ive driven the E36 328I coupe one of the nicest cars ive ever driven the feeling in the steering is great.
looks like a bargain at £1495 buy it keep it original as values my well rise in future .
Despite the colour and gearbox this would be a lovely shed to own.
Mainly because of the originality - i like the standard cassette deck etc and decent condition but it would also be rewarding and fun on those smaller wheels. The 323i has just enough power, but the manifold can be changed etc which would help of course. Its more about flow, feedback/steering feel and the smooth six
I would rather find one in middle class housewife spec than one modified badly.
There are a few of us E36 owners on PH who rate them above more modern/expensive motors
Get them while you can.
Mainly because of the originality - i like the standard cassette deck etc and decent condition but it would also be rewarding and fun on those smaller wheels. The 323i has just enough power, but the manifold can be changed etc which would help of course. Its more about flow, feedback/steering feel and the smooth six
I would rather find one in middle class housewife spec than one modified badly.
There are a few of us E36 owners on PH who rate them above more modern/expensive motors
Get them while you can.
This is my family car, a 328i non sunroof manual which I really enjoy:
No rust (though it has been cavity waxed) and does have some interesting modifications to make it a great drive. Good ride, proper steering, slideable and more fun on road than most, if not all new BMWs.
It does have:
- Bilstein B12 kit
- Adjustable ARBs
- Rebuilt Z3 rack
- E30 arms and M3 bushes
- Vibratechnics engine mounts
- X Brace
- Upgraded rad
- CDV delete
- New discs, superbly fluid and DS2500 pads
The rack and arms have made a huge difference - it feels as chuckable as a hot hatch.
Will get a UUC shortshift, lightweight flywheel, M5 clutch and some engine mods.
Total expenditure including labour would be around £9-10k. I can't think of a better car for my needs for the money.
No rust (though it has been cavity waxed) and does have some interesting modifications to make it a great drive. Good ride, proper steering, slideable and more fun on road than most, if not all new BMWs.
It does have:
- Bilstein B12 kit
- Adjustable ARBs
- Rebuilt Z3 rack
- E30 arms and M3 bushes
- Vibratechnics engine mounts
- X Brace
- Upgraded rad
- CDV delete
- New discs, superbly fluid and DS2500 pads
The rack and arms have made a huge difference - it feels as chuckable as a hot hatch.
Will get a UUC shortshift, lightweight flywheel, M5 clutch and some engine mods.
Total expenditure including labour would be around £9-10k. I can't think of a better car for my needs for the money.
rtz62 said:
One of the few models of that era that always oooked like someone had been given the task of going to the xerox to photocopy the design plans of the wheels and somehow had contrived to hit the ‘reduce by 25%’ button...
And just look at all those buttons at the bottom of the console! All (?) craftily contrived to be on one button in the steering wheel or indicator stalk these days.
I have to say that this looks....bland. Perhaps it’s the combination of the colour, trim and wheels, and a darker colour with bigger wheels may look aesthetically pleasing, but this wouldn’t be my first choice.
True, the colour's not the best (classic 'old man blue') but nor is it the worst. You're correct though, the rank and file models are somewhat under-wheeled. An original set of M double spoke 16"s would look great as would any of the OEM 17" M3 options. However, as mentioned before, the whole 'M3 Rep' thing is overdone so I'd suggest a nice set of Style 32 or maybe even some period correct AC Schnitzer Type II would beideal. And just look at all those buttons at the bottom of the console! All (?) craftily contrived to be on one button in the steering wheel or indicator stalk these days.
I have to say that this looks....bland. Perhaps it’s the combination of the colour, trim and wheels, and a darker colour with bigger wheels may look aesthetically pleasing, but this wouldn’t be my first choice.
However when you run 17s on a standard E36 the front arch gap is comical so we need to whack on some lowering springs, a 30mm drop at the front is ample. Once the wheels and 'stance' (in the looser sense of the word - I'm not suggesting dumping it on its ass) is taken care of, even Old Man Blue can look great, so don't let the less popular colours put you off.
Limpet said:
A neighbour was running a similar vintage 328i coupe as a daily until recently. It looked tired, but it still sounded wonderful, even just trundling down the close. A BMW six of this era still has one of the most distinctive engine notes of all.
I'd want a 328i personally. Faster than the 320i and 323i, with no economy penalty
Good shed though.
Of course the 328i is more desirable but they're getting harder and harder to find. The sedans and tourings have mostly been used as swap donors for 318is, E30s and Compacts, the coupes are getting scarce now, especially manual, as they've mostly been stripped and tracked or drifted.I'd want a 328i personally. Faster than the 320i and 323i, with no economy penalty
Good shed though.
Even the 323i is starting to get scarce. 318is are very rare in original form as they've mostly been turned into 2.8s (still a 1.9 on the log book, bruv!).
Still plenty of 320i knocking around though, as nobody likes them!
Nice shed. Pity about the slushbox, but the M52B25 is designed for torque by means of it's 2.0 litre intake manifold. Silky smooth but it means it is a bit strangled over 5000rpm.
If you have a manual, the famous M50 intake mod - if done correctly - gives it back it's reach and top end at the expense of a little bit of pull lower down.
Sort the bushes and dampers on these cars and they are just peachy to drive.
Imagine a bmw with steering feel! Here it is.
And here is mine. Any excuse etc.
Okay, it's a manual 323ti (not sold in UK), but close enough;
If you have a manual, the famous M50 intake mod - if done correctly - gives it back it's reach and top end at the expense of a little bit of pull lower down.
Sort the bushes and dampers on these cars and they are just peachy to drive.
Imagine a bmw with steering feel! Here it is.
And here is mine. Any excuse etc.
Okay, it's a manual 323ti (not sold in UK), but close enough;
323ti said:
Nice shed. Pity about the slushbox, but the M52B25 is designed for torque by means of it's 2.0 litre intake manifold. Silky smooth but it means it is a bit strangled over 5000rpm.
If you have a manual, the famous M50 intake mod - if done correctly - gives it back it's reach and top end at the expense of a little bit of pull lower down.
Sort the bushes and dampers on these cars and they are just peachy to drive.
Imagine a bmw with steering feel! Here it is.
And here is mine. Any excuse etc.
Okay, it's a manual 323ti (not sold in UK), but close enough;
Very nice! I do like Compacts, totally underrated. If you have a manual, the famous M50 intake mod - if done correctly - gives it back it's reach and top end at the expense of a little bit of pull lower down.
Sort the bushes and dampers on these cars and they are just peachy to drive.
Imagine a bmw with steering feel! Here it is.
And here is mine. Any excuse etc.
Okay, it's a manual 323ti (not sold in UK), but close enough;
As far as the M50 manifold is concerned, if the fuelling is mapped to make proper use of the bigger manifold you don't lose anything at all low down. Even without the map it's less a case of 'losing' power, more that the power band is moved further up the rev range.
Yeah, I had mine mapped and dyno'd after the M50 install, I went from a max 170hp @ 5200rpm to 192 hp @ 6250 but dropped in torque from 245 Nm to 235.
Still makes it feel more linear though, you go from pulling hard low down then feeling strangled over 5k, to an ever increasing swell in power. Very straight six-ish. Just great.
Still makes it feel more linear though, you go from pulling hard low down then feeling strangled over 5k, to an ever increasing swell in power. Very straight six-ish. Just great.
well, I guess your dyno figures show a 10nm loss but it's hardly noticable IMO.
Also I've driven one or two M52B28TU and whilst I can't vouch for the overall engine health as one was a loaner and the other was a buy-to-export, I really couldn't discern much difference over a regular unmodded M52. Any extra zing was obviously cancelled out by E46 lard.
Also I've driven one or two M52B28TU and whilst I can't vouch for the overall engine health as one was a loaner and the other was a buy-to-export, I really couldn't discern much difference over a regular unmodded M52. Any extra zing was obviously cancelled out by E46 lard.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's dual VANOS as well is it not? It's nuts how much extra complexity there is for no apparent gain whatsoever. Don't think it's any more efficient, don't think there's any real power or driveability improvements. Plus I don't think the emissions are that much better either despite there being twice as many (four times on a Z3!) catalytic converters and a whole host of extra lambda sensors to go wrong and want replacing all the time.
The 1.9 M44 had the DISA system which iirc is basically a variable manifold size, is it not?
C70R said:
Agree in some respects, but either way we're still looking at a distinctly unexciting car here.
Naah. This is a peach of a car. RWD, I6 engine smooth as butter. Sweet handling with the potential to be even sweeter for not much outlay. Increasingly classic looks. Either a great base to mod into something a bit more interesting or ideal as is to slip under the radar. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff