BMW E36 328i Sport Coupe

[ChrisDT]

Thanks Guys, itching to drive it but just the simple case of fitting the engine haha - (in between kids/work/wife/stuff)!

[skylarking808]

Paul S4 said:

Very nice red E36 coupe there.
Discrete and subtle are the words that would describe the above car ! Not many 328 coupes are 'as original' as this one seems to be, and it is all the better for it. I am assuming that it does not have an M5 V8 under the bonnet....

+1

[ChrisDT]

Not a massive update, beaten by the school run and darkness but the engine is ready to come out - ideally without the gearbox as I have to do it on my own but I know the best way to do it is as 1 unit!

So, replacement engine built (apart from manifolds) and pretty much ready to go in, just waiting for when i have a hand to get it all done.



The current jigsaw in my garage:

[ChrisDT]

Not got much spannering done recently, managed to get the new thermostat and housing fitted (Not that difficult) and my new water pump arrived today.

Got some of the block painted with a base coat, not sure to go black or silver with it - Maybe silver then I can find any leaks but the confident person in me says do it black and it will look better. I'll see!

Sending the nose off to be painted tomorrow so I can get that back on all shiny and may as well get the front bumper done when that comes back. (Using the paint shop we use at work so just drip feeding him stuff)

Anyway - Non-exciting pictures:

[ChrisDT]

I had been looking for a while, and only because I saw the thread for someone looking for an engine did I think about contacting them and askign if they wanted to sell the car...

The rest as you know is all on here.

[rossi1]

Great thread and great to see another unmolested 328i sport , also running the standard BBS wheels also for a change
Iv held onto mine for 11 years now, M50 mani, BBTB, Simota intake, Decat and supersprint back combined with a modified map ( I am currently editing ) along with full poly-bushings,coilovers and E46 328ci Front carriers and larger diameter discs.
Makes for a lovely drive.

[jimi]

About 10 years ago I had a silver 328i Sport identical to this one. It was and probably still is my favourite car - I would love to get another...

[ChrisDT]

Love that blue!

I'm unsure what to do with the wheels (i'm keeping them) but they had a dull polished finish from new iirc and I want to keep that look so may get the lip painted in that finish and the centres done in Titanium like the car. I keep changing my mind and no doubt will continue too.

[carpetsoiler]

ChrisDT said:

Love that blue!

I'm unsure what to do with the wheels (i'm keeping them) but they had a dull polished finish from new iirc and I want to keep that look so may get the lip painted in that finish and the centres done in Titanium like the car. I keep changing my mind and no doubt will continue too.

The project car I've done the engine rebuild on is Arctic Silver and will shortly be rocking the standard RCs with polished lips, gold bolts and grey barrels- pretty good colour combo for a silver body.

[rossi1]

carpetsoiler said:

ChrisDT said:

Love that blue!

I'm unsure what to do with the wheels (i'm keeping them) but they had a dull polished finish from new iirc and I want to keep that look so may get the lip painted in that finish and the centres done in Titanium like the car. I keep changing my mind and no doubt will continue too.

The project car I've done the engine rebuild on is Arctic Silver and will shortly be rocking the standard RCs with polished lips, gold bolts and grey barrels- pretty good colour combo for a silver body.

Seen the barrels done grey a few times but seems to take that special look away from the RC's .
If you get the chance Chris I would break them down, spend time polishing the lips , new polished stainless bolts and get the barrels powder coated silver. Will finish your motor off beautifully , all other combos Iv seen in the past just tend to look a little out of place.

[carpetsoiler]

rossi1 said:

carpetsoiler said:

ChrisDT said:

Love that blue!

I'm unsure what to do with the wheels (i'm keeping them) but they had a dull polished finish from new iirc and I want to keep that look so may get the lip painted in that finish and the centres done in Titanium like the car. I keep changing my mind and no doubt will continue too.

The project car I've done the engine rebuild on is Arctic Silver and will shortly be rocking the standard RCs with polished lips, gold bolts and grey barrels- pretty good colour combo for a silver body.

Seen the barrels done grey a few times but seems to take that special look away from the RC's .
If you get the chance Chris I would break them down, spend time polishing the lips , new polished stainless bolts and get the barrels powder coated silver. Will finish your motor off beautifully , all other combos Iv seen in the past just tend to look a little out of place.

I think they look incredibly bland in silver. Then again, I tend to go for slightly more... lurid... colour options...



Either way, silver against a silver car- in my books- is a no-no. Grey against silver, however, is perfect. Have a look at the grey ones once they're done, you may change your mind. Especially against the red leather interior.

[ChrisDT]

Interesting, love the bolts!

I certainly don't want black or graphite centres so i'll have a closer look at other options once I get to that point.

[ChrisDT]

Not really much of an update, been tied up with one thing or another but finally the engine is out, new engine has water pump, alloy thermostat housing, new thermostat and been apinted - Found that the previous owner has managed to break off a bolt in the bell housing - engine thread so trying to get that out then attach the clutch and re-fitting is reversal of removal! (Or so they say)

[nosuchuser]

ChrisDT said:

Not really much of an update, been tied up with one thing or another but finally the engine is out, new engine has water pump, alloy thermostat housing, new thermostat and been apinted - Found that the previous owner has managed to break off a bolt in the bell housing - engine thread so trying to get that out then attach the clutch and re-fitting is reversal of removal! (Or so they say)

Where did you go for the water pump, thermostat and housing? Need to do mine at some point

[carpetsoiler]

nosuchuser said:

ChrisDT said:

Not really much of an update, been tied up with one thing or another but finally the engine is out, new engine has water pump, alloy thermostat housing, new thermostat and been apinted - Found that the previous owner has managed to break off a bolt in the bell housing - engine thread so trying to get that out then attach the clutch and re-fitting is reversal of removal! (Or so they say)

Where did you go for the water pump, thermostat and housing? Need to do mine at some point

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152120709161

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371789628805

These are the parts I fit to customer cars. I've never had an issue with Meyle water pumps, the thermostats are OEM equipment (Behr and Wahler do the OEM ones), and the housing is alloy- therefore a significant upgrade. Hope this helps.

[ChrisDT]

Beat me to it!

[TroubledSoul]

carpetsoiler said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152120709161

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371789628805

These are the parts I fit to customer cars. I've never had an issue with Meyle water pumps, the thermostats are OEM equipment (Behr and Wahler do the OEM ones), and the housing is alloy- therefore a significant upgrade. Hope this helps.

I also have usually used Meyle items successfully but on my Evo the one I bought from a user over on Cutters just didn't fit right and leaked. It was very strange, like it just wasn't cast quite right or something. The bolt holes didn't line up bob on and it didn't sit quite right once it was bolted on. Have to say though, that's the one and only time I've had any issues with Meyle parts.

I ended up having to put the old one back on, but luckily it had a metal or composite impeller on it so should be OK (I hope).

Love the thread OP. Keep the updates coming.

[nosuchuser]

carpetsoiler said:

nosuchuser said:

ChrisDT said:

Not really much of an update, been tied up with one thing or another but finally the engine is out, new engine has water pump, alloy thermostat housing, new thermostat and been apinted - Found that the previous owner has managed to break off a bolt in the bell housing - engine thread so trying to get that out then attach the clutch and re-fitting is reversal of removal! (Or so they say)

Where did you go for the water pump, thermostat and housing? Need to do mine at some point

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152120709161

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371789628805

These are the parts I fit to customer cars. I've never had an issue with Meyle water pumps, the thermostats are OEM equipment (Behr and Wahler do the OEM ones), and the housing is alloy- therefore a significant upgrade. Hope this helps.

Ordered, thanks

[vsonix]

MiggyA said:

Don't worry the E36 never had the TU version of the M52.

^ this. Only difference in lump is that pre 1997 you will have Nikasil not Alusil unless it was replaced in the recall. But that looks like an S reg so you should have Alusil from factory.

[vsonix]

ChrisDT said:

I was under impression all 10/98 onward were TU and when it went into the E46 it became the M54?

Nope. The early E46s got the older engines - so the 318i, 323i and 328i all got TU versions of the M52 and M43. The M54 engine was introduced in 2001 when they brought in the 320, 325 and 330 variants. Then the visual facelift came shortly afterwards.