BMW E36 328i Sport (Round 2)
Discussion
Well my previous ownership of a 328 wasn't very fruitful.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The car blew up, then when it has a new engine it soon succumbed to yet more problems which lead me to give up on it.
Being honest with myself, it was a bit of a pup.
The car destroyed my trust in the M52 engine. That is, until, I got an E39 with the M52 engine, which is on 258k and still running sweet as a nut.
The E39 is a very good car, but I feel it is far too grown up for me, and it's never a car which I feel like going out in a hoon in. So I am looking to shift it soon, because its replacement is now here.
I was considering going down the Impreza (always wanted one) or turbo MR2 route, but the insurance costs are still ridiculous to the point where it wasn't worth it. So I wanted something RWD and fun to drive, and just kept coming back to 328s, despite my old one being a total failure. I was looking at MX5s, but I decided I love big engined cars too much.
I bid on a couple, lost the bids... but the other day got a message through fleabay last night of a second chance offer. I pretty much snapped it up there and then, as it was in my favourite BMW colour, had a decent service history and was one of the later models. To top it off the car is an individual spec, meaning that this colour on the E36 is quite hard to find. Then I set off for Bristol to collect it, the seller was a nice chap to deal with and very honest about the car and its faults. Drove it home without any issues, wasn't exactly the most thrilling journey down the M4 but at this stage I'm glad all the important bits are working. All in all I'm very pleased with it. (For now!)
Here are some crap pics until I get some better ones of it.
The colour is velvet blue, which is much more purple-ish in real life than in the pictures.
The car has a few little faults, a shock needs replacing, bit of surface rust on one of the sills, the headlights are misting, but nothing major. Took it out for a hoon tonight, the car is very responsive and the suspension makes it feel extremely planted, despite the rear shock being toast! It was a good laugh, remembering how great it is having a car that is really fun to drive.
If all goes well, I'm hoping to actually keep this car. I've gone through far too many for my age (10 cars at coming up to 23). I'll keep it alongside the Impreza that I'll eventually get once I have somewhere to keep it
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The car blew up, then when it has a new engine it soon succumbed to yet more problems which lead me to give up on it.
Being honest with myself, it was a bit of a pup.
The car destroyed my trust in the M52 engine. That is, until, I got an E39 with the M52 engine, which is on 258k and still running sweet as a nut.
The E39 is a very good car, but I feel it is far too grown up for me, and it's never a car which I feel like going out in a hoon in. So I am looking to shift it soon, because its replacement is now here.
I was considering going down the Impreza (always wanted one) or turbo MR2 route, but the insurance costs are still ridiculous to the point where it wasn't worth it. So I wanted something RWD and fun to drive, and just kept coming back to 328s, despite my old one being a total failure. I was looking at MX5s, but I decided I love big engined cars too much.
I bid on a couple, lost the bids... but the other day got a message through fleabay last night of a second chance offer. I pretty much snapped it up there and then, as it was in my favourite BMW colour, had a decent service history and was one of the later models. To top it off the car is an individual spec, meaning that this colour on the E36 is quite hard to find. Then I set off for Bristol to collect it, the seller was a nice chap to deal with and very honest about the car and its faults. Drove it home without any issues, wasn't exactly the most thrilling journey down the M4 but at this stage I'm glad all the important bits are working. All in all I'm very pleased with it. (For now!)
Here are some crap pics until I get some better ones of it.
The colour is velvet blue, which is much more purple-ish in real life than in the pictures.
The car has a few little faults, a shock needs replacing, bit of surface rust on one of the sills, the headlights are misting, but nothing major. Took it out for a hoon tonight, the car is very responsive and the suspension makes it feel extremely planted, despite the rear shock being toast! It was a good laugh, remembering how great it is having a car that is really fun to drive.
If all goes well, I'm hoping to actually keep this car. I've gone through far too many for my age (10 cars at coming up to 23). I'll keep it alongside the Impreza that I'll eventually get once I have somewhere to keep it
Edited by getawayturtle on Friday 22 February 03:43
Thanks for the comments, it is a nice car. No signs or record of crash damage, full service history and the I couldn't have asked for better wheels to go on it.
They are indeed getting rarer, some are getting broken for bits, but a lot of them are being snapped up by the Poles and finding new homes in Poland, like my old one did. I think it's fair enough though, in my experience they were very nice, offered a fair price with no haggling, turned up and took it away within 24hrs of making an offer over fleabay, absolutely no hassle. Which means a lot when you're fed up with dreamers and messers!
And yes, I hope I have better luck with this one too. You might see me driving around in it... or broken down in a cloud of steam.
They are indeed getting rarer, some are getting broken for bits, but a lot of them are being snapped up by the Poles and finding new homes in Poland, like my old one did. I think it's fair enough though, in my experience they were very nice, offered a fair price with no haggling, turned up and took it away within 24hrs of making an offer over fleabay, absolutely no hassle. Which means a lot when you're fed up with dreamers and messers!
And yes, I hope I have better luck with this one too. You might see me driving around in it... or broken down in a cloud of steam.
The Nur said:
Good stuff! I've still got mine, we shall have to get a comparison test on the go some time
Definitely! I haven't been able to push the car too hard yet, the rear pads are very low so need to fit some new ones first before being brave with the corners.
Here are a couple more shots:
sc4589 said:
You should definitely buy an M50 for it. 
That colour is amazing, looks like Cadbury's purple! Good luck with this one...
I do love the colour, very lucky I managed to get it given how rare it is!That colour is amazing, looks like Cadbury's purple! Good luck with this one...
The Nur said:
I think he's already got one 
My old M50 is now on sc4589s touring Time to find another..
getawayturtle said:
sc4589 said:
You should definitely buy an M50 for it.
That colour is amazing, looks like Cadbury's purple! Good luck with this one...
I do love the colour, very lucky I managed to get it given how rare it is!That colour is amazing, looks like Cadbury's purple! Good luck with this one...
The Nur said:
I think he's already got one
My old M50 is now on sc4589s touring Time to find another..
if it's any consolation, I can attest that it's well worth doing and can be done without a conversion kit per se... just a few connectors and bits of pipe here and there.If you're around my way at any point, please let me know- would love to get some decent photos of the pair we have.
sc4589 said:
Sorry mate. if it's any consolation, I can attest that it's well worth doing and can be done without a conversion kit per se... just a few connectors and bits of pipe here and there.
If you're around my way at any point, please let me know- would love to get some decent photos of the pair we have.
When the time comes, don't be surprised if you get an email because I've got myself stuck while doing it if it's any consolation, I can attest that it's well worth doing and can be done without a conversion kit per se... just a few connectors and bits of pipe here and there.If you're around my way at any point, please let me know- would love to get some decent photos of the pair we have.
And yes I'll be sure to let you know if I ever find myself heading down that way. Likewise, if you ever decide to test your Touring on the Welsh mountain roads, give us a shout. If you haven't tried them yet, you've been missing out!
getawayturtle said:
When the time comes, don't be surprised if you get an email because I've got myself stuck while doing it
And yes I'll be sure to let you know if I ever find myself heading down that way. Likewise, if you ever decide to test your Touring on the Welsh mountain roads, give us a shout. If you haven't tried them yet, you've been missing out!
No worries, I've stripped it all down a few times now so I'm fairly dab at it. My first advice would be to not do it. And yes I'll be sure to let you know if I ever find myself heading down that way. Likewise, if you ever decide to test your Touring on the Welsh mountain roads, give us a shout. If you haven't tried them yet, you've been missing out!
countless hours and knuckle skin I'm never getting back!It's on my list... new job and more money freed up soon, so I'll have the beans to a) get her sorted properly (there's a long list) and b) get to some decent roads!
sc4589 said:
No worries, I've stripped it all down a few times now so I'm fairly dab at it. My first advice would be to not do it. countless hours and knuckle skin I'm never getting back!
It's on my list... new job and more money freed up soon, so I'll have the beans to a) get her sorted properly (there's a long list) and b) get to some decent roads!
Reassurance right there! countless hours and knuckle skin I'm never getting back!It's on my list... new job and more money freed up soon, so I'll have the beans to a) get her sorted properly (there's a long list) and b) get to some decent roads!
I need to get this 328 sorted properly too, there's a very small patch of rust on the OSR arch at the bottom, and paint is bubbling a little at the top. Might get the small patch of rust sanded down to the metal and primered, though I have a feeling the upper part of the arch may well have to be cut out and completely replaced for a proper fix. The salty air will not be doing the car any favours!
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