Tuesday 15th October 2013

BMW 328i (E36) PH Fleet

Dale reflects on the highs and lows of the first year with his 328i 'ring warrior

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What an amazing year I've had in the E36. From leather-lined sales chariot to VLN practice car, it's been an amazing journey.

Dale remains very pleased with his Nitrons

This time last year I was just getting to grips with replacing my sports cars with a four-door block of Bavarian steel. Academically I knew that the E36 could do the job, otherwise why would they have been so successful racing here at the 'Ring for so many years?

But being honest, I had my doubts that a saloon car could ever be as much as fun as something like my old MX-5 turbo or even the ill-fated RX-8. It's too tall, too big, too heavy, I thought. And there's a 6-cylinder boat anchor hung over the front.

It took some serious expertise, a fair bit of cash and a lot of work to turn the 328i into the dedicated 'ring-tool that it is today. Now it's capable of lap after lap at full speed, and at lap times that would make the old RX-8 blush.

Winter wheel and tyre combo is staying

The biggest improvement, both in measurable times and in subjective feel can still be attributed to the Nitron suspension that was custom-spec'd by Spires. This year my racing has put me behind the seat of quite a few tasty cars, but only a couple of them have handled as well as my old E36. That's quite an achievement really. Especially when you consider that the Nitron kit and set-up by Spires would set you back around £2,500, and both the cars I would consider superior had KW kits worth more than my BMW and Nitrons combined!

The Nitrons work with all those new M3 bushes, bearings and the E30 uniball front arms to produce such a beautifully direct feel from the wheels to the hands. It's brilliant, and something that Infiniti can only dream of with its new fly-by-wire steering.

The E36 has come quite a way...

I've been doing some more laps in tourist traffic, just enjoying the driving. I've finally settled on a brake set-up that doesn't cost the earth. E46 calipers might offer an increase in disc size, but the fact is that stock BMW 325s can do 4-hour and 6-hour races here on standard discs.

So after a conversation with Freddy at Special Brakes I handed over the cash for some Hawk DTC pads. They're a bit sharp, and they took some serious getting used to, but they're what a lot of the race teams use here. And I can see why. They took some serious bedding-in and they don't like it when you use them gently, as deposits build quickly, but they are really strong. As in lock the wheel at 140mph strong. Grabby at first, but you soon get used to them.

And keeping the original disc sizes mean I can still use my 15" wheels and snow tyres. So the season's not going to be finished for a while yet...

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Fact sheet
Car: 1997 BMW 328i SE
Run by: Dale Lomas
Bought: September 2012
Purchase price: £950
Last month at a glance: Did a few laps of the 'ring, commuted to work and back. Didn't need fixing!

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Previous reports:
Dale's RX-8 dies, BMW bought in replacement
What doesn't kill a car makes it stronger ... hopefully
Dale splashes out on suspension...
...and then gets some track tyres too!
E36 takes on E30 (and a deer)
Two old Beemers battle it out on the Nordschleife
328i mixes it with the big boys at VLN practice

 

 

 

[4a4]

Looks like a good laugh... What happened to the kidney grilles in the top picture?

[joe_90]

Also.. what cage?

[Kawasicki]

NVH has moved on a lot since the E36, not sure the same can be said of vehicle dynamics (or packaging for that matter).

[juryjury]

Dale, please, did you do anything special to the engine? I have a 328i too and it leaks oil a little bit. Do you have original hoses and radiators or did you upgrade them? Do you have an oil cooler? I want to run my car on trackdays too and I'm a bit worried if the engine will withstand the abuse. Thank you for your response!

[JimbobVFR]

4a4 said:

Looks like a good laugh... What happened to the kidney grilles in the top picture?

there's mention of hitting a deer in one not the earlier reports, could be taken after that.

[Bionic Billy Nav]

juryjury said:

Dale, please, did you do anything special to the engine? I have a 328i too and it leaks oil a little bit. Do you have original hoses and radiators or did you upgrade them? Do you have an oil cooler? I want to run my car on trackdays too and I'm a bit worried if the engine will withstand the abuse. Thank you for your response!

I had a 328i for two years which I did many track days in the best way to get more power is M50 manifold and big bore throttle body plus de-cat then shed some weight I took 300kg out of mine and had it weighed 1100kg on a weighbridge, the usual front and rear strut braces plus the X-brace off the Z3 stiffens the chassis then I dropped mine 60mm with fairly decent coil overs, I never altered the cooling in anyway and it never went above half on temp guage although the front pads got abit hot a few times even with Goodridge hoses they are a brilliant track day car imo and fast when sorted...

[KathremSeven]

Hi Dale,

I used a 328i coupe on the track and it was quite a long way from being a racer. (here is a vid)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGg8rIZwLmQ
Now I have a seven which is far better. (look at my youtube channel)

But I have taken a 328i with 4 doors since it is the best car for every day use. for me the weakness of the model are :
> Steering : Too much steering turns ... I fitted a Z3 (not an M !) rack which is miles better than standard !
> Brakes : They are too fking weak ... I saw brake calliper kits but they are expensives ... you said E46 callipers ? I will check for those.
> Rear Locking Diff : I have a dying open diff. I want to fit a locking diff ... Torsen (find it weak) or Disc Diff ? What do you have on yours ? Is there a cheap trick there too ?
> Suspension ... 2,5k£ is a lot of money for my old butt. I tried B8 bilstein on my previous 328 and it was as poor as standard suspension. For the moment I have a Sport Pack Standard BMW shocks that are fresh but once they will be worned out I will fit proper stuff.

E36 are made to last ... and they are incredibely cheap to run. Mine has 233 000km on the clock and the engine is dry and healthy. (the rusty body panels are less healthy) I want to keep it forever.

For track abuse I have my caterham then ^^

[Olivera]

Bionic Billy Nav said:

I never altered the cooling in anyway and it never went above half on temp guage

You were very lucky then.

A friend and I have co-owned a number of 328i drift cars and we are on our fourth (ish) in just over a year!

1st dead due to overheating and head gasket failure
2nd sold on as non/partial runner due to vanos and bottom end failure
3rd dead due to overheating and head gasket failure
4th number 3 car now fitted with new 2.8 engine from 528i

The 328i water pump is prone to failure, and the aluminium block does not like overheating as it can warp the head. The early iron block 325i engine is actually much stronger and far more robust.

[Bionic Billy Nav]

Olivera said:

Bionic Billy Nav said:

I never altered the cooling in anyway and it never went above half on temp guage

You were very lucky then.

A friend and I have co-owned a number of 328i drift cars and we are on our fourth (ish) in just over a year!

1st dead due to overheating and head gasket failure
2nd sold on as non/partial runner due to vanos and bottom end failure
3rd dead due to overheating and head gasket failure
4th number 3 car now fitted with new 2.8 engine from 528i

The 328i water pump is prone to failure, and the aluminium block does not like overheating as it can warp the head. The early iron block 325i engine is actually much stronger and far more robust.

Don't get me wrong fella I've had two 325's and a 320 aswel and had my fair share of overheating problems ive also done a head gasket and the earlier models had plastic water pump blades prone to breaking plus thermostats are an extremely common issue but funnily enough in two years of the 328 after much abuse no issues with cooling I mean I had other issues like dual mass flywheel breaking rear handbrake shoes destroying themselves plus rear drive shaft coming loose? etc

[dinkel]

These old Beemers never fail to put a smile on my face:


Zolder 24 hrs and finishing!



3 litre E30 track day animal:

[Bionic Billy Nav]

[Bionic Billy Nav]

[krispe]

Dale - Thanks massively for the passenger ride last Monday (7/10), it was probably the highlight of my whole Ring/Spa trip. I could not believe how fast and committed you were, (even over taking the Ariel Atom!).

I'll be back next year to hire another Swift again, (or maybe something with a bit more power for those hills).

Chris

[dinkel]

Krispe: it's not the car, it's the driver who'll go fast.

[drakart]

My father rallies a Compact with a 2.8 in it. They get regular top ten finishes and class wins against Millington engined Escorts. All in, it cost less than a sequential gearbox for one of the Escorts! No need to spend £75k on an Escort, just have some lessons!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlIw9NBdsYE

It surprises a lot of people, it looks fairly standard and uses BMW parts. I can see exactly why why Dale runs the 2.8, they are special little things!

[Kawasicki]

drakart said:

My father rallies a Compact with a 2.8 in it. They get regular top ten finishes and class wins against Millington engined Escorts. All in, it cost less than a sequential gearbox for one of the Escorts! No need to spend £75k on an Escort, just have some lessons!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlIw9NBdsYE

It surprises a lot of people, it looks fairly standard and uses BMW parts. I can see exactly why why Dale runs the 2.8, they are special little things!

SSssshhh...we all know the compact has semi-trailing arms and has therefore very poor handling....;)

Just watched your youtube video...your dad is a nice driver!

Edited by Kawasicki on Friday 18th October 06:26

[s m]

Kawasicki said:

SSssshhh...we all know the compact has semi-trailing arms and has therefore very poor handling....;)

It's probably got the E30 M3 design rear end.....