BMW 323i Convertible (e36)
Discussion
I've been on PH for longer than I care to remember but never done a thread in here before!
Anyway, I've wanted to scratch the BMW itch for a few years now and looked into a few - e36 328 coupe & touring, & e39 530 touring - but it's just not happened.
Decided that I wanted something with a soft top that I could drive day to day and fit the whole family in - the TVR doesn't really check either of those boxes and is not getting driven much as a result - the 900 is in the garage needing some jobs done, and the 9000, whilst comfy, practical, and much faster than it ought to be, is not as exciting as all that...
Then all of a sudden my dad is rationalising his car collection and has a rather tidy e36 323i convertible going cheap so I helped him out!
It's a 1999 car so one of the last e36s. Post-nikasil (in fact I understand that it has the later M54 bottom end from the e46) with only 84000 miles on it. Full service history, blue with blue hood and tan interior. Bodywork is pretty good with no major dents or dings. Couple of rust spots - boot lid (will keep an eye out for an ebay replacement) and just behind the o/s/r wheelarch which I will treat this summer. Just needs a machine polish to get some swirls out. Interior is in good condition but could do with a clean. May look out for some sport seats as the standard ones aren't that supportive.
Spec wise it is pretty good - has the electric hood and dual zone climate, but missing check control and heated seats. BMW Business CD player, which I was going to rip out and replace with an Alpine HU, looks great so I am thinking of a Parrot BT unit that plugs in via the ISO connectors at the back and would allow me USB/aux in for an MP3 player.
Drives really nicely - did 150 motorway miles in it yesterday and while I didn't feel quite as fresh after as I would have in the 9000 it was very comfortable and has a lovely straight 6 soundtrack! Looking forward to punting it round some nice roads - suspension feels very well judged so far - you can feel everything going on, but not obtrusively if that makes sense!
Plans for the future... well, if it gets under my skin, possibly an M50 manifold and 328 exhaust which I gather should take it up to 190-200bhp, fit some sport seats (heated if I can work out how to wire them), and would like to see about fitting some of the sensors for the computer (distance to empty, outside temp, etc.) Other than that, just enjoy it! Realistically it may be worth chopping it in for an M3 cab but not sure how easy it is to find one that hasn't been ragged these days...
Haven't had time to take any decent pics yet, a couple of phone ones below:
Oh, and for anybody wondering about a stage 1 car seat (12mo to 4ish) in an e36 cab, Maxi Cosi Tobi is perfect! Even has a cutout for the head restrain at the back!
Comments welcome!
Anyway, I've wanted to scratch the BMW itch for a few years now and looked into a few - e36 328 coupe & touring, & e39 530 touring - but it's just not happened.
Decided that I wanted something with a soft top that I could drive day to day and fit the whole family in - the TVR doesn't really check either of those boxes and is not getting driven much as a result - the 900 is in the garage needing some jobs done, and the 9000, whilst comfy, practical, and much faster than it ought to be, is not as exciting as all that...
Then all of a sudden my dad is rationalising his car collection and has a rather tidy e36 323i convertible going cheap so I helped him out!
It's a 1999 car so one of the last e36s. Post-nikasil (in fact I understand that it has the later M54 bottom end from the e46) with only 84000 miles on it. Full service history, blue with blue hood and tan interior. Bodywork is pretty good with no major dents or dings. Couple of rust spots - boot lid (will keep an eye out for an ebay replacement) and just behind the o/s/r wheelarch which I will treat this summer. Just needs a machine polish to get some swirls out. Interior is in good condition but could do with a clean. May look out for some sport seats as the standard ones aren't that supportive.
Spec wise it is pretty good - has the electric hood and dual zone climate, but missing check control and heated seats. BMW Business CD player, which I was going to rip out and replace with an Alpine HU, looks great so I am thinking of a Parrot BT unit that plugs in via the ISO connectors at the back and would allow me USB/aux in for an MP3 player.
Drives really nicely - did 150 motorway miles in it yesterday and while I didn't feel quite as fresh after as I would have in the 9000 it was very comfortable and has a lovely straight 6 soundtrack! Looking forward to punting it round some nice roads - suspension feels very well judged so far - you can feel everything going on, but not obtrusively if that makes sense!
Plans for the future... well, if it gets under my skin, possibly an M50 manifold and 328 exhaust which I gather should take it up to 190-200bhp, fit some sport seats (heated if I can work out how to wire them), and would like to see about fitting some of the sensors for the computer (distance to empty, outside temp, etc.) Other than that, just enjoy it! Realistically it may be worth chopping it in for an M3 cab but not sure how easy it is to find one that hasn't been ragged these days...
Haven't had time to take any decent pics yet, a couple of phone ones below:
Oh, and for anybody wondering about a stage 1 car seat (12mo to 4ish) in an e36 cab, Maxi Cosi Tobi is perfect! Even has a cutout for the head restrain at the back!
Comments welcome!
Nice original looking car, do like the colour combo. Also refreshing to see an E36 on OEM 16s.
Agree re the seats, much preferred the sport seats in my E30.
Iirc from my days on E36coupe.com the ease at which one can upgrade the obc depends on what you have already (upgrading from the clock being the most arduous).
Agree re the seats, much preferred the sport seats in my E30.
Iirc from my days on E36coupe.com the ease at which one can upgrade the obc depends on what you have already (upgrading from the clock being the most arduous).
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