£2.000 engine rebuild or.....

£2.000 engine rebuild or.....

Author
Discussion

jac-in-a-box

Original Poster:

259 posts

239 months

Sunday 29th October 2006
quotequote all
...buy something sensible rather than another Ford with a "soft" engine!

Talking about son of "jac-in-a-box"

Phone rings - "Dad something wrong my engine..." Here we go again, August the gearbox ate it's bearings, this time the engine spewing oil from the breather - it's goosed and I know it's going to cost me somewhere. Quotes for a rebuild started at £1,800 and rose rapidly

Anyway, and surprisingly, he heeds my advice to get something other than another Ford. Upshot being he finds a BMW 328i coupe in Carlisle. Calls up and it all seems sound, HPI checked out. Full BMSH, owned by one family since new and a not too unreasonable 97k miles for a '95 car.

Off we went last Sunday; this is what he bought for a touch over 2 grand (£2,150 after haggling) For once I'm hoping my wallet will be safe for a while













Paint has had a tickle with the "potions and lotions" A little more graft it will look lovely. No dents or dings, just one easily repairable scratch on rear wing.

Leather is unmarked and the rear seats look as though they haven't been used.

The engine is soooo smooth (makes me miss my old BM) It doesn't hang about either.

Reasonable spec too...heated leather, computer, M-Tec suspension, LSD, sunroof plus the usual odds and sods.

Appears the last owner wasn't shy of telling his local BM dealer to do whatever - including recent tyres at some typical dealer prices! All the weak spots seem to have been addressed by the dealer too - rear springs, radiator, subframe and suspension mounts/bushes. New discs/ pads all round with an inspection II just completed

As an added bonus it's had a new Alusil block fitted in place of of the Nikasil lump at 60k miles... I should be sleeping easy now!

Quite staggering the amount of car that can be bought for so little if you look around.

Finally, inurance for a 21 year old, fully comp just under a grand (10 month accelerator policy)

Read elsewhere here that a decent performance gain can be had by fitting a different throttle body - any more info' or links please?

Anyone want an FRST - sha**ed motorrolleyes



Dave


Edited by jac-in-a-box on Sunday 29th October 22:00

w8pmc

3,345 posts

239 months

Monday 30th October 2006
quotequote all
Looks nice over here as well.

Ps. My car is getting desperate for some TLC

jac-in-a-box

Original Poster:

259 posts

239 months

Monday 30th October 2006
quotequote all
I know Paul - just need to fix my knee.

I'll be in touch - soon!

Dave

Andrew D

968 posts

241 months

Tuesday 31st October 2006
quotequote all
Glad to hear the Nikasil's been seen to, that would be my only worry. Otherwise a quality steed, and a steal on insurance at under a grand for a 21-year-old. Good ot see it hasn't been "slammed" either.

Not wild about the lights on the Fiesta though, I'm not sure they are original units...

jac-in-a-box

Original Poster:

259 posts

239 months

Tuesday 31st October 2006
quotequote all
No, the lights are not original...but that's kids for you!

I'm hoping the arrival of the BM heralds a new dawn and he'll direct his cash more sensibly. The fact that he's decided to drain the Magnatec oil and re-fill with with some Ester based synthetic seems a good omen

Still keen to hear about the throttle body / inlet manifold change that releases a few extra ponies?

Dave

neil_cardiff

17,113 posts

265 months

Tuesday 31st October 2006
quotequote all
jac-in-a-box said:
No, the lights are not original...but that's kids for you!

I'm hoping the arrival of the BM heralds a new dawn and he'll direct his cash more sensibly. The fact that he's decided to drain the Magnatec oil and re-fill with with some Ester based synthetic seems a good omen

Still keen to hear about the throttle body / inlet manifold change that releases a few extra ponies?

Dave


Do a search on www.e36coupe.co.uk and you'll need to email a chappie on there.

Costs about £400 for all the parts, plus you'll ideally need a remap too.

jac-in-a-box

Original Poster:

259 posts

239 months

Tuesday 31st October 2006
quotequote all
Just the job - thanks Neil

Dave

hongkongfooi

624 posts

248 months

Thursday 2nd November 2006
quotequote all
jac-in-a-box said:
No, the lights are not original...but that's kids for you!

I'm hoping the arrival of the BM heralds a new dawn and he'll direct his cash more sensibly. The fact that he's decided to drain the Magnatec oil and re-fill with with some Ester based synthetic seems a good omen

Still keen to hear about the throttle body / inlet manifold change that releases a few extra ponies?

Dave


My advice would be let your lad get used to 193bhp and rear wheel drive before upping the power. It will be sooo different to the fiesta and what....130bhp?
We sometimes fall back on a 328 touring for police work and its still bloody quick after 190 thousand miles!

xm5er

5,091 posts

249 months

Friday 3rd November 2006
quotequote all
Thats a nice motor. BTW if your lad goes anywhere near it with some Lexus style lights, then beat him soundly.

And tell him to watch the back end when the salt goes on the roads.