Discussion
Hi folks,
Resigned to keeping my 328i Sport now, it has been on sale for months but despite a handful of viewers and a few firm offers no sale has transpired. The market really is dire at the moment and I'm not prepare to let my car go for buttons! So I'm planning on keeping it long-term & splashing out on it a bit, and as such I have a few questions...
I needs four new tyres. It currently has Michelin Pilot Sports all round, which I understand are the best in the business but you certainly pay through the nose for them. are Goodyear Eagle F1s decent alternatives? Not too much cheaper right enough. Any other suggestions and are Blackcircles.com still the cheapest place to source tyres? I've noticed that the inner portion of the rear tyres has worn excessively (almost down to the canvas) in comparison to the outer sections which still have a few mm of tread left. Is this a sign of worn wheel bearings?
As well as tyre replacement I need my wheels refurbished. Being the original BBS type I understand this is a costly procedure - split rims, replacement bolts. Whilst looking at refurbishment companies on the web I found a site called pxwheels.com, who also advertise on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48-Service-Exchange-BMW-3-Se... You supply them with your old wheels and they send you back a fresh refurbished pair of the same type. This is essentially £60 a wheel for refurbishing. But are the refurbished wheels any good? From what I've read on here it can be hit or miss with these wheels with different companies...these look good though from the picture? Anyone used this service?
One trivial thing that pisses me off about my car is 5h1t radio reception and the crappy OEM speakers. Thus I'm looking to upgrade my ICE setup. I'd like to keep the BMW Business head unit and 6 CD changer despite its infuriating propensity to jam, so I am just looking at speaker upgrades. What are the best to go for that plug straight into the gaps filled by the OEM ones? What's the best way to boost my radio reception? bear in mind I'm a complete novice with car audio...
Has anyone treated their car for rust using Dinitrol products? My arches are a bit bubbly and I have one or two discrete patches starting that I'd like to nip in the bud.
Of course all this is immaterial if anyone fancies a late Fern Green 328i Sport with 102k for £2600
Cheers,
Chris
Resigned to keeping my 328i Sport now, it has been on sale for months but despite a handful of viewers and a few firm offers no sale has transpired. The market really is dire at the moment and I'm not prepare to let my car go for buttons! So I'm planning on keeping it long-term & splashing out on it a bit, and as such I have a few questions...
I needs four new tyres. It currently has Michelin Pilot Sports all round, which I understand are the best in the business but you certainly pay through the nose for them. are Goodyear Eagle F1s decent alternatives? Not too much cheaper right enough. Any other suggestions and are Blackcircles.com still the cheapest place to source tyres? I've noticed that the inner portion of the rear tyres has worn excessively (almost down to the canvas) in comparison to the outer sections which still have a few mm of tread left. Is this a sign of worn wheel bearings?
As well as tyre replacement I need my wheels refurbished. Being the original BBS type I understand this is a costly procedure - split rims, replacement bolts. Whilst looking at refurbishment companies on the web I found a site called pxwheels.com, who also advertise on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48-Service-Exchange-BMW-3-Se... You supply them with your old wheels and they send you back a fresh refurbished pair of the same type. This is essentially £60 a wheel for refurbishing. But are the refurbished wheels any good? From what I've read on here it can be hit or miss with these wheels with different companies...these look good though from the picture? Anyone used this service?
One trivial thing that pisses me off about my car is 5h1t radio reception and the crappy OEM speakers. Thus I'm looking to upgrade my ICE setup. I'd like to keep the BMW Business head unit and 6 CD changer despite its infuriating propensity to jam, so I am just looking at speaker upgrades. What are the best to go for that plug straight into the gaps filled by the OEM ones? What's the best way to boost my radio reception? bear in mind I'm a complete novice with car audio...
Has anyone treated their car for rust using Dinitrol products? My arches are a bit bubbly and I have one or two discrete patches starting that I'd like to nip in the bud.
Of course all this is immaterial if anyone fancies a late Fern Green 328i Sport with 102k for £2600
Cheers,
Chris
OK, tyres first. PS2s are widely regarded as the best all round choice, but the Goodyears are now a close second, and reportedly a little better in the wet. If you want to save a little cash, go for the F1s. Either will be fine. I use blackcircles - I don't think they're the cheapest as your local tyre place will probably beat the deal, but I like Airmiles!
Wheels refurb - no experience of the company you mention, but mine are about to be done by Lepsons for more like £45 per wheel. My preference would be to keep my original wheels, just because they're mine and I know they're in good condition (other than the lacquer peel!). Devil you know, and all that. The problem with the BBS alloys is always that water gets under the lacquer. The only known solution is not to have them relacquered, but then you have to clean them properly once per week. Your choice...
Radio reception - known E36 weakness. There are 2 aerial connections into the stereo from memory, so check one hasn't come loose, but I'm afraid "they all do that sir".
Speakers - easiest upgrade is to fit some 6x9s into the stock rear shelf speaker locations using some adaptors. They adaptors aren't particularly expensive, and you could always install an amp to add some beef to the sound.
Rust - sorry, not tried it. Mine had the same problem, so it's in for a full respray instead!
Wheels refurb - no experience of the company you mention, but mine are about to be done by Lepsons for more like £45 per wheel. My preference would be to keep my original wheels, just because they're mine and I know they're in good condition (other than the lacquer peel!). Devil you know, and all that. The problem with the BBS alloys is always that water gets under the lacquer. The only known solution is not to have them relacquered, but then you have to clean them properly once per week. Your choice...
Radio reception - known E36 weakness. There are 2 aerial connections into the stereo from memory, so check one hasn't come loose, but I'm afraid "they all do that sir".
Speakers - easiest upgrade is to fit some 6x9s into the stock rear shelf speaker locations using some adaptors. They adaptors aren't particularly expensive, and you could always install an amp to add some beef to the sound.
Rust - sorry, not tried it. Mine had the same problem, so it's in for a full respray instead!
Phugoid said:
I needs four new tyres. It currently has Michelin Pilot Sports all round, which I understand are the best in the business but you certainly pay through the nose for them. are Goodyear Eagle F1s decent alternatives? Not too much cheaper right enough. Any other suggestions and are Blackcircles.com still the cheapest place to source tyres? I've noticed that the inner portion of the rear tyres has worn excessively (almost down to the canvas) in comparison to the outer sections which still have a few mm of tread left. Is this a sign of worn wheel bearings?
F1s are great - i've just stuck four on my e36 323i (225R17 front/ 245R17 rear), and the grip is amazing, especially in the wet. They have made the car agile without being too darty, and keep it very neutral, but gentle slides can be just about provoked.I had the same wear pattern on my previous tyres - i reckon it's down to the negative camber from lowering the car. Maybe your alignment or camber is out?
Phugoid said:
Anyone tackled E36 rust problems?
Not yet, but I have issues...Both arches, one edge of bonnet., leading edge of driver's side door, two places on bottom edge of boot lid and a little bit on one 'C' pillar where it meets the side window. Apparently BMW applied the paint rather too thinly to these cars, hence the bubbling paint. I want to get all of my rust sorted, the problem is that if there's more problems brewing underneath the paint then it'll take more than simply getting the existing rust sorted and then the whole car 'blown-over' as more problems will just crop-up later. The whole thing will need a bare-metal job, which is going to cost serious money. I'd do it, even though I'd never see the cost returned in the value of the car, 'cause I love the car, but it's a case of understanding exactly what needs doing and who to approach. Once I've shelled-out mega-bucks to get it sorted I want that to be the end of it!
If you are swapping your wheels with any company or person make sure you have written confirmation they have not been repaird by welding etc. This is not to say that a wheel cant be welded but its good to know the history of a wheel. The same thing goes for part worn tyres.. you never know what history the wheel or tyre has had. Hope this helps.
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