E36 Touring - which direction to take?
Discussion
I've finally decided after a couple of months of "umming and ahhing" that in terms of comfort/practicallity/fun/and general petrol-headedness I aint going to find better than the e36 320 touring that Im currently using as a work wagon-come dog car-come bike transporter- come mileage absorber to preserve the 9-3.
SO, all ideas of getting sensible and having a van have gone, and the 320 is to stay, BUT being me, it's going to have to be "tweeked".
So far between me and 2 mechanic mates we've established that the following need attention:
> anti-roll bar bushes
> 3x shock absorbers
> 2x springs
> 1x headlight (cracked)
> both mirror caps flaking
SO, this would seem an ideal time to get creative on a budget and be young again... just wondering what the following sounds like:
> lowered 40-60mm (all round new OE shocks and springs from one of the motorfactors
> angel eye/projector headlight conversion (got a mate selling a pair, as his car is now being used to contain HEINZ finest
> vinyl wrap the roof and both mirror caps in chequered vinyl - mate in the trade can put me in touch with his sign-man.
> leather bonnet bra - one on here been offered, awaiting to pay
> couple of rust scabs ripe for some driveway tidying on saturday afternoon
> new bushes to tighten the ride
> eventuall ditch off the standard spec "alloys" (look more like steels) and get some dished ones - once they arrive cheap enough
> eventually swap cracked front bumper for an M3 one (again, when mate who buys/sells/breaks/reapairs e36s has the bits knocking around.
Basically, am I being a complete heathen? as the car had 1 owner for 14years, 1 for 6months and then me for the last 8weeks...... is all solid, runs like a dream, but looks "dull" and "tired"
Debating whether it's time to be sensible (at 23) or whether to have something that stands out. A few years ago, saw a Eclass merc on an N reg, in baby blue pastille, with snakes an ladders airbrrushed on the roof, and a few "euro" tweeks..... it got me thinking
SO, all ideas of getting sensible and having a van have gone, and the 320 is to stay, BUT being me, it's going to have to be "tweeked".
So far between me and 2 mechanic mates we've established that the following need attention:
> anti-roll bar bushes
> 3x shock absorbers
> 2x springs
> 1x headlight (cracked)
> both mirror caps flaking
SO, this would seem an ideal time to get creative on a budget and be young again... just wondering what the following sounds like:
> lowered 40-60mm (all round new OE shocks and springs from one of the motorfactors
> angel eye/projector headlight conversion (got a mate selling a pair, as his car is now being used to contain HEINZ finest
> vinyl wrap the roof and both mirror caps in chequered vinyl - mate in the trade can put me in touch with his sign-man.
> leather bonnet bra - one on here been offered, awaiting to pay
> couple of rust scabs ripe for some driveway tidying on saturday afternoon
> new bushes to tighten the ride
> eventuall ditch off the standard spec "alloys" (look more like steels) and get some dished ones - once they arrive cheap enough
> eventually swap cracked front bumper for an M3 one (again, when mate who buys/sells/breaks/reapairs e36s has the bits knocking around.
Basically, am I being a complete heathen? as the car had 1 owner for 14years, 1 for 6months and then me for the last 8weeks...... is all solid, runs like a dream, but looks "dull" and "tired"
Debating whether it's time to be sensible (at 23) or whether to have something that stands out. A few years ago, saw a Eclass merc on an N reg, in baby blue pastille, with snakes an ladders airbrrushed on the roof, and a few "euro" tweeks..... it got me thinking
Seriously, I'd look at changing the car.
The 2litre M50 isn't a great engine. It sounds great but is flat, low powered and very thirsty when compared to the M52 based 323 and 328.
Save your money and put it into a newer car with less issues that will provide a better base for future modifications. There's some great examples out there if you look hard enough.
The 2litre M50 isn't a great engine. It sounds great but is flat, low powered and very thirsty when compared to the M52 based 323 and 328.
Save your money and put it into a newer car with less issues that will provide a better base for future modifications. There's some great examples out there if you look hard enough.
Aint too fussed as I run another car (2006 SAAB 9-3 vector sport) so that does all the long trips and fulfils economy etc. This is purely a a-b works runner, and dog cart that since I paid minimal for was going to have some fun with on the cheap.
The engine that's in it is very smooth, plenty of paper work with the car, and it's seen no hard-work from the state that it is in, just tired suspension (I'm told this is common) so I see no point in selling 1x £500 car to go get another with even more issues, faults and areas that need attention.
Mine has immaculate interior, un-marked bodywork and all electrical items work
The engine that's in it is very smooth, plenty of paper work with the car, and it's seen no hard-work from the state that it is in, just tired suspension (I'm told this is common) so I see no point in selling 1x £500 car to go get another with even more issues, faults and areas that need attention.
Mine has immaculate interior, un-marked bodywork and all electrical items work
i dont think youre being a heathen. If you were fitting angel eyes to a mint original 328i sport maybe... With respect the touring isnt a collector car but with its history it does sound like a known entity for some tweaks. You wont get your money back of course but you can always put the bits on a different car, or drop a bigger engine in this one when the time comes...
griffter said:
i dont think youre being a heathen. If you were fitting angel eyes to a mint original 328i sport maybe... With respect the touring isnt a collector car but with its history it does sound like a known entity for some tweaks. You wont get your money back of course but you can always put the bits on a different car, or drop a bigger engine in this one when the time comes...
Yeah this is the thought I had. Barring some new shocks and springs (ordered today) it's in need of nothing and runs like a dream, the power/economy doesn't bother me, as I bike to work 3days so only use this 2days (bad weather as well) and sundays for putting dogs/bikes/tents in. Just wondered basically, whether taking VeeDub influences regarding colours/euro style tweeks, will get me a hate following?
As for financial reimbursement, never expect to. Last 3 modified cars are as follows:
> Mk3 XR2i rep (custom engine and bodywork - I was 17, sorry) spent 9k sold for 1500 quid
> MG ZR 1400 (car through uni) spent 8k sold for 2k
> 200SX (S14) spent 12k in 14months, sold for 3250.
So this one owes me 1500 all in so far, expect another 400 for all suspension, maybe 200 on some vinyl decor, and then maybe 200 budgeted for wheel repaint and 1x rust scab removal.
All in, from buying to completion, less than 2500..... and all tweeks could be removed to sell on for a grand
griffter said:
As the ex-owner of a dropped, stock '71 fastback, there'll be no hate from me!
Nice to know. I do fully intend to work my way round to the VeeDub fold one day, having so far done: Ford, MG Rover, Nissan, Honda briefly, and currently tarting around with BMW on the cheap and a long running SAAB derv project (aiming for 225bhp, useable, and sleeper/luxury styling).Suspect VeeDub will happen when I buy the OH the beetle soft-top or mk1 golf soft top that she wants. Thought the camper locally at 10k is getting me whined at
Figured I'd offer an update to those who proffered advice, following a thorough check-over of the car by 2x trusted mechanics and myself.
Suspension all round was deemed to be "knackered/very tired" along with some MOT suspect bushes and ARB ends.... so a quick trip to the motor-factors has resulted in the following being purchased:
> 4x 35mm lowering springs
> 4x new shock absorbers
> 2x ARB links
> 2x ARB Bushes
> 1x 2nd hand alternator
> 1x alternator belt (New)
Off of PH I've sourced a 2nd hand "bonnet bra" for a bit of the Euro look, and have gained some prices for either a full roof wrap in black vinyl or chequered vinyl. ALTHOUGH, the OH who is a bit artsy (masters in photographic art indeed) has suggested some kind of artwork, done then altered in photoshop to suit vinyl application?
From this, debated a full roof in b&w chequered vinyl, mirror caps to match, BUT get the sunroof done with something artsy
Any thoughts?
Suspension all round was deemed to be "knackered/very tired" along with some MOT suspect bushes and ARB ends.... so a quick trip to the motor-factors has resulted in the following being purchased:
> 4x 35mm lowering springs
> 4x new shock absorbers
> 2x ARB links
> 2x ARB Bushes
> 1x 2nd hand alternator
> 1x alternator belt (New)
Off of PH I've sourced a 2nd hand "bonnet bra" for a bit of the Euro look, and have gained some prices for either a full roof wrap in black vinyl or chequered vinyl. ALTHOUGH, the OH who is a bit artsy (masters in photographic art indeed) has suggested some kind of artwork, done then altered in photoshop to suit vinyl application?
From this, debated a full roof in b&w chequered vinyl, mirror caps to match, BUT get the sunroof done with something artsy
Any thoughts?
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