BMW E36 project
10-09-2015, 04:02 AM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
BMW E36 project
In the interests of keeping this forum alive with fresh threads about different cars and as an antidote to the deep depression that can set in if you can't afford a Macca, I bring you my latest budget project.
I've owned a few BMW E36s in my time, including the ultimate incarnation, the M3 GT. As Nick said in another thread, the E36 was the Polish car of choice not so long ago and also had its time as a council estate staple but they're an increasingly rare sight now. A good E36 M3 is hard to find, most have very high mileages, rust and a long list of niggles to sort. Coupled with comedy asking prices, not for me, especially as the E46 M3 is a bit of a bargain if well bought. More on those some other time...
Back in 1997 when I was still a corporate drone, I had a Montreal Blue E36 323i coupe as a company car. I remembered that car as being a nice drive, fast enough and well built. Fast forward to 2015 and one hundred or so cars later and I got my mitts on this:
[attachment=86037:20151007_144600_blank.jpg]
[attachment=86038:20151007_145336_split.jpg]
[attachment=86041:20151007_144646_resized.jpg]
It's a 1997 323i convertible. Three owners and only 69K miles. Manual! Lots of history, unmarked alloys, zero rust, about six stone chips and unmolested. Not many left like that so I thought it would be fun to punt around in the sun and improve over time. It represents free motoring, as it ain't going to depreciate, will repay any sensible expenditure and will be easy to sell on next year if I don't have enough space. It also has that great advantage of being pre FREDS and easy to work on.
The car as purchased had a few parking dings and couple of perished tyres due to extremely low mileage over the last five years or so. As usual with my purchases, I set about driving it for a couple of thousand or miles or so to see if was a good 'un or one for ebay with a no reserve 99p start. Turns out it's a good 'un and in 3,000 miles it hasn't put a foot wrong. In fact, it has improved mile by mile as it obviously needed using.
So, I out some new boots on it (Dunlop Sports which seem to suit the car), changed a water pump and thermostat as precuationary measures and changed all the fluids. Had all the parking dents taken out which left me with a very presentable car but with a few things I wanted to sort out/improve, plus it's not really a winter car.
Then this came up for pennies:
[attachment=86039:20151007_144537_blank.jpg]
[attachment=86040:20151007_144458_resized.jpg]
1996 325i auto, three owners in 17 years, full BMWSH, 110K (only 25,000 in the last ten years) and about £12K's worth of BMW bills.
More importantly - same colour, lots of bits to swap and......that hardtop. Believe it or not, the owner paid £2145 for that in 1998. They fetch at least £400 on the bay, usually scratched with knackered headlining and dented. This one is perfect, inside and out. The car has all sorts of options to swap that will improve the first car.
So the big swapover of better bits is underway. The only disappointment was that the 'new' car has tan leather Msport seats that I can't use as the first car has a grey interior (I could dye carpets but the dash is grey).
Then a right touch, found a complete Msport interior for £50. £75 to the trimmer to fix a bolster and I will have a great interior to replace the existing, plus a decent standard grey interior to punt out. The Msport seats are super comfortable and look like this (pic of the one not needing any repairs, just a clean and feed):
[attachment=86042:20151008_162622_resized.jpg]
In a week or two I will have a spare 323i convertible, running and with an MOT till next year. PM me if interested before I advertise it. Might be an interesting project for someone. Might be a breaker. Might be worth fixing it up some before selling it. As long as I get my hardtop and other bits free I'm not bothered.
I'll get some better pics of the first car up when I've finished the swapover.
For anyone looking at these, the 323i is a good model to go for. It's fast enough (manual is a better option for extracting the performance) and can be upped to 328i power levels relatively easily. It's real plus point is the economy - 35mpg is easy. It also sounds lovely under load. Insurance is as close to free as you'll get.
I've owned a few BMW E36s in my time, including the ultimate incarnation, the M3 GT. As Nick said in another thread, the E36 was the Polish car of choice not so long ago and also had its time as a council estate staple but they're an increasingly rare sight now. A good E36 M3 is hard to find, most have very high mileages, rust and a long list of niggles to sort. Coupled with comedy asking prices, not for me, especially as the E46 M3 is a bit of a bargain if well bought. More on those some other time...
Back in 1997 when I was still a corporate drone, I had a Montreal Blue E36 323i coupe as a company car. I remembered that car as being a nice drive, fast enough and well built. Fast forward to 2015 and one hundred or so cars later and I got my mitts on this:
[attachment=86037:20151007_144600_blank.jpg]
[attachment=86038:20151007_145336_split.jpg]
[attachment=86041:20151007_144646_resized.jpg]
It's a 1997 323i convertible. Three owners and only 69K miles. Manual! Lots of history, unmarked alloys, zero rust, about six stone chips and unmolested. Not many left like that so I thought it would be fun to punt around in the sun and improve over time. It represents free motoring, as it ain't going to depreciate, will repay any sensible expenditure and will be easy to sell on next year if I don't have enough space. It also has that great advantage of being pre FREDS and easy to work on.
The car as purchased had a few parking dings and couple of perished tyres due to extremely low mileage over the last five years or so. As usual with my purchases, I set about driving it for a couple of thousand or miles or so to see if was a good 'un or one for ebay with a no reserve 99p start. Turns out it's a good 'un and in 3,000 miles it hasn't put a foot wrong. In fact, it has improved mile by mile as it obviously needed using.
So, I out some new boots on it (Dunlop Sports which seem to suit the car), changed a water pump and thermostat as precuationary measures and changed all the fluids. Had all the parking dents taken out which left me with a very presentable car but with a few things I wanted to sort out/improve, plus it's not really a winter car.
Then this came up for pennies:
[attachment=86039:20151007_144537_blank.jpg]
[attachment=86040:20151007_144458_resized.jpg]
1996 325i auto, three owners in 17 years, full BMWSH, 110K (only 25,000 in the last ten years) and about £12K's worth of BMW bills.
More importantly - same colour, lots of bits to swap and......that hardtop. Believe it or not, the owner paid £2145 for that in 1998. They fetch at least £400 on the bay, usually scratched with knackered headlining and dented. This one is perfect, inside and out. The car has all sorts of options to swap that will improve the first car.
So the big swapover of better bits is underway. The only disappointment was that the 'new' car has tan leather Msport seats that I can't use as the first car has a grey interior (I could dye carpets but the dash is grey).
Then a right touch, found a complete Msport interior for £50. £75 to the trimmer to fix a bolster and I will have a great interior to replace the existing, plus a decent standard grey interior to punt out. The Msport seats are super comfortable and look like this (pic of the one not needing any repairs, just a clean and feed):
[attachment=86042:20151008_162622_resized.jpg]
In a week or two I will have a spare 323i convertible, running and with an MOT till next year. PM me if interested before I advertise it. Might be an interesting project for someone. Might be a breaker. Might be worth fixing it up some before selling it. As long as I get my hardtop and other bits free I'm not bothered.
I'll get some better pics of the first car up when I've finished the swapover.
For anyone looking at these, the 323i is a good model to go for. It's fast enough (manual is a better option for extracting the performance) and can be upped to 328i power levels relatively easily. It's real plus point is the economy - 35mpg is easy. It also sounds lovely under load. Insurance is as close to free as you'll get.
10-09-2015, 06:08 AM
#2
Good stuff, but my eyes were drawn to that (just in shot) Jag. The front looks vaguely S type but I can't see you allowing one of them, R or otherwise, into your stable. What is it, please ... 
10-09-2015, 06:50 AM
#3
Looks a tidy example.
Funny how these things arrive like buses! You can wait for years and then they all turn up at once.
Shisk, WTF have you been? Gad's put up several threads on the -R.
Funny how these things arrive like buses! You can wait for years and then they all turn up at once.
Shisk, WTF have you been? Gad's put up several threads on the -R.
10-09-2015, 08:04 AM
#4
10-09-2015, 08:24 AM
#5
Banned
Thread Starter
[attachment=86044:20150317_164737_blanked.jpg]
The build quality on pre-Ford Jags (as far back as you want to go) was pretty shocking(ly bad).
10-10-2015, 12:01 AM
#7
I do like the E46, the CSL has done rather well in the last few years but i cant berate my e92, its been a workhorse and good fun in 3.5yrs with just a belt and these grumbly brakes
This sounds like a bit of automotive fun, i dont have time with a 3yo so i'll indulge vicariously
I guess when the bubble bursts we might see more threads like this and Keiths
This sounds like a bit of automotive fun, i dont have time with a 3yo so i'll indulge vicariously
I guess when the bubble bursts we might see more threads like this and Keiths
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10-10-2015, 12:17 AM
#8
Banned
Thread Starter
I do like the E46, the CSL has done rather well in the last few years but i cant berate my e92, its been a workhorse and good fun in 3.5yrs with just a belt and these grumbly brakes
This sounds like a bit of automotive fun, i dont have time with a 3yo so i'll indulge vicariously
I guess when the bubble bursts we might see more threads like this and Keiths
This sounds like a bit of automotive fun, i dont have time with a 3yo so i'll indulge vicariously
I guess when the bubble bursts we might see more threads like this and Keiths
