Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Picked her up on Monday. Absolutely love it. Loads of torque and the engine just sings above 3000rpm. It is also very comfortable, definitley more of a grand tourer than an out-an-out sports car. Saying that it still feels very planted and I have yet to get the back end out......been close though!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...0/CIMG1280.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...0/CIMG1281.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...0/CIMG1284.jpg

Matteeboy

Good cars and that's in very good nick. But try keeping those wheels that clean! Mine are a nightmare (and less "complex" than those)! But nice for the 3 minutes after I've washed them.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Yeah I am not sure on the wheels. I may downsize to 17 or even 16 inch. They are genuine BMW staggered alloys so I should get some decent wedge for them.
I'm also looking to replace the M3 mirrors with standard items.

Matteeboy

Chris - I like your style! I do like those alloys a lot - use a decent wheel cleaner and then a silicon "sealant" spray afterwards - it really helps. Tyres will be pricey though.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Tell me about it. I looked at the price of replacements and they range from £80 for budget to £230 for Michelin Pilot Sports!
The wheels are currently wearing avons at the front and some make that I have never heard of at the rear, so I really would like to downsize and get some decent rubber at the same time. Plus, with less rubber at the rear (255-225) I should be able to get the back end out a little more!

stilover

Will you resist the urge to stick an M3 badge on it?

Every 3 series I see these days is an M3 apparently.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Yes, as it isn't an M3, I'd rather stick a 318 badge on it! Would be more fun!

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

E36 328 is a fantastic car and have had a few now. Good choice - Very solid, comfortable, planted and goes very well. I actually prefered the 328 over the E36 M3 EVO as a daily driver.

Fantastic power plant.

Matteeboy

Again, I like your style! I was considering debadging mine too...

As it's SE spec the only giveaway is the twin exhausts (and to proper BMW nerds, the chrome centre grille meaning six pot engine - black means 4 pot)...

andythejock01wrx

My dad had one of these and I thought it was one of the best cars he'd owned (in truth he's not a great car fan). Now he owns an 3.0 diesel X5 bought from new, which isn't my cuppa!

Andy TJ

FlightMan

Nice car Chris.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay?

finchyboy

Vey nice stick a set of genuine 328 sport BBS split rims on it they're still my favourite bmw wheel.

If you want to tune it fit a bigger bore throttle body and an inlet manifold off of a 325i they are way bigger and the correct size for the 328 head. Don't ask me why 328i's have a very restrictive inlet manifold fitted to it from the factory which is way smaller then the 325i

Shrick do a set of cams for the 328i which are hugely expensive, but they are just a copy of u.s spec e36 m3 cams which will drop right in and can be picked up really cheap on u.s ebay or bimmerforums.com

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

2.5k mate. And it came with full bmw service history, 11 months mot and 5 months tax.

The Chief

When i had my Scoob i was offered a lift in a 328 once, When he set off i was just about to yawn when he hoofed it, i have to say i was genuinely surprised how quick it kicked its heels up - well impressed

What are they just short of 200bhp or something like that?

I'd have one tommorrow if i could.

Nice car.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

193hp@5600rpm
206ft/ib@3500rpm

It keeps surprising me each time I drive it. It just an annoying 'steering wheel' wobble that happens every now and then that is annoying me a little. I didn't feel it on the 15 mile test drive either. I suspect the front wishbone bushes could do with changing and then get the tracking checked.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Looks a really nice one Chris dont think you can go too wrong on an E36 BMW!

Tony

scousefly

Wheel wobble is likely to be the lower arms mate its a well known fault on this model. A £580 job to have it done apparently they can go as early as 33k, been doing loads of brain picking from a local specialist and thats one of the major things he told me to look for.
Went to look at a 328 on a 'V' plate and a 318Ci on an '02' plate yesterday, apparently they were 'immaculate'
382 looked like it had treacle in the engine and the interior was worn beyond belief and the 318 rattled on startup the door cards were fooked and the interior was just hanging down
Oh and the dealers wife was trying to tell me how her husband wouldn't sell a car with a fault on it as she stood in her 6 acre yard complete with £500000 house and multiple run arounds she was a blonde with a dirty mouth
Look out for your front tyres wearing in and outer edge this is also a tell taail sigh of the lower arms and ball joints

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Cheers mate. I think it is the bushes in the front lower wishbones (control arms) like you say. They are only £60 a side for complete new arms fitted with bushes.
It isn't a silly amount of wobble, it has only happened twice in 220 miles. Also bought some mint standard 16 inch wheels fitted with nearly continental tyres for £145 off ebay! The MV1's that I have on now should sell for anyway from £350 to £500, so 'result' on that front!

Here she is after a good 'Merr' session.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Fixed the wobble, turned out to be a sticky piston on the osf caliper. A new one only cost me £57.50 and I fitted it on saturday. Obviously, the pad was constantly touching the disc which in turn boiled the brake fluid. Drives perfectly now.
Also sold the wheels for £500 and got a set of standard wheels and tyres (continental) for just £150. Going to get the control arms and rear trailing arms replaced just so I know they are done. Very happy so far.

All I have got to do now is change the gear oil and work out why the radio has fairly poor reception.

Got 26mpg on the first fill which wasn't bad considering I was hoofing it quite a bit as well as it having a sticky caliper.