Bmw E36 Tourings

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Hoping to have a look at an '98 E36 328 Touring this weekend. It's up for just under £2k, has a fair bit of mileage at 140k but will come with 1yr warranty and MOT. Quite well equipped though.

 

The mileage doesn't bother me that much, if looked after these engines will go on and on! A bit hit & miss whether it's the nikisil or alusil though, seems the cut-off was March '98. Look for a teardrop plate under the starter apparently, if its cast then its nikisil. Pretty much all other problems with these is the balljoints & wishbones bushes, and rusty arches.

 

Any knowledge or experience on here of these cars?

[shalmaneser 26]

I'd have though if it was nikasil it would have given up by now. No experience with e36s though other than having driven a couple!

 

Nice cars though, I've been having bad thoughts about a 328i coupe for a while now.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

I'd have though if it was nikasil it would have given up by now. No experience with e36s though other than having driven a couple!

 

Nice cars though, I've been having bad thoughts about a 328i coupe for a while now.

 

Seemingly not according to various BMW forums. Nikisil lumps can go anytime apparently. Heavy oil usage and rough idle are the signs of a buggered nikisil lump.

 

A mate had a 328i Sport Avus Coupe years ago on a P plate, was a lovely car to drive.

[feb 47]

Andy_C used to have a Coupe 328 if I am not mistaken but he sold it and got back to a 205 as he found it boring.

I assume this will be a second/everyday car and you will still keep the 205 or do you have big plans for it?

Edited May 26, 2011 by feb

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Andy_C used to have a Coupe 328 if I am not mistaken but he sold it and got back to a 205 as he found it boring.

I assume this will be a second/everyday car and you will still keep the 205 or do you have big plans for it?

 

Yeah, I was surprised.

 

Yep, everyday car with the added bonus of towbar and estate boot. No slouch either with the 2.8 lump :-D

 

205 will stay but needs major work on the shell to sort surface rust out, then I'm hoping to attempt a 2.2 EW conversion.

 

When you getting your guitar and headunit?

[mojo1997 0]

I was looking at them a couple of years ago. I rang BMW UK (0800 325600) and they told me if it was a Nikasil engine or not.

 

I think the Nikasil engine were in car's built before march 98...

 

Get a cheap E46 Touring much nicer.....

[Batfink 201]

£2k seems a lot. Loads are going for £800

[woodsy 0]

Aswell as my 205's i have a mint 96 328 sport coupe which have had for around 6 years now. As you said you can check wether its nikasil still by that tear drop on the side of block by starter motor.My car had been changed so worthwhile checking.The chances are if its still original block it will be ok.

 

The balljoints are common and a good upgrade is to replace the arms with earlier E30 ones which have a stronger balljoint, i have done this and loads of lads on the E36coupe forum and is good mod. Also the rear trailing arm bushes go but are easy enough especially with poly bushes to replace them with, usually car will be very twitchy etc over potholes etc if theyre knackered.

 

I think the main thing to watch out for is headgaskets and if you get one make sure the cooling system is in good nick as waterpumps are common fault, as if overheated and gasket goes the threads can pull out of block when re-tightening down.Mine is auto box and goes very well especially on motorway.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Off to look at an E39 525i Sport too

[woodsy 0]

Off to look at an E39 525i Sport too

A E39 530i sport are very nice cars mate.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

A E39 530i sport are very nice cars mate.

 

Yep, shame this 525 Sport was a shed though. Needed bodywork done and fast!

[Anthony 1,003]

A E39 530i sport are very nice cars mate.

The man speaks sense - given I'm sure that there's little real-world difference in economy or running costs between a 2.5 and 3.0, it seems silly to get the weedy one...

[Batfink 201]

Alan. If you do get an E36 then I have some Bilstein B10 suspension you might be interested in. As standard they are a bit of a floaty barge, but they are quite chuckable with an upgrade. I took them off my BMW when I scrapped it along with some wheels.

[wracing 19]

My drift car is an e38 96 328i £2000 does seam expensive. batfink is defiantly right about the standard suspension.

 

James

[Batfink 201]

I used to love chucking mine into roundabouts at silly speeds Very capable chassis.

[Andy_C 50]

As feb says I got shot of mine as I got bored with a new issue popping up every time I fixed something. To be fair a 328 after an Mi was always going to feel a bit lardy and I bought a proper lemon too (rotten arches, knackered engine etc.) but you live & learn. As a cheap daily driver with some poke an old 328 would be worth looking at and they can be made properly quick for relatively few quid. Worth checking out e36coupe.com as there's a wealth of info there and a decent sale section too.

 

I found genuine parts from dealers bloody good value too (compared to Peugeot). Wood in Hook excellent and the parts guy there is an E36 fan too so will sort you a deal on whatever you might need.