'97 E36 328i

[sclass]

Wsup,

Thanks for having me on this forum. Some advice please?! I've been offered a '97 E36 328i. It needs slight bodywork tlc, but I'm not so sure what to look out for mechanically. I drove it recently, engine felt good, smooth through out the rev range, no crashing and banging from the suspension, no steering wobble, no shuddering of the brake pedal. The car however has seen it's best days but then the owner's offering it to me for 25 grand. I'm prepared to put in another +/- R20,000 into the car for now. I'm not looking to turn it into a street-racer or anything, almost standard is fine with me; It's already got 17" MSport rims but maybe I'll fit an exhaust (& chip??), upgrade the interior. Any do's and don'ts from you guys will much apprieciated!!!

Thanks!

 

[STREETRACER]

hey whats wrong with Street-Racer.. LOL :slap:
There is so many things to look out for but the best is get the car for a AA test or Diagnostics test!!! Most tuners with dyno's have Diagnostic machines!

Do a TNT branch & freeflow and no other than a DASTEK UniQ chip!!!
You going to enjoy the car but have it checked out coz they still sell for R45k

 

[zaleonardz]

I biast on this one, but for that kind of cash, I'd go for a E34 540.

10 to 15k for the car, then with the other 20, you can make something awesome that sounds like sex on wheels

depends what your after, if you want a track toy thats going to run high numbers, the E34 is out, but then, the E36 is not the lightest either, there your better off going for an E30, I found two on friday at autofever.

If you want a awesome classic, I'll go for the E34 V8

 

[SirSparky]

dude take the following advice or leave it....i bought e36 328i and this is what i had to replace and later found out are common probs

auto box crapped out....did manual conver
propshaft crapped out....dont think of using second hand one because it also craps out...tried 2 before buying new one
radiator neck tubes and resovoirs break
resovoir bottle brakes
rear trailing arm bushes
engine mountings
tie rod ends
brakes


then i decided to mod her with shrick spec cams,m50 intake conversion,larger throttle body,full ss free flow,uni chip q...got 118kw on wheels.and 205nm on wheels.

 

[sclass]

@ zaleonardz - It's funny you should mention540i, the E34 models is one of my alltime favourites! Another coincidence, the guy has an E34 530i that's in far better shape but he wants alot more money for it. The thing with the fives is that that there aren't that many running around Swaziland so I worry about parts and expertise.

Can one seriously get a 540i for 20k?

@ Streetracer - is dastek really that good?

@ss///m5 - I'm not sure if that's a horror story or a rags to riches one!

A few developments since my last post; got a promotion so I can afford something a bit newer. I've decided on a 2006 118i, black, new 16" runflats, leather, pdc, auto lights/wipers, cruise control,ipod audio, 75,000kms (bal of m/plan to 100k), ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS - R125,000. Really wish it had a sunroof though.

But now I want the 118i AND 540i!

 

[STREETRACER]

@ Streetracer - is dastek really that good?

The old unichip was just a piggy back chip and was O.K!!
The new UniQ chip is automotive intelligence...
I have posted all this before but let me explain again!!

I do allot of trail and error test when it comes to my toys/race cars!!
I started with golf mk1 first 1/4 times was around 16s..
lots of trail and errors and i ended up doing a 13.8s 1/4 with an 8v golf!!

So project car nr 2 was My recent M3..
Bought the car making 145kw and a 15.9s 1/4mile.. got full head, cams , software, exhaust done and car made 171kw..
14.6 best 1/4mile

So i had a 3 hour interview with Pieter DeWeerdt from dastek for my website..
And listening carefully and recording the whole interview i made my own thoughts about the chip!
I changed my exhaust to 63mm and a lumina back box and got the Dastek chip fitted and went up to 186kw and 13.9s 1/4mile

Changed my diff power came down to 179kw and got the 3L ramtubes and power went up to 184kw again..
So if i put STD diff back i will be making 191kw on the wheels.. now i ran a 13.6s 1/4mile with my everyday street tyres and pump fuel!

Ive been racing 1/4mile since i was 14.. my dad was racing track for 18 years.. My grandfather was Jimmy Muller who raced with jody scheckter..
And i grew up were its believed a car must be 100% sorted and tuned!! not always the biggest and most expensive parts needed!!!

We gained another 8kw more with the Dastek chip that Chiplogic got with theyre software!!
The Dastek chip is a blank chip!! if you put it on your car and not tune it your car will make no differnce and will make exactly the same power it made befor the chip!! its not like fuel management where you have to tune the car from square one!!

Now the dastek chip you have to put the car on the dyno and under load.. then you have to keep it in a precise range before it alows you to tune!! now keep the car under load and monitor your AIR FUEL RATIO by means of a 5gas anilizer and a Lamda probe.. and while the car is under load (with real life tuning) you can see on the spot of you gain or loose power when you make a timing or fuel adjustment in that range!!
You have to tune the dastek chip every 250rpm.. so its 100% finetuned! Then there is enough auxilery ports on the chip so you can regulate your vanos each cam individually..
If you want to you can inject NOS with the chip and by means of a speed sensor you can say for example 30% nos in 1st , 60% NOS in 2nd and 100% nos in 3rd and up!
You can turbo your car and no need for fuel management you can map the whole setup with dastek plus you can adjust a boost controler with the dastek!!
If they can twin turbo a lambo with just using the UniQ chip.. im 100% positive it will cover all our needs!

Then there is always the new bluetooth ability of the new UniQ chip!!
The chip can save up to 5 Map settings on the chip and you can sellect them by means of your cellphones bluetooth!!
you can have a map for consumption
one for track days
one with a 120km/h limmiter when you kid drives it or it goes for a service
one with retared timming for bottom end torque for when you tow a trailor
And one with some retared timming and added fuel for a NOS setup

The chip is 100% universal.. the day you sell your car you put in a bridge plug take out your chip and install it on any other car brand on the market!!
that is my 2c on the chip!! for R3000 fitted that is a life time investment!!!

---

Ps.. im no agent or Rep for DASTEK just a very very satisfied customer!!!

 

[zaleonardz]

@ zaleonardz - It's funny you should mention540i, the E34 models is one of my alltime favourites! Another coincidence, the guy has an E34 530i that's in far better shape but he wants alot more money for it. The thing with the fives is that that there aren't that many running around Swaziland so I worry about parts and expertise.

Can one seriously get a 540i for 20k?

@ Streetracer - is dastek really that good?

@ss///m5 - I'm not sure if that's a horror story or a rags to riches one!

A few developments since my last post; got a promotion so I can afford something a bit newer. I've decided on a 2006 118i, black, new 16" runflats, leather, pdc, auto lights/wipers, cruise control,ipod audio, 75,000kms (bal of m/plan to 100k), ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS - R125,000. Really wish it had a sunroof though.

But now I want the 118i AND 540i!

Fantastic man, and congrads on the promotion.

And thats the perfect way to do it, a mild late model car for a daily driver, and a toy 540

And yes they can be had for that money, 10 to 15k buys you one, maybe 20 to 25 for a really nice one, and 40k for pristine

Gumtree and junkmail, you would be surprised.

 

[sclass]

Thanks alot for the feedback guys!!

@Streetracer - You're on another level dude!! I don't know how many years of trial and error that took you! Are you sure you're not a Dastek agent??????????

Anyway some new developments. I've shelved the 328i project...I've since picked up a '99 E39 525i (115,000kms)...for R35,000...yes, R35,000...While you guys are gasping, let me explain...In Swaziland we are in the fortunate (or unfortunate depending on who you ask...) position of having access to what I think you would call 'grey' imports. There are import dealerships all over the country and you can really pick up INCREDIBLE buys, especially when you factor in the mileage and the condition the cars are in. Admittedly they have reeked havoc on 2nd hand resale prices but that's another topic for another time...For example, you can easily pick up a pristine E46 from about R60,000 (depending on your negotiating skills). Most of the cars come through Durban, I'm sure Durrbanites would've seen them in South Beach aroun the bays. Anyway I'm buying the 525i from someone who bought from them. The car costs +/- R60,000 at the dealers (528is go for about R15k more) so I was curious about this one. I drove it 2 days ago, car's in excellent condition in terms of paintwork but the interior is really sweet (although it comes with a cloth interior trim - Streetracer, you'll sort me out right??!!). It needs new shocks and front/rear stabilizers, other than that the car drove fine. Features; electric everything (sunroof too). But those 15" rims gotta go!!! I will say that auto 'box feels sluggish if it isn't in S mode, but I don't know if that's how they are anyway, but I initially put the performance lethargy down to weight; probably 1.6 tonnes so 141kw isn't much...

Talk to me guys, the physical condition of this car is in ANOTHER GALAXY compared to the 328i and I still have that R20k to play with. My wish list (besides the shocks/stabilizers):
- Black leather seats front/rear (not necessarily electric)
- The titanium-look dash/door trims from the M5
- Less restrictive exhaust
- Audio upgrade
- Maybe that Dastek chip Streetracer's raving about!
- 18" Schnitzer rims (in time...)

I'm planning on buying this car on Wednesday. Thumbs up or thumbs down?????????????????????????????????????????