Bawb's Introduction & E36 conundrum

BillyBob

Active member
Heya guys

Finally figured I'd join you folks here at Fanatics, as I'll soon be submitting an application for re-entry into the "BMW Binnekring".

Quite a few of the guys on here will know me from other forums, or past Wesbank / "scientific speed testing" hookups. I'm based in Joburg, and been around the block with a couple of modded cars in the past:

Opel Turbo Coupe
Audi S4 V8
Golf 4 GTI-R with GT28 and later GT30 conversion
E39 M5 that I bought off my dad, and sold earlier this year

I've been toying with the idea of getting an M car again - no, toying's the wrong word - I need one in my life.

It'd replace my daily-driven Civic 160i Turbo - I'll still have my turbo Mk2 16V Golf for boosted fun...

My dad had a Dakar yellow 4-door M3 a few years ago, sold it to buy the E39 M5, which I eventually bought off him, and then I had an E46 M3 earlier this year, for all of two days before it was "affirmatively liberated" in a hijacking.

The budget doesn't allow for buying an E46 M3 - well, at least not a clean one - not without financing again, and I took enough of a bath on the last one to want to steer clear of financing.

Clean E36 M3's are notoriously hard to come by, and in my search, I've happened onto an exceptionally clean white '95 328i, with full factory M bodykit (barring the mirrors), 18" M3 reps and some suspension work - but the motor is completely unmolested. Only drawbacks are 215k km, and the price hovering around the R55k mark... but something in the back of my mind is going "This is about as clean as a 328 is ever going to get, and it looks like an M3 anyways. - DO IT"

I figured the 328i would be a good alternative if I could lay my hands on a turbo kit or even a full turbo engine for around 30-35k, like the one Sidewayz was selling.. But unfortunately, it's not an M3 - and I can't leave a car standard - EVER - so I'm afraid I'd hemmorhage money on it if I start modifying, only to end up selling it at a loss, whereas a well-kept E36 M3 doesn't need to be modded much, and will retain its value well into the future..

Also, this wouldn't be a car I'd want to marry and keep forever - it's a stepping stone back into an E46 M3, so resale value is important.

On the other hand, a 328i would be cheaper to maintain, especially if you're going to be beating on it.

Looking at a seemingly clean 94 E36 M3 tonight - and if that doesn't impress, I might just pull the trigger on the 328 and start modding it with an eye to turbo it - at least that'll be worth a decent asking price when I decide to sell it.

Comments or viewpoints would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks guys!

Bawb
 

freerider

Honorary ///Member
Welcome, I assume you are carforums billybawb?

I personally went with a 328i because I also love to play and I knew that if I got a M3 I would have felt too guilty to molest it :)

328's are also much easier on the pocket when it comes to maintenance, and if you slap a turbo on it, there isnt going to be much that you wont run away from on the road.

The nice thing about a 328 as well, is that you not going to pay a massive fee for one in good condition, where as the guys with e36 M3's in good nick are now asking silly money.
 

Peejay

Events Organiser
Welcome Bud.

Previous to my M3 I had a 328. I agree with Freerider. They are a lot easier on maintenance.

End of the day its your choice.
 

BillyBob

Active member
Thanks gents..

And yes Flearider - it's me. :rollsmile:

Didn't know you were such a devout 'kring member dude - over 10 000 posts? Masehare...

Lovely 328 Individual you have there - when are you fitting some forced induction???

Just got a call-back from a dude with a 97 4-door as well, so going to sample both the Coupe and 4-door back-to-back tonight. Guys, please send up some prayers to the //M deities that at least one of those proves to be clean and coming from a good home.

The 4-door seems like a bit of a potential gem - Black leather interior (wears so much better than Titan Gray), and 152 000 km on the clock should mean the VANOS to still be in good nick - if she runs well, the gearbox checks out and there's no evidence of abuse on the rear subframe / top shock mount points in the boot, it may be a winner.

If both of these stink, I'm going for the 328i.

A few piccies.... and both of them happen to be red. While it doesn't show off the lines as well as white, I still consider it to be a well-suited colour for the E36 M3.











Oh, and a shot of the 328i as well..



Edit - Dunno WTF went wrong there... :yuck:



 

freerider

Honorary ///Member
:biglol: I just keep a low profile on CFBB, with people like walla and certain other knowitalls, I just could not be bothered to entertain their stupid arguments.

We have a very valued member on this here forum, his nick is coisman, just get the reg of the vehicle you are interested in and he can assist with a complete police history on the vehicle. Many a buyer has been saved tears by coismans advice.

I am exhausting all NA options before considering FI :)

EDIT TO ADD: Just be careful, I know there was a discussion surrounding a red m for sale in jhb that had previously been rolled and repaired.

 

BillyBob

Active member
Pay no attention to Whale-ish - inferiority complex + closet homosexuality - now add a generous helping of denial and a dash of Ritalin, and you've got a tried and trusted recipe for his brand of attention-whoring know-it-all-ism.

I can already see I'm gonna have to buy coisman a couple of beers - thanks for the heads up!
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
how long you looking to keep this car? if its a short time i would go with the 328i and try not mod it... seems that might be a problem :rollsmile:

if you know you going to keep the car long enough for the modding bug to catch on then i would go for them M3 because you should be able to keep form modding that for a bit...

if you can keep yourself from modding the 328i you should be able to get the e46 sooner because you will save on running costs :)
 

sidewayz

New member
although we have already been talking, welcome billy.

as i siad earlier, go with the 328 because i looks like u mod all your cars lol. trsut me its tons of fun
 

Technician

Well-known member
this seems to be common problem among the E36 fans.
It depends on your wallet, money will make the decision for you.


i know a guy who owns two M3's, one to keep original and one to Turbo.
so that is the ideal situation :), but we aren't all that fortunate.

guys will turbo anything, so it is really up to what you can afford and how much time you have on your hands.



sidewayz has owned both so i would tend to go with his suggestion.
first hand knowledge helps.
 

Arbee

Honorary ///Member
Welcome Billybawb!

Looking forward to seeing the E36 ///M prowling the neighborhood soon.

:thumbs:
 

BillyBob

Active member
Alrighty...

So I went to see both the red 2-door and 4-door cars.

The 2-door...

Eish... This car screams "You're going to have to throw money at me", like a spoilt Sandton crack-whore. Mostly very pretty and appealing on the outside, apart from bubbling paint on the left front fender, but when you get under the surface, you realize that there's going to be a lot of money to spend on expert therapy and drinking habits.

The interior isn't bad - German spec seats are in decent nick, and things look mostly kosher, though it could do with a serious cleanup - but the OBC warnings light up like a christmas tree - tail light and license plate circuits, indicating the wiring strand in the boot needs to be sorted. Coolant level, which means that sensor needs to be taken out and cleaned.

More serious indicators - sunroof doesn't slide back all the way - broken guides that are hell to get to. Remote key doesn't activate central locking, which indicates an issue with the alarm controller. Engine idles rough, smells richer than a Christmas pudding, and has an intermittent rattly noise from a source I can't quite determine in the engine... It's not a bearing knock or broken lifter, as it doesn't seem entirely engine speed related - I'd take a wager at it being Vanos related, solenoids, or WTF knows exactly what. Can't be too serious though, at least not for now, as the motor revs very healthily and sounds good.

And last but not least - boot and bonnet gas struts are fubar - they still look like the original factory items - a serious indicator that the car's got a history of owners that can't afford to properly maintain it... I'm tempted to make a silly offer, but I'm almost scared the guy accepts it. Then again - R35-40k invested into the right places could make this into a fantastic example of an E36 2-door M3.


The 4-door...

My word, what a find... It's uber clean, inside and out. Bodywork is straight, paint is in excellent nick overall - though the bonnet could do eith a proper polish to get rid of swhirls. Everything just Works the way it should.

The motor is stonking, even without a decat at 152k km, it still pulls so damn well, especially past 5500 rpm in the final stages of cam advance. It rasps, it sings, and it revs like a maniac. No Vanos rattles or issues. Gearshift feels a tad "loose", but the box shifts cleanly and displays no signs of abuse - no hint of worn synchro's or anything like that.

Things that need to be done:

1. There's a squeal as the clutch engages into gear while you're moving - throw out bearing would be the most obvious suspect.
2. Brake light circuit error - suspect this to be the pcb on a light, or the pedal brake switch unit R200-300 and a bit of work at the worst.
3. air temp probe seems to have given the ghost or been damaged. Cheap and easy replacement.
4. Wood trim - nuff sed. Carbon fibre would look way better.

The car is unmolested and stupidly clean - a gem in my books. Put in an offer and should hear back today... Holding thumbs!!
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
Can i be the ointment in the fly....

Have you considered what could possibly be done with a BMW E34 540 with a big vat M60 in it...

Yes its a heavy body, although @ 1.6 ton its not THAT much more then an E36, which simply means it can handle more torque.

This just means that you can supercharge the living crap out of it..... and If you go do some research and you are prepared to be creative, you can even source a local supercharger.

That bottom end can handle insane forces without the need for uprated internals...

Use it dont use it :)
 

BillyBob

Active member
No man Leonard... :flyfun:

I was perrving Jandre's for sale thread for quite a while yesterday, thinking the exact same thing. Don't go rekindling that idea.

Problem with the E34 is the fuel consumption on the V8... I don't even want to think about what it'll be like with a supercharger. Unfortunately whatever I'm buying has to serve as a daily driver in lieu of the Honda, as I don't particularly like the idea of using the turbo Golf or my bike as a daily.

Or maybe get the 328 AND the 540?? No no no no... Gotta think logically.
 

msm

Well-known member
Welcome dude - good to see you on the BM side of the "forum" fence :thumbs:

BTW, heard those E34 V8's are not too bad on consumption if you can control your right foot.
 
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