E36 316i (parts needed)

[Dave]

Hi all

So i finally bought another BMW after selling my E36 318is a year ago. This one is meant to be a cheap run around and do to do all the dirty work around the house.

Its 1996 model 316i and the outside and engine seem to be in good nick. no smoking, and no real signs of accident damage. not to major at least.

for the price i paid, i was expecting to do some work, and here is where the list starts:

1. Power steering rack has a leak, (odd place, but its a plastic bit sort of where the steering rack ends) anyone know if that can be replaced, or does the whole bit need to replaced?

2. aircon belt snapped, at-least it seems like the only thing wrong with the aircon.

3. bushes for the gears as the gear stick pretty much floats everywhere, and very hard to get reverse. It does select all gears though.

those are the only three parts of the engine that need attention apart from a good service.

on the interior, there is alot of work, and i may need parts if anyone is selling these:

1. complete leather interior, seats and door card. (dove grey color)
2. center console that holds the window switches. Previous owner kept grinding against the console ans its basically bust open now.
2. Passenger side window mechanism
3. rear right window mechanism.
4. rear pillars(along the rear windscreen)
5. Steering wheel (3 spoke one)
6. Hooter
7. The lights within the dashboard. some are not working, (behind the rev counter and speed display.

please let me know if anyone has any of these items for sale.

thanks

 

[Solo Man]

Dave, cannot really help with parts but maybe with advice. What condition are the seats? Could you post pictures of the seats. Why i am asking is that i bought a E36 about 5 weeks ago and the seats looked terrible althought there were no tears or holes. I cleaned them thoroughly and spray painted them as well as the door cards with upholstery dye and they came out like new. Cost me R320 where the upholsterers were asking R1800

 

[Dave]

Thanks Solo Man

I did see your thread when you bought yours. Unfortunately, the back seats were ripped completely. Previous owner said it had a small tear, and then his children found it.

the front pair isn't that bad. so based on that, it might be better to replace the whole lot, unless i can get the back seats only.

 

[Tlvivo]

Solo Man this is impressive mate - I need this for my e46 seats - do they have this for all colours? where can I find this dye?

 

[Andy1GP]

:bump: Also curious

 

[Raybimmer]

curious^2

 

[Solo Man]

Guys, check my posts - i have written a few posts about the dye for the seats and it is available from Stapol in PE, guy called Dave Shellard helped me out - his work no is 041-4843396
About the floating gear lever - i also had the problem and took the gear linkage apart - not as difficult as it sounds even with the propshaft in situ. Anyway, removed the rubber "bush" in the back where the main frame of the gearlever sits and replaced that with an old shock absorber rubber i had lying around. Ground it down on my bench grinder to the correct size and forced it into the housing where the old rubber used to sit. Then i ordered the front bush (the one with the hole in it where the pin goes through - cost R161 at the agents after discount) that goes on the lower selector lever. I also bent the lower selector lever ever so slightly so that the play in the bottom bush can be cancelled out and fitted the linkage with washers for a nice tight setup. (also greased the pins that goes into the bushes) Now i have a nice solid gearchange with the reverse quite far from the left side of the console and the fifth gear quite close to the other side of the console but not so close as to be a problem. (on hindsight i should not have bent the bottom selector but am not going to take it apart again soon if i can help it) and it is not really a problem at the moment. I also bought a new rubber that fits around the gear lever where it goes through the body but that is a mission to fit over the top of the gear selector bush. Could not get mine over after battling about hour and a half so left it at that. Gearchanging is a delight and the play it had when in gear is almost completely gone. Feels like a 50k km car and not the 302k km that is showing on the clock.