e36 328i asc?

[ekseniks]

I went to go look at a second hand e36 328i yesterday and for the life of me, I couldn't find an asc switch. Am I mistaken in thinking they all came out with one? They're supposed to be just above the gear lever right?
:dunno:

 

[Peejay]

Yep your right. But not all came with it. Not sure if it was an extra back in the day, my 328i 1998 had it. The correct spec of the car was 328i A/T executive. Not sure what A/T stands for cause the car was a manual from factory.

 

[moranor@axis]

i thought they only started with driver aids on the e46 :dunno:

 

[andrewbuch]

Think it depends what year it was... cause maybe from the facelift E36 they included it ???

 

[ekseniks]

Wow, so for my first BMW (RWD Car) I'm going to be going at it without any driver aids? This should be interesting Is there a way to get ASC installed for relatively cheap or should I just learn how to drive a RWD and fast :O

 

[moranor@axis]

lol...

from what i know about early asc is your probably better off without it they not very good... my advice would be to take it easy and learn slowly or you will get into trouble...

 

[ekseniks]

Ye, i think easing into the whole sideways BMW thing is good idea...

Thanks for the tip

 

[Sankekur]

Don't worry about it not having ASC as it does pretty much nothing, it only cuts power to the rear wheels if you are actually giving power, so it prevents slip of the rear wheels during acceleration, it won't prevent the car from sliding or any of the proper dynamic driver aid kind of things.

Just don't drive like a crazy and you should be fine

(Even the DSC system is not perfect and doesn't always prevent sliding etc.)

Whereabouts are you? If you are in the gauteng area there is a super trax day and skidpan day about once a month at zwartkops raceway. Taking the car out on the skidpan should give you a good idea of the car's dynamic capabilities on low grip conditions plus its loads of fun.

 

[ekseniks]

Aw man that sounds like a great way to get to know the car without having to learn on-the-fly. I'm unfortunately in Cape Town, do you know of anything like that here?

Even some pointers on driving that kind of car would be much appreciated

 

[Phoenix]

ASC was only fitted to 97/98 models, anything before that had no driver aids at all apart from ABS. i could stand under correction though with the 328i individual models that, if i'm not mistaken, had ASC.

However, i'd like to add that e36 328's are not at all tail happy and you have to drive like a complete tosser to get the tail to come out from under you on a stock or even lightly modded one at altitude. If the one you buy is tail happy have her sent in for Wheel Alignment. Even at the coast i had to nail my 328i or scandanavian flick her to get her sideways and she wasn't stock.

 

[ekseniks]

scandanavian flick

I have got to get me one of those

but its good to hear i'm not going to find myself in trouble unless i'm asking for it

*EDIT*

I don't think i'll be trying any scandinavian flicks anytime soon >> http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Do-the-Scandinavian-Flick-Turn-2655553

 

[Sankekur]

I've only been out on skidpan once, but I learned a lot about my car, I can't really say about the e36's, but I had to physically make the car step out and misbehave, other than that it would just grip and go where you pointed it. It gave a lot of confidence when driving the car in wet conditions, as my BMW is also my first RWD car.

Your best bet for skid pan type event would be to check at your local racetracks and see if they have those kinds of days where you can go out on the skid pan.

Oh before I forget, it is also a good idea to go for the BMW advance driver training.

 

[andrewbuch]

However, i'd like to add that e36 328's are not at all tail happy and you have to drive like a complete tosser to get the tail to come out from under you on a stock or even lightly modded one at altitude. If the one you buy is tail happy have her sent in for Wheel Alignment. Even at the coast i had to nail my 328i or scandanavian flick her to get her sideways and she wasn't stock.

Funny but my E36 316i handles nicely but go into a corner fast & give a nice sharp turn in & Gun it in the wet & it will spin out.. The E46 318i is even easier as I showed you at the Randburg meetup

I've only been out on skidpan once, but I learned a lot about my car, I can't really say about the e36's, but I had to physically make the car step out and misbehave, other than that it would just grip and go where you pointed it. It gave a lot of confidence when driving the car in wet conditions, as my BMW is also my first RWD car.

Your best bet for skid pan type event would be to check at your local racetracks and see if they have those kinds of days where you can go out on the skid pan.

Oh before I forget, it is also a good idea to go for the BMW advance driver training.

Skidpan is a great help

The E36 Chassis is awesome & it handles great as it was designed without traction aids so its designed to handle well.. but the E46 was designed with traction aids so it doesnt handle too well compared to the E36..

this all just my opinions & from my experiences

 

[moranor@axis]

im pretty sure its the weight that makes the difference?

 

[ekseniks]

This is all great news I'm super excited to get her and i'm sure i'll do a lot of learning in the first couple months. Thanks for all the input!

Just a quick question does a '96 e36 328i have cruise control? or does it depend on what model you get?

 

[Lev]

ASC helps if you being a tool, esp in the wet, like me, just after it rained on Wed, I was sliding around a rather long bend and I had not been prepared for it, so I tapped off and steered the car in the correct direction.

So don't be a tool and you'll be fine :thumb:

All the best.

 

[Sankekur]

If I am not mistaken only the autos came with cruise control, but I am just guessing.

 

[frikkieh]

Wow, so for my first BMW (RWD Car) I'm going to be going at it without any driver aids? This should be interesting Is there a way to get ASC installed for relatively cheap or should I just learn how to drive a RWD and fast :O

Reminds me of my old bakkie. No ABS, ASC no nothing. I am sure handelling of your car will still be far superior to that of the old duck.

 

[ekseniks]

Wow, so for my first BMW (RWD Car) I'm going to be going at it without any driver aids? This should be interesting Is there a way to get ASC installed for relatively cheap or should I just learn how to drive a RWD and fast :O

Reminds me of my old bakkie. No ABS, ASC no nothing. I am sure handelling of your car will still be far superior to that of the old duck.

Haha.. A friend of mine used to have an old nissan champ, that thing used to love being sideways.. but the back was so light it really couldn't help it

 

[Phoenix]

Yes the smaller engined cars do slide around alot more, more than likely due to weight.

My 328i had cruise control and it was a '95 manual. i had cruise control retrofitted to my 325i manual as well. But believe me, unless you doing long open roads, you don't really get chance to use it.

scandanavian flick

I have got to get me one of those

but its good to hear i'm not going to find myself in trouble unless i'm asking for it

*EDIT*

I don't think i'll be trying any scandinavian flicks anytime soon >> http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Do-the-Scandinavian-Flick-Turn-2655553

Please note that he was using a front wheel drive car in that video so do not just floor the throttle in a bmw as it will not bring your car back into a straight line!!!