My 6 pot E36: Clean tidy but needs a little work

[mertzman]

After changing my job I had no need of a car capable of 50mpg plus, so naturally I sought one were getting 30mpg would be an achievement around town!

Behold the 2.5L straight six! Okay, it's no 440 big block but it still goes and sounds fantastic:D












The service history is something to behold, everything you'd ever want plus an engine rebuild from BMW at 90k for £2900! Complete new block, pistons, rods etc... Thank the lord for Nikasil as it now as an ally block with liners with just 60k on it! 


These pics are actually from the seller because I'm pants at phones and technology. I've since de stickered the engine bay, removed the tints and have a set of M3 front springs to raise the front about 20/30mm.  Undecided on the M3 mirrors, but I have the originals too.


It needs a set of front wings, both to remove the ghastly grills and there is the start of some bubbling. Pleasantly the only rust on the car bar a 50p surface bubble I'm sorting today on a door jam.   So what are the plans?  I'm not sure. I like to change my cars every few months so probably not a lot other than enjoying the 6 cylinder music.  I have the original lights and a tired spare set of M3 reps in 7.5j all around whilst this currently it on a staggered set of 7.5j and 8.5j but I doubt I'll change anything.    

[Mark]

That looks superb, any interior pics?

[mertzman]

I should add, the silly carbon stickering on the window surrounds has been removed and is now a stock looking black.


I have standard mirrors but would like an electric set of the DTM style to fit instead. 

It's on Standard shocks

[Cti Stu]

Nice, 323 isn't it, I was looking at it myself a while back when it was on FB (with thoes pics;-)

[mertzman]

Feb 21, 2016 0:20:01 GMT Cti Stu said:

Nice, 323 isn't it, I was looking at it myself a while back when it was on FB (with thoes pics;-)

A 323 indeed, a strangled 325 by way of a single pipe cat back, i believe? A larger one has been fitted with a newer backbox, pleasantly sounds stock below 3k rpm.

[andyborris]

A nice E36, these seem to be getting rare and going up in value too, think you may have hit the sweet spot on this!

Indeed a strangled 2.5 engine (German Insurance companies to blame!), unfortunately strangled by a very restrictive inlet manifold, lot's of mid range, no top end and no real easy fix.

M50 2.8 manifolds do (sorta) fit and improve the power, but now seem rarer then poor quality wobbly children's play pony poo, beware the sellers who sell a 2.0 manifold, which does nothing, as a 2.8 one too!

Personally, I think a strong mid range power band is better for real world driving anyway.......still nice to have the bragging rights though!

[Ian]

Looks nice and clean, especially that white leather! I wish I'd got one without a Nikasil problem!

[andy-v]

very nice motor

[mertzman]

Thanks for the comments chaps. I'm looking for a M50 manifold since the exhaust has already been done. I'd like to change the rear badge out for new and return the steering wheel badge to OEM, not the ghastly carbon fibre one and generally fiddle, wax, etc...  I'll daily it for about a year then retire to to weekend car.

I was quoted £278 per wing from BMW, and have seen pattern wing for £22. No brain needed to know the better quality, but what is the quality difference between the two? I'm told it's common to have to drill bolt holes in pattern parts? I'd have them sprayed at a bodyshop but fit em myself. Worth it to loose the grills tho. To be fair they're at least cut into a decent standard.

Looking to fit suspension reinforcement plates and uprated top mounts. These seem to be a pre requisite to coilovers/firmer than sports suspension.

[g40jon]

looks a nice example! I had an early e36 325i, it was a complete hoot to drive, went like a stabbed rat too. The noise was worth the complete lack of mpgs! Sadly I had to sell it to fund house resto

[hamps]

Nice car that , don't see many nice 36's these days.

The front indicators look a bit ghetto, think it would look lovely with a set of gingers on it

Interior looks mint

[mertzman]

Ta for the comments.

Set of Ambers are on order. It's got M3 wheels, it's never going to be a sleeper, but I do like the OEM look...

[Ian]

M3 wheels and sport kit suit the saloon, I would like some M5 throwing stars for mine one day. I have style 5 split rims but they are the narrow e36 specific fitment ones but I think they need wider rears to fit properly.

[rikki458]

Lovely looking saloon id definitely do the m50 swap and put the standard clear front Indactors on it don't see many clean e36's now I love mine

[iainw]

Feb 21, 2016 9:44:30 GMT andyborris said:

A nice E36, these seem to be getting rare and going up in value too, think you may have hit the sweet spot on this!

Indeed a strangled 2.5 engine (German Insurance companies to blame!), unfortunately strangled by a very restrictive inlet manifold, lot's of mid range, no top end and no real easy fix.

M50 2.8 manifolds do (sorta) fit and improve the power, but now seem rarer then poor quality wobbly children's play pony poo, beware the sellers who sell a 2.0 manifold, which does nothing, as a 2.8 one too!

Personally, I think a strong mid range power band is better for real world driving anyway.......still nice to have the bragging rights though!

This isn't right i'm afraid.

The 328 manifold is just as restrictive, the manifold required is the 325i manifold which would add power to either a 323 or 328 both of which were restricted by the inlet.

The 325 inlet from either the m50 or m50tu is fine, both are the same.

[andyborris]

Feb 23, 2016 0:47:08 GMT iainw said:

Feb 21, 2016 9:44:30 GMT andyborris said:

A nice E36, these seem to be getting rare and going up in value too, think you may have hit the sweet spot on this!

Indeed a strangled 2.5 engine (German Insurance companies to blame!), unfortunately strangled by a very restrictive inlet manifold, lot's of mid range, no top end and no real easy fix.

M50 2.8 manifolds do (sorta) fit and improve the power, but now seem rarer then poor quality wobbly children's play pony poo, beware the sellers who sell a 2.0 manifold, which does nothing, as a 2.8 one too!

Personally, I think a strong mid range power band is better for real world driving anyway.......still nice to have the bragging rights though!

This isn't right i'm afraid.

The 328 manifold is just as restrictive, the manifold required is the 325i manifold which would add power to either a 323 or 328 both of which were restricted by the inlet.

The 325 inlet from either the m50 or m50tu is fine, both are the same.

You are quite right, a hastily written email, read through without my reading glasses on and now I look like a know nothing internet bore!
Easy to see why there's so much misinformation on the web!

In my defence, I did write M50!

[mertzman]

he M50 debate is a lively one! I have one on order from a fellow RR'er that should be installed in 4 weeks time. I plan to remap after this to make the most of it and the exhaust it now has.

I'm half way taking the glue off the windows from the tints. A big improvement and just needs a hose down to get the road crud off.


Off comes the carbon fibre tat and on with the OEM.

[mertzman]

Just replaced the rear shock mount and found some bubbling... that turned into this:



and this on the opposite side:



I can't weld!  But I could learn. I know enough about rust to know that it's like an iceberg. What you see is only the surface. The real beast lies beneath. I guess 4-6 inches around each hole to find good solid weldable metal.  I've hit the right  hole with a screw driver and scraped and that as big as the hole will go.  I will check the other tomorrow. I fear the seam sealer is hiding a real mess...  

Naturally, this raised my concern around the rest of the car. I went down each sill and jacked the car to check. Luckily no bubbling or rust anywhere.  All passed the screwdriver test. All solid, so it could be worse I guess. 

 I don't know what to do. 

A) Sell as is, taking a loss and buying something boring, modern *shudder*, but straight.
B) Repair myself?
C) Pay out to get it done. I'm guessing that won't be cheap!!!

[reliantscimitar]

hi there

the passenger side looks to be a factory hole,just clean up,prime and seal.

Other side doesn't look to bad, less than and hour to repair to a decent standard so I would worry to much.

Check the other side of the hole, there may be a reason for the rot such as a stiffener etc ?

cheers - mike

[mertzman]

Feb 25, 2016 19:39:40 GMT reliantscimitar said:

hi there

the passenger side looks to be a factory hole,just clean up,prime and seal.

Other side doesn't look to bad, less than and hour to repair to a decent standard so I would worry to much.

Check the other side of the hole, there may be a reason for the rot such as a stiffener etc ?

cheers - mike

Thanks for the advice.

but I'm now looking to p/x the car for a boring modern diesel


I'm taking redundancy and parking her up once the fuel light comes on. I'll take a curse word job for now and get a proper job asap and learn to weld. I'll never find another like this.