BMW E36 323i - Drift/Track Build/SuperTouring-Vibes

[trikkisixx]

So, first up I'm afraid it's going to be a massive disappointment as I usually update my threads from work as my laptop is abysmal, but now my work have blocked IMGUR and any other photo-hosting sites! Currently, cannot share photos. I'll remedy this as soon as I can, check back soon if you're not interested in reading. 

If anyone can advise how I can upload photos from my mobile, that would be great!

This will be my fourth build thread I think. You can find my drift truck, S13 and MR2 via my profile if you fancy having a nose about. 

I picked up my latest E36 around the end of November 2020. It was built and used purely as a drift-only car and has not seen the road since about 2012 I think! Saying that, it has still been used fairly regularly so was sort of up together. And importantly, no rust!

I bought it pretty much sight unseen. I had been off down to Poole to check out a nice looking E36 328i saloon in black, which is what I really wanted! Sadly, the car was toast. I wasn't made aware that it had been sat, did not start or run. After getting a jump pack on it, the engine was as flat as a card and it was quite clear that compression was minimal. Balls. Best to leave that one where it is. The girl selling it either had no idea about cars or was trying to pull a fast one. 

So, off to a local car park to scour the internet to see if there were any other cars for sale locally that would fit the bill. Then a sudden brainwave came over my mate and rig-driver. He had a mate who had a drifty E36 which he could be talked into selling. A call was made and they sent me the spec, off we go to check it out!

We got there and the car had been blocked in by spares and other stuff so it was quite an effort for the owner to get it out! We were told by another mate "you better buy it else he's gonna be p*ssed right off having to pull it out!" guess we're taking it home then!

A quick run down of the spec: 

- 1990 E36 318is coupe (323 6cyl converted)
- Full HMSports kit including roof spoiler
- M52B25 conversion with M50 manifold upgrade
- Mapped ECU
- Full OMP cage
- Corbeau bucket and harnesses
- Fibreglass bootlid
- Polybushed all around
- Camber arms
- Strut braces
- Coilovers
- 6cyl brakes
- ABS delete
- M3 lights
- M3 mirrors
- Hydro handbrake
- Dished wheel
- Rota Kyusha's
- And an absolute garage-full of spares (I am not joking, I had to rent another garage to fit all the spares in!) 

The plan was to sort out the niggles, bin off the seats as they were trash, give it a proper clean in and out and get it on the road. 

My goal was always to have a BTCC-style car. I've loved the 90's Touring Cars for so long but never had anything that I could turn into my own iteration, (aside from my Mondeo which was very short lived due to rust!). Now was the time! Decent seats, change the wheels, slap on a livery, have some fun! Hopefully you'll like what I've done so far as I really do! 

For now, have a teaser picture of it the day after I got it and managed to give it a clean. I figured how to upload just the one pic for now. 

I'll slap a load of pictures up this evening from home if I get a chance!

[trikkisixx]

[trikkisixx]

Aha! I have figured how to do it via mobile! So these are the pics from the day after picking it up. Just another E36 coupe with a bodykit really and some naff wheels.

[trikkisixx]

I didn’t hang about and got some new wheels on it ASAP! These were always gonna be the wheels it was gonna wear! Rota’s version of the Compomotive TH.

[trikkisixx]

Before the changes though, there were some things to sort.

The exhaust was hanging on with a jubilee clip, the car was so low that it would liberate it's bumper on the flattest of roads (yes I've had to chase it more than once), the lights were dim as anything, the wiring in the bay and passenger footwell was questionable to say the least, and the seats were so horrible!

Also!!!! The car was not even recognised at the DVLA... this was an issue. I was bricking it a bit as I thought that I'd bought a ringer or a write-off. Turns out that the car had a private plate on it pretty much from new, was then sold and the plate removed in around 2006. The DVLA had done a stellar job and mistaken an "o" for a zero. So, I think at one point I had the only 2006 registered E36! A bit of digging and it was sorted.

[trikkisixx]

I managed to pick up a nice Sparco Pro2000 and a Sparco Evo2 for not very much money. They swiftly found their way into the car and it's so much nicer!

[trikkisixx]

[trikkisixx]

Next was the fun/long bit. I wanted a livery on it but couldn't find a black E36 with a livery I liked. Until I found a pic of the new HKS Supra... a plan was afoot.

It would be a cool livery with a nod to my love of Japanese cars as well as giving it the BTCC/JTCC look I was after.

I had to figure out a way of printing the livery in the right size. I couldn't really think of any other way other than physically hand-drawing out the geometric shape and transferring it to some vinyl, then hand cutting it all out... so that's what I did.

[trikkisixx]

[trikkisixx]

It seems as though the uploader doesn't like to keep things in order...

[trikkisixx]

Couple of odd jobs here and there, spacers so that the wheel don't hit the coilovers, roll the arches to accomodate the added girth, adjustable topmounts for slight camber, replacement bushes here and there to try to combat the mystery death-wobble at 40mph!

That kinda brings it up to date and now that I've written it out, it doesn't seem like I've done a lot but it feels like I've been working on it for ages!

I still haven't finished the livery and have a couple more maintenance bits to do ready for it's first drift day in a couple of weeks!

And then, to see if I can get it presentable for Retrorides Weekender Deadline Display!

[trikkisixx]

[mat88]

This is just full of win. 90s super tourer style with a bit of JDM goodness thrown in!

[trikkisixx]

Mar 19, 2021 21:49:16 GMT mat88 said:

This is just full of win. 90s super tourer style with a bit of JDM goodness thrown in!

Thank you dude! Exactly what I’m going for. Need to get some proper pictures and get the thread in order, it’s messing with my OCD! I do sorta wish I had managed to get a saloon for proper Super Tourer feels but hey ho, next time!

[trikkisixx]

Been chasing a wobble for a week or so now, maybe a bit longer. Tried a few different things this weekend, wheels balanced, new track rod ends, replaced the wishbones, replaced the lollipops... it’s still wobbly... balls. Next job is wheel bearing, failing that I’m really not sure where else to go!

Anyways, got a drift evening coming up next Wednesday and need some extra light! Behold the portable sun! Might not mount it on the bonnet but don’t know, I don’t think it actually looks awful! Can always grommet the holes when not needed.

[aveugotadonk]

Likey!

[trikkisixx]

Mar 24, 2021 16:26:11 GMT aveugotadonk said:

Likey!

Thanks dude 😊

[mat88]

Where's the drift evening? Are we allowed to play out again now? I'm desperate to get mine on track as soon as we're allowed (it's only got an lsd not a welder but I've enough power to overcome that issue) haha

[trikkisixx]

Mar 24, 2021 22:11:19 GMT mat88 said:

Where's the drift evening? Are we allowed to play out again now? I'm desperate to get mine on track as soon as we're allowed (it's only got an lsd not a welder but I've enough power to overcome that issue) haha

It’s Matchams which is Ringood/Bournemouth sort of way. I assume it’s all signed off for legalities otherwise wouldn’t be going ahead?

This will be my first time in this car. You’d be fine with an LSD I’m sure.

[ballbagbagins]

If you want any lessons on how to drift into a kerb then let me know. I killed my is200 after confusing confidence and ability.