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Jan 27, 2023 20:45:06 GMT
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So all being well my next project on the horizon is an e36 compact, I know they're not that old but the one I'm getting is a 'P' reg so is 25 and technically qualifys for classic insurance i think. They seem to get a bit of a bad rep among the bmw crowd but ive always had a soft spot for them. Anyone had one, got any cool pictures off the net etc for inspiration? The plan is to build a roughly to compact cup spec road car for hill climb/sprint racing.
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big02
Part of things
Posts: 61
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Jan 27, 2023 21:08:59 GMT
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I loved my compact and miss it. Of the BMW’s I’ve had I’d say it’s one of my favs.
I’m really not sure where the bad rep came from.
The 1.9 engine was engaging but you always felt like the chassis could take more power. In Germany they got a 323ti, with the 2.5l engine.
I have an MCoupe now and much of the switchgear is familiar to the compact.
What engine/mode are you getting?
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Jan 27, 2023 21:16:34 GMT
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Jan 27, 2023 21:49:12 GMT
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Jan 27, 2023 22:12:11 GMT
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I loved my compact and miss it. Of the BMW’s I’ve had I’d say it’s one of my favs. I’m really not sure where the bad rep came from. The 1.9 engine was engaging but you always felt like the chassis could take more power. In Germany they got a 323ti, with the 2.5l engine. I have an MCoupe now and much of the switchgear is familiar to the compact. What engine/mode are you getting? Yeah I really don't understand the negativity around them, it's essentially one of the last rwd hatchbacks which is a great thing in itself. I've had a good drive of the one I'm buying and it was great fun, like you say the chassis can definitely take more power but I certainly didn't feel like the 4 cylinder was lacking. Relatively cheap m52's are still pretty easily obtainable and it's a straight swap so that would probably be something down the line but for the foreseeable future I'd just put a bucket seat and some good tyres on it and a potential remap and have fun. It's a '97 318ti so has the slightly higher power m44 in it. Its a really solid one that my friends dad has had for a few years. It's got a cracked windscreen annoyingly and what seems like a common fault with the temp/fuel gauges but other than that it's good to go. |
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Jan 27, 2023 22:16:27 GMT
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Exactly the inspiration I was looking for! 😃 Other than obviously being an absolutely brilliant engine what was the reasoning behind going with the volvo engine? Was it a lot of work? Great car by the way! |
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Jan 27, 2023 22:49:49 GMT
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thankyou ! no not a lot at all really, i think you can get a redblock to bmw box conversion plate in sweden!
as for the road rally rules, it says my engine has to be 4 cylinder, so i cant go m52 etc. the redblock is 2.3 pulls really well and i only have to buy 1 cam, 8 valves, so its not so expensive to tune..
mine has a lot of other mods to it too so it rally well, but defo an awesome car, the modern escort
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Jan 27, 2023 23:17:52 GMT
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The bad reputation is probably due to the roadtesters of the time comparing them to the regular E36 models. From what I remember, didn't it use an older generation (E30?) rear suspension for some reason (packaging or cost?), or something like that, which resulted in the ride & handling being criticised in relation to the rest of the E36 range. Probably also didn't help that it looked like a regular E36 that had simply been rear ended.
That V12 conversion is nothing new. One of the tuning firms of the day did that when they were a current model (either Autocar or Performance Car must have written something about it, as those were the only modern car mags I bought back then). However liking that the red one posted here still has non-body colour bumpers & thus looks more like just a base model 316i with big wheels.
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The bad reputation is probably due to the roadtesters of the time comparing them to the regular E36 models. From what I remember, didn't it use an older generation (E30?) rear suspension for some reason (packaging or cost?), or something like that, which resulted in the ride & handling being criticised in relation to the rest of the E36 range. Probably also didn't help that it looked like a regular E36 that had simply been rear ended. That V12 conversion is nothing new. One of the tuning firms of the day did that when they were a current model (either Autocar or Performance Car must have written something about it, as those were the only modern car mags I bought back then). However liking that the red one posted here still has non-body colour bumpers & thus looks more like just a base model 316i with big wheels. my old one. actually preffered mine over a regular E36. Yes the rear suspension was from an E30. Also had a 'cheaper' dash with e30 style air vents and pull out light switch..  |
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Last Edit: Jan 28, 2023 9:48:02 GMT by chrissyb
'98 e36 316i lux
'97 mx5 harvard
'87 Saab 900 T16s
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Jan 28, 2023 10:45:25 GMT
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So……
I have no idea on peoples likes and dislikes.
But.
When you asked the question, my thoughts shot to my preference of brand, ie. Three pointed star, and the C-Class hatch or compact.
You rarely see them driven by anyone but mums fetching kids….. but not a lot of that either.
Do they have much of a following or value in having at all?
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Jan 28, 2023 11:53:12 GMT
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I think what was a bit odd was that the e30 was generally highly thought of, but the e36 compact (and the z3?) were slated despite the rear end being the same or similar?
Also, I have no evidence to back this up, but I've read several times that the e36 and e46 compacts generally suffer less with tinworm?
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Jan 28, 2023 14:10:51 GMT
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So…… I have no idea on peoples likes and dislikes. But. When you asked the question, my thoughts shot to my preference of brand, ie. Three pointed star, and the C-Class hatch or compact. You rarely see them driven by anyone but mums fetching kids….. but not a lot of that either. Do they have much of a following or value in having at all? When it comes to the hatchbacks I've always preferred the compacts just as a distant observer. But in a weird twist when it comes to the saloons and estates I've always preferred the w124! Which I guess is pretty weird. 🤣. |
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Jan 28, 2023 14:17:52 GMT
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I think what was a bit odd was that the e30 was generally highly thought of, but the e36 compact (and the z3?) were slated despite the rear end being the same or similar? Also, I have no evidence to back this up, but I've read several times that the e36 and e46 compacts generally suffer less with tinworm? This is the weird thing, I'm sure z3's are identical underneath and also share the e30 rear end and have always been seen as a drivers car. So surely the compact is just a practical version of the same thing! Obviously I could be way off. From reading up I believe they used the e30 rear suspension as it provided a better layout/more space for creating all the folding rear seat gubbins so it could be used as a true hatchback. And it kept the costs down. It does seem that they rust less than the other e36's but that could just be wishfull thinking 🤣. Think jacking points are an issue but the one I'm getting is solid. |
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Jan 28, 2023 14:21:53 GMT
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The bad reputation is probably due to the roadtesters of the time comparing them to the regular E36 models. From what I remember, didn't it use an older generation (E30?) rear suspension for some reason (packaging or cost?), or something like that, which resulted in the ride & handling being criticised in relation to the rest of the E36 range. Probably also didn't help that it looked like a regular E36 that had simply been rear ended. That V12 conversion is nothing new. One of the tuning firms of the day did that when they were a current model (either Autocar or Performance Car must have written something about it, as those were the only modern car mags I bought back then). However liking that the red one posted here still has non-body colour bumpers & thus looks more like just a base model 316i with big wheels. my old one. actually preffered mine over a regular E36. Yes the rear suspension was from an E30. Also had a 'cheaper' dash with e30 style air vents and pull out light switch.. Lovely car! It does seem a common theme that people who have actually owned the compacts have loved them. One massive positive of the negative reputation is it has kept prices down, in a world where stuff has just gone out of control on price it's one of the few cool fun cars that can still be picked up for relatively little money. (Although even compacts are looking like they are starting to creep up) |
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Jan 28, 2023 14:59:42 GMT
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Obviously only came in red 🤣
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Feb 12, 2023 19:20:48 GMT
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