Leo's 320i

[LeoSebastianBrown]

Hi, I wanted to share some pics of my 320i.
I've not had the car long, it was bought as a daily driver to work, automatic for the traffic jams, and a welcome relief after driving crappy small engined manuals. Not the most economical car ever but I finally enjoy my trip to and from work and pretty much anywhere else I take it.

I haven't done anything to major to it, just general tidying up, servicing, new tyres, new exhaust, new springs, new sound system, wheel badges, number plates and a good clean!

I've just driven the car fully loaded to Berlin along the E30 incidentally, 1200miles total....no problems at all. Love it!















Thanks for looking, let me know your thoughts.

[bhups]

Looks nice mate.

[hillbilly30]

Looks very nice! Needs nothing IMO

[Blitz]

Looks tidy

[darkchild]

Lovely. You can't beat a late 6 cylinder SE.

[jimbom30cab]

very very nice, I've got an auto also and love driving it, so nice to cruise in

lovely car mate

[alexdejonghe]

Very tidy old girl, anything groaning mechanically that needs doing?

[oomz1975]

This is very nice

[dsiingh]

Very nice, Very clean. I like that handbrake gaitor, did it come with the car?

[LeoSebastianBrown]

Thanks for the comments, fun bit of info about it, BMW fitted a new engine in it under warranty in 1997 as someone at the BMW dealership left the oil cap off on it's 100k service, so the engines quite new, relatively speaking!

It runs nice and smooth and it's pretty quiet other than a small brushing type noise behind the speedo which i'm guessing is the mpg reader? It was making some groaning noises funnily enough, but it turned out it was just low on power steering fluid.

I'd like to fix my 13 button obc as it does'nt work, other than that i'll maybe get the wheels refurbished and if i can justify it, a new coat of paint as it's looking it's age in places.

[LeoSebastianBrown]

I honestly don't know about the handbrake gaitor, i had a guy stop me at a petrol station a week ago and was running me through what options i had fitted to the car! He was a big 3series fan and was telling me he had a fully speced out E28! He also told me you can take your car to a bmw dealership and they can give you a print out of the original spec sheet and price of your car, not sure how true that is.

[darkchild]

He also told me you can take your car to a bmw dealership and they can give you a print out of the original spec sheet and price of your car, not sure how true that is.

'Tis true. They just need the VIN or registration and will happily provide a print.

[BenHar]

Or you can do it yourself here: http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

Ben

[dsiingh]

Yup they just need a Vin or REg. Took mine to the garage in birmingham, and as I was leaving the showroom the guy handed me a spec sheet of my car. He said he has always admired them. There wasnt much however to my spec sheet being a 316i lol

[LeoSebastianBrown]

sweet... i'm gonna check that out tomorrow.

[LeoSebastianBrown]

Yeah, i got the optional cassette tape holder!
Which is a pain in the arse every time you rest your left arm there all the tape holders... full of no tapes... pop up and you have to push them all individually back.

[LeoSebastianBrown]

Pretty sure my timing belt broke today, . I was travelling under 30mph when it happened, just wondering what sort of cost to sort or weather it would be worth just looking at replacing the engine, seems to be a few 325 engines for reasonable money, would that be a ridiculous idea?

[bss325i]

That is sad news!

I would most definitely be replacing the 2ltr with a 2.5.

[jimbom30cab]

A decent 2.5 lump with everything you need should be about £250, Pacerpete on here has one for sale iirc which comes with a warranty also !!

[bss325i]

A nice 2.5 is a bit more than £250 now jim. Not many decent ones about these days.

[LeoSebastianBrown]

I can't bring myself to part out the car, i like it and want to keep it, plus i know engine work is gonna cost a fair bit, so if i'm spending money, i'd like to end up with something better than i had before! Just wondering if a 325 swap is a worthwhile option, bearing in mind i'd be paying someone to do it for me (I just don't have the knowledge/skill to myself)

[bss325i]

Whats your location?

[LeoSebastianBrown]

South East, Kent.

[bss325i]

PM sent.

[pacerpete]

Choice of EXCELLENT engines here that can be seen running. I can deliver to Barry bss.

[darkchild]

Pretty sure my timing belt broke today, .

Ouch! Hope you get it sorted, definitely worth doing on a car that clean.

[LeoSebastianBrown]

Update, new engine 325i in courtesy of Barry, good to have it back on the road, finally had a bit of dry weather so i sorted out a few little problems and gave the new engine a clean n tidy up.