New car - E36 318is... few questions and a couple of pic's:

Discuss Non-E30 BMW's in here - No selling!

Moderator: martauto

aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Mon May 03, 2010 8:09 pm

I picked up my new daily drive this weekend...

Image
Image
Image
Image

E36 318is - what do you think?

Have done about 150 miles in it and am happy with it overall. Bodywork's really good - very straight and blemish-free. Engine is smooth and quiet. There are a couple of things I'd like to do however:

1) It only came with one key so I was planning to get one of the remote central locking kits from Rightclick to address this and also add remote locking at the same time - either this http://www.rclick.co.uk/product_info.ph ... cts_id=671 ... or this http://www.rclick.co.uk/product_info.ph ... cts_id=674

Question: because I only have one key I assume I'll only be able to use one of the keys from the above kits because I only have one transponder for the immobiliser (due to only having one original key). Am I right in thinking this and if so where do I get another transponder so I can use both keys to start the car? Stealers?

2) The electric mirrors don't seem to work - haven't looked into why but does anyone know of common faults to check for with them?

3) It has cloth interior, which isn't too bad but I'd prefer black leather - where's best to get hold of a leather interior and how much should I pay?

4) I have a sub woofer I'd like to install - where's best to route the power cable through the bulkhead and where would be best to route the cables through the car to the boot?

So, if anyone can help with the above that'd be great! I've been having a look on bimmerforums.co.uk but not come up with much so far. Will keep scouring though :D
User avatar
TheHeap
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1749
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: welling

Post Mon May 03, 2010 8:32 pm

Mirrors could be the switch. I have replaced mine at least 3 times in nearly as many years. In fact every time i go scrappy i walk out with a few.

Leathers: Don't be shocked if you see £350 price tags attached to them. If you want Vadar (i think that's how you spell it) make sure you're on the carzy when you check the price as you're bound to 5hit yourself when you see it.

Oh and a bit of a cheeky question, how much did you give? I only ask as i might be selling mine in a month or two
Image
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 9:29 am

Cheers, I'll try the switch for the mirrors then...

I had a quick look on ebay for leather interiors and saw a couple of complete ones go for around £100-150! Not too bad.

Oh, and I paid £1100 - a bit of a steal in my eyes :D
User avatar
harry_p
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5313
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: norfolk

Post Tue May 04, 2010 5:29 pm

slightly odd scpec, proper climate control, but basic povvo clock :mad:

looks very tidy though, and can't really grumble at that money!
cheers,

harry
e30kev
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 402
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Kelty, Scotland

Post Tue May 04, 2010 6:36 pm

nice motor, i had one of these for a while, decent cars and not bad to drive, diffs on the four pots love to leak tho, pretty much everything on these cars were optional extras new so there is a wide variety of spec, mine was totally basic but had full leather seats :mad:
Image
ETERNITY
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1402
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:00 pm

Post Tue May 04, 2010 6:40 pm

Good buy

Thes e36 318is are more economical than the e30 318is but not as half as fun

need at least a 325i and above to feel any power because of the weight
User avatar
mabz
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1583
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: cambridgeshire

Post Tue May 04, 2010 6:49 pm

nice cars i was looking into getting one when i sold my e30 cab as i had a 318ti compact and that was lovely but ended up buying another e30 cab just a 6 pot this time round and no bloody rust woohoo.i do like the 318is's alot especially insurance wise,i was looking for the mtech kitted version in either steel blue(like estoril) or cosmos black :cool: :cool: .enjoy your new ride dude
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 6:56 pm

Yeah it doesn't seem too bad on the juice! It's not slow but my old e30 318is was definitely nippier! This is way comfier and better suited to the motorway driving I do though.

Tis a bit of an oddly mixed spec with cloth interior, analog clock and then full climate control :mad:
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 6:58 pm

mabz wrote:nice cars i was looking into getting one when i sold my e30 cab as i had a 318ti compact and that was lovely but ended up buying another e30 cab just a 6 pot this time round and no bloody rust woohoo.i do like the 318is's alot especially insurance wise,i was looking for the mtech kitted version in either steel blue(like estoril) or cosmos black :cool: :cool: .enjoy your new ride dude
Thanks!

I was planning to hold out for an mtech kitted one but I wanted a late one and this one came up at a good price.
nickso
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4396
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Go do that voodoo that you do so welllllllll!!

Post Tue May 04, 2010 8:03 pm

harry_p wrote:slightly odd scpec, proper climate control, but basic povvo clock :mad:

looks very tidy though, and can't really grumble at that money!
you see a lot of e36 iS's with that spec, mine has a really good spec but still has the minky clock. makes me think it was the way they were sold, some sort of pack or something.
Image

'88 e30 328i M52 track bint.
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 8:07 pm

Quite fancy an 18 button OBC and have read through a how-to on retro fitting, which doesn't look hurrendous. Seem to be able to pick them up for about 40 squid. Hmm interesting!
Blitz
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 11151
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: East London+Basildon

Post Tue May 04, 2010 8:14 pm

E36 interiors can be pick up for cheap. lots about.

Get sport seats though!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-3-E36-COUPE-M ... 632wt_1165

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-3-SERIES-E36- ... _603wt_939
e30shed
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 701
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Norfampton

Post Tue May 04, 2010 8:18 pm

Nice car..
I've had a couple of E36's, 323i Touring and a 316i Coupe.
I just missed out on this, gutted..
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... egLetter=S

Sorry for the hijack!
1988 325i SE h/c
Black sport leather, mtec suspension -60mm, LSD, tech1 steering wheel, chipped motronic 1.3 & numerous scabby bits R.I.P
2003 320d ES pov R.I.P Now in swirlflap heaven.
2001 330i SE MV1's
1987 M535i Alpine white
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 9:09 pm

Blitz wrote:E36 interiors can be pick up for cheap. lots about.

Get sport seats though!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-3-E36-COUPE-M ... 632wt_1165

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-3-SERIES-E36- ... _603wt_939
Yeah I've seen a few like that. I'll definitely be after a good condition black leather sport interior!
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 9:11 pm

e30shed wrote:Nice car..
I've had a couple of E36's, 323i Touring and a 316i Coupe.
I just missed out on this, gutted..
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... egLetter=S

Sorry for the hijack!
Looks nice! High miles though!! I was lucky with mine: BMW service history with 13 stamps up to last october and only 105k miles! winkeye
User avatar
TheHeap
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1749
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: welling

Post Tue May 04, 2010 9:22 pm

That is cheap.

I paid £1300 for my 318is on a 'L' plate nearly 3 yrs ago from the main dealer with 71,000 mls on the clock and just the 1 owner. E/W and Mirrors, naff all else though. I thought that was a deal back then.
Image
nickso
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4396
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Go do that voodoo that you do so welllllllll!!

Post Tue May 04, 2010 10:03 pm

aj_mckay wrote:Quite fancy an 18 button OBC and have read through a how-to on retro fitting, which doesn't look hurrendous. Seem to be able to pick them up for about 40 squid. Hmm interesting!
i looked at it and thought it was more hassle than its worth.
Image

'88 e30 328i M52 track bint.
aj_mckay
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1782
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Winchester

Post Tue May 04, 2010 10:21 pm

Think I'll start with HID kit. Anyone have experience of the 50watt kits? Much better than the 35watt? I had a 35 watt kit on my e30 and it was great!