E36 compacts - bought one! Now with pics

[TheHeap]

I might be getting one of these on a 'S' plate '99 in silver for £200 with 9 months ticket. Taking a look on Thursday, could be good.

[gareth]

Sounds like a bargain

[TheHeap]

Lets hope so

[jaymos]

I might be getting one of these on a 'S' plate '99 in silver for £200 with 9 months ticket. Taking a look on Thursday, could be good.

200 quid?

[TheHeap]

When i say 'one of these' what i mean is it's a 316i compact with nothing more then electric windows but still worth it though

[pac1982]

When i say 'one of these' what i mean is it's a 316i compact with nothing more then electric windows but still worth it though

bloody hell i thought mine was cheap at £400!!

[gareth]

Update time

I've made some slow progress bit have finally got the wheels cleaned up and fitted. I've got 205/50/17 fronts and 225/45/17 rears. I'd like lower profile and more stretch if it was my car but this is a girlmobile and she's worried about wheel bashing

Anyway, this is how it sits at present:






It's scrubbing the rear arches a bit but at present they've not seen a mallet It's still on bog standard suspension too The fronts still don't tuck up quite enough either

My immediate plans are to attack the rear arches for some clearance, fit some camber tweaking longer bolts and washers to the front and then either fit some KW spring caps to drop the front a little or just go the whole hog and stick some el-cheapo coilovers on there.

Other than the wheel / suspension fun, it appears to have the "engine fault light delete" option It's had trouble starting a couple of times and sometimes runs a bit spluttery and idles badly. I've had it plugged into the diagnostics at my local garage and it's showing up a stored fault code for a cam sensor so i'd best get one of those on order. Otherwise it's a cracking little car

[TheMeathead]

Looking gd there gareth
Bet the ladys made up with it, i think it does need some coilovers on it though

[gareth]

Hehe, she is, and it does

[Kieran_n22]

I see loads of E30 owners with E36 Compacts on here! I really like the 318ti and yours is nice mate. I just wish they did a decent diesel engine in them. Anybody ever done a 2.0d or 3.0d conversion in one? That would be right up my street.

[leeparkes]

I remember when mine was still m44 it used to splutter on first start upon a morning for about 30 seconds, after doing some research apparently its a common problem. Was fine throughout the day though.
Best cure for it is an M52

Those wheels suit it and with a drop will look spot on, but im not 100% on the rear lights, dont know what colour would suit it, smoked??

Like this.




Or get some lexus lights

[gareth]

I quite like the rear lights actually Not too nasty and still OEM

Loving that pic you posted... I wouldn't want the risk of wheel damage on a daily driver though

There's a chance this may end up with smaller tyres on at some stage... we shall see. Bashing things with a hammer should be the first port of call though!

[leeparkes]

Here's another one for you to wan... sorry look at for inspiration

[gareth]

Here's another one for you to wan... sorry look at for inspiration

bwahahaaaaa!

[Rav335uk]

These would be nice Gareth

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 04#2180404

[gareth]

These would be nice Gareth

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 04#2180404

They would be once i've sold the two good 245/45/17 runflats from the style 122's, they'll owe me (well my girlie) about £50

Supply and demand is a wonderful thing. Nobody wants 17's on a E60

[daimlerman]

It's had trouble starting a couple of times and sometimes runs a bit spluttery and idles badly.

Only one cure for this......

(proper engine with 24 valves)


Looking good,Gareth,shame I'm only 3 years into the planned 10 with the touring,I am getting itchy fingers on ebay with these!

[320Touring]

Gareth, get a Clarke 2 tonne trolly Jack handle- the red paint on them is spot on for filling in any chips made by "Ghetto Rolling" the rear arches..

Also, if you were smart, you could probably rent out the space under the front arch as a double room with sea view to recoup some of the costs..

get it slammed man!

[bigdoe]

i wouldn't recommend the cheap coilovers if your other half is using it as a daily hack, give me a shout if you want to drive one with cheap coilovers and an m52.

[aj_mckay]

I found that a decent service did wonders for the spluttering on startup issue with my M44 engined e36 318is. Sounded like it was running on 3 cylinders when starting from cold but fresh oil, filter and plugs sorted it and it's been fine for the last 7k miles since service.

[gareth]

Neil, yes yes, i know, it's not my car though...! I'm getting tempted to buy one though!

i wouldn't recommend the cheap coilovers if your other half is using it as a daily hack, give me a shout if you want to drive one with cheap coilovers and an m52.

I'm currently running Leda coilovers on my daily

Interesting you have one though... This is a M52 coiloverified compact? Or a saloon/coupe?

[bigdoe]

Neil, yes yes, i know, it's not my car though...! I'm getting tempted to buy one though!

i wouldn't recommend the cheap coilovers if your other half is using it as a daily hack, give me a shout if you want to drive one with cheap coilovers and an m52.

I'm currently running Leda coilovers on my daily

Interesting you have one though... This is a M52 coiloverified compact? Or a saloon/coupe?

it's a compact, started life as a 318ti now m52 with cheap coilovers.
i'll be about most of the weekend if you want to take it for a blast.

[gareth]

cool How have i missed this thing running around here?!!!

I'm pretty stuck for time this weekend but may have to catch up with you sometime though, cheers!

What coilovers do you have on it?

[leeparkes]

Have you joined here yet?

http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/index.php ... 5159e38094

[harry_p]

if i was doing another compact i'd stick some cheap ebay coilovers on the front, and just use lowering springs on the rear.

[gareth]

I've not joined anywhere else yet, i've got little enough free time as it is

That said, E30coupe, 318ti.org, any others to look out for?

Oh and harry, what's up with the rear coilovers? Just because they're the shonky ones?

[harry_p]

well, the ones i had just never felt settled, i think they compromise the length and therefore stiffness to fit the adjuster in and give it a range of adjustment.

i drove the car with the front coilovers fitted and the rears standard and it felt fantastic, nice and firm, but not at all harsh or crashy. of course, it looked a bit silly though with the rears fitted aswell it used to sort of 'bob' allong, in the dry it was awesome to throw around but it was never comfortable, and properly skittish in the wet.

i didnt keep the car long enough to attempt to fix it. i don't think it was a particular problem with the ones i used, but i've noticed a lot of companies seem to struggle with the seperate spring / damper locations, so if doing again i'd look into some decent brand rear springs to get the hight i wanted, then use coilovers on the front to sort the stance out.

[gareth]

cheers

[gareth]

Update time
I've been busy on the 'lil compact. Since i posted here last it's now been on the receiving end of a set of coilovers, some powerflex lollypop bushes, an aircon regas (lush!), camber shimming mod (bolts and washers FTW!), a CD player to replace the original BMW Business radio cassette player (!), a full service, ATE blue brake fluid, new cam sensor (seems to have cured the occasional spluttering), fixed the wonky drivers window, fixed the interior mirror, loads of other bit i've forgotten about too i'm sure. It's now a proper fun little chariot and i'm rather fond of it
Handling is very good, not at all crashy or uncomfortable but the stiffer shocks / springs have prevented rear scrubbing while also allowing a lower ride height.

here's how it looks now:




not many pics but i like the first one

more pics (of a wee drive) here:
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 57#2255157

[harry_p]

Wasn't keen on the wheels before, but now it's been dropped they look great!

[gareth]

ta I knew (hoped!) they'd work when it was a bit lower!

[Dezzy]

Looks spot on does that mate.


I have always wanted one! It would need a proper donk in there though!

[gareth]

It really needs a M52 doesn't it

[Dezzy]

Fuck yeh!


An afternoon swap too

[pac1982]

anyone want a cheap compact to do an m52 swap with?

I’m about t scrap mine just like the one above but a 316 and the engine sounds a bit naff and has bit of a oil leak but runs fine and I use it daily PM me if anyone’s interested been offered £200 scrap value so anyone who wants to take it away while it still has tax and mot can have it for the same money.