E36 328ci

[KitsonRis]

This car has sort of temporarily put a stop to Clio progress, but it does give me a chance to save up for engine mods next year!
But basically, me and my step dad are off to the Nurburgring in 8 weeks (17th September). The current car list on the drive way is my Clio and his Corsa. Would love to take the Clio. His Corsa as only one seat, plus he never keeps a car for longer than a few months! So he has bought an E36 328ci to take - he wanted something old(ish), 6 cylinder and RWD - only choice was a BMW! My friend had his old one for sale

Looks nice.....however this is what happened the last time he took it out.

Yes that is a flooded road - muppet. That was over 2 years ago. It has been stood in a shed ever since (he bought an E21 and I think that took priority over a broken E36).
Told my step dad about this and he went and bought it. It has a solid shell, interior is "perfect" as it isn't nice leather to feel guilty ripping it out. Just needed an engine. Mother was not happy as they went away to Paignton the other week, little did she know there was an engine for sale in Paignton! So bought that, got it home and then the fun started.
As I don't live at home in the week we have to sort of plan the larger jobs out as my step dad can tinker mid-week on his own. First job - remove the old engine. Did that this Saturday. Very easy and little effort to remove. Really simple as the whole front of the car can be removed so you don't have to lift it over the slam pannel.

It has coilovers to go back on so it will at least look mean again. Brakes need changing and some of the interior needs removing and then source two bucket seats. Think an M-sport front bumper is going to go on too. Not sure what else tbh, but being such a short time scale it will be the minimum required to get it to go!

If it isn't ready I will definatly push for the Clio to go, but my step dad will probably take his Octavia VRs, which is probably a bit more sensible!
Will try and update this as and when things get done. If it ends up being a really nice drive I would be tempted to buy it off him when he has finished with it and use it every day.

 

[Budgie]

Wicked. Finding an E36 with no rust is a good find, they're commanding much more money now. Shame it's not an M-Sport though.

 

[KitsonRis]

Wicked. Finding an E36 with no rust is a good find.

This is the only reason why this one was bought. It will work out better value in a way as it was broken, just needed a bit of tlc

 

[KitsonRis]

So bit more progress on this. New engine is in. Was really easy to do once we got our heads around the starter motor as the loom on the engine and car were slightly different but did the same thing - just joined up differently half way down the loom.

Other things have been done like the seats. Red this time! Rest of the interior is out, just need to sort the front foot wells out as they are not level and there is like plastic tray which is only going to get broken when stood on - the carpet protected it before.

Car came with some AP coil overs and rear dampers. Helped to put the rears on today and my step dad did a front corner the other day, so it sits slightly funny atm! But while the wheels were off the brakes were changed, hence why he only did one corner as he had a bit of a fight with one bolt that would come undone. First time ever my step dad has seen disc and drum brakes on the rear of a car - it looks like the hand brake operates brake shoes and not the calipers.

I have just been told my step dad has picked up a battery and there is fuel kicking about at home so technically it can be started.....but he is finding excuses not to as he is a little scared! So hopefully this week or next week it will be started then the fault finding can begin to actually make it driveable. It's not like the deadline is two weeks or anything before it is needed.........

 

[imprezaworks]

Really like these cars

 

[KitsonRis]

Really like these cars

It is really growing on me too. Making me get restless to buy my mates (same one who used to own this) E34 535i. I just need to sell a car first to do it!

 

[imprezaworks]

Was kind of close to getting one a while back. Would be sorely tempted if a nice one popped up

 

[KitsonRis]

The latest on the car....
Engine in. Seats and harnesses in. Brakes fitted. Suspension on, just needs tracking, Team Dynamics Imola wheels fitted. All looks smart.
However....it doesn't actually start. We leave Thursday evening. Last minute dot com!
Turns over but the fuel pump isn't coming to life and there is no spark. If the pump is powered directly it works so there is something stopping it. Bought a new ECU with a delete on it for something (can't remember what it is called) and that hasn't solved it, but it will solve the ABS and ASC issue and the ASC was removed and increase the Rev limit. So what is going to be done is swap the loom that came off the replacement engine with the one that was on the car originally as there is one relay on it that isn't on the engine loom and we have no idea what it does! Other than that we are out of ideas, especially at this short time scale. It may be "fixed" by turning it into an Octavia VRs which is my step dads daily car to take instead.

 

[Battery Nonce]

I love these. That first picture is awesome with the rake.

They sound amazing too on full chat.

 

[KitsonRis]

They sound amazing too on full chat.

I have no idea, it doesn't actually start 😂 the new ECU has upped the rev limit too so that should give it a bit more noise maybe.
Car currently sits a little higher than that first picture now, wanted it a little more practical than just slammed.

 

[KitsonRis]

IT WORKS IT WORKS IT BLOODY WORKS!!!

So...but of a home made loom! Crank sensor off the new engine and the car were different and the engine one was knakard. That was stopping it spark. Then there was an issue with ignition which is controlled by two relays. Swapped around and still nothing. But we had two relays from an E30 325 kicking in the tool box. Totally different part numbers and that and somehow putting them in made the car work! Literally no idea! Less than 24hrs to spare!

We leave tomorrow, ferry is like 4am Friday morning so staying near Dover tomorrow night.

 

[JB21]

Good build.

Just been looking at these, there's a really nice one on the trader at the minute for less than £3k. Would make such a good track car, I'd even drive it as a daily.

 

[KitsonRis]

Getting all the final stuff together. Tool bag sorted, GoPro sorted...
Sat Nav apparently does Europe but not Germany! However I can point to Achen and get directs to that! Apparently does Belgium but won't acknowledge the existence of Liege. So I have downloaded CoPilot and chosen Germany as my free map so as long as my written instructions can get us to the border I can get some free wifi to load copilot up to get us to Adenau. Blimey this was a faf. Nothing like 11th hour working.

Oh and the car hasn't been driven more than 5 miles since it was fixed and started for the first time in 2 years 1000 mile trip will be easy!

 

[-Jamie-]

The Ring is pretty easy to get to tbh, it's signposted for like 60kms before

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Are you taking bets on whether you will make it or not?

 

[KitsonRis]

The Ring is pretty easy to get to tbh, it's signposted for like 60kms before

It's more of to get roughly to the right area. Step dad has been several times so knows once he is close. Plus not sure where our hotel is

Are you taking bets on whether you will make it or not?

Stop it!! Car will be fine!!! It's not like it's just had a major refit or anything that hasn't properly been tested. Got breakdown cover if needed.

 

[KitsonRis]

Made it!! Piece of cake.
Well, apart from the sat nav being gash and having a bit of a wrong turn going past Brussels as I forgot to say turn off. Hand written notes to get to Germany and then CoPilot to the hotel.

Car was faultless on the way. Did a bit of adjustment to the toe in to stop it being nervous. But was really civilised and relaxed!

Already seen a Renault Alpine on track, very nice. Got pictures of the journey down and will take some over the weekend to post up when I get back

 

[imprezaworks]

Glad you/car made it

 

[KitsonRis]

Watch some endurance racing today. Everything was proper smooth around the track and there was no "racing", probably because they didn't want to risk a crash!

Weirdest thing I saw was the Jeep Cherokee safety/recovery car towing a TT at speed on the racing line while other cars were racing around it. DAFUQ??!! Mental

Track was open 5:30 to 7 this evening for the public. When it opened it was carnage! I though Combe action days were mad, but this was unreal. However, the track was open about 45mins and some Brit binned it. Not sure what happened but his Supra had damage to the near side wing, rear bumper and front head lamp. And they shut it for the rest of the evening. So no track action today. Tomorrow it is open all day so hopefully get two laps in each.

 

[KitsonRis]

So got some pictures from the weekend:

Before setting off

The handwritten notes that got us there:

On the ferry

Making some tracking adjustment in Belgium on the side of the road. The only thing to go "wrong" on the whole trip. Car was faultless

First thing I saw at the side of the track....

Stayed at the Hotel De Nordschlief, which is in the background of the picture. The cars woke me up on the Saturday morning!!

Just a few Lamboghinis.....

Some other cars kicking about

Some track shots

This was within 15mins of the track opening for the day - closed as some lad in a Supra had a mini off.

Then the standard pictures of our BMW

The car was really good, so easy to drive! I wasn't sure what I was expecting (probably some tail happy drift car!) but it was perfect. Got some ideas for what to do with it next. Then take it on another track day, most likely I'll take my Clio and step dad this. All in a good weekend.

Driving around the track was the hardest drive I have ever done! So much concentration, not knowing where I am going, not sure if I hit an apex. Blind crests, avoiding bikes and cars. Would like to do it again though, next year.......

 

[Budgie]

That's crying out for an M-sport bumper and wheels.

 

[KitsonRis]

That's crying out for an M-sport bumper and wheels.

The bumper is the first thing on the list! just didn't have the time to get it sorted before we left.
It was started on the Monday, MoT tested Wednesday and then we left the Thursday.


Oh and the "best" crash was when I was driving I had a section under yellows as the Ring Taxi was in the barrier! Literally no idea, and the car must have been snuck off the track as we didn't see it on the back of a truck, but did see a recovery lorry with a box on the back and not the usual flat bed.... All passengers were out of the car and no one looked injured.

 

[KitsonRis]

Now with M-Sport front bumper (minus a mesh bit in the lower grill)

Next on the shopping list is a 4 piece boot spoiler
Just need to do a track day with my step dad so we can take both the Clio and the 328.

 

[imprezaworks]

Tidy