Leo_328i
30-09-2008, 08:41 PM
UPDATE: 30th Sept 2008
Its been almost 9 months since I've had a major update and things aren't as rosey as the last time I wrote in.:( I've decided to call her Madeira btw :)
Anyways, in the last 9 months Madeira has had her EWS stuff up as soon as I got back from overseas and leaving the car unattended for a month. This was a costly $600 (parts and labour) exercise which, according to John from BM Autowerks, is not uncommon at all for many BMWs including the latest models. Funnily enough when I brought my car in, there was a 2007 Mini sitting around that had the same fault!
It's also had a an erratic idle and loss of power due to a clogged PCV valve. This was also a costly repair; but in fairness its better to call them long-term maintenance intervals which I've been unlucky enough to experience.
And as things go with older BMWs... the erratic idle started occurring again a few months again which was diagnosed to be a jammed VANOS system. This gradually got worse and recently the car has started to even stall at idle. As a result shes not getting driven much but is getting fixed this coming Monday :)
Monday next week, Madeira is getting a lot of work done on her, I've purchased the following list of parts from BMA in the US and they're sitting in my room... I can't wait to put them in! Heres the list of parts...
MOTOR
VANOS Unit for E36 328i
Camshaft sensor
Crankshaft sensor
UUC magnetic oil plug
COOLING OVERHAUL (Preventive maint. / Fan Delete)
Thermostat (80C)
Stewart High Performance Water Pump (metal impellar)
Aluminium thermostat housing
Aux. Fan Switch (80C)
TRANSMISSION
16lb Lightweight Steel Flywheel
403hp F1 Racing clutch (matches flywheel)
UUC Delrin Shifter bushings (carrier bushings)
UUC Red Transmission Mounts
UUC "Big Boy" Clutch Stop
UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line
:D
Over and out!
Leo.
UPDATE: 13th February 2008 (first entry)
It's been exactly 365 days since I picked up the E36 328i and what a good year it's been.
Picked up this car on the 2nd of February 2007 with 116,592km on the clock and a full BMW Dealer service history. It's a rare 328i Coupe manual which was factory fitted with full M aerodynamic kit along with M-Tech springs and M3 wheels. Only one previous owner.
I'm writing this car diary now to document the car's service/maintenance history along with installation of upgraded components that have come along since the purchase of the car. Brief mentionings of which club events the car has attended will also be included.
Leo.
Brief history pre-February 2007
-Car was manufactured on the 12th of April, 1996
-First registered on the 26th of June, 1996 to Kenneth Reynolds
-Reynolds trades the 328i in late sometime in Nov/Dec 2006
-Car ends up at Sudds in Brighton (some used car dealer)
-Car is purchased and is picked up on the 2nd of Feb 2007
February 2007 - onwards:
2007
April 27th - Oil service at Southern BM: 121,539km
June 6th - Oil service at BM Autowerks: 126,256km
October 30th (approx.) - Replaced 16" Spare wheel with BMW Style 32 15" wheel (2.4kg lighter)
November 19th - Inspection 1 service at BM Autowerks: 130,542km
November 30th - E36 M3 Control arm bush installed at BM Autowerks
December 3rd - Whiteline strut brace installed, car participated at BMWCCV DECA day at Sheparton
December 20th - Minor accident, car slid and hit the curb. Bent rear passenger side wheel, control arm and half shaft. No body damage, car out of action till 2008
2008
January 3rd - Car comes back from BM Autowerks. Delay due to holiday period.
January 6th - Kenwood amp properly installed on the back of the rear passenger seat board, cabling redone, etc.
January 13th - Participated in ECCA Vic National Cruise. Fitted rear clear indicators after the cruise.
January 14th - Fitted new tyres for the rear (Bridgestone Adrenalines RE001: 225/45/17)
January 24th - Installed AFE intake
January 28th/29th - Carried out horn relocation so more air can travel to the intake. Also adjusted the fitment of the AFE intake to suit.
January 31st - Installed new low maintenance battery (110 Reserve, 610CCA, 2.6kg lighter than original)
February 19th - Oil Service and installed new brakes at BM Autowerks: Zimmerman Cross Drilled rotors front and rear, Roadhouse (Textar) pads (134,306km)
April 12th - Installed Nakamachi CD400, 6-Stacker and BMW Alpine HU delete
June 5th - Oil service at BM Autowerks (137,600km)
August 11th - Fitted front and side lightly smoked indicators (Thanks to a mate of mine for letting me have them!)
August 31st - Car hits 140,000km
September 1 - Visited John at BM Autowerks to diagnose an erratic idle. Diagnostics picked up a jammed VANOS system due to sludge build-up; car needs a new VANOS.
The 328i's current setup
Engine Performance:
Standard M52 B28 engine with AFE Intake
Drivetrain:
Standard
Chassis
M-Tech suspension
OEM BMW Style 22 Wheels (17x7.5 all round)
M3 Front lower control arm busings
Whiteline adjustable strut brace
Tyres
Front: Goodyear Eagle F1 (225/45/17) - 50% Tread
Rear: Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline RE001 (225/45/17) - 70% Tread
ICE/Other
Kenwood KAC-846 Amp (4x50RMS)
MB Quart Reference Line 5.25" Splits (front)
Pioneer TS Series 4" (rear)
Nakamachi CD400 HU
Styling/Lighting
4300k Xenons
Rear clear indicators
Lightly smoked front and side indicators
Other notes:
Car has always been fed BP Ultimate 98 since I've owned it.
Plan to keep this car for at least another 5 years.
Immediate plans (before end of 2008):
- Fix VANOS
- Overhaul cooling system to prevent future problems + Fan delete
- F1 Racing Stage 2 Clutch (403hp) and F1 Racing 16lb flywheel
- UUC transmission mounts
- UUC delrin shifter bushings
- BMW Sport gearshift (from E46)
- Rebuild rear suspension with all new bushings
- UUC Urethane rear lower trailing arm bushings
- E36 M3 ball joints for upper trailing arm
- New inner bushings for upper trailing arm
- E36 M3 rear subframe bushings
- E36 M3 reinforcement plates
- Meyle HD rear shock mounts
- Rebuild front suspension
- E30 M3 offset control arm bushings
- Meyle HD Control arms (solid ball joints)
- Febi Bilstein tie rods
- Washer in strut housing for more negative camber
- X Brace install
- M50 intake manifold install
Long term plans (2009-beyond)
- Turner Motorsport adjustable Sway bar kit (30mm front, 24mm rear)
- Coilovers
- E36 M3 6-Speed gearbox and 3.38 LSD
- Rear tyres changing from 225/45/17 to 235/45/17
Its been almost 9 months since I've had a major update and things aren't as rosey as the last time I wrote in.:( I've decided to call her Madeira btw :)
Anyways, in the last 9 months Madeira has had her EWS stuff up as soon as I got back from overseas and leaving the car unattended for a month. This was a costly $600 (parts and labour) exercise which, according to John from BM Autowerks, is not uncommon at all for many BMWs including the latest models. Funnily enough when I brought my car in, there was a 2007 Mini sitting around that had the same fault!
It's also had a an erratic idle and loss of power due to a clogged PCV valve. This was also a costly repair; but in fairness its better to call them long-term maintenance intervals which I've been unlucky enough to experience.
And as things go with older BMWs... the erratic idle started occurring again a few months again which was diagnosed to be a jammed VANOS system. This gradually got worse and recently the car has started to even stall at idle. As a result shes not getting driven much but is getting fixed this coming Monday :)
Monday next week, Madeira is getting a lot of work done on her, I've purchased the following list of parts from BMA in the US and they're sitting in my room... I can't wait to put them in! Heres the list of parts...
MOTOR
VANOS Unit for E36 328i
Camshaft sensor
Crankshaft sensor
UUC magnetic oil plug
COOLING OVERHAUL (Preventive maint. / Fan Delete)
Thermostat (80C)
Stewart High Performance Water Pump (metal impellar)
Aluminium thermostat housing
Aux. Fan Switch (80C)
TRANSMISSION
16lb Lightweight Steel Flywheel
403hp F1 Racing clutch (matches flywheel)
UUC Delrin Shifter bushings (carrier bushings)
UUC Red Transmission Mounts
UUC "Big Boy" Clutch Stop
UUC Stainless Steel Clutch Line
:D
Over and out!
Leo.
UPDATE: 13th February 2008 (first entry)
It's been exactly 365 days since I picked up the E36 328i and what a good year it's been.
Picked up this car on the 2nd of February 2007 with 116,592km on the clock and a full BMW Dealer service history. It's a rare 328i Coupe manual which was factory fitted with full M aerodynamic kit along with M-Tech springs and M3 wheels. Only one previous owner.
I'm writing this car diary now to document the car's service/maintenance history along with installation of upgraded components that have come along since the purchase of the car. Brief mentionings of which club events the car has attended will also be included.
Leo.
Brief history pre-February 2007
-Car was manufactured on the 12th of April, 1996
-First registered on the 26th of June, 1996 to Kenneth Reynolds
-Reynolds trades the 328i in late sometime in Nov/Dec 2006
-Car ends up at Sudds in Brighton (some used car dealer)
-Car is purchased and is picked up on the 2nd of Feb 2007
February 2007 - onwards:
2007
April 27th - Oil service at Southern BM: 121,539km
June 6th - Oil service at BM Autowerks: 126,256km
October 30th (approx.) - Replaced 16" Spare wheel with BMW Style 32 15" wheel (2.4kg lighter)
November 19th - Inspection 1 service at BM Autowerks: 130,542km
November 30th - E36 M3 Control arm bush installed at BM Autowerks
December 3rd - Whiteline strut brace installed, car participated at BMWCCV DECA day at Sheparton
December 20th - Minor accident, car slid and hit the curb. Bent rear passenger side wheel, control arm and half shaft. No body damage, car out of action till 2008
2008
January 3rd - Car comes back from BM Autowerks. Delay due to holiday period.
January 6th - Kenwood amp properly installed on the back of the rear passenger seat board, cabling redone, etc.
January 13th - Participated in ECCA Vic National Cruise. Fitted rear clear indicators after the cruise.
January 14th - Fitted new tyres for the rear (Bridgestone Adrenalines RE001: 225/45/17)
January 24th - Installed AFE intake
January 28th/29th - Carried out horn relocation so more air can travel to the intake. Also adjusted the fitment of the AFE intake to suit.
January 31st - Installed new low maintenance battery (110 Reserve, 610CCA, 2.6kg lighter than original)
February 19th - Oil Service and installed new brakes at BM Autowerks: Zimmerman Cross Drilled rotors front and rear, Roadhouse (Textar) pads (134,306km)
April 12th - Installed Nakamachi CD400, 6-Stacker and BMW Alpine HU delete
June 5th - Oil service at BM Autowerks (137,600km)
August 11th - Fitted front and side lightly smoked indicators (Thanks to a mate of mine for letting me have them!)
August 31st - Car hits 140,000km
September 1 - Visited John at BM Autowerks to diagnose an erratic idle. Diagnostics picked up a jammed VANOS system due to sludge build-up; car needs a new VANOS.
The 328i's current setup
Engine Performance:
Standard M52 B28 engine with AFE Intake
Drivetrain:
Standard
Chassis
M-Tech suspension
OEM BMW Style 22 Wheels (17x7.5 all round)
M3 Front lower control arm busings
Whiteline adjustable strut brace
Tyres
Front: Goodyear Eagle F1 (225/45/17) - 50% Tread
Rear: Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline RE001 (225/45/17) - 70% Tread
ICE/Other
Kenwood KAC-846 Amp (4x50RMS)
MB Quart Reference Line 5.25" Splits (front)
Pioneer TS Series 4" (rear)
Nakamachi CD400 HU
Styling/Lighting
4300k Xenons
Rear clear indicators
Lightly smoked front and side indicators
Other notes:
Car has always been fed BP Ultimate 98 since I've owned it.
Plan to keep this car for at least another 5 years.
Immediate plans (before end of 2008):
- Fix VANOS
- Overhaul cooling system to prevent future problems + Fan delete
- F1 Racing Stage 2 Clutch (403hp) and F1 Racing 16lb flywheel
- UUC transmission mounts
- UUC delrin shifter bushings
- BMW Sport gearshift (from E46)
- Rebuild rear suspension with all new bushings
- UUC Urethane rear lower trailing arm bushings
- E36 M3 ball joints for upper trailing arm
- New inner bushings for upper trailing arm
- E36 M3 rear subframe bushings
- E36 M3 reinforcement plates
- Meyle HD rear shock mounts
- Rebuild front suspension
- E30 M3 offset control arm bushings
- Meyle HD Control arms (solid ball joints)
- Febi Bilstein tie rods
- Washer in strut housing for more negative camber
- X Brace install
- M50 intake manifold install
Long term plans (2009-beyond)
- Turner Motorsport adjustable Sway bar kit (30mm front, 24mm rear)
- Coilovers
- E36 M3 6-Speed gearbox and 3.38 LSD
- Rear tyres changing from 225/45/17 to 235/45/17