bmw 328i touring

[Hazylogic]

I was looking at getting a scooby but I get raped on the insurance. I did want a galant; but the auto gearboxes are prone to failing - 600 quid job.

Anyway, my pal has a bmw 328i touring for sale. It has only done 95k and it looks like it is in decent nick.

What are folks opinions of these? Anyone owned one? common faults?

They are near enough 200bhp so must be a fast, lively drive.

Thing is, my pal is back down in Selby, so I can't just nip down for a test drive. What kind of price do you reckon? Seems like a fair few saloons going for 750ish with 140kish on autotrader.

[Mister James]

We use the 3 series touring at work as area cars for pursuits and fast-time deployment. Can't remember which version we have - I think it's the 330i - but they are hardly ever off the road even after being ragged to death by flat-footed garvers.

They are great in a straight-line and pretty agile at low speeds, but suffer a bit taking corners at maxi-chat. I don't know whether that's cos of the gear we load them up with, or whether it's just a fault of the design.

They seem very cramped in the front for the outward size of the car - I have a lot more space in the Astras and even the odd Corsa.

Acceleration is pretty good - proper 'kick you back in your seat' stuff. Good soundproofing too - can barely hear engine or sirens even at speed.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[Sam_Y_93]

Guessing it is an E36 for those prices? Not sure if its a common fault and I know it will be a different box and engine but my mates got a 316 which the second gear synchro has gone so he has to double clutch it. Think he's got around 130,000 on the clock.

Apart from that check for rust as his car is now full of filler and all the arches are now a lovely primer colour
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Bikes Past: Yamaha Aerox (sold) Yamaha R125 (written off)
Bikes Current: Honda VFR 400 (awaiting restoration) Honda CB600f F-4
Theory passed July 21st Mod1 passed August 3rd Mod 2 passed 26th August

[Hazylogic]

Aye it is an e36.

[P.addy]

power steering pumps are prone to failing, and fuel bill will be high, but a fairly good car all round.

Had a look at Supras? cheap insurance ftw, 3.5 times as much to insure a scooby fully comp.

[stonesie]

The E36 328 shares its gearbox with the 3.0 M3, it's bomb proof, as with any car it's age look out for the dreaded 'tin worm' (Rust) The front wings are just simple bolt-on and cheap enough for new pattern parts.

If you want a little more kick then there are kits available to fit a 325 manifold and bigger throttle body, together with a proper Rolling Road re-map you can expect 210-220bhp.

The early engines had nikasil coatings in the bores and these wore badly when subjected to short runs and high sulphur petrol, IF is has a nikasil block and has survived this long then don't worry about it.

Worth changing if they have not been done recently is the thermostat and water pump, and have a good look at the radiator, if it is crusty get it changed... If these alloy block M52 engines are allowed to cook to the point where the head gasket fails they are as good as scrap, the heat affects the alloy and when the head bolts are re-torqued they will pull the threads, this is repairable with the correct equipment but is an epic ball-ache.

[Blau Zedong]

Very fast, shit on fuel - versions without ASC can be very lulzy, especially in the wet. If it isn't showing signs of tinworm on the rear arches then make haste in cleaning behind the swage line and then using grease or waxoyl to stop any rot. Also worth taking the plastic liners out of the front arches and cleaning out the area directly behind the front wheel, as these get full of road shit and it goes unoticed for years. I was looking at 328's but after my mate took me for a spin in his I figured it would be an accident waiting to happen, even if I could afford the fuel and insurance. So I bought another IS instead.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[m3-paul]

[T0MMY]

I've had a 325 and a 328 (coupe not touring). They're quite quick and nice and smooth but I wouldn't call them lively. Very boring to drive in my opinion but great on long journeys. They've got good grip but they aren't nimble and chuckable at all and I think they feel heavy and ponderous when the back goes especially with the very slow steering rack.

Funnily enough I have also just bought an Impreza WRX which is much better but is a bit pricey on insurance as you say. Interesting to know Supras are cheap to insure though, I prefer RWD to 4WD anyway so maybe I'll not keep the Impreza long
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Hazylogic]

The insurance money was mental for a scooby.

I'm after something that is RWD/AWD/4WD to entertain me on my 24 mile commute. I think the 328i fits the bill; unless you can think of anything else? It has got to be cheap though. I don't really want to go over £1000, but if the car is right I will.

An added bonus would be that it could beat my pal's Prelude

[MarJay]

They are quite expensive for what they are because the PH crowd love 'em. They can be tweaked with a 325i inlet manifold to add another 20 horses. Yes, thats right, 20 horses!

I've got a 325 with the same power engine as a 328 but the head gasket has just gone pop. Make sure that no steam comes out of the exhaust when the car is warm, and try to squeeze the coolant hoses when hot. If they are rock hard, the cooling system is pressurising and the HG is on its way out.

It handles well, if a little sloppily but can be upgraded easily.

If you do end up getting one, I'll have a set of 16in five split spoke BMW wheels with nearly new Falken tyres up for sale for £200 if you're interested. On these cars it pays to get decent quality tyres. The car came with Wanli chinese ditchfinders on the rear, and it was a handful to say the least.

I've also got a set of Koni Str.t shocks for it, unused. I didn't fit them because they have a little bit of damage to the powdercoat on one of the shocks and I got the company to replace them. They never collected the damaged ones. I'm not sure if they'll fit on a touring though.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[pits]

[Hazylogic]