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Car Forum / BMW Cars / November 2006E36 Sport Touring -
I have an E36 323i Sport Touring which has just passed 122000 miles. It now feels a little loose as you can imagine and I was wondering if anyone could give me any suggestions on improving the handling and possibly the engine response. Does anyone know of any companies who can re-map this model, and with what outcome? Or any companies that might provide a strut brace, suspension kit, short shift kit etc? Also, is there anything major to watch out around this milage? Many thanks in advance, Jon (UK) > I have an E36 323i Sport Touring which has just passed 122000 miles. > > It now feels a little loose as you can imagine and I was wondering if anyone > could give me any suggestions on improving the handling and possibly the > engine response. 1) Ditch the restrictor from the airbox, it'll give a small improvement. 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. 3) I bought a '95 328i touring and really had a bit of luck, half price NEW AC Schnitzer / Bilstein suspension on ebay (normally 800 quid). It lowers the car but not too much. Spring rates are ideal. 4) Only think I want now is a stiffer rear anti-roll bar as she understeers too much. Stock bar is 15mm, //M-Tech package sport bar is 18 (you may have this). I'll fit a 20mm bar from an //M3 Evo. > Or any companies that might provide a strut brace, suspension kit, short > shift kit etc? I'd not bother with the the strut brace for normal driving. > Also, is there anything major to watch out around this milage? Worn bushings.  SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price One other thing, I THINK these have a 2.93:1 differential. That's perfect for the motorway but way too tall to be any fun. A 3.15 LSD from a 325i Coupe would liven it up nicely. Mine is a winter car and lives on snow tyres. Perfect for that, my E30 was always a bit "interesting" on ice even with snows on. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price > > I have an E36 323i Sport Touring which has just passed 122000 miles. > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > 1) Ditch the restrictor from the airbox, it'll give a small improvement. That's interesting. I didn't know about that one. > 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. Any idea why the improvement over the M52 item? <snip> > I'd not bother with the the strut brace for normal driving. Agreed. > > Also, is there anything major to watch out around this milage? > > Worn bushings. A real possibility, although my 1999 E36 323i sport touring has 141k miles on it and still feels as tight as a new one. JB >> > I have an E36 323i Sport Touring which has just passed 122000 miles. >> > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > That's interesting. I didn't know about that one. Me neither - what does it look like? :) How would I ditch it? >> 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. > > Any idea why the improvement over the M52 item? Thanks, any idea where to get a re-chip from? I think I have the M52 engine? > <snip> > >> I'd not bother with the the strut brace for normal driving. > > Agreed. OK thanks, I'll scrap that idea. >> > Also, is there anything major to watch out around this milage? >> >> Worn bushings. >> > A real possibility, although my 1999 E36 323i sport touring has 141k miles > on it and still feels as tight as a new one. Excuse the ignorance, how would I know if these were worn? One other thing, the stays/struts(?) that hold open the hatch have gone so it's really heavy, I take it these are easy to replace myself? Any suggestions where to get the parts? Thanks again, Jon > > That's interesting. I didn't know about that one. > > Me neither - what does it look like? :) How would I ditch it? Remove the airbox. In the "dirty" half there's a oval tube the air comes in by. Just pull it out after releasing the tab that holds it. It'll sound a little better and go a little better. It's a 1 or 2% thing, not dramatic. I also drill a few holes in the bottom of the airbox. That way if I ever have to drive in flood water anything I ingest will drain away rather than get to the engine! > Excuse the ignorance, how would I know if these were worn? You'd wander all over the road or hear nasty noises. > One other thing, the stays/struts(?) that hold open the hatch have gone so > it's really heavy, I take it these are easy to replace myself? Any > suggestions where to get the parts? I'll bet euro car parts have them. Do you find the clutch heavy in yours? I ran an e36 318iS for nine years and I'm sure it was lighter than this. It's almost as heavy as my Alpina B10's clutch! SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price <SNIP> > Remove the airbox. In the "dirty" half there's a oval tube the air comes > in by. Just pull it out after releasing the tab that holds it. It'll [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > have to drive in flood water anything I ingest will drain away rather > than get to the engine! Would you mind just checking this to see if I'm on the right track? www.koma.co.uk/airbox cheers! <SNIP> >> One other thing, the stays/struts(?) that hold open the hatch have gone >> so [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > and I'm sure it was lighter than this. It's almost as heavy as my Alpina > B10's clutch! I must admit, it is quite heavy, most noticable in this london traffic :( Can't wait to get to norfolk again for some clear b roads... > Would you mind just checking this to see if I'm on the right track? > www.koma.co.uk/airbox Correct :-) SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price >> Would you mind just checking this to see if I'm on the right track? >> www.koma.co.uk/airbox > > Correct :-) Thanks John, I'll get my drill out... :-) > > > I have an E36 323i Sport Touring which has just passed 122000 miles. > > > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Any idea why the improvement over the M52 item? The 325i with the M50 has a sportier intake system than the M52. The 323 is also a 2.5 but it has been de-tuned so bolting back the sports stuff will help performance (in terms of peak figures). I doubt very much if you'll get 230hp out of the 323 though without a lot more mods. Maybe you might be able to get that out of a 328 if you really tried. New shocks will probbaly help but I'd recommend eibach springs to totally transform the car. Probably just new bushes etc would help though. > The 325i with the M50 has a sportier intake system than the M52. The > 323 is also a 2.5 but it has been de-tuned so bolting back the sports > stuff will help performance (in terms of peak figures). I doubt very > much if you'll get 230hp out of the 323 though without a lot more mods. > Maybe you might be able to get that out of a 328 if you really tried. I know of a guy with dyno proven 244bhp from a 328i with a rechip, M50 manifold and slightly improved exhaust. I think a lightweight flywheel would make a difference to the car too, it's not exactly rev happy. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price > > 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. > > Any idea why the improvement over the M52 item? The M52 was hamstrung to meet german insurance groupings. The M50 manifold flows 50% more air!! The manifold alone is worth about 15-20bhp. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price >> > 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > manifold flows 50% more air!! The manifold alone is worth about > 15-20bhp. How hard would changing the manifold be if I was able to find one? Excuse my lack of under the bonet knowlege :) > How hard would changing the manifold be if I was able to find one? Excuse > my lack of under the bonet knowlege :) There's a guy who supplies one pre-modified for about 300 quid. There are no major changes, just a few hose fittings and plugs in different places. The interface with the head is the same. A lot of folk do a big bore thottle body at the same time. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price > > > 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > manifold flows 50% more air!! The manifold alone is worth about > 15-20bhp. Many thanks indeed John. <adds M52 2.5 manifold to xmas list> JB > > > > 2) Fit an M50 intake manifold, that plus a rechip can give 230+ bhp. > > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Many thanks indeed John. > <adds M52 2.5 manifold to xmas list> Guess that should have been M50 manifold! JB |
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