dirtydoogle

convert to manual and you have a good car .

Are you reading my mind? I would rather have a manual 535i than keeping my E36 and going manual on that, something seems a bit beige about an M5B20 manual in my mind.....

According to the vin decoder doohicky it does have a 4hp22. That's a good thing. To my knowledge the Jatco was introduced with the M50?

Yeah i found this too, have it on my watchlist and will wait and see closer to the closing date.

Ex jap Auto, which is interesting.

Should still be a ZF shouldn't it? 4hp22 or whatever they were. My E34's were SA models and I've never been in a jappa spec one. I should look into that...

Lets hope they take mine for a trade.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C...n-293863844.htm

Quite reasonably priced if you ask me. Highly tempting to go and trade the E36 in...or is that a silly idea?

Seriously nice E28

HB mate. Drink up!

Although, compare a VL to a nice E28....I know what I prefer to drive. The one without the horrid chassis flex. I hate VL's. only thing they are good for is a beach/skid/farm hack these days. We had a VK when I was a kid...I remember watching BFMR familias and E30's dissapearing into the horizon....

How does one aspire to own a VL?

I'd buy it just to have those leather recaro seats =) I'd pay 2-2.5 for it.

If only I had the funds to have such toys! Mind you I'd sell the GT-R and put a 65 alfa GTA in it's place.

Wait, what? Can you get a source for any of that?

I've heard of that too and as far as I'm aware it is true.

My E36 has the "Jatco flare" and I have been quoted $2,500.00 to have it rebuilt with a 12 month warranty.

I can get a manual conversion done for $1,800.00 plus in my case I want the flywheel lightened and balanced $200.00, a short shifter, new boot and gearknob. Approx price all up $2,500.00.

By getting the Jatco rebuilt does nothing to the value of the car.

A manual conversion will add value and improve the driveability and appeal.

Guess which way I'm going?

Hmmm....rebuilding the Jatco? Why would you bother...

Cheers for the input, think im not gona go lower than the 323 though, pretty keen for the next step up from 2.5, but would still be content with the 2.5. Im basically set on finding a low k 328 standard coupe and adding M spec options as I go along, unless 1 thats already mspec comes along in my price range which I would be open to 323,328's 2 and 4 door. Sorry for spamming hard, now I got a better idea on what I want ,this thread will be alot more sensible.

Link us to the 320i anyway duck keen to have a looksie.

Go for a 328i. I would if I could afford to and I wouldn't settle for one without factory Msport suspension. I don't expect you could find a cheap enough 328i to outweigh the minimal difference in price. It would cost at least 2000 to do the properly.

My slowmobile

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=292607680

I'd love to know where you all think the Japanese BMW factory is.

I would love to know too

That 328 i took for a drive on saturday im pretty sure that was german built one, and the flaring between the 1st and 2nd gear was horrendous, think ima stay away from the jatcos if they are even more likely to get this problem

I haven't heard of a ZF box doing that. But, I suspect it is possible.

Yep that was the next question I was gona ask. How do they way up to the normal ones, and would it cause issues if needed to be fixed.

Jatco box's tend to develop the famed Jatco jerk and flaring between gears. I have never experienced the flaring in any e36 I have driven with the exception of a high km thrashed 328i.

The ZF boxes are supposedly far tougher and smoother. The stories of repair costs vary alot, so it might pay to ask some specialists

The only reason to search for a Non-jap spec model is if you are scared of the Jatco box.

You could always save the money and have my sensible 320i coupe, it has the Msport suspension. Economical and makes the same sound.....

Wheels on the blue car are genuine. The replica (rep) versions of the M Double Spoke wheels don't have "BMW" stamped on the face, only the word motorsport.

I would love a set of them! Couldn't throw them on and not have the kit to match though, would look retarded.

Can't tell for sure without build sheet.... but basic cloth interior is a giveaway as is high-riding suspension on the 17's.

Didn't notice that it was riding to high, I stand/sit corrected. Very nice rims though, they are E36 M3 reps aren't they? I think the interiors are a completely different set of options all together, but, it would be odd for one to have a boring interior + all the kit and suspension. It would be more common just to have the kit wouldn't it? Either way it's a great looking car and fairly good value for money.

But the other one is far nicer at the end of the day

Isn't there a website called sella.co.nz? Might be worth a perve.

The blue one is just a standard 328i sedan with an M-sport body kit and wheels thrown on it.

How can you tell? Mine has all the Msport suspension, but standard bumpers.

That's going pretty well! I've never seen a conversion like that done to an FTO before.

Forgot the sarcasm font obligatory for when someone starts quoting off the clock at 260 in a standard 325i.

Makes sense now

I like this guy.

No idea

Seeing as we are asking, Does anybody know the top speed of a 325i

I know mine will go off the clock which is supposedly 260

On a closed private stretch of tarmac I have seen an indicated 225 in an E36 325i and an indicated just above 210 in an E36 320i. But, these are both indicated speeds. Both were Jap spec cars so I highly doubt they have a speed limiter.

Must be the M Sport model. Autocar tested one in the UK on a closed track and got 227km/h, factory manual says 233km/h from memory.

M-sport isn't any faster is it?

Yeah, factory manual does say around that for one.

The last time I tried to sell this wee darling, the chap who "brought" it backed out and never contacted me again.

So it's back on trademe. I really wouldn't mind some nice weather to take some pretty photo's

Linky:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=292607680

Feel free to ask questions.

Car is located in the Wairarapa/southern Tararua area.

These are Msport body E36's. The front bumper is different to mine [has for some reason been replaced, look at my gallery] these two have skirts on the side and the rear diffuser. Most Msport body optioned cars had an M badge on the leading edge of the black door trim. Msport had a 25.5mm front sway bar and an 18mm rear sway bar. Supposedly they sit slighty lower.

To get the build numbers, lift the rear seat squab and there should be a small rectangular piece of paper stapled to the cusion. It will be written in German of course, but you will find a series of three digit numbers, these are your options. I will try get a picture up asap to explain if you need.

For example mine has the codes,

240 Leather Steering Wheel w/ Airbag

243 Passenger-Side Airbag

423 Velour Floor Mats

428 Warning Triangle/First Aid Kit

530 Air Conditioning

542 Check Control

686 Diversity Antenna

687 Radio Pre-wiring

704 Sport Styling (body and suspension)

818 Main Battery switch.

900 Acknowledged Vehicle Immobilization It.AZT/TUV

925 Shipping Protection Package

Nice looking E36 mate, interesting FTO too, does it torque steer like crazy with the 6A13?