Herbmiester

Thanks for offer Dave but I really want a staggered set or maybe a set of 8's.

It depends what you want out of your car. Because it has the same suspension with some minor spring rate changes to the E90/92 series you can use that info as well. I went with Koni Yellows so I could get adjustable rebound damping and I am happy I did as I went with Tein springs that are very close in spring rate to M3 springs so stiffer than the usual H&R or Eibach options, My ride is quite firm now and I wouldn't want it any firmer. Quite often you can get a combo with springs and shocks Bilstein especially and the spring rate and the damping are supposedly matched, i noticed a bit of pogoing in my E92 so with the Konis I could add more rebound to settle it down. I have also gone with M3 control arms which up front will give you stiffer bushings and more camber. Stiffing up the rear has a downside and that is no factory LSD so getting the power down can be tricky, perhaps less so with a no turbo car. On a budget shocks are your first upgrade and the more affordable options are Koni STRT or Bilstein b4. Next up Koni Yellows and Bistein B6/B8. Factory M Sport springs are good for daily driving, touring and some sport work but stiffer lower springs can help if you are really getting after it. They will lower your car but with good shocks ride comfort will still be OK. Getting rid of run-flats helps a lot for ride. A bigger rear sway-bar is good but again without an LSD it is a limited upgrade. Also depending on the vehicle your suspension bushes may be flogged out, at 70k my rears were getting pretty loose. and the M3 rear arms gave my rear noticeably less movement. M3 front arms give noticeably more front end grip.

Just finished installing an MHD stage 1 tune on Boyties M135i. MHD tunes never cease to impress me with the performance improvement. First efforts resulted in a blown charge pipe but we fitted a CTS pipe which looked quite well made and we were rewarded with a very noticeable increase in power. For those that have done this (including myself) the torque increase is really noticeable but on Boyties car the hing that got me was how good that ZF8 speed box is. The close ratios keep it at near max power for each change and the little blue hatch just keeps accelerating. Very impressed by that gearbox.

As some of you will know I bought a really tidy E36 328i recently and I have managed to clock up a few miles in it now and have thoroughly enjoyed going back a few generations. Firstly I have to say the car is one of the tidiest E36s I have seen for a long time but under the skin what really makes it special is the service history and attention to detail that previous owners have lavished on it. This is my 5th E36 and the only one where everything works and nothing needs attention, they are no squeaks, rattles or untoward noises and it comes as a bit of a revelation as all my others need work. The car does have a Jatco but the dreaded flaring and Jatco jerk are absent, perhaps because its a 98 and has the later TCU and again because it has been serviced. The steering is the first thing you notice, compared to my E92 its slow and slower again than my old E46 330ci. The feel however is pretty good and at highway speeds its far less noticeable and pretty accurate. The engine is a sweetie, with only 142kw its a long way behind the modded N54 in my E92 but the lack of turbo lag is pleasantly noticeable in comparison. Having spent a long time behind the wheel of a 330ci I can see why the M54 rotating assembly swaps are so popular and extra 30 odd kws and more torque would really make it come alive, I guess that's why the M3 was created. Chassis wise its all pretty stock M Sport on 16's so it can be steered with the throttle when the ASC is turned off as the rear does not have an abundance of traction. The brakes are another area where the difference is noticeable, stopping power is quite good but initial feel is very soft, but I suspect some different pads and a brake bleed might improve things. Interior wise I always liked the E36 and with everything working its actually a nice place to be even though at 196cm I only just fit. My daughters like it as they think these is a bit more leg room in the back that the e92. My decision going forward revolves around leaving it as it is or doing what I see are useful modifications. If this were a NZ new car with a ZF Auto this would be a more difficult decision, that said the car was imported ex Japan by BMW NZ so leaving it as is and enjoying it as it was made is certainly an option. Firstly I am keen to manually convert it, the Jatco is a good one but a nice ZF manual would transform it I'm sure. Secondly the 16 inch wheels, while nice to look at would be retired from some style 24's or 32's if a nice set came up. A purple tag steering rack would seem to be a good investment as well. Whether I would fit an M54 rotating assembly is the hard one, very much in two minds over this one.

Best looking set of M Pars ever.

Thats a big tyre, good luck looks you will have limited choices.

Interesting I couldnt get the tyre finder to work. Other option is to wait until Bridgetone has deal buy 3 get the 4th free etc and get some RE003s. They are good performaance tyres for the money and lots guys here run them.

Adam, I am not sure you will get too many responses here on going super low as most of the guys here are more focussed on handling and if you go super low you will probably make it handle worse than stock. If all you want is the dropped in the weeds look then I amsure mag and tubo or one of those shops can roll the guards for you. I have a 335i and having the rear any lower than the tyre at guard level starts to compromise handling. From memory wheel spacers will require a cert and if not certed could possibly invalidate your insurance.

Yes was 18k initially, seller is covinced his car is worth more than the market is offering. Was tempted at 18k but this type of behavior on top of the 45 day list time just pisses me off.

I actually feel sorry for him.

So again it was passed in at $16k. It would seem even after 45 days that is what the market says its worth.

No I have a Getrag 220 I want the ZF box.

Need a ZF 5 speed manual for my E36. Whats out there?

I have a Jatco in my E36 and it has been serviced and shifts reasonably well. That said it also has a post 1997 TCU and supposedly they do make a noticeable difference.

I could be keen but I am in Wellington.

Thanks all, I found one at https://www.nzperformancetuning.co.nz Looks to be well made, comes with a new clip just in case the old one isn't on the under-tray. Having blown the CP on my N54 335i I am well aware of charge pipe weakness what surprised me is that on the F20's the pipe is different and supposedly upgraded and is also used on the M2 so i thought it might be a bit stronger, apparently not. Anyway will fit it tomorrow and get the boost back.

So I was helping Boytie with a Stage 1 MHD tune on his 2014 M135i. Everything went very smoothly and as we took it for its first run there was a pop sound and warning flashed up on the screen. A quick look under the bonnet revealed that the factory charge pipe had exploded where it meets the MAF. Now I know N54s are notorious for it but was surprised that a basic stage 1 tune would pop it, especially on a low km vehicle. Anyway I am looking for a charge pipe, any recommendations on who might have one in NZ? Poor old Mark has to slob it in my Toyota until I get it sorted.

Hey team I am looking at some E36 parts in Gisborne but the seller wont ship. Ideally if it could be picked up and maybe bought to Napier I can sort from there. As always happy to pay costs.

More details on the on the tune and Mods please.

Any updates?

Had one just like it and yes they are nice to drive.

Hmmm, I am not sure I want to roll the guards. I will give them a cleanup and put them in the for sale section.

On a whim I bought a set of 5 series style 32s thinking they were the 3 series versions. Just wondering if anyone has fitted them to an E36? They are 8x17 and 9x17, ET 20 and 26.

Rose City just listed it for 33k. Listed as 2990 cc.

As an E mountain bike rider I can confirm that the vast majority of E mountain bikes have assistance that cuts out at 32kph. Many commuter bikes are unlimited.