boyish 40 Report post Posted September 25, 2021 😍 looks dope dude 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) 163,217 kms. Long-time no post! I’m still loving the little E36. It has been so good to me and puts a smile on my face every time I thrash drive it. Living in Kelburn and working / studying in the CBD means that I rarely have a reason to take it out of the garage (except for the weekly grocery shop), but I often find myself driving it just for the sake of it. Updates since last time Replaced the original perished windscreen cowl / cracked windscreen / old wiper blades Before After Replaced broken fog light bracket (absolute pain to change!) and fog light bulbs Dent Magician removed a couple minor door dings (ding free now) Brake upgrade – installed E46 330i front brakes and 328i rear brakes / new brake pads / new rotors / rebuilt calipers / fresh brake fluid Basic maintenance (Oil changes, filters etc) Couple WOFs, including the obligatory “she’s pretty tidy” as the inspector hands back my keys Fixed squeaky seat and steering wheel Replaced rubber gaskets around both rear quarter windows. [Until I screwed up the driver's side when I was reinstalling the window – I over-tightened the b-pillar bolt and snapped it in half. Unfortunately, the window is designed so that the bolt is glued to the glass. I think the best step forward is to find a replacement rear quarter glass. Any ideas?] Regular cleaning, finishing with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection Multiple road trips, from Waihau Bay over the summer break to a recent trip with the BMW Club to Castlepoint, without any issues. Surprisingly, it hasn’t used a single drop of oil in my ownership and doesn’t leave any puddles in my garage (in stark contrast to my previous E39 540i) Chocolate Fish with the BMW Club (photo credit to @TermiPeteNZ) (Photo credit to @adro) Castlepoint with the BMW Club Southward Car Musem Coffee and Cars Summer road trip to Waihau Bay Featured in the BMW Club Dixi magazine Me, an amateur model (photo credit to @Olaf) Been naughty To do (short – medium term) Fix small power steering leak Replace bonnet struts (I discovered this was an issue when replacing the windscreen cowl) Suspension refresh – I have a Vogtland suspension kit (front / rear springs and shocks) for the car, but I want to do a more comprehensive refresh at the same time. I would like some advice. I've been looking at the kits on FCP Euro (such as: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-kit-8-piece-e36-e36cakit8l; https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-bushing-kit-lemforder-33306852895kt; https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-sway-bar-bushing-kit-lemforder-33551138104kt). What are your thoughts? I'm happy to be educated. The aim is to freshen the suspension to OE spec, with a "do it once, do it right" attitude New front tyres Fix the slight squeak when cold – suspect belt needs replacement Replace the passenger door actuator so that it locks / unlocks on its own (and I don't have to, embarrassingly, lean over and open the door for my passenger, asking them to excuse it as "an old girl" ) – I have the new actuator but have been procrastinating To do (longer term) Manual swap Rebuild and install purple tag steering rack Repaint front bumper Replace scraped front spoiler Paint correction. Edited August 15, 2022 by BozzaFC 7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunter 402 Report post Posted August 14, 2022 Hey Boston.. Regarding the suspension kits from FCP I can recommend them I bought one for the E39 and it turned out to be really good just make sure you get a reputable brand and all the brands on there are. I’d also recommend getting the most comprehensive one you can I didn’t and I’m gonna have to go back in and do integral links and rear wheel carrier bushings are before Christmas But it’s also easy to go front and rear separately so that helps 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1515 Report post Posted August 14, 2022 Cant go wrong with OE stuff but id probably skip the bolts though. You'd definitely want to add trailing arm bushings to that list given they take the most abuse. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-bushing-outer-e36-e46-33326770786 and limiters https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-bushing-reinforcement-spacer-set-093031010 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-ball-joint-e36-e46-33326775551 - You can use 2x of these for rear outer and lower(upgrade used by M3's) instead of https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-trailing-arm-bushing-outer-e36-e46-33321136311 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-bushing-rear-lower-inner-oem-33326770824l & https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-bushing-rear-upper-e36-e46-oem-33321092247 - Don't think these really wear that much and aren't easy to do. First bushings are very hard to press in\out without correct gear. Second ones may require the diff to be lowered on L\H side and are bit of a pain to torque (E46 anyway, not sure on E36) You could also do the subframe bushings and have the trailing arm and subframe reinforcements welded in if you really wanted to be thorough 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
str8_6 268 Report post Posted August 15, 2022 (edited) Definitely recommend FCP for suspension components. Their customer service is outstanding and freight times are pretty good at present. E39 feels like new after a refresh. Edited August 15, 2022 by str8_6 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blackie 510 Report post Posted August 17, 2022 On 8/14/2022 at 11:30 PM, BozzaFC said: Been naughty My wife had one with the car too. 120km/h coming over the crest of a hill right into the sight on an oncoming cop. Doh! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3236 Report post Posted August 30, 2022 @BozzaFC you've been busy, mate. This car just gets better and better! SH2 Akatarawas, BMWCCNZ Wairarapa & Castlepoint trip, June 2022. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3236 Report post Posted August 30, 2022 oh and re your suspension refresh, can't go wrong with Lemforder. Shocks and Springs, there's a whole 'nother wormhole. Why not just go with Sachs OE Msport, and the existing Msport springs if they're still good? With everything else sorted (you're being thorough on bushes, rods, arms etc) it'll ride and handle like new, and certainly nothing at all like most of the flogged-out e36s around (particularly those that have had just shocks, or just shocks and springs, and maybe a peppering of poly bushing because still baggy...) I'll get me coat then! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunter 402 Report post Posted August 30, 2022 1 minute ago, Olaf said: oh and re your suspension refresh, can't go wrong with Lemforder. Shocks and Springs, there's a whole 'nother wormhole. Why not just go with Sachs OE Msport, and the existing Msport springs if they're still good? With everything else sorted (you're being thorough on bushes, rods, arms etc) it'll ride and handle like new, and certainly nothing at all like most of the flogged-out e36s around (particularly those that have had just shocks, or just shocks and springs, and maybe a peppering of poly bushing because still baggy...) I'll get me coat then! Hundred percent Olaf, I can vouch for this approach this is exactly what I did for my E39 drives like new, handles like new and it’s all OEM spec. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted January 6, 2023 (edited) 165,360 kms. Transformed the front end with two new Michelin PS5 tyres. The level of grip on these things is immense! Will upgrade the rears post suspension refresh. Replaced the faulty passenger door lock actuator. A frustrating but deeply satisfying upgrade! IMG_5944.MOV Edited January 23, 2023 by BozzaFC 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted January 6, 2023 I also replaced the broken driver’s side rear quarter window with one of @M3AN’s spares. Now all of the window seals are looking fresh and watertight 👍. But it’s never plain sailing with these cars - when I was driving home to Whanganui for Christmas, the air duct / belly pan under the engine decided it didn’t like the E36 any more and fell off. Given these aren’t visible and are ~$200 new, does anyone have advice for where to find a nice used belly pan? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jom 96 Report post Posted January 6, 2023 1 hour ago, BozzaFC said: I also replaced the broken driver’s side rear quarter window with one of @M3AN’s spares. Now all of the window seals are looking fresh and watertight 👍. But it’s never plain sailing with these cars - when I was driving home to Whanganui for Christmas, the air duct / belly pan under the engine decided it didn’t like the E36 any more and fell off. Given these aren’t visible and are ~$200 new, does anyone have advice for where to find a nice used belly pan? I've had two, both fell off over bumps (Wairarapa road and Manfield kerbs) and after repairing them, refitting, changing the hanging points etc. I gave up. I still have the bits in front of the wheels as they aren't so vulnerable. It doesn't seem to make any difference without the undertray. There is a company in the States that makes a full width undertray in aluminium ($150US last time I looked) but shipping would be a problem... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3236 Report post Posted January 11, 2023 I wonder if - in the spirit of BMW LEGO - the e46 item might easily retrofit? I'm not able to visualise, but hey - perhaps worth nutting out? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted January 22, 2023 (edited) 165,820 kms. After getting sick of being hit in the head everytime I had the bonnet up, I installed new bonnet struts over the weekend. What a difference! Such a cheap upgrade. I also got time to do the annual detail of the E36. Wash, clay bar, wash again, polish and sealant using Autoglym products. Montreal Blue really is stunning when clean. It always surprises me how different it looks in different lights too: Edited January 23, 2023 by BozzaFC 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunter 402 Report post Posted January 22, 2023 looking great man, Are you attending the South Island BMW CCNZ trip in May? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted January 22, 2023 I was planning on it but have since organised a holiday to Europe! Looks like a fun trip though - hopefully I can tag along next time. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BozzaFC 300 Report post Posted January 23, 2023 (edited) 165,823 kms. Finished off the annual clean by cleaning and conditioning the leather and thoroughly wiping and vacuuming the interior. She is properly clean now! After spending over seven hours cleaning the E36 I spent about five minutes cleaning myself. That must mean I’ve got my priorities right! Also noticed it’d been 5,000kms since the last oil change, so did a quick oil & filter change this afternoon. Something about having a clean car with a fresh oil change feels so good. Reset the service light and ready to roll. And to top it all off, I finally replaced the most annoying thing on the car - an upside down M sticker! This was embarrassingly satisfying. Before: After: Edited January 23, 2023 by BozzaFC 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1515 Report post Posted January 23, 2023 28 minutes ago, BozzaFC said: She is properly clean now! Need a up skirt shot to determine that one 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
