#bmw-e36

johna updated 5 years ago
read more

BMW 3-series from 1990 to 2000. Available as a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon and also related to the bmw-z3 and compact (hatchback).

0

Replaced the roof lining on my E36 325i

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 12 years ago
The parts car I just purchased had a good roof lining. It had been retrimmed at some point and was still in good condition, but a little dirty. I took it out, gave it a good clean and fitted it...
0

Bought another parts car

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
Like a little old lady that collects stray cats, I seem to be doing the same with BMW E36s. I found a 1992 318i automatic sedan with a blown head gasket for sale and, after looking at it and...
johna posted a reply 12 years ago 1

Fitting US market cup holders to an Australia BMW E36

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
Aside from some cup holders inside the glove box lid that are only really suited to a picnic, the Australian market 1991 to 1997 3 series (E36) is bereft of any way to safely transport drinks....
0

Rust repair

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 12 years ago
My 325i has what appeared to be surface rust around the boot seal. This seems to be a common rust area on E36s, particularly the early models. I didn't really want to put too much effort in to...
0

BMW E36 engine reliability guide

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
When you are shopping for a car as old as the E36 generation 3 series, it makes sense to choose the model that will be the most reliable and require the least maintenance. Here's a rundown on the...
0

Parts car progress

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
It has been two months since I bought this written off car, which I planned to remove some parts for myself and sell of the rest for profit. So far I am about $700 in profit which means I have...
0

Bought a parts car

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
For some time I have been looking for various parts for my E36 318is and 325i, things like a nicer set of wheels and interior parts. The other day I saw an advertisement for a cheap 323i that had...
0

BMW E36 318is versus 325i

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
Having owned two BMW E36 318is's and now an E36 325i for a few months I am ready to give my thoughts on the pros and cons of each model. The main differences between these models are the engines,...
0

Book Review: BMW 3 Series E36 Restoration Tips & Techniques

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
Brooklands Books has released a new title for E36 owners, "BMW 3 Series E36 Restoration Tips & Techniques". As a collector of all books about 3 series I bought it as soon as it was available. The...
0

Executive Express (Which Car?, Apr/Jun 1997)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Which Car? (Australia), Apr/Jun 1997. By David Twomey It's a terrible quandary for the executive trying to choose his next company vehicle —...
0

My 1994 318is: Final Update

johna posted about 1994 BMW 318is 12 years ago
Today I said farewell to my 1994 318is coupe, which has served me well for the last five years. The new owner picked it up this morning and left on a 1,000 km journey back to his home on the NSW...
0

BMW 323i (E36) Individual in Australia

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
As a frequent reader of the BMW section of various automotive classifieds websites, I occasionally see some fairly unique 1997 323i models. They are identified with a label which says "Individual"...
0

BMW M42 Engine Technical Information (E36 from 1/1994)

johna posted a discussion 12 years ago
Reproduced from the BMW TIS. Document no. 110194000, January 1994. BMW has updated the M42 four cylinder engine to optimize noise levels (acoustics) and to comply with emission regulations...
0

BMW 318is (Motor, Sep 1992)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Motor, Sep 1992. It's no easy task improving on a car universally acclaimed for its outstanding on-road dynamics, timeless design and superb packaging. But...
0

Club 50 (Car Australia, Feb 1994)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Car Australia, Feb 1994. Mid-life crisis getting you down? Even if the thought's not applicable, here's three quick coupes for about 50 grand each which...
0

Better Than Par (Motor, May 1994)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Motor, May 1994. Volkswagen's latest Golf VR6 is an excellent car with a lot more go than its appearance might suggest, but the BMW 318is coupe is an...
0

Newcomers: BMW M318iS (Car UK, Aug 1994)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Car UK, Aug 1994. BMW is selling this car to make its spoilers race-legal. But under the drastic plastic, the thing's a sham, says GEORG KACHER....
0

BMW 318is Sedan (Wheels, Jun 1997)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Wheels, Jun 1997. Nicer price for Bavaria's latest body/engine combo. Hard to understand why it's taken BMW so many years to bring the four-door...
0

Checkin' Coupes (Wheels, Oct 1993)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Wheels, Oct 1993. When you spend better than $40,000 on a feel-good conveyance, pose value and performance don't necessarily go together. MIKE McCARTHY...
0

BMW M42 Engine Technical Information (E36)

johna posted a KB article 12 years ago
Reproduced from the BMW TIS. Document no. 110192000, March 1992. With the introduction of the M42 powered E36 models, the successful and proven M42 four cylinder engine has been revised...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
The 318is has had broken front door trims since we bought it earlier in the year, with an entire centre section missing on one side. I finally found a reasonably priced set of four door trims...
0

My 1991 325i - Update

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 13 years ago
The 325i is now finally registered in NSW so I was able to go for a short drive today. The engine sounds great and mostly runs well. The idle is not bad but is a little irregular at times. It is...
0

BMW E36 First Local Drive (Wheels, April 1991)

johna posted a KB article 13 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Wheels, April 1991. Orchestral Manouvres (First Local Drive) Behind the glitz and glamour of the 3-series launch loomed the gloom of luxury tax....
0

Drive: BMW 318i, 320i, 325i (Modern Motor, February 1991)

johna posted a KB article 13 years ago
Magazine article reproduced from Modern Motor, February 1991. Munich's Pacesetter (Drive: BMW 318i, 320i, 325i) BMW's new 3 series is an exceptionally fine car, showing again what...
0

BMW Early E36 Front Suspension Differences

johna posted a discussion 13 years ago
When I first bought my 1991 325i I knew that, being a very early E36 model, it had different front suspension than the later models, and because I thought this must be inferior to the later models I...
0

First drive, and first steps to registration for my new 1991 325i

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 13 years ago
It was my first chance to drive the car today and have a good look over it, as I had to go and get a blue slip or whatever it is called now. Good news - it passed with no problems. I can...
0

About My 1994 318is

johna posted about 1994 BMW 318is 13 years ago
This is my 1994 BMW 318is coupe with M42 engine. I bought it in September 2007 with just under 160,000km. Today it has travelled just over 210,000km. It still had the original 15" alloy wheels on...
0

Finally, my new 1991 325i is delivered

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 13 years ago
I finally got the car around 6:30am this morning, 10 days after the original planned delivery date. I haven't had a good look at it yet but so far so bad... The paint is not so good, with clear...
0

Delivery problems for my new 1991 325i

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 13 years ago
I was expecting the car tonight but being Friday the 13th things did not go smoothly. The transport truck had an accident earlier this afternoon and was written off. My car is apparently unharmed....
0

Just bought a 1991 325i sight unseen

johna posted about 1991 BMW 325i 13 years ago
I have been looking for a replacement for my '94 318is coupe for quite a few months now. I was wanting the practicality of a 4-door due to having to soon carry a baby seat, etc. I had a strange...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Engine mounts replaced... car running great now. No strange noises around corners, and idle is much smoother now. See if you can see what's wrong with my old engine mounts (pictures are exactly...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
I got around to doing what I should have done first and just looked down at the engine mounts. Looks like the driver side mount has completely separated. It's hard to see the passenger side one but...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Another day spent working on the car, another frustrating day. I replaced the control arm bushings which was much harded than expected. I had trouble getting off the old ones and ended up cutting...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Okay, I might buy a set of bushes already mounted in the housings and try installing them myself. I found some on eBay for about $80 delivered from the USA. I figure if I put the new bushes in...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
I managed to get a few more parts today, most importantly a new steering wheel, and a new centre console with leather armrest (at a bargain...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update - Automatic Transmission Replacement

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Finally got the car back from the auto trans place. This transmission is better - drives well in forward gears - but reverse is slow to engage (around 2-3 seconds). Is it that hard to find a...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
The car has been with the auto transmission specialists since last Tuesday and two days ago they told me the new (used) transmission needs replacing. I organised a replacement under warranty from...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
I drove the car to work today and the transmission became a bit of a problem, finally resulting in the transmission fault light coming on and being stuck in 3rd gear (limp home mode presumably). I...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Late this afternoon I registered the car finally, and my wife and i took it for the first legal drive. I spoke to a couple of people and it seems that after a fluid change an automatic...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Just when I thought the worst was over, things got worse. I picked the car up from the auto trans specialist tonight. A$510 for fitting the new trans, servicing it, replacing a broken water...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Unfortunately the fitting of the new transmission did not go well today. First call I got was that the transmission I bought was different and would not fit. So I rang around and found another...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Car is with the auto transmission specialist now. They are going to fit the transmission, including new rear main and torque converter seals, and new gaskets, filter and oil. They are also going to...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
I fitted the new steering wheel slip ring this afternoon and the horn now works. The airbag warning light is on - maybe that needs resetting? While checking that all lights etc work for...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Most importantly, earlier this week my new bonnet badge arrived which I fitted immediately. Looks great. This morning I went to my local wrecker and pulled out a blower motor, cost A$30. I also...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
If you saw my first post, you would have seen the condition of the bonnet. It had several large areas where the paint had peeled off and the exposed metal had started to rust. It looked awful and...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Finally fixed the sunroof. Aside from breaking certain parts while trying to work out how it all worked, I think the main problem was lack of lubrication. It's working great now. While I had the...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Yesterday I replaced the oil filter housing gasket and bush, and also the cylinder head cover gasket. So far no oil leaks. I also picked up a (very expensive) sunroof mechanism ("cassette") which...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
I picked up a used automatic transmission today for A$250, and need to get it installed now (quoted A$350 + oil). I also got a "final stage unit" hoping it would solve my climate control issue (no...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
Had the windscreen done yesterday. Ended up being $227 including a $29 seal. Beware of cheap windscreen installers. At this end of the market you don't get the windscreen cleaned or the mess cleaned...
0

$500 1997 BMW 318is Update

johna posted about 1997 BMW 318is 13 years ago
I have now ordered a bunch of parts from Pelican Parts, most importantly a new gasket and bush for the oil filter housing which will hopefully fix the oil leak. I have also organised an even...
Terms and conditions | Privacy policy