My 3 series sucks, help.

Clarkey

Clarkey

Clarkey

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
18,306
So I got an e36 328i sport recently in an effort to have something that was faster and more fun than my old Colt. I don't seem to have succeeded, I'd sort of gotten used to it but I took the 300zx out today for the first time since having the BMW. I was surprised by how lively and fun it is, not something you would normally associate with a heavyweight automatic car.
The BMW just feels lethargic and wayward both in terms of how it steers and how the engine works, also it seems incapable of putting power down without considerable power oversteer.

I could go 3 directions.

Keep the BMW, spend out on it a bit on a new suspension, M50 manifold conversion.

Sell BMW and try a 200SX instead.

Go back to a Colt, but with an interesting engine in (my last one had some basic suspension and wheel/tyre mods, it was fun to drive, lively and responsive steering, always had the confidence to drive at 10 10ths in this car).

Don't know what's the right thing to do, but want to make a change because right now I'm paying BMW running costs and I don't feel that I'm getting good value.
 
I've been thinking about getting an E36 for track use, but the problem with ones this age is that it will always need new suspension all round and probably new discs/pads and tyres as well just to freshen it up.

I would imagine it would be nice with new suspension and a few other mods, just depends whether you want to spend the money on it or not.
 
could be worse, you could have mis matched top mounts on the front suspension, i kid you not!

i still need to send that email...
 
Lopéz said:
You definitely won't like an SX if the above is a grievance with the BMW.
Click to expand...

To be fair the rear geo is all over the place but can't be corrected because there's not enough arch clearance thanks to both the stupid wheels and stupid springs.

I find no issue with the z, which has basically the same rear end as a 200.
 
The 328 isnt exactly a lively car to bein with its more of a lazy cruiser than anything else.
The M50 conversion/BBTB is a popular conversion for this engine, along with US M3 cams + remap. I did this on my old car but at the end a M3 lump would have been better with more power. As above though you need to spend a fair bit on them as they are getting on abit now.
 
Clarkey said:
To be fair the rear geo is all over the place but can't be corrected because there's not enough arch clearance thanks to both the stupid wheels and stupid springs.
Click to expand...

Well there's you problem, what tyres you running?

What Colt would you go to Cyborg?
 
Stupid wheels and stupid springs? Need more info.

Sounds like all is not well with the setup of the bimmer, but you already know this?
 
NathWraith said:
Why don't you use the 300zx all the time?
Click to expand...
I do a lot of miles and the fuel consumption is ferocious.

crankbro said:
Nope. a lot of scene boys do it gives massive amounts of camber
Click to expand...
Yeah, with evo mounts, it's nothing to do with being 'scene' though.

sigma said:
Did you not test drive it before you bought it?
Click to expand...
Yes, seemed alright at first.

For some reason can't multi-quote any more, so..
Tyres are Avon ZZ3 235/40/17 all round, 7-8mm tread. Not sure on the springs, they are bright yellow though, not sure if stock. Rear sits pretty low though, tucking tyre quite a bit, front has a good couple of inches gap. Shocks are standard Bilstein yellow ones.

I hear what people are saying about old shocks and bushes, I'm sceptical as to whether it will make that much difference though, afterall the 300zx is even older and more worn, yet that still feels tight. Likewise the colt, same age, more mileage, didn't feel slack/wooly at all.
 
This to me sounds like poor alignment, suspension, wheel and tyre choice rather than a poor car !

Have you had the car properly aligned, and by that I don't just mean 'green' on all corners, the old 'yep its withing tollerance' crap.

Is your rear lower than the front? I thought most BMW's had a lower front than rear is all.

We fitted a coilover kit to Nicks 318iS E36 and when aligned it totally transformed the car. I'd get it looked at somewhere decent (no idea where in the country you are so can't suggest off the top of my head) but to me it sounds like your car is fundamentally wrong in its current setup.
 
So its got dodgy suspension mods (The rear sitting really low doesnt sound like it helps!), average tyres and it isn't properly aligned and you are suprised by the fact it doesnt drive properly?

Really?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom