e36 328 ownership experience

[ALBundy]

For such jobs, we cannot compromise but to use only original parts.

Not only use original parts, but pay a slight premium and ask the workshop to supply it. Then he has no one to blame but himself.:top:

 

[Vincent Hor]

Vincent,

Quite a collection you have there. :top: It's nice to be able to own and experience a range of these babes, kinda like a sheikh and his harem. :wink: You can enjoy the one that strikes your fancy at the time.

Unlike a harem resident however, it's good to hear she's nice and dry down there.

How does a Vanos engine compare with non-Vanos engine? Can you feel it kicking in at about 3000 rpm? It feels like a further shift (like into another gear, but more subtle.)

Lee, yeah I had the benefit of experiencing of the M50B25 with and without vanos. The Red E34 does not have a Vanos and yes we do feel the rush of power when the Vanos set in around 3K rpm.

 

[Vincent Hor]

Not only use original parts, but pay a slight premium and ask the workshop to supply it. Then he has no one to blame but himself.:top:

Albundy, totally agree with you. That's why I rather pay a bit more and ask the mechanic to source the parts where the job is more labour intensive. He provides the warranty.

 

[climenta]

Hi all, I'm Alvin here from Cheras (baru intro at newbies). I've recently booked a 95 e36 325i with a 2nd dealer, still awaiting delivery. Pushed it to the limit and enjoyed the car during test drive, but some issues just seems to bother me :-
1. The dashboard is in very very bad shape, worn out big time like those dashboards from potong kereta shops. Comparing to the external paintjob and body, just doesn't seem to be compatible in age (body looks superb). Steering also changed to 3 spoke steering unlike the original. Could the dashboard have been changed prior to this? If the car was involved in a bad accident, where should I start to check? I've check all the lines and gaps on the car, pretty superb job done if it was indeed involved in an accident. I'd also appreciate if you could guide me on which chemical to use to restore the worn out dashboard.
2. Fyi, I'm a greenhorn when it comes to car technology. I'm not very sure of what VANOS is about. Could my car have VANOS too? How can I ascertain this?
3. When I tested this car, there were instances where the car had a slight shudder felt from the driver's seat. This only happened when the car dropped a gear for sprinting at speeds @40km/h (I floored it). Is that the VANOS?
4. Upon delivery, the dealer gave me a 1 week guarantee period. Which workshop in kl can I send to to do a thorough check on engine, gbox, body, etc? More importantly where can I do this with ease and a peace of mind? How much would this cost me?

Hope all you sifus can assist me in this, sorry if I have deviated from the topic too much. Please consider this a favour to a little brother (328's tambi, 325 ma!!)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lee36328]

1. The dashboard is in very very bad shape, worn out big time like those dashboards from potong kereta shops. Comparing to the external paintjob and body, just doesn't seem to be compatible in age (body looks superb). Steering also changed to 3 spoke steering unlike the original. Could the dashboard have been changed prior to this? If the car was involved in a bad accident, where should I start to check? I've check all the lines and gaps on the car, pretty superb job done if it was indeed involved in an accident. I'd also appreciate if you could guide me on which chemical to use to restore the worn out dashboard.

a. what do you mean dashboard looks worn out? fading color? try some detailing products to see if the color can be restored. meguair's a good place to start. last resort, spray the dashboard, or replace it.
b. look at all the welding joints

2. Fyi, I'm a greenhorn when it comes to car technology. I'm not very sure of what VANOS is about. Could my car have VANOS too? How can I ascertain this?

No, you car does not have Vanos. It's a 325. Vanos has been discussed extensively here and on the net. Do a search and you'll get plenty of hits. Try searching for "BMW e36 VANOS". Here's an example.

http://www.bmwe36blog.com/2007/03/19/what-is-bmw-vanos-engine/

3. When I tested this car, there were instances where the car had a slight shudder felt from the driver's seat. This only happened when the car dropped a gear for sprinting at speeds @40km/h (I floored it). Is that the VANOS?

No, that is not Vanos. More likely a gearbox or driveline issue.

4. Upon delivery, the dealer gave me a 1 week guarantee period. Which workshop in kl can I send to to do a thorough check on engine, gbox, body, etc? More importantly where can I do this with ease and a peace of mind? How much would this cost me?

This question and this check should have been done before you buy the car. Drop me a PM.

Hope all you sifus can assist me in this, sorry if I have deviated from the topic too much. Please consider this a favour to a little brother (328's tambi, 325 ma!!)

Thanks in advance.

You're welcome. Good luck with your new ride. Wish you had found this thread sooner tho.

 

[mikoloh]

Errrr....I think the 325i do have vanos...

 

[flash]

No, you car does not have Vanos. It's a 325.

Korektion Lee, the E36 325i with the M50B25TU engine do have VANOS. Well, I did own one before and missing it already.... Can't remember off-hand, but I hazard a guess that the 325i sold in Malaysia from '93 year onwards do have VANOS. Can any sifus confirm this?

 

[Zul_84]

Errrr....I think the 325i do have vanos...

The 2.5 L (2494 cc) M50B25 was introduced with the 1991 325i. It has an 84 mm bore and 75 mm stroke and produces 189 hp (141 kW).

Applications:

* 1991-1995 E36 325i
* 1992-1995 E34 525i/525ix

Note: This is the engine from which the M50TU evolved. The VANOS update was added late 1992 and sold for 1993 model year E34s. The M50 has a Compression_ratio of 10:1, and the M50TU of 10.5:1, (CBU model).
not sure for CKD model when they update to vanos... or maybe no vanos at all.

 

[Lee36328]

Errrr....I think the 325i do have vanos...

Korektion Lee, the E36 325i with the M50B25TU engine do have VANOS. Well, I did own one before and missing it already.... Can't remember off-hand, but I hazard a guess that the 325i sold in Malaysia from '93 year onwards do have VANOS. Can any sifus confirm this?

The 2.5 L (2494 cc) M50B25 was introduced with the 1991 325i. It has an 84 mm bore and 75 mm stroke and produces 189 hp (141 kW).

Applications:

* 1991-1995 E36 325i
* 1992-1995 E34 525i/525ix

Note: This is the engine from which the M50TU evolved. The VANOS update was added late 1992 and sold for 1993 model year E34s. The M50 has a Compression_ratio of 10:1, and the M50TU of 10.5:1, (CBU model).
not sure for CKD model when they update to vanos... or maybe no vanos at all.

He he he. I was too lazy to type about M50B25TU. You guys were fast to catch that. My apologies to all M50B25TU owners.

Climenta-325,

You can sight the vanos visually. Here's what it looks like. It's the semi-circular protrusion at the front.

 

[Zul_84]

VaNOS

He he he. I was too lazy to type about M50B25TU. You guys were fast to catch that. My apologies to all M50B25TU owners.

Climenta-325,

You can sight the vanos visually. Here's what it looks like. It's the semi-circular protrusion at the front.

Climenta-325 look.... that is VaaaNOS hehehe when engage feel like NOS!!! tat what we called VaaaaNOS said it again... hehehehe :burnout:

thanks to Lee36328 for clear picture more clear explanation!

 

[Vincent Hor]

Today managed to spare some time to bring the car to the workshop.
There were two issues, slight vibration at the rear end and also the front.
Earlier had already done tyres balancing on all four wheels. Rims perfect and so are the tyres but didn't solve the problem.

1. Mechanic took out the longshaft. Center bearing is still OK so is the longshaft coupling. It turns out that the U joint at the rear diff end was sticky. Mechanic sprayed Wurth Grease spray and slowly loosen up the U Joint. Now good movement and no freeplay.

2. As for the front end, it turns out that I had a set of worn engine mounting. I called 1st Division and they promptly delivered a set of Lemforder RM135.00 X 2

Total damage RM270.00 plus labour RM70.00

Now the car runs smoothly without vibration.

I took the opportunity to conduct a compression test on the engine. All 6 cylinder passed with flying colours.

BTW the car had K&N drop in air filter installed. Whats the opinion, should I removed the K&N and replaced it with the original paper filter?

Does anyone knows where I could get the front bumper M3 splitter? How much will it cost?

 

[Lee36328]

I personally prefer the sound the original filter makes, as opposed to the gruffier noise of the K&N filter. But that's just me.

Good to hear your good compression results. Just curious - what were the readings of each of the 6 cylinders?

 

[Vincent Hor]

The readings we 13 for 2 cylinders, then 12 and 12 plus for the rest. My mechanic said if 10 and above is already good. 7 - 8 will be poor.

Not sure what readings they were, my guess is PSI. Will check with him and update.

Yes, my mech also mentioned to me that its better to have the ori filter. That's why I ask.

 

[Zul_84]

hi to all 328 user,

5 days ago, my car cannot start the engine need two or three time then the engine alive, usually it start just one shot only, now this morning it worse then before i start 5 to 7 time then the engine alive... battery all work fine, engine performance: good condition, idle: perfect, fuel consumption: normal 21cent - 25cent/km,

i have no clue what when wrong when come to start the engine and its not start once. ...errr is it the fuel pump?

pls all 328 sifus help me what the symptom of fuel pump going to kaput?






.

 

[Lee36328]

Could be starter. Mine kaput already. Replaced it a few months back.

An alternative is to get a type of current booster. Cheaper solution. I heard someone opting for this, but for another make, not bmw.

 

[Zul_84]

Could be starter. Mine kaput already. Replaced it a few months back.

An alternative is to get a type of current booster. Cheaper solution. I heard someone opting for this, but for another make, not bmw.

starter? may i know where can i get it?

 

[Lee36328]

starter? may i know where can i get it?

Similar to any other parts, your workshop can order for you.

Best to get them to confirm that is indeed the faulty area, else money spent needlessly.

 

[Zul_84]

Similar to any other parts, your workshop can order for you.

Best to get them to confirm that is indeed the faulty area, else money spent needlessly.

thanks Lee36328
good news, its nothing to do with fuel pump, crank sensor, starter, fuel regulator.... actually it was my (P) and hand brake. my hand brake cable very loose and depend on (P) then my P sangkut,

i dont know what the hack relation between P and engine that made my engine stuck when starting. then in P position before i start, i will move my car forward backward little bit (because my hand brake loose) then i start it just with one crank... vroom!!,:rock:

dunno what kind of tips my mech told me, but its work...
moral of the story, tighten your hand brake ....very tight. i will repair my handbrake cable on weekend. at the moment i need push my car forward backward before start... like an idiot at parking lot :stupid:

but its workkk:rock:

same situation with my:
1) Acc just change belting instead compressor
2) bukk sound disappear after change ATF
3) engine stuck/hard to start - handbrake???

sometime we miss small thing and think the big thing got a problem... hahaha
problem solve (at the moment)
.

 

[climenta]

Thanks Lee, Flash, Mikoloh & Zul. Appreciate all the guidance. I did some reading myself in WIKI on M50B25TU, now I say pls VANOS me!! I didn't notice the valve set like the one in the pix, but will make sure if mine runs on a M50B25TU. Anyway, should be getting my ride some time this week. Have a buddy who's getting a e36 318 this week, both of us planning to send it in for check up in a specialist w/shop in Kuchai Lama that was recommended to him by a forumer / TT buddy of his. I'm quite sure you guys have heard of this w/shop, what say you? Well, I'm not going to change anything immediately, unless really required. Just wondering, will it be ok for me to just drop my ride off overnight at this specialist? And are there many BMW specialist w/shops in the Kuchai area?

 

[Zul_84]

Thanks Lee, Flash, Mikoloh & Zul. Appreciate all the guidance. I did some reading myself in WIKI on M50B25TU, now I say pls VANOS me!! I didn't notice the valve set like the one in the pix, but will make sure if mine runs on a M50B25TU. Anyway, should be getting my ride some time this week. Have a buddy who's getting a e36 318 this week, both of us planning to send it in for check up in a specialist w/shop in Kuchai Lama that was recommended to him by a forumer / TT buddy of his. I'm quite sure you guys have heard of this w/shop, what say you? Well, I'm not going to change anything immediately, unless really required. Just wondering, will it be ok for me to just drop my ride off overnight at this specialist? And are there many BMW specialist w/shops in the Kuchai area?

bro climenta-325i you want drop your UDM at Kuchai area? wait for me!! I want to make further medical check-up to my thirsty UDm too.
when you going there maybe we can meet :rock: will tell you 328 vaNOS how its feel hehehe :rock: