E36 worth restore?

[Denly]

Need some suggestion from you guys.

I have a Bimmer E36 328is auto sitting on my driveway for 3yrs now, not sure what to do with it.

It was my daily driver until it develop a tranny leak 3-4yrs ago(maybe more)

So restore or scrape?

To restore I will need to fix
-tranny leak(or install a 5sp)
-brake
-tires
-suspension
-paint job
And god know what else.

As we all know $ don't grow on tree and that is a 3-4k job right there. I do like the car still, but is it worth restoring?
Engine have 150k km on it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It really depends on the shape of the body and chassis. If those aren't in decent shape I'd say scrap it.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

That laundry list is easily $4k. 150k miles on engine. It's been sitting for three years. So what's the upside on this turd? Sink alot of money and time to get half out of it?

I guess if you loved the car for some reason and were going to keep it forever......

 

[Denly]

It really depends on the shape of the body and chassis. If those aren't in decent shape I'd say scrap it.

body in ok shape, 1 rust spot at bottom of the door. May need a new clear coating

Chassis should be fine.

 

[Denly]

That laundry list is easily $4k. 150k miles on engine. It's been sitting for three years. So what's the upside on this turd? Sink alot of money and time to get half out of it?

I guess if you loved the car for some reason and were going to keep it forever......

I agree with you before I check the local classified, a good shape one average 7-9k.

 

[LTC8K6]

150K kilometers, not miles?

 

[Ramses]

Fixing any old car to that degree is basically a loosing proposition monetarily unless it is either worth some money, or still fairly new. I have repeatedly spent 3-5K on cars that were lucky to sell for 2k and was well aware of it going in over the years. This is why it's a hobby and a labor of love. I would imagine as Denly said on a fairly new fairly common model like that you can ditch it or use it for parts and buy a better one if you really like that model. Or if you have emotional attachment or a burning desire to bring it back to life, go for it. It's still cheaper than a new one. There is probably some guy out there with some 5spd parts that would love to buy it cheap and fix it. Note that it'll be more work and cost more than you think it will, almost always. That isn't so much a deterrent as it is just advice from experience.

The E36 was and is a hell of a car though. First of the (semi) modern 3 series and won car of the year constantly. They spent the better part of a decade designing it and then sold it for another decade. The rear suspension was an improvement over the E30 though it did loose the little toss-able sports car feel I thought, but they do handle well if given half a chance. The late 328 has as much power as any of them short of an M3, which is plenty to have fun with. Not without fault as with any car, but it's an automotive icon. And it always will be.

 

[sgrinavi]

Going to need a complete set of bushing and seals too I bet. They're cool cars and you'll probably get another 150km out of it if you fix it. What's the worst case scenario? You spend $5-6k drive it for 7 or 8 more years and sell it for $5k?

 

[Denly]

150K kilometers, not miles?

Correct - approx. 93000 miles.

 

[Denly]

Can anyone suggest an economical suspension setup? No need to be coil over or hard core, I am too old for that even I miss my KW set.

Eibach or M sport?

Lower end of normal height range preferred.

 

[Ramses]

bilstein or koni's and whatever springs you feel comfortable with. some factory m3's might be a good option if they are available. you'll likely need new suspension bushings and such, I'd check with BMP or metric or such and see whats available/recommended. There is always something better than stock without going crazy hard full poly.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Probably BC Racing for economical.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I agree with you before I check the local classified, a good shape one average 7-9k.

You must be is some other country. US search on autotrader puts 328is of all years average almost exactly where I predicted: $4k

It's OK. I get it. You've got an emotional attachment to the car. Don't expect it to actually make money. Fixing up old cars is almost always a money losing proposition.

Whenever I hear someone say they want to possibly swap to a 5 speed I know they don't have the first clue of how much money they are really going to liberate their wallet from. The smart builders will usually strip all the good parts off an automatic car just to make a stick car work. It's almost always easier.

Not without fault as with any car, but it's an automotive icon. And it always will be.

A bit less so with an automatic. OP can polish the old turd but it will take alot of expensive wax. It will never be collectible.

 

[Vdubchaos]

No

Sounds like a complete money pit. Unless you have 2-3 k laying around to fix all the things you listed.

Even then, we are talking putting 1/2+ of the car value into the car.

IMO, not worth it.

BTW, I'm on the same boat with my Passat...but I have 150k miles, needs windshield, brakes and I have a misfire issue that even "master mechanic of 15 years" couldn't figure out.

I don't even want to put $1000 into it as there is a risk of it never running right.....

Thinking about parting it out as I have K04, Bilsteins, H&Rs, exhaust and other goodies on it......

 

[Denly]

No

Sounds like a complete money pit. Unless you have 2-3 k laying around to fix all the things you listed.

Even then, we are talking putting 1/2+ of the car value into the car.

IMO, not worth it.

BTW, I'm on the same boat with my Passat...but I have 150k miles, needs windshield, brakes and I have a misfire issue that even "master mechanic of 15 years" couldn't figure out.

I don't even want to put $1000 into it as there is a risk of it never running right.....

Thinking about parting it out as I have K04, Bilsteins, H&Rs, exhaust and other goodies on it......

Speaking of Passat misfire, I am surprise it is not the coil. I always have a spare in my car as my 5.5b kill at least one a year.

I have 2 5.5b,
one with 350k km but everything fix up(suspension, timing belt, fuel pump), need 2nd air pump and CAT.
one with 250k km that need everything(timing belt and stuff) and a lot of small issues.

I am thinking about combine the 2 and keep the 350k and scrape the 250k.

 

[Denly]

You must be is some other country. US search on autotrader puts 328is of all years average almost exactly where I predicted: $4k

It's OK. I get it. You've got an emotional attachment to the car. Don't expect it to actually make money. Fixing up old cars is almost always a money losing proposition.

Whenever I hear someone say they want to possibly swap to a 5 speed I know they don't have the first clue of how much money they are really going to liberate their wallet from. The smart builders will usually strip all the good parts off an automatic car just to make a stick car work. It's almost always easier.



A bit less so with an automatic. OP can polish the old turd but it will take alot of expensive wax. It will never be collectible.

Canada here

My logical side agree with you on everything.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Speaking of Passat misfire, I am surprise it is not the coil. I always have a spare in my car as my 5.5b kill at least one a year.

I have 2 5.5b,
one with 350k km but everything fix up(suspension, timing belt, fuel pump), need 2nd air pump and CAT.
one with 250k km that need everything(timing belt and stuff) and a lot of small issues.

I am thinking about combine the 2 and keep the 350k and scrape the 250k.

First thing I checeked. Early AEBs don't really have Coil issues though (later ones do).

Checked coils, injectors.....spark plugs......my mechanic was stumped (so was his dealer OBD2 tool he brought)

I have a feeling it might be fuel delivery. And I do know secondary air pump in the trunk is making a really weird noise.

I just don't want to get into trial and error games with parts.....not on a 15 year old German car.

I will either part it out or hand over the title to my son at some point and maybe he can tinker with it/learn etc.

Parting it out sounds better, I can rip the entire car apart with my boys. Would be great learning experience for them.

 

[Denly]

First thing I checeked. Early AEBs don't really have Coil issues though (later ones do).

Checked coils, injectors.....spark plugs......my mechanic was stumped (so was his dealer OBD2 tool he brought)

I have a feeling it might be fuel delivery. And I do know secondary air pump in the trunk is making a really weird noise.

I just don't want to get into trial and error games with parts.....not on a 15 year old German car.

I will either part it out or hand over the title to my son at some point and maybe he can tinker with it/learn etc.

Parting it out sounds better, I can rip the entire car apart with my boys. Would be great learning experience for them.

Secondary air pump located behind the front grill and usually don't effect anything except CEL light. The only thing in the trunk area is the fuel pump.

Check out all the tubing for oil sludge, they course all kind of issues.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Canada here

My logical side agree with you on everything.

Judging by your responses reassat you are fairly handy and knowledgable. Why not just see if the old bimmer still runs, fix the leaky trans seal, and drive it as is?

 

[JulesMaximus]

With the automatic transmission that would be a deal killer for me. Manual conversion would not be easy. It is doable but you need to change the ECU and a bunch of interior parts along with a new transmission. Lots of stupid little things go wrong with those cars too, like the sunroof (annoying rattles), the rear strut mounts, exhaust, plastic radiator, electronics.

Secondary air pump located behind the front grill and usually don't effect anything except CEL light. The only thing in the trunk area is the fuel pump.

Check out all the tubing for oil sludge, they course all kind of issues.

We had a '94 325i and the fuel pump was under the rear seat, as is the fuel tank. Was a HOLY SHIT moment when my wife was backing out of the garage one day with our newborn son in the back and fuel was pouring out from underneath the car. :|

 

[Denly]

Judging by your responses reassat you are fairly handy and knowledgable. Why not just see if the old bimmer still runs, fix the leaky trans seal, and drive it as is?

I tried to fix the leak, a couple time actually. It is a pita and still leaking. Not sure if it is the oil pan or tranny casing need resurface.

And yes I put in new gaskets, and I have a shop to do it after a couple fail attempts. leak again in a couple month.

 

[Denly]

With the automatic transmission that would be a deal killer for me. Manual conversion would not be easy. It is doable but you need to change the ECU and a bunch of interior parts along with a new transmission. Lots of stupid little things go wrong with those cars too, like the sunroof (annoying rattles), the rear strut mounts, exhaust, plastic radiator, electronics.



We had a '94 325i and the fuel pump was under the rear seat, as is the fuel tank. Was a HOLY SHIT moment when my wife was backing out of the garage one day with our newborn son in the back and fuel was pouring out from underneath the car. :|

They sunroof does randomly fail to close
Rear strut mounts, yes I replaced it before
Plastic radiator blow up on me on the highway once

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I tried to fix the leak, a couple time actually. It is a pita and still leaking. Not sure if it is the oil pan or tranny casing need resurface.

And yes I put in new gaskets, and I have a shop to do it after a couple fail attempts. leak again in a couple month.

Ahhh I see why you might want to consider a 5spd swap. A mating surface is boogered/cracked and you don't know if it's the trans side or the engine side. Throwing good money after bad IMHO to try and fix it or swap trans unless you have access to really cheap parts, a lift, and unlimited free time.

This project has elevated itself from turd status to stinky turd.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Secondary air pump located behind the front grill and usually don't effect anything except CEL light. The only thing in the trunk area is the fuel pump.

Check out all the tubing for oil sludge, they course all kind of issues.

hehe, secondary air pump is in the back of the car on Passat....I believe.

Maybe I got the wrong name. Evap pump or some BS. It's back there though.

 

[Ramses]

A bit less so with an automatic. OP can polish the old turd but it will take alot of expensive wax. It will never be collectible.

5mt basically mandatory imo unless one is gimped up or just has a total hardon for slushboxes, and collectible isn't really related to a car being what I consider an icon. Other than if you flat can't afford it or can't do the work, money really shouldn't be part of the issue(because one is going to loose their ass). One of the cardinal rules of car-dom is never, ever, ever count up your receipts. If you gotta count something, count smiles per mile. If that don't add up, ditch the car. If I magically had that car in my driveway I'd be looking for a wrecked or blown motor 5mt example and make one out of the two whatever way was appropriate. One of the nice things about an old car hobby is it doesn't have to make financial sense, or even be logical, it just has to make you happy or satisfied or pluck some other positive feeling string.