Finally did it! My first BMW - a E36 328i Sport manual
Discussion
In response to Iguana proclaiming me to be 'a homo' if I brought an auto, I went and took a look at a very nice sounding 328 Sport manual on Sunday.
Come last night, I had the keys firmly pressed in my excited sweaty palms, and I'm now a fully paid up member of the RWD club
I paid £4.3k for this incredibly tidy example:
New engine at 37k ala Nikasil recall, and full BMW stamped book. Currently on 101k, sounds and feels like a new car compared to the Golf!!!
I'm so stoked!
All the MTech kit is completely standard from when it rolled out of the factory, the interior spotless and the right colour.
It feels VERY pokey when provoked, and after a little drive up our 'mini-nurburgring' in Bristol, rather provokable in the wet
Needless to say, I shall be learning her every move over the next few months
Come last night, I had the keys firmly pressed in my excited sweaty palms, and I'm now a fully paid up member of the RWD club
I paid £4.3k for this incredibly tidy example:
New engine at 37k ala Nikasil recall, and full BMW stamped book. Currently on 101k, sounds and feels like a new car compared to the Golf!!!
I'm so stoked!
All the MTech kit is completely standard from when it rolled out of the factory, the interior spotless and the right colour.
It feels VERY pokey when provoked, and after a little drive up our 'mini-nurburgring' in Bristol, rather provokable in the wet
Needless to say, I shall be learning her every move over the next few months
Edited by neil_cardiff on Thursday 26th October 16:17
Congrats, Neil!
That looks great! Congrats! Hell of a lot of car for the moneyGreat spec and colour and an even better price...Congarts!
NOW: Take it easy. I looked at your profile where you proclaim sideways action in your MK3 Golf. No from what I remeber of an MK3, you have to be pretty brytal to get the tail out.... I used to do that all day in my previuos car, Honda Prelude-just flick it into the corner, back off the throttle, get tail around and then pin the throttle when I wanted to get hold of things again. That had the benefit of a long wheel base and big boot sticking out over the rear axle so no doubt it was a less brutal that the golf.
I don't have to tell you it works a little differently in RWD but I feel I must share in the interest of keeping that pristine motor in good shape... I learned the hard way with a 50mph tank slapper that ended in 180 spin with me using the handbrake and footbrake to stop me going backwards into a wall... in the dry!!!!
I can't say I have mastered it yet but I have learned that using the weight transfer to get the back out must be measured allot more and you have to avoid overcorrecting as when it swings the otherway, things can get nasty quickly when this happens.
I much prefer doing this in the wet as I find the limit of grip too high in the dry on mine. (e46 330 with 255/18's at the back). I think it has too much tyre for thecar TBH. 17's like what you have should give more progressive, lower speed fun. Also, in the wet you can use the throttle to get the back-end out rather than weight transfer-I find this alot easier to mange smoothly.
The other, after hearing horror stories like these I found myslef tensing up and overreacting the smallest slides initially and being 'wooden' in my approach. I think the key thing is to remain calm and smooth with THE inputs and enjoy the ride!
Have you got an LSD on that?
NOW: Take it easy. I looked at your profile where you proclaim sideways action in your MK3 Golf. No from what I remeber of an MK3, you have to be pretty brytal to get the tail out.... I used to do that all day in my previuos car, Honda Prelude-just flick it into the corner, back off the throttle, get tail around and then pin the throttle when I wanted to get hold of things again. That had the benefit of a long wheel base and big boot sticking out over the rear axle so no doubt it was a less brutal that the golf.
I don't have to tell you it works a little differently in RWD but I feel I must share in the interest of keeping that pristine motor in good shape... I learned the hard way with a 50mph tank slapper that ended in 180 spin with me using the handbrake and footbrake to stop me going backwards into a wall... in the dry!!!!
I can't say I have mastered it yet but I have learned that using the weight transfer to get the back out must be measured allot more and you have to avoid overcorrecting as when it swings the otherway, things can get nasty quickly when this happens.
I much prefer doing this in the wet as I find the limit of grip too high in the dry on mine. (e46 330 with 255/18's at the back). I think it has too much tyre for thecar TBH. 17's like what you have should give more progressive, lower speed fun. Also, in the wet you can use the throttle to get the back-end out rather than weight transfer-I find this alot easier to mange smoothly.
The other, after hearing horror stories like these I found myslef tensing up and overreacting the smallest slides initially and being 'wooden' in my approach. I think the key thing is to remain calm and smooth with THE inputs and enjoy the ride!
Have you got an LSD on that?
Dino D said:
Sensible stuff about being sensible and not a tail happy charlie (that much anyway)
I'm very mindful on a completely different set of rules that govern the RWD car, and as a result I'm going to relearn my 'skills' as it were.
If you ask anyone I've been 'spiritdly' driving with, the tail happy stuff is left for the track, and I use every ounce of grip for keeping up with the likes of Daz in his 996 turbo. As result, I'm looking forward to exploiting the benefits of the RWD system.
However, again, I'm brutally aware of the fact that its heavier, more powerful, and as a result more likely for me to get it wrong. As my attitude is not one of what I can do to myself, rather the ramifications of what could happen if I caught someone else out, I will be very gently learning how to feel for the limits.
I drove her last night, and up the 'mini-nurburgring' we have locally, there were a couple of corners that the back twitched sideways. As you mentioned, you catch many slides earlier rather than leaving them to get worse, giving you a 'wooden' approach to your driving - this was exactly how I was last night, tidily catching the slide before it got worse, and marking it down as "Hmm, wet, maybe not a great idea to power out of there like I would in the Golf". Hence, I took it easy.
As its got the ASC+T system, rather than the LSD it's porbably better for me, as it will 'save' me more than an LSD would I think. Either way, its not all about 'the limits' like the Golf!
neil_cardiff said:
As its got the ASC+T system, rather than the LSD it's porbably better for me, as it will 'save' me more than an LSD would I think.
Either way, its not all about 'the limits' like the Golf!
If you leave the ASC on that is...I find the DSC on mine very intrusive-fine for normal driving but too intrusive for normal driving. There is a particlar long sweeping bend whre in the dry the car genrates a very small amount of understeer. The DSC starts 'grabbing' at the brakes on the loaded front wheel to quell it. It actually makes things worse and causes a mild 'rocking' of the car! As you get used to the car you come to realise they are very well sorted and manageble if you stay sensible and drive smoothly. The only time I have been in a bit of bother is when I was provoking the car.
I agree with your point about 'the limits' in the Golf. I've had a 2 MK2 gtis, and I 've had a load of other front drive cars and they were all about pushing the limits to get some fun. The Beemer gives alot more, more of the time. I think front drivers are great and I still want something like Clio as second car but they do give drivers 'bad' habits and encourage you to be a bit too care-free on the road.
What do you think of that silky 6 cylinder engine?
Dino D said:
neil_cardiff said:
As its got the ASC+T system, rather than the LSD it's porbably better for me, as it will 'save' me more than an LSD would I think.
Either way, its not all about 'the limits' like the Golf!
If you leave the ASC on that is...I find the DSC on mine very intrusive-fine for normal driving
Whats the difference between ASC and DSC?
Dino D said:
What do you think of that silky 6 cylinder engine?
*trouser bulge inducing*
Its fantastic - all proper engine noise - the Golf sounded good, but that was exhaust noise - great when you feel like an ASBO, but not 'soothing' like the BMW
Edited by neil_cardiff on Thursday 26th October 11:43
Podie said:
Tidy 
not sure about the interior colour though
guess it looks better in the flesh as it were...
Get any toys to play with...?
not sure about the interior colour though
guess it looks better in the flesh as it were... Get any toys to play with...?
Edited by Podie on Thursday 26th October 11:50
I've always preferred the beige/tan interiors over black - personal thing I guess...
Full climate control, air con, super duper OBC thingy, 12 disc CD changer etc
neil_cardiff said:
Podie said:
Tidy
not sure about the interior colour though guess it looks better in the flesh as it were...
Get any toys to play with...?
not sure about the interior colour though
guess it looks better in the flesh as it were... Get any toys to play with...?
Edited by Podie on Thursday 26th October 11:50
I've always preferred the beige/tan interiors over black - personal thing I guess...
Full climate control, air con, super duper OBC thingy, 12 disc CD changer etc
It was actually the dodgy monitor I was using
sorry about that... How many ponies do you get in one of those critters..?
neil_cardiff said:
super duper OBC thingy
Wossat?!?
Podie said:
neil_cardiff said:
Podie said:
Tidy
not sure about the interior colour though guess it looks better in the flesh as it were...
Get any toys to play with...?
not sure about the interior colour though
guess it looks better in the flesh as it were... Get any toys to play with...?
Edited by Podie on Thursday 26th October 11:50
I've always preferred the beige/tan interiors over black - personal thing I guess...
Full climate control, air con, super duper OBC thingy, 12 disc CD changer etc
It was actually the dodgy monitor I was using
sorry about that... How many ponies do you get in one of those critters..?
neil_cardiff said:
super duper OBC thingy
Wossat?!?
193bhp, and summat like 210lb/ft I think. However, they are VERY easily upped to 230/240 by way of swapping the throttle bodies to more free flowing ones, and a different inlet manifold.
I don't think I'll bother with the manifold, but the throttle bodie is dead easy, and I'll get it rolling roaded and live chipped
ETA - OBC = On Board Computer
Edited by neil_cardiff on Thursday 26th October 12:03
I believe DSC is the same/similair as ASC+T. It stop me spinning the rears under throttel, prevents the car from getting sideways and tries to quell understeer in my experience.
I think its just different names for the same thing but I am sure someone more knowlegable about beemers will be along soon....M3Jon, Doctor D, Zod you out there???
I think its just different names for the same thing but I am sure someone more knowlegable about beemers will be along soon....M3Jon, Doctor D, Zod you out there???
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