328 BMW

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 2:07 pm

It looks like I may have the opportunity to buy back my first white 328 BMW. My nephew is interested in a cash/trade for the mazda 3. That little mazda is a fun car to sprint around in, but I do miss the handling of the BMW.

Given the opportunity, which would you pick? The 04 mazda 3 w/175k or the '96 e36 BMW w/ 220k? I'm torn.....

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 3:34 pm

Logically... Not enough info (need more than just mileage, etc. to determine worth.)

Emotionally.... Sounds like you are looking for someone to give you permission. YOLO! Do it if it will make you happy.

Richard

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 5:57 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Do it if it will make you happy for a few months.

Richard

Fify

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 8:44 pm

So Richard, funny you say emotionally... There is some attachment to that car, but after having driven it today, it just didn't feel the same. I guess I've moved on. The car does need some work mechanically, so I'm not sure what my nephew is going to do at this time. It would make a great track car. Going to think on this over night....

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:18 pm

Forget both cars and put the money toward mods on the mustang. We can run CAM next year.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:35 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Forget both cars and put the money toward mods on the mustang. We can run CAM next year.

Since everything I've read in the new CAM class says "unlimited", I don't even think spending 20k on the mustang is enough to be competitive in that class and that's WAAAAAY beyond my budget.

Jason, you actually going to come out to a few events next year?

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

OK, stupid question from one BMW aficionado....just how much $ are we talking in this buy back? Not that any other club members would be interested in competing with you for this "prize" that you are falling out of love with :lol:

Charlie G

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:12 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Forget both cars and put the money toward mods on the mustang. We can run CAM next year.

Since everything I've read in the new CAM class says "unlimited", I don't even think spending 20k on the mustang is enough to be competitive in that class and that's WAAAAAY beyond my budget.

Jason, you actually going to come out to a few events next year?

I'm planning on coming out to a few events.

Unless they exclude modern vettes, there's no reason for much of anything else to play there.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:19 am

Charlie Guthrie wrote:

OK, stupid question from one BMW aficionado....just how much $ are we talking in this buy back? Not that any other club members would be interested in competing with you for this "prize" that you are falling out of love with :lol:

Charlie G

To be determined..... I thought about this last night and I don't think I'm going to buy it back. Right now I have the mazda and the mustang pretty much where I want them. Somehow, starting over on the BMW just isn't working for me. Been there, done that....

That said, the car is in good overall shape, just needs some TLC. No dents in the body and it does have a cheap paint job from Maaco, but it's holding up well. Interior is in good shape, everything still works, no pixel loss in the computer. Head liner was sagging and was removed, needs to be replaced. Steering wheel could stand to be replaced as there's a worn spot in the leather.

Mechanicals... Needs some attention here. The bilsteins need to be replaced, they have over a 100k on them now. It also needs a set of o2 sensors. It won't pass inspection and there's some sluggishness to the acceleration, but that's due to the o2 sensors. It's also starting to weep oil on the bottom end of the motor, but it doesn't burn oil. Oil has also been changed every 5k miles. Clutch was replaced about 25k miles ago. Front end LCA's/ball joints and tie rod ends were just replaced.

It's going to need to need the front drivers side window regulator replaced. I've doctored this as best I can, but it's simply worn out. Window motor is still good. The front end is set up w/ a M3 suspension and it's running flipped M3 strut hats. Has a nice fat front sway and I'll even throw in a set of lowered H&R springs. Front bumper has been changed over to an M3 bumper. I still have the stock bumper that will be included. Funny, I'm not going to see a dime of this money, but I think my nephew can use it more than I can.....

Charlie, I'd love to see someone in the club buy this car. I've taken good car of the car while I owned it and I continue to do maintenance on the car. Back later w/ a price.....

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Working on cars can be fulfilling, but it's extremely susceptible to sunk cost justification. Good choice. :thumbsup:

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Tue Jan 07, 2014 8:51 pm

I'm starting to think that the best E36 BMW's have LS engines. Would they let you play in CAM with that? Sounds a lot cheaper than getting the Mustang up to speed. Better handling and power/weight. They now have LS kits for everything.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:14 pm

When I had the 328 I actually looked at going that route, but I could never find a turnkey conversion kit. I'd think a v8 in that car would be a serious kick in the butt.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:01 pm

michaelsmiller wrote:

I'm starting to think that the best E36 BMW's have LS engines. Would they let you play in CAM with that? Sounds a lot cheaper than getting the Mustang up to speed. Better handling and power/weight. They now have LS kits for everything.

There's little chance that you could swap and maintain a 15yr old BMW with a Gen III engine for less money then it would cost Rodney to just modify his Stang.

It will cost you 6-10k to do a reliable swap, then you'll still have to address all the BMW chassis issues that are going to come up when you double the torque and throw on a set of r-comps.

$2000 on a set of shocks/springs, $800 on a watts link plus however much you want to spend on weight reduction and the mustang will do just fine at an autocross.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:12 pm

Rodney, there's a guy that lives near Stephen W. that has built a number of gen III e36s. I can get you his number if you're interested, but this isn't a cheap route. Honestly, if I were looking to buy a car solely for the purpose of doing a gen III swap, I'd look at the last model rx7. It comes with a much superior suspension. But, for the price of that swap, you might as well just buy a corvette.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:49 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Rodney, there's a guy that lives near Stephen W. that has built a number of gen III e36s. I can get you his number if you're interested, but this isn't a cheap route. Honestly, if I were looking to buy a car solely for the purpose of doing a gen III swap, I'd look at the last model rx7. It comes with a much superior suspension. But, for the price of that swap, you might as well just buy a corvette.

Doing this is nowhere on my radar right now. My current plan (at least for now) is to payoff the mustang and another loan I have. That will be in less than 3 years. After that its garage time. I'm jones'n for a nice 2 car detached garage w/ a lift. One side will be cars and one side will be for wood working. I have a ton of tools and nowhere to use them in the garage, they just sit in the corner and sides of the garage. Once the garage is built, it will be time to order my first FF car and start building....

THSCC Forums

328 BMW

Who is online