Performance BMW's E36 Touring (UK)

BenKoflach · #1 07-31-2012, 02:15 AM

Hi all,

My name's Ben, I'm Feature Writer at Performance BMW Mag. I wrote the feature on Lola a while back

I just thought I'd put up some details about my E36 Touring, having seen Paul46 and a couple of other UK people on here. She's my daily driver, which I'm hoping to get out on track more this year, though I also like it when it gets attention at shows so it won't be going all out track-spec

I've built nearly all of it myself, having owned it for just over 2 years. Anyway, enjoy...

Engine/tranny:
2.5-litre M52, 170bhp as standard
aFe Stage 1 induction kit with modified heatshield
M50 manifold fitted using M50manifold.com conversion kit
Evosport power pulleys
Traction control removed
Fox cat-back exhaust
UUC race engine mounts
Oil catch can
Metal impeller water pump
Lower temperature thermostat with ally cover
Lower temperature fan switch

Standard gearbox, standard clutch and flywheel complete with noisy release bearing
UUC 'Big Boy' adjustable clutch stop
UUC transmission mounts
M3 3.0-litre LSD with 323 flanges

Chassis:
8 & 9 x17 Rota Grids, ET35 with 15mm front spacers, 5mm rear spacers
215/40(front) and 235/40(rear) Yokohama S-Drives
Spax RSX coilovers
Swapped M3 Evo front topmounts
Rogue Engineering rear topmounts
Eibach anti-roll bars
SPC camber arms
Meyle HD front droplinks
Meyle HD front wishbones and ball-joints
Meyle HD track-rod ends
Powerflex front wishbone bushes
Powerflex RTABs
Poweflex droplink bushes
360mm/EX6 6-pot big brake kit (front)
Tarox G88 discs and Strada pads (rear)

Exterior:
Complete exterior respray by RT Performance in Brentford
Smoothed rear badge recess
Roof bars removed and holes smoothed
Black kidney grilles
Smoked indicators
HIDs and projector shrouds
Foglight blanks

Interior:
Momo steering wheel
Carbon steering column covers
E46 Clubsport gearknob
Carbon handbrake handle
Alcantara gaiters
Porsche GT3-rep drivers seat with VAC mounting hardware
Kenwood BT92 head unit

indohan · #2 07-31-2012, 03:28 AM

Nice. Welcome to MFEST.

Laidback · #3 07-31-2012, 04:37 AM

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the Mfest fam bradah...That is a very nice E36 touring

Makes me want to get one

BenKoflach · #4 07-31-2012, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laidback

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the Mfest fam bradah...That is a very nice E36 touring

Makes me want to get one

You should import mine, Chris! I'm not too far off finished with it

BenKoflach · #5 08-22-2012, 03:06 AM

Fantastic shot of the old girl from Sunday:

And the lead-up to it...

I came back from holiday last Thursday and was lucky enough to come home to a couple of parcels waiting for me, which didn't leave me an awful lot of time to get my car ready for Gaydon.

The parcel that I was mainly excited about was one from a certain Mr. Alpina527, containing one of his renowned BBTBs and also a re-machined mount for my tow-eye, as the supplied one was way too long.

This was the old tb:

Removing it is easy, though the cable is a bit fiddly, but within about 10 minutes I had this.

Lovely machining:

Didn't take me long to have the new part fitted.

I also topped up the coolant and gaves the throttle cable adjustment a tweak while I was at it. I wasn't really expecting the bbtb to make a noticeable difference, was thinking of it more as 'something to tick off the list' but I have to say I'm really impressed. I don't know how much of it is down to the cable adjustment and how much is the tb itself, but throttle response seems much better and the car seems to have a bit more mid-range torque. So I'm happy.

Next up was my tow eye, which Alpina527 machined down to make much shorter. You can't tell what he's done though, it's so neat. What he basically did was re-machine the towhole side much further up the body of the bracket. A very talented chap.

And then fitted.

I then spent the next day cleaning my car, which was a pain as any kind of product I tried to use just baked to the paint, making it a right pain, but managed to get it fairly smear-free and shiny for Gaydon.

I then spent yesterday trying to get my M3 axle all together so that I can drop the Touring off to RAW Motorsport next week. The result? I've somehow lost two bolts and a brake pad. Great! Luckily a call to Cooper BMW in Sevenoaks (2 doors down the road from work) meant that I'll be picking up the missing bolts as well as new prop-diff bolts later on today. I've also just ordered new ATE pads from ECP, while the new discs I'll be using are Tarox G88s again, which is what's on my car at the mo.

I also managed to get my M3 3.0 prop fitted with a new centre bearing and coupling, both easy jobs, using parts from Meyle.

It's getting there!

Laidback · #6 08-22-2012, 12:55 PM

You've been really busy with the touring Ben, i like the parts u added, it gives it detail and performance at the same time...how do u like the Tarox G88s?

BenKoflach · #7 08-23-2012, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laidback

You've been really busy with the touring Ben, i like the parts u added, it gives it detail and performance at the same time...how do u like the Tarox G88s?

Thank you. I actually meant to order Tarox F2000s as they look more aggressive, but G88s are good! I'm not convinced about Tarox pads but the discs are really good.

Laidback · #8 08-23-2012, 08:10 AM

Thanks Ben i like the Tarox designs...ATE pads are good?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenKoflach

Thank you. I actually meant to order Tarox F2000s as they look more aggressive, but G88s are good! I'm not convinced about Tarox pads but the discs are really good.