Red E36 Touring

[BenKoflach]

I've been posting up in the Builds section quite a bit the past few days, figured I'd come and say hello seeing as I'm in good old blighty and have been to a few of the meets in MK.

This is my Touring - it used to be on bronze Rotas, but I put E34 M5 Contours on it last week, and it looks much better now! I usually think people writing out a full spec is a little bit ghey, but here goes anyway:


'99 E36 323i Sport Touring

Engine:
2.5-litre straight-six
aFe induction kit
Fox cat-back exhaust
Evosport power pulleys
Traction control removed

Chassis:
Spax RSX coilovers
RPM camber/castor-adjustable front topmounts
Rogue Engineering rear topmounts
Eibach anti-roll bars (though rear not installed yet, I broke a bracket so I have no ARB)
Eibach/SPC adjustable rear camber arms
Powerflex polybushes
Meyle Heavy Duty front lower arms and ball joints
Meyle Heavy Duty front ARB droplinks
TAR-OX G88 discs and Strada pads all round

Wheels/tyres:
8.5x17 ET13 (front) and 10x17 ET15 (rear) Contours, silver centres with diamond cut dishes.
195/45 and 215/40 Falken Ziex ZE912s.

Exterior:
M3 Evo splitter
M3 rear valance
Roof bars removed and carbon roof wrap
Lamin-X tint film on indicators and fogs
6000k HIDs
Matte black headlight shrouds,
323 badge removed
Kidneys painted black
US spec numberplate blank strip (not fitted in most pics)
Arches rolled & pulled

Interior:
Momo steering wheel
Alcantara gaiters with ///M stitching
E46 Clubsport gearknob
Flocked glovebox door, trim panel and wing mirror backing plates


I think that's the lot... Here's some pics.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08323.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08322.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08319.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08548.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05231.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05234.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05293.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05294.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05304.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05313.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC05324.jpg


Hope you like it!

Build thread is at http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11730 - doesn't really kick off until pg3.

[slimadi]

Hi to you to fella, looks clean and simple im liking it any more plans for it? :)

[stinkinrich]

Epic. Hats off man ideed.

[K.rischan]

Touring love <3

[BenKoflach]

Hi to you to fella, looks clean and simple im liking it any more plans for it? :)

Thanks - not too many plans now tbh. I want to get it better prepped for some track work (on the Rotas) and generally make it a bit quicker, but I'm in no rush. Other than that, just some tidying up to do really.

Epic. Hats off man ideed.

Thanks!

Touring love <3

You know it!

[SceneBM]

that looks flipping amazing
if you ever sell those wheels let me know

[BenKoflach]

that looks flipping amazing
if you ever sell those wheels let me know

Cheers Josh. As I said on my build thread, I originally bought these wheels to do up and sell on, but couldn't be arsed and got them professionally done by Dips @ Custom Cars. So they've ended up costing me more than I thought - they will end up for sale eventually though, I have another project to fund :)

[Tucka]

nice touring dude!

[pecs]

I need them rims.

[BenKoflach]

Picked up a little something for the Touring on Friday...

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/IMG_4734.jpg

[BenKoflach]

Updates on my build thread... Well, kinda. Nothing exciting, but there will be more soon. Got some random Audi Quattro aux gauges through in the post yesterday :D

[j.e30]

Picked up a little something for the Touring on Friday...

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/IMG_4734.jpg

2.8 fannymold i presume, should free a few extra ponies out of her, nice touring btw :D

[BenKoflach]

2.8 fannymold i presume, should free a few extra ponies out of her, nice touring btw :D

Nope, M50 fannymold - the 2.8 one is the same as mine, and the 2-litre one. It's very restrictive, once I've got this manifold on with a BBTB I should be looking at around 200bhp. Not loads, but enough.

And thanks :)

[j.e30]

ah yes i remember now my mate had that fannymold on his 2.8 thats where i was getting confused lol. 200bhps will be nice:), i have been thinking about putting a 535 lump in my e30 but im not to sure yet

[BenKoflach]

That sounds about right :) it's kinda confusing with it being an older 2.5 manifold and what-not.

200bhp will be very nice, even if I can only use it in a straight line because of rubbing.

Go for it, there are plenty of 3.5-litre E30s to be inspired by. We're in the middle of a 4.4 V8 E30 build :devillook

[j.e30]

oooh v8 e30:D that should be a good piece of kit.
yeh deffo ether 3.5 or maybe turbo the m42 because i love boost and having a light engine for the old handling purposes :alright

[JSanders]

Very nice.

[Jonathan flush]

Hi mate i see you driving around Forest Row, East Grinstead am i right ?

[BenKoflach]

Hi mate i see you driving around Forest Row, East Grinstead am i right ?

Yarp, that'd be me, I live in Uckfield. What do you drive? Would I have seen you about?

[Jonathan flush]

Arrr nice man, well i have a black polo 6n on rota zeros i am selling now, and currently drive a ej9 civic blue green in colour and rs wheels

[BenKoflach]

Arrr nice man, well i have a black polo 6n on rota zeros i am selling now, and currently drive a ej9 civic blue green in colour and rs wheels

Pics? :)

[BenKoflach]

Happy days, really chuffed about this:

http://sunny-nights.com/2011/08/30/ben-koflachs-stanced-e36-touring-from-the-uk/

[slimadi]

Happy days, really chuffed about this:

http://sunny-nights.com/2011/08/30/ben-koflachs-stanced-e36-touring-from-the-uk/

Congrats :D sweet wright up is that

[Jonathan flush]

Pics? :) only one i have at the moment, congrats on the right up, should come down to forest row sometime got face book ?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/5849630406_43c1cbf0e5_b.jpg

[pecs]

Good write up mate.

[BenKoflach]

only one i have at the moment, congrats on the right up, should come down to forest row sometime got face book ?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/5849630406_43c1cbf0e5_b.jpg

Ah cool, would definitely remember if I'd have seen that around - looks good.

Add me on fb, I should be easy to find what with my spastic surname. And the pic has my car in. I come to Forest Row sometimes for that classics meet, last Sunday of every month I think. Would be cool to organise something down our way I reckon - the roads are shit but there is some good scenery.

Oh and thanks for all the comments :)

[Jonathan flush]

Haaah cool thanks mate.

Found you ok, really classics car meet down bye the gym, yer defo need to organise something, getting bored of not seeing anything different from the day to day crap, roads are the shit yer defo.

No worrys

[BenKoflach]

Meant to add these at the weekend - just took a few snaps of my latest additions. First up, OEM cupholders -

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08670.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08671.jpg

And my new steering wheel - picked it up at an autojumble ages ago so dug it out of the attic. No centre button with it so I've just left my Momo one on for now.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08672.jpg

I also gave the engine bay another clean-up - I want to give the inner wings a proper clean-up and tidy some of the wiring in the near future. I just used some Autoglym Engine and Machine Cleaner stuff, which I hadn't used before - really worked, it's good stuff.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08674.jpg

Ready to roll - hadn't driven it so suspension is yet to settle :)

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08676.jpg

[samsam]

Noticed the flocked glovebox taking a peek in it on sunday.

You fancy selling the x brace back :eyebrows

[BenKoflach]

Haha cool - like it? I think I need to give it a hoover or a wipe, it's a bit mucky.

Half of me wants to keep the x-brace but seeing as there's no way I can run it living where I am, I don't see why not. Email me or something - it's still sitting in my garage!

[paul46]

looking good Ben, got some proper stance going on there

[BenKoflach]

Thanks Paul - I do love coming out the front door to this every day :p

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08711.jpg

[P78]

good work man

[BenKoflach]

A colleague, Paul (from sister title Retro Ford mag), and I were lucky enough to be invited to Autoglym HQ the other day - the guys there said they could teach us a thing or two about cleaning and protecting our paintwork before the winter kicks in. There'll be a full update in Performance BMW in the December issue, naturally, but here's a quick sum-up of the day.

Paul and I met up pretty damn early, so to make the most of the empty work car park, we got a few 'before the off' snaps. That's his Mk1 Fiesta, as you may have guessed. 'Spot the lows' comes to mind.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08717.jpg

The sun was right in my face, though this shows the fitment quite nicely, looking back at it.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08718.jpg

Though I'd always done the wheels last when cleaning my car, it's apparently best to start with them. The Contours do look good clean.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08723.jpg

Next it was time to get rid of the build up of bugs on the front - I never really put much effort into it, so it was certainly much needed.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08738.jpg

All done, and onto the rest of the car for a quick degrease, going over with tar remover and a wash.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08742.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08747.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08760.jpg

Including a bit of snow-foam action.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08764.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08769.jpg

After a thorough rinse and a dry, it was onto the finer details - polish, bumper care, glass cleaner and the like.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08781.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08784.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08786.jpg

Not looking bad...

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08791.jpg

Time for a quick pre-wax cleanse.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08792.jpg

Then onto waxing - using Autoglym HD wax, of course. I'd only ever waxed my car once before and never realised how quick it can be - the HD wax seems to last forever, too, barely needing any to cover the whole car.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08797.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08803.jpg

Then time to take the wax off. Wax on, wax off - Paul was shown how quick and easy it was.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08806.jpg

Following that, it was time for a quick demonstration of just how good the wax is - here you can see the water running off.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08811.jpg

Lovely beading.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08814.jpg

And all done!

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08817.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08825.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08831.jpg

I left feeling a little sorry about the damage to the previously pristine cleaning bay entrance :(

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08818.jpg

All in all, a pretty damn good day! I took a guided tour of the factory, the lot - the factory tour should be going in the January issue, while the treatment to my Touring will appear in December's ;)

[Jacko_162]

now thats a clean BMW :D

[stinkinrich]

Superb job! I take it the car has been detailed before with a rotary buffer in the past?

[BenKoflach]

Superb job! I take it the car has been detailed before with a rotary buffer in the past?

Not as far as I know, I wouldn't mind it being done though! Friday was more about showing us what we could do at home, and showing what the Autoglym range can do. I was left genuinely amazed!

[stinkinrich]

Great finish then on factory paint! I think i'll be getting some and having a go.

[BenKoflach]

Yeah, certainly worth a go! Whereabouts are you based?

[Jacko_162]

u make me feel bad, now i gotta clean my car. but i always thought autoglym stuff was a cheaper ranged product for "general" at home folk...

[BenKoflach]

Nah, the Autoglym stuff is pretty top notch, just priced very well. Or at least that's always what I've always thought.

Anyways, found this pretty sweet photo on the Euromedian Players coverage -

http://www.euromedian.net/wp-content/gallery/players11/img_4547.jpg

And the Touring is now back on the Rotas, complete with chunky new 235/40 Yokohama S-Drives at the back. I'm pretty chuffed with how it came out, thought I'd need spacing. I do on the front but I'll wait until I've got wider tyres for them too.

I'm back in love with driving, the grip is insane although I definitely need my tracking done and I need to soften up the rear shocks. The handling is a bit scary but still rapid through corners - love it! And there's almost no rubbing, just a tiny bit at the driver's side rear which I need to look at, I can't see where it's happening.

Anyway, I'll get some decent photos at the weekend, these are shit.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08833.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08835.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08832.jpg

[stinkinrich]

Im in Bournemouth bud :)

[BenKoflach]

Im in Bournemouth bud :)

Ah cool, I'm a bit above Brighton, was thinking we might be closer :(

[BenKoflach]

...and that sounded massively gay, sorry!

[stinkinrich]

aha could be worse im sure!

[BenKoflach]

Been wanting to save fuel so I decided to put my standard airbox back in - the noise the aFe makes is too good to not be tempted to floor it everywhere. Pulled out the baffles on the airbox and in the process had a closer look at the filter - turns out it's a pretty new K&N by the look of things. Don't know why I've never taken it apart before! Doh!

Just need to fix the brackets and get new bolts and the installation's a good 'un!

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08836.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08837.jpg

Then spent essentially the whole of yesterday detailing my mate's Herald, then did a quick shoot.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08860.jpg

What that meant though, is that I only had time to give mine a quick wash and dry - still, after all the Autoglym goodness it came up nice. By the time I came to shoot it though, it was pretty damn dark. Forgot my numberplate blanking strip too. Bummer.

Anyway, here's my selection of mediocre shots of it sitting (pretty?) on Rotas.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08910.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08922.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08924.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08926.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08928.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08931.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08932.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08933.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08936.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08937.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08942.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08944.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08947.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08950.jpg

Token lows shot - small McDonalds coffee cup pinched under the spitter.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08952.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08953.jpg

Also managed to get a socket machined down for the input flange of my diff, as I've got an M3 3.0-litre LSD to go in, but you have to swap the input flanges and the hole is very tight ;)

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC08962.jpg

Gonna chuck the Contours back on for the Stanceworks meet on Sunday though. Busy busy busy!

[BenKoflach]

Just a few shots from the Ace the other night - thanks to those that took them, wasn't expecting it!

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/40de3b04.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/310668_2047740314925_1286945819_31758457_113495415 0_n.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/295844_2047739194897_1286945819_31758453_380965433 _n.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/287532_229414310453333_171379646256800_747833_2247 32513_o.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/299412_275343449163103_219208384776610_882435_1044 748902_n1.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/310632_275343635829751_219208384776610_882438_1467 214137_n.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/312627_275343672496414_219208384776610_882439_1008 643817_n1.jpg

And finally, this appeared on the coverage - pretty chuffed.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/Ben.jpg

http://www.stanceworks.com/2011/10/stanceworksuk-year-gathering/

[Jacko_162]

Looking awsome i must say, them rota's tho are droolworthy im after a set for the E46.

[BenKoflach]

Fitted my 3-litre M3 diff at the weekend and managed to get my UUC tranny mounts fitted too, but ran out of time to do the engine mounts. I also put some lovely Royal Purple oil in the diff while I was at it. Well, I say me, but I left that bit to Morley Auto Services, where I spend most weekends borrowing a ramp and tools :) They also helped me swap the diff flanges, heroes!

Unfortunately what I thought was a noisy diff has turned out to not be the whole problem - with the new diff in the humming is still there, so I'm going to have to get some wheel bearings for the rear. Has anyone on here ever done it DIY? Apparently it's a bugger of a job, but I feel like having a go if it's not too bad.

Aside from my slight clutch/flywheel vibration/imbalance now being more noticeable, the tranny mounts are surprisingly refined - there is of course some extra vibration and noise but it's really not too bad considering they're 'race' items. And the diff seems fun - I'm taking it easy because of the wheel bearings, but as far as I can tell I've picked up a good 'un.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09224.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09225.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09227.jpg

[stinkinrich]

Nice work man, just a heads up on the back end humming noise, have you checked the prop shaft UJ's? Had to replace the whole thing on my old 36 for a good second hand unit, used to vibrate at a certain road speed and turned out to be the hardey spicer bearing in the UJ. A common problem apparently.

[BenKoflach]

Nice work man, just a heads up on the back end humming noise, have you checked the prop shaft UJ's? Had to replace the whole thing on my old 36 for a good second hand unit, used to vibrate at a certain road speed and turned out to be the hardey spicer bearing in the UJ. A common problem apparently.

Ah, cheers - do you mean the coupling up the front? Or the driveshaft UJs? Thanks for the pointer, will be worth me checking when I've next got it in the air. It's definitely the wheel bearings that are the main issue though, as it varies when cornering and I don't reckon the prop or anything would do that - I half suspected the diff wasn't the only issue either, but the diff was knackered so I'm glad I've replaced it.

[stinkinrich]

No the coupling up front is just rubber, they tend to last a lifetime. Sorry i meant propshaft UJ's, the one nearest the diff was the one that failed on mine. All i did was just held it and rocked the car, you should feel the play if any in your grip.

[BenKoflach]

Gonna get a thread up next week, but Contours for sale! £680, PM me for details or await the proper thread! Kthanxbai!

[BenKoflach]

Today was a sad day... I've had to say goodbye to my trusty touring for a few weeks!

It's for good reason though - it's been booked in for a respray at Brentford's RT Performance :) with a few other bits planned while it's there too...

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09523.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09530.jpg

As you can see there's lots to tidy up!

Front bumper scuffs (hit and run, grr!):
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09533.jpg

Deep key scratch all the way down the passenger side (front indicator to rear indicator):http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09535.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09534.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09536-1.jpg

Rear bumper poorly aligned:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09537-1.jpg

Rear arches mullered:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09538-1.jpg

This will soon be gone, and the holes smoothed properly:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09539-1.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09540-1.jpg

And quite a few tasty dents:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/DSC09542-1.jpg


When the guys there first had a look at my car at the end of last year they spotted that it had obviously been partly resprayed in the past, as I suspected, and due to red's tendency to fade, there was nothing for it but to go all out and have the whole exterior painted.

I also need to order a new front splitter and sort something out with the various missing bits behind the front bumper. I can't wait to see what the guys can do!

And that's before I drop in there that they also specialist in carbon fibre production ;) check out the website here: www.rt-performance.com

[stinkinrich]

:alright:alright

[Jorge]

Wahey, should be good! What is in store in the shoes dept?

[BenKoflach]

Wahey, should be good! What is in store in the shoes dept?

Not 100% yet... got some deciding to do!

[BenKoflach]

The guys at RT don't hang about! :o

They sent me these images on Tuesday night - the very same day I dropped it off!

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/20120131_215918.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/20120131_215933.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/20120131_215951.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/20120131_220022.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/20120131_220029.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx192/BenKoflach/20120131_220046.jpg

[stinkinrich]

Wicked progress man, looking forward to this indeed!

[Jorge]

Awesome! Hope you get some poilsh on those tips afterwards

Any bodywork being carried out or just spraying (minus roof)

[BenKoflach]

Awesome! Hope you get some poilsh on those tips afterwards

Any bodywork being carried out or just spraying (minus roof)

Haha, I want to get a new exhaust really but if not I'll give it a clean up. Or they will... lol

Losing the rear roundel, having everything tidied up and that's the lot! And the roof obviously...