My New Daily/Project: 97 Hellrot 328i

**E36MOB** · 05-31-2016, 06:26 PM

Just wanted to take a second to introduce myself and my beautiful new E36. My name is Gary, I'm 23 and I'm new to this forum but not to BMW. I've had three previous E36s (two 318s and a 325), as well as an E46 330ci/6 and an E39 528i steptronic (may she rest in peace).

My first BMW was a dakar yellow 318 5-spd vert. Since then, I've been in love with the E36 chassis, and I've wanted to build a fast daily E36. Unfortunately, my most recent project, a hellrot 95 325 was wrecked by my girlfriend (serves me right for letting her drive). That was late last year and I've been looking for a worthy successor since. I recently came across a CLEAN hellrot 97 328 with 140k on CL in my area and went to see it. It was owned by a garage owner who told me a story about how a customer had brought it in with (literally) a blown cooling system and how the shop had rebuilt the engine and cooling system. Customer couldn't pay and the car became the shop's property. It had been sitting a few weeks but the shop owner told me he started and moved it daily. He had no other service records, but after my inspection and test drive, and this being my fourth E36, I quickly determined that the vehicle is truly in impeccable condition and was well maintained. The ORIGINAL hellrot paint looks like it was just sprayed yesterday. The BMW car cover that came in the trunk seems to explain that. Everything was included with the vehicle, down to the original BMW mats, booklets and full toolkit, and all power accessories work. It is in much better condition even than all the newer E46s and E39s I also checked out at the same price point. Its as close to a brand new E36 as I've ever seen (or probably ever will see). I decided to pull the trigger. Over the next two days, I got him down from $3000 to $2400 and picked up the vehicle.
After I run through a short list of maintenance items and add some Style 23s, I plan on swapping it to manual and installing M54B30 pistons and bottom end to increase the displacement to 3L. Will also add some posi to the rear end for sliding. From there, maybe ITBs, maybe cams, maybe boost, who knows...

Let me know what you guys think of her, would be great to get some feedback from other BMW people

Attachment 573759 Attachment 573760 Attachment 573761 Attachment 573762 Attachment 573763 IMAG0363.jpg IMAG0388.jpg IMAG0391.jpg IMAG0399.jpg IMAG0368.jpg

**CblockM3** · 05-31-2016, 07:06 PM

Nice pickup, I have a hellrot sedan also and love it. Looks like you did pretty well for $2400.

**Dongotti** · 05-31-2016, 10:27 PM

Due to the condition and miles, I think the price is just right. It would have been pricier if it was a 2dr manual then it may have been a bit more.

Congrats on the find and sticking with the bmw's. You can go to a junk yard and pick up a manual box and it will change the game. I have a 328is and I'm in love with her . An m3 front bumper , a small drop and rims is all you need here .