1995 BMW 325is Build Log

[basedspider]

Making my annual new e36 post. The last few I had were very shortlived, i usually just ended up being distracted by one of my other projects. Dont plan on letting that happen to this one, Im starting to think that I finally found the best e36 for me.

So, context. Me and my roommate Jacob were messing around looking on craigslist for a car that he could drive in the winter. During that search, we found 2 E36s. I found a really nice 1995 BMW 325is, and he found a pretty good priced 1995 BMW 318i and they were both down in Chicago. We got a ride from a friend that was going to work in Ohio,  and we picked up both of them.

Definitely happy to be back in an E36, and I am very excited to see whats in store for my latest entry!

[wasnt m3]

*My roommate Jacob and I.

Haha, welcome back!

[patsbimmer1]

More is pictures!  It looks like sport pkg wheels, is it a sport pkg car?

[Rekpoint]

wasnt m3 said:

*My roommate Jacob and I.

Haha, welcome back!

Same color as your car!

[YoungCR]

Welcome back! Seems like you have good luck finding clean E36’s. More pics!!

[basedspider]

YoungCR said:

Welcome back! Seems like you have good luck finding clean E36’s. More pics!!

I will be posting some exterior/interior/engine bay pics tomorrow

patsbimmer1 said:

More is pictures!  It looks like sport pkg wheels, is it a sport pkg car?

No sport package  

For those interested in options, here is the vin decoder https://www.mdecoder.com/decode/ef51243

[jc43089]

Mmmm Artic Grey.

[Jdesign]

Congrats!

[patsbimmer1]

Sport seats is all that matters really and it's got that.

[basedspider]

So here is the exterior. I am absolutely in love with the color, and the car is pretty clean except for the fact it looks like someone poorly buffed it and it has some hail damage you cant really see in photos. Doesnt bother me much since my main concerns were drivability related when I was purchasing it. The underbody is in pretty good shape, it does have some minor rust spots on the passenger sideskirt, and it has some bubbling starting on the driver side rear quarterpanel.

Now onto the interior. Yes, the shifter was electrical taped on by the previous owner. But besides that, the interior is in really great shape. The previous owner definitely took care of it. It even came with weathertechs which was a very nice surprise. No rips in any of the leather. I have a BMW performance shift knob coming, and im picking up a Z3 shifter from my friend Tom this weekend. Hopefully @Rekpoint lets me snag his shifter rebuild kit, because my shifter is in dire need of new bushings.

Now onto the engine/drivetrain. This E36 has definitely the cleanest engine bay out of all the ones I have owned. It runs and drives great too. PO had mountains of reciepts of work done to it, but for now I definitely need to replace the blower motor as it makes a pretty annoying sound. I was lucky because my friend Will had a spare that should work nicely. Also when I have the heat on it smells like coolant, leading me to believe the heater core needs to get replaced. But other than that, I couldnt be more happier with my E36!

Edit: Also for those interested, I made a youtube video on going to pick up these cars. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/IepdL5U0sc4

[Rekpoint]

Thousand bucks

[patsbimmer1]

What the ever loving fuck?!  Who would be possessed to put electrical tape on the shift knob and why?!?!

[Jdesign]

patsbimmer1 said:

What the ever loving fuck?!  Who would be possessed to put electrical tape on the shift knob and why?!?!

[basedspider]

patsbimmer1 said:

What the ever loving fuck?!  Who would be possessed to put electrical tape on the shift knob and why?!?!

I believe its to prevent the shift knob from coming off. In my roommate jacobs 318 and my old 325 the knob would come off all the time while driving

[basedspider]

So, I did some little stuff here and there. I picked up a new blower motor since it was desperately needed and I also got a new shift knob.

(before you ask, yes its 6spd  the listing didnt specify and the pics werent great)

I also got a front plate delete

Then, as a little treat for myself I got a door cupholder. My old 325i had one when I bought it, and I absolutely loved it.

I also purchased the shifter rebuild kit from @Rekpoint and hopefully picking up the z3 shifter tomorrow! Hoping to have the blower motor and the shifter done too.

[patsbimmer1]

I thought the only 6spd was in the m3?  How is it a 6spd 325is?

[KaiserRolls]

patsbimmer1 said:

I thought the only 6spd was in the m3?  How is it a 6spd 325is?

5th + reverse = 6

[straight6pwr]

yeah, wait, someone 6-speed swapped an m50? 🤪

[patsbimmer1]

KaiserRolls said:

5th + reverse = 6 

That makes so much more sense lol

[KaiserRolls]

patsbimmer1 said:

That makes so much more sense lol

Yep when you shift into 6th, the revs just increase. It almost feels like 4th.