For anyone who doesn't know, previously I owned a 1994 Lexus SC300 which was recently totalled:



So after frantically searching for a new car, I finally found the car I wanted (wish it was 4 door, but I guess 2 is OK for now). I'll let the pictures speak for themselves for now. I've jumped ship to the dark side : 1999 BMW 328iS 5-speed with 68,000 miles:









I just detailed the car after I picked it up yesterday, and let me tell you it was a MESS. Bird crap etchings in the clear coat, lots of bonded contaminants, swirl marks, hazy/yellow headlights, etc. Took me from sunrise this morning to just about an hour ago, 7 hours of detailing and ALL by hand since I don't have a buffer. I'm sure I'd get better results with one, but I don't feel the need to make that investment when I have two hands that work. For anyone who wants to know/may benefit, my process was the following:

Washed the car with Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo (there was NO wax on the car previously)
Clayed the car using Mother's Clay Kit
Compounded the paint and especially the bird crap etchings with 3M Rubbing Compound
Polished the paint first with Kit SCRATCH OUT
Polished the paint with a finer polish, Meguiar's Show Glaze
Waxed the car with Meguiar's NXT Paste Wax
Black Magic Tire Wet on the tires and Meguiar's NXT Speed Detailer for the wheels, Armor All on all of the plastic/rubber trim.

I used high quality MF Towels throughout, went through about 7 of them all said and done. My arms hurt and all, but the paint looks brand new for the most part

OH and I vacuumed, cleaned, and conditioned the ENTIRE interior, but I did that yesterday.

As far as mods, there won't be much done for now. I don't even know if I'll have the car a year from now so the mods will be few and far between. To kick off my ownership I already placed orders for the following:
Smoked corner housing to replace the amber ones
Smoked GLASS fog lights especially since my right one is broken
Smoked sidemarkers
Black eyelids
XenonDepot Xtreme HID 6500k
Keeping it clean (yes it is a mod!)

For now that will be it, I may look into the smoked red/clear tail light housings a little later this year. Can't decide if I want to take off the 328iS badge or not. Nothing will be done in the way of performance/wheels/suspension until next summer after I finish my degree and find a job. It all depends at that point. Lemme know what you think!

 

Nice choice, congratulations It's a fun car,enjoy !!

 

Raj very nice ride,but the E46 3 series is the 1999 model not the E36 Sure this is not a 98? Enjoy the car buddy!!

 

what's the reliability like for the late E36 3-Series BMWs?


and definitely a clean pickup!

 

nooo whyd u leave us lol well congrats on the BMW.

 

Congrats on the Bimmer

Sorry to see your SC go though.

 

1999 was the last model year for the E36. E46 also started the same year. The 1999 E36s were very limited production. According to my car, it was delivered from Germany in December of 1998, sold as a 1999 model year on my window sticker in February of 1999.

There are a few issues that are similar to the early-mid E36s. Water pump is weak still, but the plastic that would break on the earlier ones causing failure was replaced with metal tabs. Radiator hosing and the radiator itself are also weak. The major mechanical fault lies here in the cooling system. There is an issue with the Brake Light Circuit. The brake switch behind the brake pedal tends to fail causing errant messages in the Check Control. Overall its solid though, according to all those BMW forums.


haha it had to be done, couldn't find a 5 speed SC anywheres local and I don't have time to buy an auto and swap it up.

I know, I am sorry to see it gone as well but its the start of something new!

 

So many mods for this car.. M3 mirrors, M3 wheels, to make this car a true autobaun burner

 

Congratulations on the car Raj!!!

Gonna bring her to Ross Dock next weekend??

 

Congrats! Enjoy!!

 

haha Labor Day weekend plans get made MONTHS in advance in my family, so I have some other obligations

edit: just saw Ross dock is the weekend AFTER labor day, I might come through!

 

Congrats!
-hass

 

Whole new beast. Will be ten times more fun and half the looks.

 

I knew I would find this here as well

 

you know it, and in higher res than facebook