New from Victoria BC

[yuppie]

Hello all
First time BMW owners just picked up a 1997 328i convertible.
Black on black, it’s a pretty number
160 kms
I have learned over the years first thing to do when you get a new toy, go find a forum and find out all you can from the guys and gals who have been threw it all already.

So here I am at work reading the forum, while Kelly is cursing the highway with her grandma (95 years old) enjoying here first evening with the top down

So I am hoping to chat with many of you and learn from you all.

Thanks
Jeff & Kelly

[Kai]

Welcome to the Werkz. Torque and johnnybayonne will be great resources for you, they both currently have E36s, as do several other members who aren't on as often. Good luck in the future with your new toy, and post up some pictures!

[yuppie]

I guy can get lost in this forum for hours, too much info lol.

OK here is the first of my newbie dumb questions

Is the car a real m3?
The stick shift has M on it as well as steering wheel, can the vin number tell me?

regular oil or synthetic oil, which to use?
Will this car run ok on regular gas?

thanks

[johnnyBgood]

Welcome to the Werkz...... E36 Vert looks clean, post sum pics!


If it has the 328i badge on the trunk, I would bet that the previous owner just added the ///M Logo's on the shift knob & steering wheel...

in the link below just add the last 7 vin digits:

BMW VIN Decoder - By Mitsuhiko Kanekatsu

jb

[yuppie]

Originally Posted by johnnybayonne

Welcome to the Werkz...... E36 Vert looks clean, post sum pics!


If it has the 328i badge on the trunk, I would bet that the previous owner just added the ///M Logo's on the shift knob & steering wheel...

in the link below just add the last 7 vin digits:

BMW VIN Decoder - By Mitsuhiko Kanekatsu

jb

Thanks that worked good
It says its a E36 328i with the M52 engine ?

[johnnyBgood]

Originally Posted by yuppie

Thanks that worked good
It says its a E36 328i with the M52 engine ?

You are welcome.......problem area's to look out for on the E36 in the link below: & some other helpful links:

edge motorworks - 3 Series 1992-1999 (E36 & M3)

BMW E36 DIY (Do It Yourself)

Doug's Domain :: BMW DIY Articles


jb

[Kai]

Ms are used in the names of Non-M series car's engines, where as an M car would have an engine which began with S. The M52 is the engine you have, as do I, as does jb.

[yuppie]

Which gas do you burn in your car? reg, mid grade or premium?
So after changing the oil . do you buy the tool to reset dash meter?

[yuppie]

lol great spelling
that should read cruising the highway with granny not cursing
where is that damn edit button

[Kai]

^ Haha, you only have a certain amount of time to edit a post. As for gas, I run mid grade instead of premium. Not a huge problem since cars of today have knock sensors and management it will essentially just change the timing to suit the lower grade. I wouldn't do regular, but that is just me. I had to once in order to get my car from my house to a gas station because it was completely empty and it didn't knock. The rule should be that if you ever put gas in that causes the engine to knock then it shouldn't be used anymore.

[yuppie]

I saw some used tail light lenses on a used for sale site. Does anyone know if a 1995 318 i would fit the same as a 1997 328i? Thank you.
- Kelly

[BimmerE39]

Originally Posted by yuppie

I saw some used tail light lenses on a used for sale site. Does anyone know if a 1995 318 i would fit the same as a 1997 328i? Thank you.
- Kelly

Do you know if the 318i is a sedan or a coupe/convertible? I looked up the part numbers on real OEM by seeing if the sedan had the same part number as the convertible and they came back different. This is no indication as to whether they are cross compatible though...I'm still looking for an answer to this.

I would imagine that the sedan lenses will fit only on sedans and coupes/convertibles only fit coupes/convertibles.

[yuppie]

Hi Everyone,
If I want to get an oil change while I am away, is there a reason to use synthetic oil over a good quality regular oil?
I've been told synthetic oil only helps during extreem heat or low temperatures. We are in a very mild climate with easy driving.
thank you,
Kelly

[yuppie]

Well I caved and went with full synthetic oil. But i tried all the tricks , cleaning terminals etc but could not get the oil service reset to work by grounding the # 7 pin?
I think I will take it to the local shop and ask them to reset it , just so I know it does reset.

So what is everyone opinion about oil for the differential oil change?
thanks