My first car - e21 323i

Mat (of e30 fame) · Post by **Mat (of e30 fame)** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:53 am

Hehe, my mom cracks the shits if the car revs above 3500rpm!

But you dont need to drive these cars fast to make them lose it in the wet! You need to be very careful around corners, as even a slight touch on the accelerator in the middle of one can make the car slide. Going around roundabouts in 2nd at like 10km is quite risky even in my e30, you need to just coast around it; any increase in acceleration as the car is turning can cause it to slide out. Be wary of this while on your Ls; but once you get used to it, its fun

hadrian · Post by **hadrian** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:48 am

Yes 3,500rpm seems to be the mum cracks the shits threshold.

Haven't driven in the wet yet but I'll watch out for loose rear end. I have spent most of my money on this car so I don't know what I will do if I crash. Probably cry for a few weeks.[/quote]

ben wilamowski · Post by **ben wilamowski** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:47 pm

I was also lucky enough to have a 323i for my first car some 10 years ago now.

Before you spend a single penny on anything else get some decent quality lowering springs and make sure you combine this with decent quality tyres on your std rims.

It is the single biggest thing you can do to improve the handling and it is sooo much more predictable once you have done this.

It was the first thing I did to mine and I am just doing it again now for the second time having bought a beautiful concourse example here in the UK.

Take it steady in the wet, do the lowering springs immediately and you will have a safe and predictable handling car that you can learn a lot in.

PLease though as others have said be very, very careful on standard suspension, there appears to be some really weird spring rates at work in my opinion which make the back end pretty unpredictable on standard springs and standard tyres.

Happy motoring and in case you'd missed what I was saying get those springs changed before you spend any money anywhere else!!!

All the best

Ben.

hadrian · Post by **hadrian** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:57 pm

Thanks for the info!

I bought a set of King Springs (haven't put them in yet) which will lower the car 30mm front and rear. I also bought some AC Delco rear shock absorbers which i haven't installed yet either. Tyres are pretty new.

How much did your first 323i cost you?

ben wilamowski · Post by **ben wilamowski** » Thu May 25, 2006 4:15 pm

less than the one I have just bought!!!

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:59 pm

I have to agree about the handling ... first I ran my 323i on standard shocks and springs. The car was jumpy and indeed unpredictable at the back end.

Now that I changed all that by Bilstein shocks and H&R springs ...

well what a difference.

The car feels steady on every road (flat or bumpy) and in straight lines and corners.

You can compare handling now by that of an e30 with M-tech gear ... no less .. not better.

Enjoy the ride

Gerrit

hadrian · Post by **hadrian** » Fri May 26, 2006 4:26 am

Still haven't got around to getting the springs installed

What does it cost to get a mechanic to do it?

I haven't noticed any instability at all... probably because I don't drive fast enough

hadrian · Post by **hadrian** » Fri May 26, 2006 4:27 am

Still haven't got around to getting the springs installed

What does it cost to get a mechanic to do it?

I haven't noticed any instability at all... probably because I don't drive fast enough. But compared to the 1992 Toyota Camry I'm used to driving it's handling is excellent

Windy · Post by **Windy** » Sat May 27, 2006 3:56 am

Hadrian,

If you need someone to take your car for suspension work etc. Send me a PM.

Cheers
Windy

Mat (of e30 fame) · Post by **Mat (of e30 fame)** » Sat May 27, 2006 5:57 am

hadrian wrote: I haven't noticed any instability at all... probably because I don't drive fast enough. But compared to the 1992 Toyota Camry I'm used to driving it's handling is excellent

- yeah the old Bimmers still handle ALOT better than most newer standard rice. I really notice this comparing my e12 with dads 1990 Mazda 626 - the difference is enormous; the e12 feels all-round more professional. But the lowering upgrades will improve the existing handling immeasurably. The 5er is totally stock (and I kinda like it that way for old times sake in its own way), but a lowering job, some wider tires and maybe a front strut bar would make it so much better!

And, its probably best to take up Windy on his offer for advice on where to go to get the springs installed. SOmetimes the upgrade can be expensive, and if Sydney mechanics are anything to go by, they may well be looking to make some extra cash out of the car being an old piece of Euro exotica. Its probably best to go to a place that knows BMWs

Cheers
Mathew

hadrian · Post by **hadrian** » Sat May 27, 2006 8:34 am

Yes the body roll on the Camry is amazing... even worse than my mum's 1974 Holden Kingswood

Mat (of e30 fame) · Post by **Mat (of e30 fame)** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:12 am

I can only laugh at that