BMW e36 318 tds - modding thread

[AndrzejM]

Hi All,

I'm back again with my lates and for now biggest ecomodd - I've changed car from Toyota Previa (you may remember my old gas guzzler from here: Previa Thread), to BMW e36 318 tds "Compact".
Few words about my new wheels, it has 1.7 liter diesel engine 90HP @4400rpm 190Nm @2000rpm (140lbs/ft), around 1215kg (2678lbs) curb weight. I couldn't find EPA rating for that but European rating is 28/38/57mpgUS (city/mixed/highway)

Of course it will be a subject of many mods, but first I have to deal with some minor issues (car is 15 years old). After that I'm starting to modify it.

During the time I was looking for a car I was playing with Paintshop and here are the results (Excuse my crappy Paintshop skills):

1. Stock - my car - "Berta" ;-)

2. "Ideal profile"

3. "Real, achieveable profile"

4. As above but external mirror deleted


Of course I have to deal with OBDguino first to have a feedback from the car. That's my first planned modd ;-)

Keep your fingers crossed for me and Berta ;-)

Cheers

TBC ;-)

[Piwoslaw]

Congrats on the new (to you) ride I bet it feels different to have frontal area smaller than a barn You could probably coast forever in Berta. What size tires? Do they need replacing?

Originally Posted by AndrzejM

Wouldn't it be nice to have an Insight-clone? I just drooled on my keyboard.

The main difference between the photoshopped images is the wheel skirt, correct? Smoothing out the bodywork might be overkill, but a black horizonal line could be glued/painted on, making it optically smooth.

[320touring]

Wow!

You're going all out on this!



I'm currently figuring out how to block the grilles and make an undertray for my e36 estate..

Good luck and keep us up to date with mods-so I can steal some ideas!

[AndrzejM]

The difference in coasting is HUGE. I'm not used to that ;-)
Unfortunately my wheels are pretty wide 205mm so I need to replace them, but first I have to take care of other things. Maybe next year? Or maybe I'll switch wheels with some BMW owner for stock BMW wheels with 185 tyres... I think it can be done.

Anyway I'll start to modd my ride soon so I'll keep you posted. I have some ideas how to improve aerodynamics, reduce rolling resistance and get as much miles from galon as I'll be able... ;-)

[320touring]

Originally Posted by AndrzejM

The difference in coasting is HUGE. I'm not used to that ;-)
Unfortunately my wheels are pretty wide 205mm so I need to replace them, but first I have to take care of other things. Maybe next year? Or maybe I'll switch wheels with some BMW owner for stock BMW wheels with 185 tyres... I think it can be done.

Anyway I'll start to modd my ride soon so I'll keep you posted. I have some ideas how to improve aerodynamics, reduce rolling resistance and get as much miles from galon as I'll be able... ;-)

Stock tyres are either

205/60/15

or

205/55/16

TBH, they're not that wide for the size of the car.

The compact you ahve has the older e30 rear axle- good fun, but a bit snappy in certain conditions.

185 wheels make it laughably slidy..and going sideways does not get you good mpg

[AndrzejM]

You may be right but I've found on Internet that for my car stock tyre is 185/65 R 15 H

And I'm sure with my hyppermilling driving technique you won't see me going sideways ;-)

[320touring]

Originally Posted by AndrzejM

You may be right but I've found on Internet that for my car stock tyre is 185/65 R 15 H

And I'm sure with my hyppermilling driving technique you won't see me going sideways ;-)

It may actually be different for the Compact, and possibly because yours is a "Slow" diesel

You'll be sideways, dont you worry!

the "Pulse" part of P&G can get the wheels spinning in damp conditions..

[AndrzejM]

We'll see ;-)

[Piwoslaw]

I got a chance to see Berta yesterday and that car has potential! With frontal area that small that little beemer could drive circles around my Pug307 and still get better milage

One thing that I noticed is that it has no airdam/chin spoiler. Is that standard in BMWs? Or maybe only on the ones with lower suspension? Anyhow, Andrzej told me that a smooth belly is planned, so no airdam will be needed, maybe just wheel spats.

Another thing which got my attention were the side mirrors, they are kind of big. They also have small bumps on the inside (window side), probably VGs to reduce noise.

Good luck with the modding, you've got a good starting point

[AndrzejM]

First fillup and I'm impressed with the FE of Berta. I just wanted to know the baseline so I wasn't hypermilling too much. But still 52MPG it's a good starting point. I think I know my new goal I want to go for 1000 miles/tank.
Berta has 62 litres tank so I need to go below 3.85 l/100km (61.9 MPG US), and I'm almost sure I can achieve that. Keep your fingers crossed for that