What a find – a 1992 (E36) BMW 325i with only 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometres) on the clock.

The car that you see here is one that, over the next several months, will become a familiar sight for autoX readers – it’s our latest project, hence the title of this piece. This 90’s icon is the starting point, and a very good one at that, for a project that’ll see a complete revamp – from the inside, outside, and under the hood, which will not only bring it back up to speed, but up to date as well.

The first question is – where did it come from, and, more importantly, how do we know that this old school Bavarian has really done only 56,000 kilometres in its 18 year lifespan? Well, the car was purchased new in Boston, Massachusetts, and brought back to India after a few years with about 30,000 miles (48,000 kilometres) on the odometer. Following that, it was driven in Dehradun only sparingly to say the least. It would be pulled out every few years, the oil would be changed, the fuel tank and lines would be flushed, the fuel filter and pump would be replaced, and it would be resurrected for a brief period of time, before being put into hibernation once again. And we know this because it was sent to Pandit & Co. in Delhi to be brought to life each time. At its latest visit a few months ago, it was made roadworthy once again. In addition, it was also given a fresh coat of paint – but there’s a lot more to be done.

Of course, it was brought in from the US when you were still allowed to import a left-hand drive vehicle. Depending on your point of view, you may interpret it as being on the wrong side – but, with the chaos on our roads, at the best of times it makes little or no difference whatsoever. My first car was a 1987 (E30) BMW 325i in the States, so I have fond memories of the 325. E36 and E30 represent the respective model numbers – the E36 being an all-new model, and the replacement for the E30, in 1991. This particular car was purchased in late 1992, and while it doesn’t look nearly as dated as the E30, it is beginning to show its age – a dead giveaway are its 15-inch rims and grey bumpers. That apart, though, there’s something that simply works in regards to the overall shape – I much prefer its square lines to that of its successor, the E46.The proportions are just right, and the minimal front overhang gives it a purposeful stance. Of course, the traditional kidney grille is front and center, and this was one of the first BMWs to have its twin headlamps encased in a single rectangular casing.

On the inside, in true BMW fashion, the ergonomics for the driver are spot-on. The center console seems to envelope the driver’s seat. And, while this is the case in other BMWs as well, both new and old, it’s not quite as obvious as this. Once you get in, however, you see a BMW tape deck in the center console, which reminds you of just how old this car really is. But it also lets you know that it’s all original, which is a good sign.



The day I picked up the car, I started it early in the morning for the first time in weeks, and she started right up with no complaints whatsoever – another good sign. All she needed at the time was fuel in the tank, and air in the tires. After that, it was a process of running-in the 2.5 litre straight-six engine like it were new. And while it may not be as free revving as it ought to be as yet, it’s still incredibly smooth. The exhaust, though, has an inadvertent throaty growl – it appears that the sound deadening honeycomb in the muffler is no longer doing its job. However, there’s no rust, and it’s not leaking, so it’ll have to do for now. Nevertheless, a stainless steel set-up – all the way from headers to tail pipes would be nice.

But the reason this car is so special is its straight-six engine and manual gearbox. Plus, there’s no traction control, and no nanny electronics. It’s mechanical, it’s solid, and, if maintained, will run forever. My ‘87 325 had 150,000 miles (240,000 kilometres) on it, and it drove like new. And even though this car has hardly been driven in the last decade, the power delivery is smooth and linear, which is a trademark of the BMW straight-six – and this engine is just as happy at 1,000rpm as it is at 6,000. The 5-speed Getrag box is smooth and precise, and the engine-and-transmission are perfectly mated to one another. My older 3 series had a slightly vague shift, even after replacing the shift-linkage bushings, but this feels remarkably better, and every gear slots in perfectly.

One of my best motoring memories is from behind the wheel of an E36 M3. Although the drive was brief, and over a decade ago, the car was the epitome of a pure driving experience – well, a modern interpretation anyway. I’ve only known that sensation in a few really nicely dialled-in driver’s cars, and, needless to say, it’s increasingly difficult to find nowadays. In fact, even the two M3’s subsequent to the E36, the E46 and E92, can’t match it for pure feel. But, much to my dismay, I’ve never had the opportunity to drive the original M3 – the actual homologated race car for the road – the E30. The E36 325 isn’t a bad platform to start from though, and it’s the car that I’ve piloted on both my visits to the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany. That particular car was so well set up for the Ring, that, in the hands of its owner and Ring instructor, Jaco Velders, it could hound Porsche 911 GT3’s all day long without even breaking a sweat.

In this case however, we have some way to go before reaching that point. Needless to say, the years of hibernation have meant that all suspension bushings have hardened and worn – consequently, parts like ball joints and tie rod ends will need to be replaced before the car begins to feel as precise as a BMW ought to. Despite that, however, the steering is delicate and brimming with feel. We’re going to start with work on the suspension, brakes, as well as wheels and tires to get the car feeling glued to the road once again. We’ll also work our way into the interior, which has a very tired leather interior at present. The tape deck, which is a relic from the past, will have to make way for something that’s at least iPod and Bluetooth compatible.



After that, perhaps we can look at the exterior and other performance upgrades – each stage of which will be measured by V-Box and reported. From the factory, the 325i produced 189 horsepower at 5900rpm, which propelled its 1,400 kilos to 100km/h in under 8 seconds. Acceleration tests to gauge current, and subsequent, performance will follow – once the Bimmer’s received a little TLC that is. Stay tuned.