WHO | Craig Sterry, Contributor
What | E36 328i Touring
Mileage | 150,212
YEAR | 1998

After finally collecting the car (which greeted me with a fuel filter leak on the initial visit), the drive back through the Cotswolds proved that things were in pretty good shape.

It was tight, responsive and remained completely silent – free of the usual knocks and clunks and cabin squeaks you typically find on E36’s of this vintage.

The engine was eager and revved nicely with the trademark muffled growl from the exhaust. Its performance certainly belied its age and I was left with the confirmation that as a foundation, it would be perfect for what I wanted to achieve – a solid daily hack with bags of space which would sharpen up nicely when provoked.

The first thing it needed was a thorough clean to get rid of the ‘previous-owner feeling’. A lot of silicon-based products had been used so much of the areas were greasy to the touch – especially the unknown, sticky substance that resided in the pocket for the third rear seatbelt; leftovers from a kid’s snack, no doubt. After a thorough going over, it was looking a lot better and the cabin now smelled neutral, which was nice.

 To read more about this BMW see the February 2012 issue of Total BMW. Available to buy here.