In May of 2022 a unique and unprecedented policy was put into place in Germany. A new universal ticket option was introduced, allowing anyone to use any bus or train, excluding the fastest IC and ICE offerings, for the price of just nine Euros per month.
The most prominent effect of this was probably that people started traveling to the island of Sylt en masse. Although Sylt is per definition a proper island, there is a dam with a single track railway connecting it to the main land, and thus it all of the sudden in became accessible for the low price of 9€. The small island usually reserved for the rich and more-or-less famous became swarmed by punks loitering around, chugging beers in the town squares and protesting capitalism by simply existing in spaces never meant to cater to them.
For myself, a different opportunity opened up. Ever since I sold my MG F, I was longing for a convertible. In May the sun started coming out again in full force, making me crave that open top, fresh air experience.
Initially I was looking for a BMW Z3 for that roadster feeling I knew from the MG, but with a bit more reliability and familiar technology. Unfortunately the prices for good condition specimens with at least the smallest inline 6 engine were outrageous.
Eventually I settled on the next best thing. An E36, meaning 3rd generation 3 series convertible. Since I was on a budget but still wanted the classic BMW feel, I knew what I was looking for. The lowest displacement straight six offering – a 320i. Ideally it would be automatic transmission, again because automatics are generally less desirable and thus cheaper, and because I wanted it to be a sunny day cruiser only.
Narrowing down my search like this, I quickly found an ad that caught my eye. This 1994 320i was for sale in the same city where I bought my MG F years prior. I had the feeling this had to be a sign. I called the seller and learned the it was from a private collection that was in the process of being dismantled. I got into my car and made the journey to view the BMW in person.
When I got there, I was immediately in love. The car was in spectacular condition. It was a 90s time capsule – it had been lightly modified by its first owner 25 years ago. Under the bonnet was an original red D&W (a legendary 1990s German tuning shop) strut brace, and considerable amounts of money had been spent on a then state-of-the-art sound system. At some point the original black interior was swapped out for an individual Hazelnut set.
The highlight were without a doubt the wheels, though. The original owner fitted the car with so called BMW Styling 5 wheels. These two-piece rims were sourced from BBS back in the day and offered as a costly option for the E39 5 Series.
The only catch was that the wheels were not included in the price. After fierce negotiation I managed to strike a deal – The wheels would stay on the car if I would pick it up the next day.
This is where the 9€ ticket mentioned in the opening paragraph comes into play. My only chance to make this happen without using my other car to get there again, was for me to take a train back the next day and register the E36 in my name right then and there.
Early next morning I purchased the one-way ticket and made my way to the train station by bus. On this particular sunny day in mid May I was only joined by a couple of elderly ladies taking their E-Bikes along when boarding the train car.
Usually, despite their reputation, secondary line trains in Germany are best avoided – but without any time pressure and the ability to board any other train should my original one be cancelled, the 9€ ticket enabled me to easily make the journey back to my new convertible.
I made my way to the local registration office, got temporary plates made and the deal was finalised. I received the keys, opened the top, plotted out a route avoiding any motorways back home, and begun my drive back.
Exceptionally, there was not much work to do on the car to get it into good shape. I replaced a few broken plastic bits in the interior and re-glued the famously flimsy door cards of the E36. The first major order of business was swapping the extremely cheap TA Technix coilovers the car was riding on for a higher quality ST suspension kit.
On the exterior, I replaced the fake “M” badges with original BMW parts, and swapped out the rear lights. At some point in the past, lights meant to work with BMW’s “Check-Control” system were put onto the car. Check-Control would display any faults of the car in the cockpit, e.g. a burned out bulb. Since I didn’t actually have that system and the wiring for these lights was different, I ended up with only one functional brake light, one out of two rear lamps, and no reverse or fog light whatsoever.
At some point the 90s sound system was replaced with a modern alternative, since the front speakers were only barely good enough to listen to music with the roof open, and the rear fills were missing altogether.
The original BMW Traffic Pro radio (a very early GPS navigation system), although extremely cool, was replaced with a more useful retro-style Blaupunkt one, offering bluetooth connectivity.
The only mechanical work on the drive train was replacing a torn rubber intake boot revealed by means of a smoke machine, and a 30 Cent seal on the transmission selector shaft causing an oil leak. As preventative maintenance I fitted a new radiator and water pump, as these are known to leak with age.
So far, the E36 has provided me with nothing but joy. The engine is remarkably smooth after 30 years, starts with the first turn of the key, and the transmission stoically does its job.
In the past was never a big fan of the E36. Maturing means changing your mind and admitting you have been wrong before. This car might just be the prettiest convertible BMW has ever made. 30 years later, it still turns heads and prompts comments and conversation wherever I take it.
And most importantly it takes me back to simpler world where you don’t have to fumble with touch screens or go through an entire start up routine to not be beeped at by your car constantly. It is my personal escape from an often too hectic, too complex, modernity.
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