omg!!

NigelB · #1 26th July 2010, 21:06

I've gone and done it................!!

Peter, it's time to add my name to the list for real.

The Sportster order is placed. Delivery is promised for mid September. The garage is emptier and tidier than it's been for years and we're ready to go.

I've sorted out a donor. It's a 1994 (L Reg) Coupe E36 with the M50 engine and 140K on the clock. I was planning on an engine rebuild but this one sounds like a peach so I'm un-decided now.

Thanks for your help and comments over the last few weeks. I blame you all for not managing to dissaude me from this venture so the fun starts here.!!

See you in about 4 years.......................

jeremy · #2 26th July 2010, 22:09

well done on the leap into the marlin sportster!Time to start dismantling your donor in time for delivery-goodluck and welcome!

Patrick · #3 26th July 2010, 22:40

Yeahy new build on the go, look forward to following your progress

GreatOldOne · #4 27th July 2010, 08:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by NigelB

The Sportster order is placed. Delivery is promised for mid September.

Well done!

You'll be able to start building in December when it arrives!

Alfie · #5 27th July 2010, 09:56

Well done and welcome. I hope you make faster progress than me, although my delays are largely for personal reasons and not problems with the kit. As I recall, my kit was ready for collection before the promised date!

Alfie.

MartinClan · #6 27th July 2010, 19:50

140k is nothing if it's been serviced regularly. Mine has done 170k and still goes like the clappers. I would recommend that you replace all the oil seals that you can though. Much easier when the engine is on the bench.

Good luck!

Robin

peterux · #7 27th July 2010, 21:05

Congratulations, Nigel.
I'm glad I didn't put you off

Let's hope Marlin do you a decent job on the chassis. We'll all be itching to se if Mark has made any changes since we built ours.

Lots of photo's and updates are essential requirements

NigelB · #8 27th July 2010, 22:47

Mark has made some changes.

He tells me that he's got some new purpose made front struts which are common to both the Sportster and the 5exi and that the turnaround bar for the seat belts is now part of the chassis construction. (instead of being bolted in as previously)

And I also understand that there will shortly be a fold down hood which will be available as a retro fit to existing Sportsters.

Pictures and updates will start emeging soon. I probably use flickr. I'll struggle just to build the car. I don't want to have to learn to build a website as well.............!!

GreatOldOne · #9 28th July 2010, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by NigelB

He tells me that he's got some new purpose made front struts which are common to both the Sportster and the 5exi

Interesting - does this now mean that you don't have to send the donor front uprights / struts to be modified?

Wouldn't that mean different hubs front and back, as you'd have BMW rear suspension and hubs, and whatever the new system is at the front?

Patrick · #10 28th July 2010, 15:05

I'd heard about that too. On the E36 the hub and the strut are two seperatable components unlike on the E30.

With the right machine it's possible to add the hub from either the E30 or E36.

peterux · #11 28th July 2010, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by NigelB

He tells me that he's got some new purpose made front struts which are common to both the Sportster and the 5exi and that the turnaround bar for the seat belts is now part of the chassis construction. (instead of being bolted in as previously)

And I also understand that there will shortly be a fold down hood which will be available as a retro fit to existing Sportsters.

Pictures and updates will start emeging soon. I probably use flickr. I'll struggle just to build the car. I don't want to have to learn to build a website as well.............!!

Should be interesting to see the new struts and fold down hood.

Here's a link to a current 5exi builder showing the front hub.I wonder if they will be like these?

http://www.stsa.co.uk/gallery/5EXi/B...G_5050.JPG.php

Looks like the metro ball joint at the bottom.
I guess the wing stays are going to be completely different as well.

BTW, Flickr is dead easy to use and is free to start with.

...peter

MartinClan · #12 29th July 2010, 07:37

Hmm - It will certainly be interesting to see. Anything that allows better wings stays has got to be an improvement.

It looks like the steering rack is to the rear of the strut rather than the front. I wonder how that will be accomodated?

Robin

Patrick · #13 29th July 2010, 07:45

Looks like parallel wishbones as well.

GreatOldOne · #14 29th July 2010, 08:37

I'd also like to see how they acomodate the different brake caliper mounting points - I don't think 5EXi's and Sportsters run the same size discs or calipers.

nutter · #15 4th August 2010, 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

Here's a link to a current 5exi builder showing the front hub.I wonder if they will be like these?

http://www.stsa.co.uk/gallery/5EXi/B...G_5050.JPG.php

Good to see my build diary is being useful & referenced

Steve

alackofspeed · #16 4th August 2010, 16:42

Hmm, the latest 5EXI front end doesn't have bumpsteer adjustment. Curious.

peterux · #17 20th September 2010, 21:07

Hey Nigel,
time for an update?

Did you pick up your chassis?
regards

Peter

NigelB · #18 20th September 2010, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

Hey Nigel,
time for an update?

Did you pick up your chassis?
regards

Peter

Bl--dy Hell. Never get a moment's piece when you join this forum............

Still catching my breath after the run back from Exeter.

Cheers Peter. Yes. It's all here and safely stored in the garage. What happened to all that room I in there made a couple of weeks ago. Pictures to be posted on Flickr shortly.

1st lesson learnt too late though. When dismantling the donor yourself and trying to undo the hub bolt from the front wheel assembly at least you've got resistance in the form of a ton of car. If you get Marlin to dismantle it and then try to remove the hub nut from the front wheel assembly on the bench, it's not so easy...............!!

The front uprights are still the standard E36 modified struts. The new solution that was mentioned is not compatible with BMW calipers and required aftermarket uprights - an extra £600 of costs with no obvious advantage. The rollbar has been modified though with a couple of brackets to bolt the seat belt turnaround bar to. Looks tidy. I just hope it's in the right place. Careful seat selection methinks...............

Check http://www.flickr.com/photos/marlinbuild/ in the next few days.

Nigel

peterux · #19 21st September 2010, 19:38

Ah, we won't leave you alone now!

I think the e36 uprights are a good choice as you won't have any problems with the wing stays coming loose.

What a shame Mark didn't loosen those hub nuts for you before dismantling.
If you can't get the hub nuts undone I can recommend one of these....
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...mpact-wrenches
I didn't have it when I dismantled my donor but we bought one about 6 months ago to fix something on my sons car and they work brilliantly. We haven't found anything yet it can't undo, hub nuts, drive shaft nuts, suspension nuts, crankshaft bolts, etc

Looking forward to your pictures...

regards

Peter
P.S. Just seen your pictures!! Looking at that rear end, I'd definately invest in the impact wrench! I think Timbo is our e36 expert on here....

GreatOldOne · #20 22nd September 2010, 08:45

So, a small evolution of the chassis, judging from those pics.

From what I can see, the differences from my chassis are:

The seatbelt bar (did you have to specify what height you wanted it set at? If not, you'll have choose your seats to ensure that the turning point is correct)
The steering column hole / reinforcement (Mine didn't have a hole cut, and I had a seperate bolt in 'collar'
the steering column upper mounting point (looks tubular now? Mine was a U shaped piece of flat bar)
the front suspension 'turrets' (They look more slender and 'curvy' than mine, but that could be down to the peculiarities of the e36 front uprights... Like the different pick up points for the rear swing arms are different to the e30 ones)

Apart from that, it all looks very familiar!

What have you bolted on first? Apart from the bar that is?