Discussion
A great thread full of good accurate info .
My advice would be "history, history, history"... Buy one that has been looked after, owned by an enthusiast and go from there. It's already been said, but many aren't maintained well, ran on a shoe string and they deteriorate because of that.
However many tasks on the car are DIY, so if you are happy to get your hands dirty, you will save yourself a fortune.
Don't be put off by horror stories of the VANOS. I repaired mine for buttons.
Preventative maintenance is also a good attitude to have, which can save you issues in the long run.
If you buy a good one I think your money would be safe enough.
Luckily BMW have a great parts supply and most things are still available. If you find a good friendly dealership, you may well start getting discounts.
There is a great community surrounding the cars, so you will never be stuck for help.
I've a "restore" thread on mine if its of any help... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
My advice would be "history, history, history"... Buy one that has been looked after, owned by an enthusiast and go from there. It's already been said, but many aren't maintained well, ran on a shoe string and they deteriorate because of that.
However many tasks on the car are DIY, so if you are happy to get your hands dirty, you will save yourself a fortune.
Don't be put off by horror stories of the VANOS. I repaired mine for buttons.
Preventative maintenance is also a good attitude to have, which can save you issues in the long run.
If you buy a good one I think your money would be safe enough.
Luckily BMW have a great parts supply and most things are still available. If you find a good friendly dealership, you may well start getting discounts.
There is a great community surrounding the cars, so you will never be stuck for help.
I've a "restore" thread on mine if its of any help... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Neil, just read right through your resto thread, very good, your attention to detail is amazing.
This and your thread are great for picking up info about these cars.
I'm in NI too, considering buying an e36 M3, would you mind if I pm you for an opinion on a couple of cars currently for sale over here?
This and your thread are great for picking up info about these cars.
I'm in NI too, considering buying an e36 M3, would you mind if I pm you for an opinion on a couple of cars currently for sale over here?
Output Flange said:
jonah35 said:
Get a GT2 if you can afford it.
Less a case of affording one, more a case of no such thing existing.An Evo should be able to manage mid-30s MPG on a run, which isn't bad. They're generally pretty reliable, but as others have said can suffer a few problems, but mostly age related now. They can suffer from water getting into the ECU enclosure, so that's another thing to keep an eye on.
The hardest part is finding a decent one. Lots of rusty old snotters around, very few properly cared for cars. Lots have been converted to track/race cars, as they offer such bang for buck.
If I could find a reason to oust something else to make room, I'd definitely have another.
stevep944 said:
Neil, just read right through your resto thread, very good, your attention to detail is amazing.
This and your thread are great for picking up info about these cars.
I'm in NI too, considering buying an e36 M3, would you mind if I pm you for an opinion on a couple of cars currently for sale over here?
No problem at all mate, fire away...This and your thread are great for picking up info about these cars.
I'm in NI too, considering buying an e36 M3, would you mind if I pm you for an opinion on a couple of cars currently for sale over here?
The problem is really needing to see the cars, as many are advertised as mint.
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