Been offered a E36 328i convertible...
Discussion
...What should I look for or be aware of?
The car has a couple of issues which the seller (a friend) has informed me of:
1) Airbag warning light on - thought to be a slip-ring which needs replacing, has spare and will supply with car.
2) Aux electric fan not working - could cause AC compressor to overheat. £300 for genuine BMW part, £150 OEM.
3) Float in radiator needs replacing, ought to be done at next service as it involves draining the radiator - has spare and will supply with car.
4) Rear bushes will need doing for the next MOT.
Other than that he says it's in good shape. All the electrics work, the roof is watertight and the interior looks superb given that it's done 130k miles. It's on an R-plate, he's looking for £1,500.
Are these generally robust? What should I check has been done? It looks like a lot of car for the money, I'm seriously tempted to scrape the cash together if I can.
The car has a couple of issues which the seller (a friend) has informed me of:
1) Airbag warning light on - thought to be a slip-ring which needs replacing, has spare and will supply with car.
2) Aux electric fan not working - could cause AC compressor to overheat. £300 for genuine BMW part, £150 OEM.
3) Float in radiator needs replacing, ought to be done at next service as it involves draining the radiator - has spare and will supply with car.
4) Rear bushes will need doing for the next MOT.
Other than that he says it's in good shape. All the electrics work, the roof is watertight and the interior looks superb given that it's done 130k miles. It's on an R-plate, he's looking for £1,500.
Are these generally robust? What should I check has been done? It looks like a lot of car for the money, I'm seriously tempted to scrape the cash together if I can.
Edited by Funk on Friday 27th July 00:45
Avoid!
Airbag warning light is instant MOT fail. He should be selling it for half the price.
This is in a lot better condition and is cheaper
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E36-BMW-328I-CABRIOLET-C...
Airbag warning light is instant MOT fail. He should be selling it for half the price.
This is in a lot better condition and is cheaper
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E36-BMW-328I-CABRIOLET-C...
In respect of the A/C electric pusher fan on the front of the radiator, you don't need to buy new and I wouldn't bother trying pattern parts.
I went through about three incorrect fans from GSF (they seemed to keep supplying me with electric fans for other E36 models) before they finally had to admit they didn't have a pattern replacement for the A/C pusher fan.
In the end I got an original BMW one delivered from an internet scrapper for about £60. Functionally perfect, and much better for my pocket.
But obviously quote the £300 BMW fan when negotiating price on the car
I went through about three incorrect fans from GSF (they seemed to keep supplying me with electric fans for other E36 models) before they finally had to admit they didn't have a pattern replacement for the A/C pusher fan.
In the end I got an original BMW one delivered from an internet scrapper for about £60. Functionally perfect, and much better for my pocket.
But obviously quote the £300 BMW fan when negotiating price on the car
Phunk said:
Avoid!
Airbag warning light is instant MOT fail. He should be selling it for half the price.
This is in a lot better condition and is cheaper
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E36-BMW-328I-CABRIOLET-C...
Really? Rusty arches, Poor bootlid snide wheels with ditchfinders. Airbag warning light is instant MOT fail. He should be selling it for half the price.
This is in a lot better condition and is cheaper
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E36-BMW-328I-CABRIOLET-C...
BlitzE34 said:
Phunk said:
Avoid!
Airbag warning light is instant MOT fail. He should be selling it for half the price.
This is in a lot better condition and is cheaper
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E36-BMW-328I-CABRIOLET-C...
Really? Rusty arches, Poor bootlid snide wheels with ditchfinders. Airbag warning light is instant MOT fail. He should be selling it for half the price.
This is in a lot better condition and is cheaper
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E36-BMW-328I-CABRIOLET-C...
eastsider said:
I'd also be inspecting the soft top very very closely. Replacement of that would definitely cost more than the value of the car.
Not necessarily. Again, the breakers/scrapyard is your friend. There are video tutorials on eBay that show you how to change/replace the hood. For a grand (1500 is too much, granted, although it IS summer and 'verts do sell for more in summer) you can't expect a 100% perfect cabrio, and certainly not of this calibre. However, this car looks pretty clean to me, I'd take it for a grand - can always sell the M-contour wheels (worth 3-400 quid - maybe less painted that colour but they'll still sell) and replace with standard 16"s (mad cheap, some designs not too bad). The interior's in good shape. Assuming the engine's had all the right work done (thermostat/viscous fan coupling/water pump/nikasil issue etc) I'd consider taking a punt. OK, had a more in-depth chat with my mate about the car tonight and he's given me a detailed breakdown of all the things he's had done, what went wrong and how it was fixed. He's clearly even more anal about this sort of thing than I am. When I asked why he hadn't bothered doing the aux elec fan, he said that he'd never gotten to it as if it was hot enough, he'd have the roof down rendering the a/c pointless. I can see his point...
The car's had a lot spent on it to keep it tip-top. There was a minor leak into the spare wheel well which was sorted about 18 months ago and hasn't reappeared. It's been fastidiously maintained. He's going to sort the slipring for me before I buy it. It's on decent tyres (Falken 452s) and there have been no 'short cuts' taken on the maintenance. He's also upgraded some bits, such as auto wipers, cruise, MFSW, additional power points in the glovebox, under-bonnet lighting, puddle lighting and a raft of audio upgrades (Alpine/Genesis). He's also modified the alarm to shut the roof and windows in the event it's triggered which is a neat touch.
I've been looking in the PH classifieds and to those who're saying it should be cheaper....well, I can't find one in as good nick for less than £2k on here. The ones on eBay for £1,100-ish are baggy as f
k and rusty all over with ditchfinders on them.
Given that I know this is a good car, I've said I'll have it and I'm happy with £1,500 as the slipring will be done and the parts I need will be included (has has the replacement rear bushes as well as the coolamt float for the radiator). Should be picking it up in about 4-5 weeks' time, hope there'll still be some sunshine to enjoy it in!
The car's had a lot spent on it to keep it tip-top. There was a minor leak into the spare wheel well which was sorted about 18 months ago and hasn't reappeared. It's been fastidiously maintained. He's going to sort the slipring for me before I buy it. It's on decent tyres (Falken 452s) and there have been no 'short cuts' taken on the maintenance. He's also upgraded some bits, such as auto wipers, cruise, MFSW, additional power points in the glovebox, under-bonnet lighting, puddle lighting and a raft of audio upgrades (Alpine/Genesis). He's also modified the alarm to shut the roof and windows in the event it's triggered which is a neat touch.
I've been looking in the PH classifieds and to those who're saying it should be cheaper....well, I can't find one in as good nick for less than £2k on here. The ones on eBay for £1,100-ish are baggy as f
k and rusty all over with ditchfinders on them.Given that I know this is a good car, I've said I'll have it and I'm happy with £1,500 as the slipring will be done and the parts I need will be included (has has the replacement rear bushes as well as the coolamt float for the radiator). Should be picking it up in about 4-5 weeks' time, hope there'll still be some sunshine to enjoy it in!
The lowballing is slightly fuelled by the fact that a) it's summer and convertibles are selling at a higher price than normal, so that's pushing the price up a bit. Also there is a fair bit of regional variation in the price of E36s. Also that car does appear to be a standard 328 not a Sport (although it does have the M3 rims) which usually drops the price by about £250. [i]BUT[/] all considered I think that looks like a clean car and I don't for a moment think you'd regret buying it. Don't sweat the airbag light either, MOT fail it might be but it's usually something as simple as the sensor under the passenger seat getting tripped when someone sits on it heavily rather than any kind of problem with the airbag itself.
Funk said:
New slipring fitted, airbag all happy again!
I'm more excited about picking this up than I was about my brand new 123d!
Funk, I'm not sure what some of the others were seeing that was "wrong" with this car, it looks pretty good to Me! I'm more excited about picking this up than I was about my brand new 123d!
You enjoy your new purchase and I'll keep My fingers crossed for you that we have a late summer full of sunny days so you can get that roof down!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff