How can a €600 '95 E36 320i feel so great?
How can a €600 '95 E36 320i feel so great?
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Discussion

rassi

Original Poster:

2,517 posts

281 months

Thursday 7th January 2010
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I bought a '95 E36 320i Touring as a "beater" to save my E39 M5 from the hard life in the city, and to have a car that I can just park anywhere I want without the fear of dents and scratches. Paid €600 for it, 228.000 km, full BMW service history and one owner. Completely original, and mechanically in great condition, as is the interior - the exterior has had some keying done from some ba$tard, but the point I wanted to make is:

What an absolute joy to drive! The gear change is extremely slick, the sound of the inline-6 just perfect, and while it is not a quick car, it is just so "balanced"! The quality of the interior and the driver-orientation is not found in any current 3 series (I do appreciate that they have other qualities) and at the price I paid, I just can't get over how much car you get in an E36!

Happy motoring all!

Neil.D

2,878 posts

236 months

Thursday 7th January 2010
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Its a testament to the quality of older BMW's.

900T-R

20,406 posts

287 months

Thursday 7th January 2010
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Six hundred euros??? Has it still got a chassis number? winkbiggrin That has got to be a bargain in anyone's book especially on our side of the English channel...

Buzzkill

786 posts

214 months

Thursday 7th January 2010
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That does sound silly cheap...

davidspooner

24,154 posts

224 months

Thursday 7th January 2010
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I'm on the lookout for a similar era beemer, good to hear you like it so much!

8Tech

2,212 posts

228 months

Sunday 10th January 2010
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That price sounds about right considering the age and mileage and it is not a popular engine choice. The 320 is as thirsty as a 325 and as powerful as a 318iS. It is however a great car and comes from the pre-disposable BMW car days.
Enjoy it and keep the servicing up and it will still give you years of good service and save the running costs on the wear and tear saving on the M5.

900T-R

20,406 posts

287 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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Don't forget the OP is in Belgium - over here useable E36 Tourings are always worth a couple of grand at least.

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

212 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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Where the hell are all these cheap BMWs? Been looking for one for a while now, they don't seem to exist!

rassi

Original Poster:

2,517 posts

281 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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The car was bought from a colleague that had already bought a new car, and just looking to get rid without any hassle so the price does not reflect the market value - it would fetch between 15-2500 euro, given the fact that it has a full BMWSH, mechanically is perfect, has four new Pirelli tyres on original alloys + an extra set of winter tyres on alloys, aircon (working!), and a very good interior.

It is quite funny to have a car that you are not so concerned about getting dinged or scratched, and it has certainly opened my eyes to the E36 - I would of course have wanted it to be a 325 or 328 but for the purpose of city driving, I am not complaining.

FesterNath

652 posts

266 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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8Tech said:
That price sounds about right considering the age and mileage and it is not a popular engine choice. The 320 is as thirsty as a 325 and as powerful as a 318iS. It is however a great car and comes from the pre-disposable BMW car days.
Enjoy it and keep the servicing up and it will still give you years of good service and save the running costs on the wear and tear saving on the M5.
318iS was 140bhp, and not available as a Touring.
320i was 150bhp.

Bill Carr

2,234 posts

264 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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8Tech said:
That price sounds about right considering the age and mileage and it is not a popular engine choice.
The bargains are out there if you're prepared to look and skim past the chav-specials. A mate sold his standard '97 318is for £800 last year. Only 115k on the clock, new exhaust, fresh tyres and service etc.

Sometimes people just need to sell!