E36 318is...worth spending money on?
Discussion
Hi all. After some opinions from people, good or bad...
Recently sold my e39 528 and bought an e36 318is. Mainly to save on fuel as my commute is pretty much sitting in traffic for half hour or so. It's a 1999 with 82k on the clock, previous owners were an older couple who had it 11 years. Seems to have been fairly well looked after in that time to be fair.
I'm a mechanic so nothing that side of things bothers me. The problem I have is that both rear arches need to be properly sorted. There is also bubbling on the front wings and boot lid. I'd be looking at a £1000 plus to sort all of this although I could do it in stages. I'm just not sure if I'll regret putting the money into it down the line. I know the values will never sky rocket but wonder if I'll see any of the money back? I paid £900 for it.
I do love the e36 and this is my 5th. I guess I don't really want to run this one into the ground then start again because I'll only want another cheap BMW anyway. I'm just in the process of buying my first place alone so won't have as much spare money I don't think.
Does anyone think it would be worth doing? Won't be offended by any replies. Thanks!
Recently sold my e39 528 and bought an e36 318is. Mainly to save on fuel as my commute is pretty much sitting in traffic for half hour or so. It's a 1999 with 82k on the clock, previous owners were an older couple who had it 11 years. Seems to have been fairly well looked after in that time to be fair.
I'm a mechanic so nothing that side of things bothers me. The problem I have is that both rear arches need to be properly sorted. There is also bubbling on the front wings and boot lid. I'd be looking at a £1000 plus to sort all of this although I could do it in stages. I'm just not sure if I'll regret putting the money into it down the line. I know the values will never sky rocket but wonder if I'll see any of the money back? I paid £900 for it.
I do love the e36 and this is my 5th. I guess I don't really want to run this one into the ground then start again because I'll only want another cheap BMW anyway. I'm just in the process of buying my first place alone so won't have as much spare money I don't think.
Does anyone think it would be worth doing? Won't be offended by any replies. Thanks!
Haven't calculated the exact miles per gallon of each car. I'm saving around £50-£60 a month from the swap. I loved the 5 series but it was tired. Sitting in constant Bristol traffic kills the mpg unfortunately.
That money might not be great amount each month to some but for me it was worth it.
That money might not be great amount each month to some but for me it was worth it.
Thanks all. I think I'm just looking for some way to justify spending the money which is what I really want to do. Head says no, heart says yes situation!
Got a full service kit, rocker cover gasket, auxiliary belts and new brake fluid all waiting at work to fit tomorrow afternoon. Think I'll sort things bit by bit then bite the bullet and have the bodywork done.
Got a full service kit, rocker cover gasket, auxiliary belts and new brake fluid all waiting at work to fit tomorrow afternoon. Think I'll sort things bit by bit then bite the bullet and have the bodywork done.
This is my E36 318is - 1998 model with 149k miles on the clock. It is used daily & hasn't really let me down. I spent £1400.00 on her 18 months ago to get her through the MOT as couldn't bring myself to scrap her.
This year she sailed through the MOT with only a single advisory.
Exactly as she left the factory with complete tool kit, factory fitted body kit & even the torch in the glove box works.
She has got a couple of small rust patched however according to my mechanic it is nothing to worry about.
Handles well. Economical. Quick enough for me & an all round very good car. She will need to find a new home later this year however I have no idea what she is worth - WBAC offered me £65.00 a couple weeks ago......
Anyway. If the OP likes his car enough then I would recommend he so spends the money. It's all down to whether you can justify the spend.
fatboy69 said:
This is my E36 318is - 1998 model with 149k miles on the clock. It is used daily & hasn't really let me down. I spent £1400.00 on her 18 months ago to get her through the MOT as couldn't bring myself to scrap her.
Handles well. Economical. Quick enough for me & an all round very good car. She will need to find a new home later this year however I have no idea what she is worth - WBAC offered me £65.00 a couple weeks ago......
I'd pay more than that for it! Handles well. Economical. Quick enough for me & an all round very good car. She will need to find a new home later this year however I have no idea what she is worth - WBAC offered me £65.00 a couple weeks ago......
I've had an early Kumho championship spec one as a track car for years.
It's done hundreds of laps of the 'ring.
I think the values are starting to creep up now, as the tatty ones get scrapped/drifted in to oblivion.
ThrottleBod said:
Thanks all. I think I'm just looking for some way to justify spending the money which is what I really want to do. Head says no, heart says yes situation!
Got a full service kit, rocker cover gasket, auxiliary belts and new brake fluid all waiting at work to fit tomorrow afternoon. Think I'll sort things bit by bit then bite the bullet and have the bodywork done.
Do it. Got a full service kit, rocker cover gasket, auxiliary belts and new brake fluid all waiting at work to fit tomorrow afternoon. Think I'll sort things bit by bit then bite the bullet and have the bodywork done.
Decent original E36s are getting increasingly difficult to find.
fatboy69 said:
This is my E36 318is - 1998 model with 149k miles on the clock. It is used daily & hasn't really let me down. I spent £1400.00 on her 18 months ago to get her through the MOT as couldn't bring myself to scrap her.
This year she sailed through the MOT with only a single advisory.
Exactly as she left the factory with complete tool kit, factory fitted body kit & even the torch in the glove box works.
She has got a couple of small rust patched however according to my mechanic it is nothing to worry about.
Handles well. Economical. Quick enough for me & an all round very good car. She will need to find a new home later this year however I have no idea what she is worth - WBAC offered me £65.00 a couple weeks ago......
Anyway. If the OP likes his car enough then I would recommend he so spends the money. It's all down to whether you can justify the spend.
OP. Get the work done, the E36 318is is a fantastic motor and as mentioned before, it is going to be an appreciating modern classic!
With it being a late model and low mileage I'd say it's worth spending the money on sorting the body but only if it the rust is managable ie no point doing it now and then in 2 years it's got lots more rot or needs loads of welding underneath.
As said above good ones are now few and far between as the rust had already set into these E36 even 10 years ago long term it will probably rise in value enough to justify your costs now.
As said above good ones are now few and far between as the rust had already set into these E36 even 10 years ago long term it will probably rise in value enough to justify your costs now.
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