E36 M3- Wallet rapage?
Discussion
Afternoon all,
I am currently in the midst of a very painful couple of months, financially- Both my MX5 and A8 need taxing, MoTing, insuring etc. And to throw extra joy into the mix, the A8 needs a new brake caliper, pad and disc, after the caliper that was fitted last March has died... Grrr.
Basically, I don't do many miles at all, and the A8 has started to get less and less use since the MX5 is surprisingly practical for whizzing round town- And uses far less fuel.
I need something that will do the whole lot, IE be good for a bit of hoonage/track days, and also something that has a smidgen of practicality for everyday use.
I've seen this as an example-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2486447.htm
Is an E36 M3 doable for £5k? And are the bills really that scary?
ETA- I'd really like a convertible. Have acquired a real taste for open top motoring with the '5!!
I am currently in the midst of a very painful couple of months, financially- Both my MX5 and A8 need taxing, MoTing, insuring etc. And to throw extra joy into the mix, the A8 needs a new brake caliper, pad and disc, after the caliper that was fitted last March has died... Grrr.
Basically, I don't do many miles at all, and the A8 has started to get less and less use since the MX5 is surprisingly practical for whizzing round town- And uses far less fuel.
I need something that will do the whole lot, IE be good for a bit of hoonage/track days, and also something that has a smidgen of practicality for everyday use.
I've seen this as an example-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2486447.htm
Is an E36 M3 doable for £5k? And are the bills really that scary?
ETA- I'd really like a convertible. Have acquired a real taste for open top motoring with the '5!!
'03 model would have been an e46, not e36. I'm guessing that was main dealer servicing as it doesn't have to be that expensive if you go to a good indy.
Have a look on www.e36coupe.com mate, the question gets asked a lot and you'll find loads of info. General consensus seems to be that they can't be run on a budget.
Have a look on www.e36coupe.com mate, the question gets asked a lot and you'll find loads of info. General consensus seems to be that they can't be run on a budget.
Holy thread resurrection!
I've again started to get the E36 M3 itch- It seems to fit exactly what I'm after in a car, and there are some decent-looking ones around the £3k mark.
Sooo, which model is the one to go for- I've seen a few, but can't work out what difference an "Evolution" makes. I'm quite keen on a convertible since it's the "correct" time of year to buy one, but do the rooves have common faults?
What other common faults might I need to avoid- From what I can see VANOS actually isn't a wallet-raping problem!
I've again started to get the E36 M3 itch- It seems to fit exactly what I'm after in a car, and there are some decent-looking ones around the £3k mark.
Sooo, which model is the one to go for- I've seen a few, but can't work out what difference an "Evolution" makes. I'm quite keen on a convertible since it's the "correct" time of year to buy one, but do the rooves have common faults?
What other common faults might I need to avoid- From what I can see VANOS actually isn't a wallet-raping problem!
carreauchompeur said:
Sooo, which model is the one to go for- I've seen a few, but can't work out what difference an "Evolution" makes. I'm quite keen on a convertible since it's the "correct" time of year to buy one, but do the rooves have common faults?
Evolution (was most of the production) was a 3.2 double vanos which I understand were more problematic. The original car was a 3.0 but I believe was only produced for a year or two.I was specifically looking for a 3.0 when I had the E36 M3 itch.
The roofs are generally OK, but the older motors can struggle with the first bit of the opening 'lifting' operation (but nothing that a bit of a shove with the hand wouldn't overcome)
carreauchompeur said:
Holy thread resurrection!
I've again started to get the E36 M3 itch- It seems to fit exactly what I'm after in a car, and there are some decent-looking ones around the £3k mark.
Sooo, which model is the one to go for- I've seen a few, but can't work out what difference an "Evolution" makes. I'm quite keen on a convertible since it's the "correct" time of year to buy one, but do the rooves have common faults?
What other common faults might I need to avoid- From what I can see VANOS actually isn't a wallet-raping problem!
I had an E36 M3 Evo coupe in Estoril blue and loved it. Things that go wrongI've again started to get the E36 M3 itch- It seems to fit exactly what I'm after in a car, and there are some decent-looking ones around the £3k mark.
Sooo, which model is the one to go for- I've seen a few, but can't work out what difference an "Evolution" makes. I'm quite keen on a convertible since it's the "correct" time of year to buy one, but do the rooves have common faults?
What other common faults might I need to avoid- From what I can see VANOS actually isn't a wallet-raping problem!
1- rust on the rear arches, but also underneath.
2- rear topmounts are rubbish as standard, consider replacing with Rogue Engineering items. A mate of mine had a standard top mount fail and ended up with a strut sticking through the side of his boot.
3- VANOS - I think Dr. (or Mr. - I can never remember) VANOS charges something like £1500 on exchange. If you're careful when hunting around, this shouldn't bite you.
4 - Bushes, particular the rear trailing arm front bushes and the front wishbone rear bushes. If the rear trailing arm bushes have gone, you should fee the rear end moving around a bit more than expected.
5 - Window regulators - quite common for the auto up and/or down to fail.
The Evo is the better car - as the name suggests, there were a raft of improvements made.
- 6 speed box, better economy
- better brakes
- better designed head, twin pickup sump
- digi climate control
- different geometry
- different steering rack
The Evo is the one to go for as it drives better.
I've had a couple. One cost me peanuts to run, the other cost me £30k in 24 months. But that was all voluntary spending...
- 6 speed box, better economy
- better brakes
- better designed head, twin pickup sump
- digi climate control
- different geometry
- different steering rack
The Evo is the one to go for as it drives better.
I've had a couple. One cost me peanuts to run, the other cost me £30k in 24 months. But that was all voluntary spending...
inkiboo said:
Given we are over 10 years since they stopped making the Evo, pretty much every one I have seen for sale has had the Vanos done and those that haven't will need it soon.
Cost is just over £700 for Mr Vanos; I should know as I've just had it done on my M3 Touring.
Thanks for the correction, it has been a while since I looked into such things. Mine hadn't had the VANOS done, but then it was only on 90k at the time I had it. I take it you're the chap with the M3 Touring in the Readers' Cars section, that must give a few people a shock. :-) Cost is just over £700 for Mr Vanos; I should know as I've just had it done on my M3 Touring.
Jimmy No Hands said:
Ironically I've just watched the Wheeler Dealers ep where they bought an E36 for £4500. One refurbed gearbox and a second hand interior later and it looked brill! I've nothing to add really apart from I really like them! 
They ruined the wheels though if I remember rightly....I've owned 2 evos and a 3.0 liter non evo, the Evo's are much better than the previous versions as a standard road car, not much more to add from me on top of what others have said, rear brake pipes have a habit of corroding, this can require the fuel tank to be dropped to replace them.
Standard suspension isn't bad, but it sits a bit high at the front for my liking, Eibach sportline springs sort this out and are pretty good as a halfway house between trackday and road.
Find one with genuine floating BMW front discs if you can as these are great as standard, these work well in combination with Mintex or Pagid pads.
I loved mine, but had Vanos issues with each Evo, Mr Vanos (Steve) is a good guy, and knows his stuff and as others have pointed out can fix these units for around £700 all in (he can even visit you and work on site).
After Xmas i think i will be buying another one, Probably an Estoril coupe but if i can find an Imola Individual at a reasonable price it's going to be a definite.
Standard suspension isn't bad, but it sits a bit high at the front for my liking, Eibach sportline springs sort this out and are pretty good as a halfway house between trackday and road.
Find one with genuine floating BMW front discs if you can as these are great as standard, these work well in combination with Mintex or Pagid pads.
I loved mine, but had Vanos issues with each Evo, Mr Vanos (Steve) is a good guy, and knows his stuff and as others have pointed out can fix these units for around £700 all in (he can even visit you and work on site).
After Xmas i think i will be buying another one, Probably an Estoril coupe but if i can find an Imola Individual at a reasonable price it's going to be a definite.
not an e36 but a z3m with same engine and brakes etc...
in 2 1/2 years not a thing has gone wrong, had a new vanos a few months before i bought it. 40k miles later she is still going strong. serviced at a specialist £400 for a insp 2 + other minor bits was the biggest bill i've had. (except fuel, get a rewards card for BP/Tesco etc!!)
and as previously said BMW OEM brake discs are the best option with mintex are my favourite, with breaided lines and some air ducting.
in 2 1/2 years not a thing has gone wrong, had a new vanos a few months before i bought it. 40k miles later she is still going strong. serviced at a specialist £400 for a insp 2 + other minor bits was the biggest bill i've had. (except fuel, get a rewards card for BP/Tesco etc!!)
and as previously said BMW OEM brake discs are the best option with mintex are my favourite, with breaided lines and some air ducting.
inkiboo said:
SuperVM said:
I take it you're the chap with the M3 Touring in the Readers' Cars section, that must give a few people a shock. :-)
That would indeed be me. And yes, it shocks quite a few people! Mostly recently a 330 who was trying very, very hard!The E36 M3 is dating really well in my eyes having now gone through its council estate phase.
What are people's thoughts on this one? It's definitely towards the lower end price-wise. I think given the comments so far I definitely want an Evolution, and am leaning away from the convertible due to the comments about scuttle shake and my own concerns about attracting the wrong kind of attention!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3354381.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3354381.htm
Looks like a good useable evo providing no nasty noises or too many sundries need replacing. They look so much better without the rear spoiler imo.
Love the below vid, fascinating how the higher reving e36 puts up a good fight against the faster e39. If the above car is ok, it's a bloody bargain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtXimH1kVG0
Love the below vid, fascinating how the higher reving e36 puts up a good fight against the faster e39. If the above car is ok, it's a bloody bargain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtXimH1kVG0
Edited by exgtt on Wednesday 7th December 21:14
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