BMW 328 coupe, 2000 model – head gasket problems

[thebullettrain]

One of my car dealer ‘mates’ has offered me a pretty clean v reg 328 coupe with 38k on the clock for £3950. However, it is misfiring and could have a head gasket problem.

Should I steer clear? Or go for it? Any ideas how much it would cost to fix the head gasket?

[MitchT]

E36 or E46?

[thebullettrain]

e46

[Gad-Westy]

thebullettrain said:

e46

Have you got access to the car to get a leak down test done?

FWIW It sounds cheap though even if it does have HGF but I'd want to know exaclty what I was buying into.

[thebullettrain]

Yes I have access to it. My brother in law knows a bit more about cars and if the leak down test is something one person can do I can ask him. Or is it something a BMW dealership would have to do?

[Dino D]

V reg
Only 38k miles
HG problems


Sounds very suspect no?

[thebullettrain]

Food for thought, the car was stolen by joyriders and it is suspected that they may have caused the damage.

[Dino D]

thebullettrain said:

Food for thought, the car was stolen by joyriders and it is suspected that they may have caused the damage.

Doesn't this make it a 'Cat' something or other?
Why such low miles in so many years? Been parked off in the pound since it was stolen recovered?

A mate of mine picked up 100k mile 325i e46 for just 2,5k from a main dealer (it wasn't advertised, he was in one day and noticed the invoice for the car and offered to buy it cash). It was red and very dirty but mechanically perfect with complete BMW service history from the sme dealer.

My point is that there may be better bargains out there with solid history but higher miles....

[MitchT]

Dino D said:

V reg
Only 38k miles
HG problems


Sounds very suspect no?

Very suspect I think. I can't comment on an E46 'cause E36s are my thing, but given that you'd be lucky to find a '99 V E36 318is with so low mileage for that price, let alone an E36 328, I think an E46 328 at such a low price is definitely hiding something.