E36 Coupes, Talk to me
Discussion
Afternoon all,
I'm going to be looking for an E36 coupe at the moment, I have up to 1500 to spend and would like some opinions.
I've been looking out for 318is's. But have noticed that some 323's and even 328's fall into the price.
What things do I need to look out for in any of these cars?
Which would you go for if it were your money?
Thanks
Matt
I'm going to be looking for an E36 coupe at the moment, I have up to 1500 to spend and would like some opinions.
I've been looking out for 318is's. But have noticed that some 323's and even 328's fall into the price.
What things do I need to look out for in any of these cars?
Which would you go for if it were your money?
Thanks
Matt
Fairly solid cars, I have owned 3 E36s, 325 M3 and M3 Evo. All Great Cars.
Like most BMWs they like to eat bushes but its no big deal.
Go with the 328 if you can, as mentioned the economy is the same as a 320 and they go quite well.
Check for corroded rear brake lines as the rear ones are a devils own job to replace. You need to drop the fuel tank basically so the labour can be quite steep. Many will tell you you can do the job without dropping the tank but I wouldn't.
If you find a really cheap 328 check that its not an early one with a nikasil issues. Basically the cyclinder liners were made out of nikasil and the high sulpher content in fuel eats away at them. Find out if the car has an alusil lined block. Some people are still happily running nikasil engines and if itsgot high miles and still going you probably wouldnt have a prblem but once again, I wouldnt. There are enough about to go find another. I think the Nikasil engines were 95 through to 98 and on all I6 units.
Other than that I have only really had to change tie rods etc and corroded parts like exhausts etc. The heat shields on the cats tend to hang and rattle occasionally as they corrode but a new set of larger aluminium washers soon sorts this. Peanuts really.
The 328 Sport is a great value car that will deliver a lot of pleasure on a budget. I never owned one but have been out in many. I had a 325 which had a notoriously week cooling system as the early water pumps had plastic impellas inside them but once again not expensive to fix as long as you find the problem before it occurs.
My best advice is to visit www.e36coupe.com ;-)
Like most BMWs they like to eat bushes but its no big deal.
Go with the 328 if you can, as mentioned the economy is the same as a 320 and they go quite well.
Check for corroded rear brake lines as the rear ones are a devils own job to replace. You need to drop the fuel tank basically so the labour can be quite steep. Many will tell you you can do the job without dropping the tank but I wouldn't.
If you find a really cheap 328 check that its not an early one with a nikasil issues. Basically the cyclinder liners were made out of nikasil and the high sulpher content in fuel eats away at them. Find out if the car has an alusil lined block. Some people are still happily running nikasil engines and if itsgot high miles and still going you probably wouldnt have a prblem but once again, I wouldnt. There are enough about to go find another. I think the Nikasil engines were 95 through to 98 and on all I6 units.
Other than that I have only really had to change tie rods etc and corroded parts like exhausts etc. The heat shields on the cats tend to hang and rattle occasionally as they corrode but a new set of larger aluminium washers soon sorts this. Peanuts really.
The 328 Sport is a great value car that will deliver a lot of pleasure on a budget. I never owned one but have been out in many. I had a 325 which had a notoriously week cooling system as the early water pumps had plastic impellas inside them but once again not expensive to fix as long as you find the problem before it occurs.
My best advice is to visit www.e36coupe.com ;-)
328i sport!
There the best out of that buch by far! i have 1 myself!! all i can say is just check if you buy a car with nikisil you can get a leakout test for around £100 that will tell you if its suffering or a cheaper way to see is open the door whilst the car is running and leave it wide open and look at the top if its shakey then it could be an indication of piston leak, and when you buy one ask them to let you start it from cold as this will give you an opprtunity to see how the end bearings etc are.
There the best out of that buch by far! i have 1 myself!! all i can say is just check if you buy a car with nikisil you can get a leakout test for around £100 that will tell you if its suffering or a cheaper way to see is open the door whilst the car is running and leave it wide open and look at the top if its shakey then it could be an indication of piston leak, and when you buy one ask them to let you start it from cold as this will give you an opprtunity to see how the end bearings etc are.
I had a 1994 320 coupe for 14 years and 176,000 miles. Great car! Only things I needed to replace was a water pump and a couple of radiators.
I would avoid the 4 cylinder cars and go for a 6 - 320/325, best would be 328.
BTW one issue with the higher mileage cars is that they have pebble dashed the wheel arches. Which then rust.
I would avoid the 4 cylinder cars and go for a 6 - 320/325, best would be 328.
BTW one issue with the higher mileage cars is that they have pebble dashed the wheel arches. Which then rust.
Definitely go for the a six pot, the 318iS is good but the car is just too heavy.
Watch out for sticky window motors, rusty rear arches, chavved e36s and bore wear on the 328s - nikasil, rear mounts as majority will have done 100k+
Try and get the earlier 328 sport with an LSD rather than the ASC&T.
Watch out for sticky window motors, rusty rear arches, chavved e36s and bore wear on the 328s - nikasil, rear mounts as majority will have done 100k+
Try and get the earlier 328 sport with an LSD rather than the ASC&T.
Thanks for all the replies so far chaps, I've read about the nikasil issues on a few other cars I have looked at buying before.
It looks like a 328 is the one to go for, I'll be keeping a close look at the classifieds, ebay etc. With the budget I have, It will be an early car anyway
so hopefully will have a LSD, bonus!
Xavi, are you just replying to every thread on 328s and mentioning you have one for sale?
I've had a look through your posts and reading that you have tried drifting your car without previous experience and/or knowledge doesn't give me much confidence in buying yours.
It looks like a 328 is the one to go for, I'll be keeping a close look at the classifieds, ebay etc. With the budget I have, It will be an early car anyway
so hopefully will have a LSD, bonus!
Xavi, are you just replying to every thread on 328s and mentioning you have one for sale?
I've had a look through your posts and reading that you have tried drifting your car without previous experience and/or knowledge doesn't give me much confidence in buying yours.
MattMoore said:
Xavi, are you just replying to every thread on 328s and mentioning you have one for sale?
I've had a look through your posts and reading that you have tried drifting your car without previous experience and/or knowledge doesn't give me much confidence in buying yours.
I've had a look through your posts and reading that you have tried drifting your car without previous experience and/or knowledge doesn't give me much confidence in buying yours.
Aren't forums great...
texasjohn said:
MattMoore said:
Xavi, are you just replying to every thread on 328s and mentioning you have one for sale?
I've had a look through your posts and reading that you have tried drifting your car without previous experience and/or knowledge doesn't give me much confidence in buying yours.
I've had a look through your posts and reading that you have tried drifting your car without previous experience and/or knowledge doesn't give me much confidence in buying yours.
Aren't forums great...
y282 said:
i would like to point out for the record, mine has not been drifted.
pottered in, but not drifted.
Pottered in an M3 Evo??????pottered in, but not drifted.
I tried really, REALLY hard to get my 318iS to drift. It wouldn't. At least not in the dry ... in the wet it would just fishtail everywhere. Huge fun!
I do wish I'd gone for a 328 rather than the 318iS, but the insurance was a little less, and I'd just started paying the divorce settlement .... It was a hugely practical car as well - legroom was fine for 3 teenage kids in the back (stepson and his mates), load taking ability with the seats down was surprisingly good.
LOL the 328i i meant. hasn't been abused like they often are.
pics here:
http://s791.photobucket.com/albums/yy193/y282pics/...
ad here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1421725.htm
pics here:
http://s791.photobucket.com/albums/yy193/y282pics/...
ad here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1421725.htm
- EDIT* am i allowed to post those links here? can remove them if not, but it is a PH ad!
Edited by y282 on Monday 4th January 19:56
y282 said:
LOL the 328i i meant. hasn't been abused like they often are.
pics here:
http://s791.photobucket.com/albums/yy193/y282pics/...
ad here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1421725.htm
Now why couldn't that have been on the market a couple of years back when I was looking? Every 328 I saw at the time was a dog, the E36 Compact looked plain horrible, every 323 was an auto, and the 318iS I eventually got wasn't quite immaculate, but it ran absolutely perfect.pics here:
http://s791.photobucket.com/albums/yy193/y282pics/...
ad here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1421725.htm
- EDIT* am i allowed to post those links here? can remove them if not, but it is a PH ad!
Edited by y282 on Monday 4th January 19:56
Damn, I miss that car, and would still have it if I used condoms .....
MattMoore said:
I had a feeling that was your car, looks in really good condition. I might be in touch very shortly 
What are the chance of keeping the alloys in the pics on the car?
Matt, What are the chance of keeping the alloys in the pics on the car?
Really wanted to keep the AC3Rs, but 1500 would drive it away with them on it (tyres have plenty of tread but are cheapies). That's the minimum for cash, I'm pricing it to sell so wouldn't take any offers.
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