bristol_fez

iTrader: (1)

Hi,

After a few months of searching for an octavia and not finding the right one, i have decided to look at E36 coupe's.

as there are a fair few BMW owners on here i am just wondering what to look out for when buying one, thanks for any info in advance.

Cheers
Dom

C4llyT

Depends which one, rusty rear arches on them all.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

i'm thinking about selling mine if your interested, but if your not interested i know a fair bit about them





m52 engines, (6 pots) suffered from the dreaded nikasil liner issue. make sure the engine block has been replaced (mine has)

they suffer from suspension problems, if you here any knocks, it could turn out expensive unless you can fix yourself, front lower ball joints are a bit of a pain

i've got loads of info on them mate if you want to drop me a PM/ message.

Matt

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

mine hasnt

BM08

Nor has my 130k n plate

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

I've never seen an E36 with rusty arches. Mind you I've never really looked, lol

Dangerous Malcolm..

They're very long lasting cars if looked after, and apart from rear trailing arm bushes and front lower arms they're pretty bullet proof. They do tend to rust on the rear arches and front wings but I have yet to see a rotten one.

Best of all they're rear wheel drive and parts are cheap and plentiful.

bristol_fez

iTrader: (1)

cheers for the info guys, was really looking at the 318/323 mtech versions, i do a fair few miles so has to be ok on fuel but nippy enough to get me about and i think the m-tech ones look pretty nice

C4llyT

I'd just get an M3, none of them did any more on a tank than my M3, all do the same more or less so may as well get a nice and nippy one.

Dangerous Malcolm..

They look good with the MTEC kit. Mine is a 318is which is er,,,, nippy but nowt special. You can get the arse out easy enough in the wet though. The 323's ain't bad on fuel and you get a decent bit of power and a silky smooth 6 pot.

BM08

bit of a price difference in initial buying and insuring compared to a 318

bristol_fez

iTrader: (1)

M3 is slighty impractical for an every day car as the costs to insure, fix etc is more than most.

the reason for wanting a smaller engine is as above and hopefully soon i will be getting another RS so speed etc is not the priority

BM08

Get on piston heads mate, loads of E36's on there

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

318is + a remap

C4llyT

As neither was mentioned I didn't account for them, sorry.

BM08

Jim Galbally

price to buy is pretty similar between 318 IS's and M3 nowadays actually. and they again cost pretty similar ammounts of money to maintain properly.

the only big cost difference is the insurance as E35 M3s are silly high insurance

Mike1

Rear brake pipes are a devil for rotting - most places will drop the tank to replace them and it can be pricey. You can do them from above but it's a bit fiddly.
So if you're not mechanically minded budget a couple of hundred quid if you aren't going to re-route them.

Front wishbone ball joints and the bushes at the rear of the wishbone go - can feel like warped discs. ( Use E30 wishbones if you want a better response and the eccentric rear wishbone bushes to give a bit more caster )

Cooling systems can be awkward to bleed on 6 cylinder M52 occasionally - check to see if water pump has been replaced ( hopefully metal impellor jobbie ) and also do viscous coupling if it hasn't been done. If they go the fan can take your rad with it. Make sure temp gauge sits in middle - they're damped so should not move up and down once up to temp ( might need new thermostat ).

Check steering shaft recall has been done.

Check rear springs aren't broken ( jack right up in air and feel around bottom coil where it sits in cup )

If the rack is going, replace with a Z3 or E46 Compact one - makes a world of difference even though only half a turn of lock less

There's lots of little tweaks you can do to them if you want to

makaveli96

This is my partly owned bmw e36 it’s only a 318is very nice cars to drive and reliable enough.

bristol_fez

iTrader: (1)

cheers mike a lot of useful info there

makavali, nice motor you got there hopefully i can find something that has been well kept.

M3 is not practical for daily running so that is out of the question, i would like a straight six as long as it has been looked after as the sound they make is awesome as far as i am concerned.