Eight Grand
 

Hi Guys:

My buddy recently got the BMW bug. He bought an E30 for zip, and is enjoying the drive. Now, he wants to go E36. He's got 8Gs to spend. What can he expect to get for that, in general? Anything to watch out for or be aware of. Mileage, year, etc...

Many thanks....

I'd stay away from an eight grand e36 period unless you know the previous long term owner very well.

i believe T-spec on the board has a very nice e36 for sale right know in that price range, PM him

$8000 can mean a VERY nice E30 325is, like mine for instance.

I'd rather take the best of a lower model than the worst of a higher model. I would never get an E36 unless it were an OBDII model, it's just not worth it.

Whats wrong with OBDI's?

I thought that OBDII's were a nightmare to soup up...

I'm just refering to age. It would have to be at least a '96, E36's have the worst reliability record of any 3-series to date. Getting an early one will only add to this.

And it has been proven that OBDII cars respond just as well to mods.

He does not want to mod it. Just a nice, 4 door, daily driver.

8 Grand private sale, c'mon there must be some worthy of the ca$h...:)

Just like you can find a VERY nice e36 you can find a VERY nice OBD I e36... and in terms of modding OBD I is the way to go, no question about it.

where did you get that information about e36?

8 G's will get you a 93-94 318i depending on Km's and stuff...if he goes to a dealer he'll pay upwards to $12 for the same car with the same km's...... So he's looking for a 93-94 in the end....

For reliability and problems you had asked about , well here's my little story.

I bought mine for 9 in may/03 with 217km on it...I had to change the rack and pinion on it for $550 re-built installed with a liftime warranty (through a connection). Bmw wanted $1047 not installed. Also I had to change a few lights wich cost about $2 each so that's another $4 gone and my block heater popped out while driving another $60 to tow it 60km and $65 for the block heater with installation. And that's just 6 months I had it.
When spring hits I need new rubber all the way around so about another $800 gone.
So in total I spent about 7 bills on it...so far. As long as the head gasket doesn't blow I'm happy.:D

Oh yeah around that year was known as the head gasket years....blowing at 120km. That's the first thing my Bmw mechanic told me when I bought it.

European Car I believe it was had the exact quote of the E36 being the least reliable 3-series chassis to date.

And the OBDII argument, I'm agreeing with that long, long thread that went on a little while back.

I will now await your "owns you" style reply. ;)

E36 are money sucking/making machines depending on what end of the service side you are on.:D :D

you'd hate to have an E30 then :rolleyes: