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Is It Worth To Buy A Bmw E36 318 ( 1996+ )


Nomad

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Hi everyone :) I'm planing to buy a bmw e36 316/318 in near future , probably a 1996- 1999. This is going to be my FIRST car :) Is it a okay car to buy ? I mean what are the major defects ? common issues ? I've heard some rumors about the water cooling system on it. but does it really matter for a properly maintained car ? I saw couple of vehicles which are up for the sale and the conditions are much better comparing to a JDM of its own class , Leather seats ,Climate control A/C etc . most are going around 13 - 16 lacks in here SL market. as far as I'm not really concerning about the fuel consumption but at least does it run 8-9km per 1 liter ? I'm okay with that range :) and what are the engine models that I have to care about ?
heard m40 is sohc and m42 is dohc , does m42 comes with the 318i ? I dont want to shoot for bigger engines , I'd be happy to go for 1500-1800 cc , Since I'm not a car expert , correct me If I was wrong and please do comment your valuable answers and help me to get some information about it :) Thank you !

Edited by Nomad
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having personally owned an e36, its an extremely enjoyable car to drive. It is quite comfortable but considering the age of the car, you will have to set aside some time and money to look after the car. These cars are not considerably costly to maintain, its just that they require a lot of time and dedication to keep it running well. If you are buying one, get it inspected my milord first, if its good buy it, and then use it for a couple of months before making the decision to restore the car, otherwise sell it if u feel that its too much work for you and it is too costly.
Good luck with your search

Mike

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Hi everyone :) I'm planing to buy a bmw e36 316/318 in near future , probably a 1996- 1999. This is going to be my FIRST car :) Is it a okay car to buy ? I mean what are the major defects ? common issues ? I've heard some rumors about the water cooling system on it. but does it really matter for a properly maintained car ? I saw couple of vehicles which are up for the sale and the conditions are much better comparing to a JDM of its own class , Leather seats ,Climate control A/C etc . most are going around 13 - 16 lacks in here SL market. as far as I'm not really concerning about the fuel consumption but at least does it run 8-9km per 1 liter ? I'm okay with that range :) and what are the engine models that I have to care about ?

heard m40 is sohc and m42 is dohc , does m42 comes with the 318i ? I dont want to shoot for bigger engines , I'd be happy to go for 1500-1800 cc , Since I'm not a car expert , correct me If I was wrong and please do comment your valuable answers and help me to get some information about it :) Thank you !

To get any real value for your money you need to at least get the 318i or the 320i. Both are 2L engines with 318i being 4 cylinder and the 320 being 6. There is a 316i as well which is a 1.8L but is a bit under powered. There are more exotic 325i 328i etc but they are rate in SL.

The options you mention, you can get on a JDM as well. A few econo JDMs particularly Mitsubishi Lancers had climate control AC even in the early 90s.

You need to get a car with known history, well maintained etc. Best get it inspected by a specialist or agent as well.

Don't buy one because its cheap. You won't one buy for fuel economy, and in general they cost a bit more to service and maintain. Your local mechanic can do some work, but for a lot a specialist is better. The M series petrol engines were fairly reliable, but you are likely to come accross issues with hoses, brakes, oil seals, cooling system etc.

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To get any real value for your money you need to at least get the 318i or the 320i. Both are 2L engines with 318i being 4 cylinder and the 320 being 6. There is a 316i as well which is a 1.8L but is a bit under powered. There are more exotic 325i 328i etc but they are rate in SL.

The options you mention, you can get on a JDM as well. A few econo JDMs particularly Mitsubishi Lancers had climate control AC even in the early 90s.

You need to get a car with known history, well maintained etc. Best get it inspected by a specialist or agent as well.

Don't buy one because its cheap. You won't one buy for fuel economy, and in general they cost a bit more to service and maintain. Your local mechanic can do some work, but for a lot a specialist is better. The M series petrol engines were fairly reliable, but you are likely to come accross issues with hoses, brakes, oil seals, cooling system etc.

one of the E36 325/328 Coupe's is on the market.....

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one of the E36 325/328 Coupe's is on the market.....

That would be an interesting buy indeed. What year is it? Its the later versions which are quite attractive as they came with more bells and whistles.

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Thank you all for supporting me to find the best solution ( mike page ,devinda and don )

@the don : As far as Im considering to buy a 1.8L , I'm a complete subaru guy , who used to love em all from my heart ! but i do found something interesting in E36 , I dont know what is it , but i'm in love with it , may be the look or the class ! I always wanted to own a Subaru , probably a Hawkeye ( 2007 Impreza ) , the only reason I couldn't afford a one because my budget is kinda limit around 14 -15 lacks. There are 1.5L Manual GC8's going cheaper around 16lacks, so I could only go for a basic GC8 with a 1.5L engine ( non- turbo one ) , I'd really happy to have a flat four boxer, but without a turbo its not a proper Subaru, that I always wanted to drive. So at some point I have to choose E36 over the GC8 ( It looks attractive and less expensive comparing to a STI ) sorry for being too emotional :|

I heard the M43 comes with a timing chain , how can I identify those things before I buy a one ?

thank you ! :)

Edited by Nomad
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A point to remember is that you're picking up an older Bimmer and to keep a decent financial buffer to clean up things which are not in optimal shape. And parts aren't exactly cheap. As mentioned before, you an't buy one because it is cheap either. So keep looking for a while to find that right car for the right price.

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Hi Nomad, the E36 models 94 and after should have the M43 4 pot engines. The 316=1600 and 318=1800 engines. The pre 94 engines had the M40 engines, these were carried forward from the E30s. The M40 engines have timing belts, however, the M43 range and after has timing chains. The M43 engines have a better torque curve in compairson to M40s. All 6 pot engines (M50) were chain driven after the M20 went out of production...

If possible, get a brand new imported car which is tropicalized. The UK grey imports have their own issues in terms of rust and mechnicals, specially in the cooling department. Best would be if you could get something between 1996-1998. These cars are bullet proof as longs as they have been mainatined well. With their age, expect a few rust spots around the mudguards and lower firewall areas. But as mentioned ealier always keep a buffer to iron out niggles.

Good luck with your search.

Edited by Rukster
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A point to remember is that you're picking up an older Bimmer and to keep a decent financial buffer to clean up things which are not in optimal shape. And parts aren't exactly cheap. As mentioned before, you an't buy one because it is cheap either. So keep looking for a while to find that right car for the right price.

yes be patient, even though it takes some time :)

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