Where to look for a clean e36

[reflex88]

I've got an e34 520i touring at the minute, but it's done 220k and I've scraped a few pennies into a pot to buy something worth keeping on the road, as the e34 is starting to feel a bit like a lost cause even with it's MOT.

So.. I want an e36 manual touring. I'd love a 318is, but obviously this wont happen as I want a touring.. So I'm thinking 323i or a super clean 320i.

I've looked on the obvious big car sales sites.. where else could I look? And is there any deep dark secret about the M52b23 e36 touring I should know?

[jimmyspeed]

5series look better -http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

[reflex88]

Oh man! That's squeaky clean, and a decently low millage too! Annd.. don;t se many poverty spec late cars like that.

However...
I reeeeeeeeeeeeeally don't want that sodding double sunroof again! And also, my pots not that big.

And I quite fancy an e36 as there's more about for less doh.

[reflex88]

and SLS!! Arrgghhhhhh!!! Noooo!

[Andyboy]

Finding a good E36 is now getting very, very hard. I bought one for 400 quid last month, a 1999 S 318i Touring SE. It's super clean but looking underneath, I found several areas of lifting underseal and rust starting so today I've been scraping, wire brushing and re-undersealing. It's rare inasmuch that everything works including the air con but I've still had bits to do to get it up to scratch - replace a noisy AC fan, two front shocks and a breather hose.
Sheer age is against the E36 now, and the E46 is an utter pile of rust prone, badly designed junk that's not fit to wear a Renault badge. Finding a half decent modern ish car that's tough, reliable and easy to fix is getting harder.

[pacerpete]

Finding a good E36 is now getting very, very hard. I bought one for 400 quid last month, a 1999 S 318i Touring SE. It's super clean but looking underneath, I found several areas of lifting underseal and rust starting so today I've been scraping, wire brushing and re-undersealing. It's rare inasmuch that everything works including the air con but I've still had bits to do to get it up to scratch - replace a noisy AC fan, two front shocks and a breather hose.
Sheer age is against the E36 now, and the E46 is an utter pile of rust prone, badly designed junk that's not fit to wear a Renault badge. Finding a half decent modern ish car that's tough, reliable and easy to fix is getting harder.

WHAT HE SAID !!!!

I personally would keep on top of the 520 devil you know.

It is worthless but working and I have lots of nice spares cheap from one I am currently breaking !

[darkchild]

Decent E36s are sadly becoming a thing of the past. A shame as they're a more robust car than the the E46.

Having had both as daily drivers I know what I prefer.

Just spotted a "new"one on Pistonheads:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... ew/2822159

[capri_rob]

Shame. I really rated both the e36's I owned and much prefer them to the e46.

The tourings are lovely but sadly as the numbers are dwindling a lot of the 6 cylinder ones that are left seem to be autos which means I'm out.

[J6]

I got myself a very nice 2.8 touring early this year. Had been looking for a good one for a while.
Its a great car, powerful and quiet and in my eyes something a bit different from the norm these days, almost a classic ???
Its well worth hunting down a good one but as has been said there's not many left now.

[Blitz]

Nothing wrong with the autos. Less stressful in traffic and the gearing is so tall it does 2200rpm at 70mph.

[darkchild]

Nothing wrong with the autos. Less stressful in traffic and the gearing is so tall it does 2200rpm at 70mph.

Spot on. The gearing makes the slush box 328i's very good on fuel.

[Simon13]

All 328's are good on fuel, my old manual touring would do 450 miles to a tank on a run no sweat. Cruise conrol obvs

[reflex88]

Thanks for the replies guys.. I reeeeeally don't want an auto though.. Not yet, maybe when I grow up a bit or have a city commute... I think I'll hold out for my manual touring. It doesn't have to be spotless. I just want to get away from the situation I'm in now where the rot is an issue but the car's to high milage to invest in. Suspension, wear and tear items etc etc feel so much more expensive on a car you know isn't worth the money.

On the other hand, I don't want a minty mint car either as my local yob patrol don't take kindly to sharp motors.... My friend spent ages looking for a straight honest Leon Cupra. We finally found one (I swear to god it was the last one as straight as the day it left the factory)... He's already sold it with in a year. Brake fluid over rear quarter. My fabia got kicked. My 34 was tagged in masrker pen. E36 will at least be easier to find panels for and blend in a bit more.

[zd3bx]

There's plenty of them on AutoTrader and Ebay, it's just like with any old car, it's a bit difficult to find a decent one for a fair price.

No magic secret, keep looking until something good comes up.

Poking around on E36 forums might help.

[csl]

My 328i touring manual was on car and classic and kind of bought on a whim. Turned out to be a fantastic,reliable machine,even after using it daily for well over 2 years.

I occasionally think of selling......but everything else that is newer that i like is fraught with potential money draining problems!

[George]

+1 on the E36 328i touring.

[rh306]

..the OP (Rob) just picked this cream puff up:



..a Chiswick car (Specialist Cars) 318i, 52,000 miles, manual, damage to door, otherwise extremely fresh and clean