e36 325i

[jaffro]

i no its not a e30 but what are e36 325i like 2 own. and what problems do they have if any. thanks

[Jhonno]

um other bmw chat maybe..

or better still e36coupe.com..

[jaffro]

oops.

[fozzymandeus]

well, the e36 is a great car, the M50 engine in the 325i is excellent, with few faults - principally the only thing to look for above good service history is that it's had the plastic impeller on the water pump swapped for a metal one. They are known for disintegrating.

Principal problem with the car is that most 325s are pretty old now (latest model 1995 irc) so are suffering from things like bodywork rust (bootlid and arches) and knackered suspension bits. They seem to eat suspension bushes more often than E30s (don't quote me).

Also, early E36s had rubbish interior build quality so expect bits and pieces to have collapsed, along with a rattly gearbox. (gearbox? I mean glove box!!)

Personally I reckon the facelift cars are more use - 323 and 328. The only disadvantage is nikasil but even that isnt a problem if you buy a car built after march '98.

[darkchild]

Excellent advice from fozzymandeus. I'd also advise checking the balljoints as the E36 has quite an appetite for them. The main problem you'll have with an E36 325i is finding a decent one. Most will be tired by now and, as they're so cheap to buy, a lot have been bodged by owners with not deep enough pockets to maintain them. A decent one though is a lovely car and a much more modern drive than an E30 325i. Evidence of regular maintenance, full toolkit, glovebox torch, original dealer numberplates all indicate a well cared for car. Avoid a bad one like the plague, they're just a money pit.

As fozzymandeus says, try and go for a later 323i/328i. The facelift makes it look a bit more modern, they tend to be of better build quality and they still have a value meaning they're unlikely to have fell into chav hands. A decent and well looked after E36 still drives like a new car and is not that far behind an E46.

[bodger]

sorry if this is a daft question but what is nikasil,i have a 96 e36

[darkchild]

sorry if this is a daft question but what is nikasil,i have a 96 e36

Nikasil is an engine bore coating that BMW used in the 1990's. What engine does yours have as on the E36 only the 320i, 323i and 328i were affected. The UK's high sulphur petrol basically buggered the coating causing BMW warranty hell.

[chinchilla]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil

[bodger]

phew mine is a 318is, cheers matey

[darkchild]

The 16 valve M42/M44 and 8 valve M43 used in the 4 cylinder E36's are practically bomb proof.

[fozzymandeus]

so are M50s (and M52s provided they arent already playing up compression-wise.)