Its a good price and a low mile example. Got FSH (most BMW). It's not a "sport".
What MPG could I expect and what should I double check?
Any advice welcomed!
E36 328i coupe, what to look out for?
Moderator: martauto
I'm on the verge of buying a 328i coupe and just wondered what the main things to look out for are?
Its a good price and a low mile example. Got FSH (most BMW). It's not a "sport".
What MPG could I expect and what should I double check?
Any advice welcomed!
Its a good price and a low mile example. Got FSH (most BMW). It's not a "sport".
What MPG could I expect and what should I double check?
Any advice welcomed!
How do you pronounce 'either'? I say 'either', but some say 'either'. Either is correct.
Rear arches, boot floor especially under battery. Jack it up on each jacking point using the BMW jack to test the sills. Inspect the area surrounding all four jacking pucks too.
Rear driveline- Rear shock top mounts fail, lower arm front bushes go and make huge clonks. Diff mounts can tear holes in the floor. Prop centre mounts fail, make an awful squealing noise, but are a cheap fix. Rear bearings go too and are tougher than e30 items to swap.
Engines- Do I need to mention Nikasil?
Check all inner panels for creases/ bumps from accidents.
Rear driveline- Rear shock top mounts fail, lower arm front bushes go and make huge clonks. Diff mounts can tear holes in the floor. Prop centre mounts fail, make an awful squealing noise, but are a cheap fix. Rear bearings go too and are tougher than e30 items to swap.
Engines- Do I need to mention Nikasil?
Check all inner panels for creases/ bumps from accidents.
Be a man for once in your life and sh!t in that boot!- Wilfred.
Yes to nikasil?johnna wrote:Rear arches, boot floor especially under battery. Jack it up on each jacking point using the BMW jack to test the sills. Inspect the area surrounding all four jacking pucks too.
Rear driveline- Rear shock top mounts fail, lower arm front bushes go and make huge clonks. Diff mounts can tear holes in the floor. Prop centre mounts fail, make an awful squealing noise, but are a cheap fix. Rear bearings go too and are tougher than e30 items to swap.
Engines- Do I need to mention Nikasil?
Check all inner panels for creases/ bumps from accidents.
Also, are they a good buy then? better/worse models about?
How do you pronounce 'either'? I say 'either', but some say 'either'. Either is correct.
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325isporttech1
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They are resonable to run and upto 30mpg is faily easy in them around town with more on a run, depends how you drive.
Easiest way to spot a nikasil engine is the silver vanos cover at the font of the engine, if its black its more than likely a replacement engine, you could always ring bmw up on 09062090001 to confirm and give them the reg or last 6? digits of the vin if you can get it before buying the car.
Nothing much more to note on the post above me that covers it all to be fair
Easiest way to spot a nikasil engine is the silver vanos cover at the font of the engine, if its black its more than likely a replacement engine, you could always ring bmw up on 09062090001 to confirm and give them the reg or last 6? digits of the vin if you can get it before buying the car.
Nothing much more to note on the post above me that covers it all to be fair
Whats wrong with nikasil?
The missus will be the main driver of this one and she is pretty good, steady but not too slow either.
This is an R reg so is that any clues?.
PS Simon13, that avatar is wrong mate
The missus will be the main driver of this one and she is pretty good, steady but not too slow either.
This is an R reg so is that any clues?.
PS Simon13, that avatar is wrong mate
How do you pronounce 'either'? I say 'either', but some say 'either'. Either is correct.
Simon is dead proud of that Avatar. Suffered during Ice Hockey IIRC.
Nikasil is a compound material that was used in a number of alloy cased BMW engines to save weight. It was okay when tested using higher grade fuels in Germany.
Many people in the UK bought cars with the engines and used supermarket petrol in them and basically they experienced premature bore wear.
Nikasil engines will have been replaced by engines with steel liners.
I forgot to mention that if you get any overheating on test/ inspection then walk away.
Nikasil is a compound material that was used in a number of alloy cased BMW engines to save weight. It was okay when tested using higher grade fuels in Germany.
Many people in the UK bought cars with the engines and used supermarket petrol in them and basically they experienced premature bore wear.
Nikasil engines will have been replaced by engines with steel liners.
I forgot to mention that if you get any overheating on test/ inspection then walk away.
Be a man for once in your life and sh!t in that boot!- Wilfred.
Ok, is overheating related to Nikasil?
If the car has sub 70,000 miles (proven) is that good?
Was that a puck related injury or the mindless violence that goes on in a good old fashioned game of ice hockey?
If the car has sub 70,000 miles (proven) is that good?
Was that a puck related injury or the mindless violence that goes on in a good old fashioned game of ice hockey?
How do you pronounce 'either'? I say 'either', but some say 'either'. Either is correct.
Nikasil problems can show as overheating, but mainly through lack of compression.
The m52 engine has an alloy head and an alloy block. Read up on Lee Parkes M52 swap into a compact and you'll see the worrysome side of the M52.
That said I have overheated the engine in my m52b20 with no longer term damage aparent.
The m52 engine has an alloy head and an alloy block. Read up on Lee Parkes M52 swap into a compact and you'll see the worrysome side of the M52.
That said I have overheated the engine in my m52b20 with no longer term damage aparent.
Be a man for once in your life and sh!t in that boot!- Wilfred.
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325isporttech1
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Thats not what ive learnt and been told and ive seen later ones than 95's with them so i dont know about that atallSimon13 wrote:my prefacelift touring has a black vanos cover and is nikasil along with millions of others!
M50's have ali covers and the very very early 95 M52's.
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325isporttech1
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Have you got any pictures of this 328i?Duke137 wrote:So a black cover is a replacement engine? Would that be better to see then or worse?
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nickso
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black cover doesn't mean its a replacement engine. mine is a replacement and its got a silver cover.
best way to tell is by the tag over the redundant sensor hole in the block.
best way to tell is by the tag over the redundant sensor hole in the block.
'88 e30 328i M52 track bint.
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octanejunkie
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The Nikasil issue is in the past now. Petrol in the late nineties contained too much sulpher which ate away the nikasil coating on the bores. This affected many other BMW models, as well as some Jags and other prestige cars using similar technology.
Petrol quality has moved on in leaps and bounds since then, and any 328's left out there will probably be ok in this respect.
Be wary of overheating and any coolant issues. 328's do not take kindly to being rebuilt after head gasket failure, and 9 times out of 10 the engine will have to be replaced.
They are however a durable and dependable engine if regular fluid changes are observed. They are smooth, understressed and make good power, and return far better MPG than the old 12v lumps. If the car you're looking at has clean oil, no leaks, and the antifreeze looks nice, then its probably ok.
Check for rust around the arches, front and back. Interior trim can be a bit brittle, but is easy to find second hand.
Prod every button and switch and ensure all the electrics are in good order. Check displays on the heater/air conditioner.
STAY AWAY from cars that have been modified. Choose a clean standard car with good history.
If in any doubt, walk away or haggle hard. Theres lots of E36 328's out there so you can afford to be choosy. Good luck
Petrol quality has moved on in leaps and bounds since then, and any 328's left out there will probably be ok in this respect.
Be wary of overheating and any coolant issues. 328's do not take kindly to being rebuilt after head gasket failure, and 9 times out of 10 the engine will have to be replaced.
They are however a durable and dependable engine if regular fluid changes are observed. They are smooth, understressed and make good power, and return far better MPG than the old 12v lumps. If the car you're looking at has clean oil, no leaks, and the antifreeze looks nice, then its probably ok.
Check for rust around the arches, front and back. Interior trim can be a bit brittle, but is easy to find second hand.
Prod every button and switch and ensure all the electrics are in good order. Check displays on the heater/air conditioner.
STAY AWAY from cars that have been modified. Choose a clean standard car with good history.
If in any doubt, walk away or haggle hard. Theres lots of E36 328's out there so you can afford to be choosy. Good luck
Good 328i Sports are getting rare, and it's worth getting a nice one now and looking after it. If I bought one, it'd have a new rad, water pump and stat straight away. It's well worth getting the wheels off, the arch liners out and going to town with a hose and a stiff brush to really clean the arches out before dosing the thing in Waxoyl. The 328i Auto is a really nice drive and they're very good on fuel on long trips.
The all plastic cam covers were fitted in late 1995 so some N reg cars will have them, some won't. Nikasil was replaced by steel liners in March 1998.
The all plastic cam covers were fitted in late 1995 so some N reg cars will have them, some won't. Nikasil was replaced by steel liners in March 1998.