e36 316 compact advice

Post Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:19 pm

Well my mate is looking at one tomorrow and its priced up about 700 notes. I said I'll go with him for a bit of a nose about. Is there anything we should be looking for that could be trouble or cause future problems?
Cheers

Post Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:28 pm

Make sure the electric windows go up and down without a fuss.

Post Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:53 pm

Apart from being annoying any other reason for that?

Post Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:18 am

Make sure the car starts up, no misfires etc, and heats up as it should - the M43 donk is very reliable but it does like a head gasket around 100K. Check sills and arches but Compacts seem more rust resistant than other E36 variants..

Post Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:54 am

Problems with the windows aren't uncommon, the regulators and clips just don't seem very strong, the arms bend and they don't drop level.

Head gaskets / cooling system as above, and getting old enough to start needing rear beam bushes, which are the same as on an e30. Worth making sure the spare wheel is still there and in decent condition as it lives under the boot floor.

As has been said above, they seem to be the most rust resistant of all the e36s, but there are some scabby ones about.

Post Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:52 am

I'm scrapping one at the end of the month so if you need any spare parts let me know