Being ooop the grim north, rust is even more of an issue than down here. Have a good poke around the side skirts , flaking underseal at the rear of the sills and around the often missing jacking plugs can often lead to a hole
Dead A/C is never just gas. Airbag warning lights are common and now an MOT fail. Contrary to what the seller may tell you, a fuse won't fix it ! Rear wiper motors are often seized and the HRW is often moody due to lots of van action by previous council types ! Every compact I have ever owned or worked on has needed window attention at some stage so that is to be expected.
Make sure the rad has proper coolant and that the heater and the engine fan (late ones are electric)all work. The M44 is a lot less likely to think it is a kettle than a M43 but its not unknown.
Rear subframe mounts are a nasty job on a compact so have a good mooch around. Rear exhaust boxes are often toast.
Make sure it has a space saver spare and that the carrier hasn't gone all Titanic or awol.
It WILL need front wishbone bushes and outer balljoints but the good bits only cost £60 and a few hours swearing.
Like all old cars , they all have issues . But very few cars can be run as cheaply as these if you are handy. The bits are cheap and the scrapyards are full of E36s.
Luckily there are still loads of them around so just be patient and a nice one will appear
its true they only made 200 it was to celebrate the end of the e36 production.i enjoyed mine nearly bought it back a couple of times as its been passed about like a dirty old porn mag,get some 17's on it straight away makes it drive so much nicer
and had wha looked a fooked shock at the back