e36 328i, how much to fix? worth it?
Discussion
Right, i have been offered a green 328i coupe with 6 months tax and m.o.t for around £500.
It has leather and nearly new tyres and the engine and gearbox seem tight and good,but it also has a fair few issues.
climate control/blower not working, electric windows not working, power steering is very heavy (pump?) and it has an abs light up on the dash.
Is it worth buying or are these things going to cost a fortune?
I would probably get my money back if i was to break it but thats not really what i want to do.
Thanks for any input.
It has leather and nearly new tyres and the engine and gearbox seem tight and good,but it also has a fair few issues.
climate control/blower not working, electric windows not working, power steering is very heavy (pump?) and it has an abs light up on the dash.
Is it worth buying or are these things going to cost a fortune?
I would probably get my money back if i was to break it but thats not really what i want to do.
Thanks for any input.
Fleckers said:
you need to know what is the real problem
is it a fuse on the blower and windows
is it lack of fluid on the PS
ABS light, is it just a sensor
i know what you are saying but unfortunately i cant get a mechanic there as he is very busy as xmas has just gone, it would be a case of getting it looked at after really.is it a fuse on the blower and windows
is it lack of fluid on the PS
ABS light, is it just a sensor
I dont really want to go and start changing fuses and for it to work only for the guy to find i have fixed it and decides to keep it.
I had a 328 coupe and parts were really not all that bad.
A new brake caiper was £55 from our local motor factor. As there are a few around it shouldnt be difficult to get a power steering pump, ABS unit or AC control panel from a scrappy. Windows sound an easy fix. Air bag may be the sensor under the seat, quite common.
Depends on your budget.
A new brake caiper was £55 from our local motor factor. As there are a few around it shouldnt be difficult to get a power steering pump, ABS unit or AC control panel from a scrappy. Windows sound an easy fix. Air bag may be the sensor under the seat, quite common.
Depends on your budget.
I had a 328 coupe and parts were really not all that bad.
A new brake caiper was £55 from our local motor factor. As there are a few around it shouldnt be difficult to get a power steering pump, ABS unit or AC control panel from a scrappy. Windows sound an easy fix. Air bag may be the sensor under the seat, quite common.
Depends on your budget.
A new brake caiper was £55 from our local motor factor. As there are a few around it shouldnt be difficult to get a power steering pump, ABS unit or AC control panel from a scrappy. Windows sound an easy fix. Air bag may be the sensor under the seat, quite common.
Depends on your budget.
I say no for the following reason:
You can get decent examples of these cars without faults for ~£700.
So if one or all of your faults turns out to cost £200 or more (or be a complete no go come MOT time) then you've not got a cheap 328i, you've got an expensive one.
I'd want to be very sure of the nature of the faults before spending cash, unless you're handy with a spanner and know a good scrappy.
That said, parts aren't expensive for these cars - huge commonality across the range helps, so if you fancy a punt, you can only lose £500!
You can get decent examples of these cars without faults for ~£700.
So if one or all of your faults turns out to cost £200 or more (or be a complete no go come MOT time) then you've not got a cheap 328i, you've got an expensive one.
I'd want to be very sure of the nature of the faults before spending cash, unless you're handy with a spanner and know a good scrappy.
That said, parts aren't expensive for these cars - huge commonality across the range helps, so if you fancy a punt, you can only lose £500!
WeirdNeville said:
I say no for the following reason:
You can get decent examples of these cars without faults for ~£700.
So if one or all of your faults turns out to cost £200 or more (or be a complete no go come MOT time) then you've not got a cheap 328i, you've got an expensive one.
I'd want to be very sure of the nature of the faults before spending cash, unless you're handy with a spanner and know a good scrappy.
That said, parts aren't expensive for these cars - huge commonality across the range helps, so if you fancy a punt, you can only lose £500!
He won't loose £500, if its a dog he could break it or make a track weapon put of it.You can get decent examples of these cars without faults for ~£700.
So if one or all of your faults turns out to cost £200 or more (or be a complete no go come MOT time) then you've not got a cheap 328i, you've got an expensive one.
I'd want to be very sure of the nature of the faults before spending cash, unless you're handy with a spanner and know a good scrappy.
That said, parts aren't expensive for these cars - huge commonality across the range helps, so if you fancy a punt, you can only lose £500!
Either way he won't loose anything so I think go for it, they could be simple fixes and only cost a fiver and he will have a cheap car.
Go for it OP
WeirdNeville said:
I say no for the following reason:
You can get decent examples of these cars without faults for ~£700.
So if one or all of your faults turns out to cost £200 or more (or be a complete no go come MOT time) then you've not got a cheap 328i, you've got an expensive one.
I'd want to be very sure of the nature of the faults before spending cash, unless you're handy with a spanner and know a good scrappy.
That said, parts aren't expensive for these cars - huge commonality across the range helps, so if you fancy a punt, you can only lose £500!
in scrap along it would be worth a fair some, strip parts, wheels, windows etc, and you could easily make £500 back.You can get decent examples of these cars without faults for ~£700.
So if one or all of your faults turns out to cost £200 or more (or be a complete no go come MOT time) then you've not got a cheap 328i, you've got an expensive one.
I'd want to be very sure of the nature of the faults before spending cash, unless you're handy with a spanner and know a good scrappy.
That said, parts aren't expensive for these cars - huge commonality across the range helps, so if you fancy a punt, you can only lose £500!
on the otherhand, the problems don't look too tough to fix to me if you've got the time and patience.
Pretty much you can't lose, although I wouldn't bother fixing it unless the parts are really cheap or the car is really nice.
Of course if it can be fixed all in for £250 you've done very well regardless but if it's more than that I'd move it on.
If it's a bit ropey, frilly round the arches, etc., it's a breaker even with just that.
Of course if it can be fixed all in for £250 you've done very well regardless but if it's more than that I'd move it on.
If it's a bit ropey, frilly round the arches, etc., it's a breaker even with just that.
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