Discussion
This is another one of those car's I've always promised myself. Found this one going cheap on Ebay, in my favourite coulour and choice of wheels and not messed around with. It was a bit far away being in Edinburgh, but I get free rail travel with my job - even managed to blag it into first class on the Voyager up there so had a complimentary breakfast and stuff on the way up yesterday morning. Unfortunately it took over twice as long to get back after a snarl up on the M6 at Thelwall viaduct.
The car was exactly as the seller had described, mechanically it seems fine, engine bay and oil are nice and clean so despite the very thin service history I wasn't put off. I've got all the MOT's from this decade that verify the mileage (just under 100k). There's a few things not perfect about it, but then it was priced very competitively at just £2000.
The one problem with it being black (apart from being hard to keep clean!) is that it makes any rust harder to see. It's got a few little bubbles starting to come through on the leading edge of the windscreen, one of the rear arches and on lip under the rubber seal by the bootlid, but nothing that'll need immediate attention. More pressingly there is an issue with the wheels, they should be 8.5" on the rear and 7.5" on the front (not sure what size the spare should be). At the moment the car is wearing 7.5" on the rear and front right, with an 8.5" on the front left, but all tyres are matching 235/40 R17s all round. I can only imagine the previous owner had buckled a wheel and put it on the back to minimise vibration. Also the back box is blowing slightly, but I know a very good BMW breakers locally who specialise in M cars so I should be able to replace these easily enough.
I'll probably fit the CD changer I stripped out of my track car as this one has a minidisc player which is of no use to me.
I know it's not perfect but I challenge anyone to find a faster car for the money.
The car was exactly as the seller had described, mechanically it seems fine, engine bay and oil are nice and clean so despite the very thin service history I wasn't put off. I've got all the MOT's from this decade that verify the mileage (just under 100k). There's a few things not perfect about it, but then it was priced very competitively at just £2000.
The one problem with it being black (apart from being hard to keep clean!) is that it makes any rust harder to see. It's got a few little bubbles starting to come through on the leading edge of the windscreen, one of the rear arches and on lip under the rubber seal by the bootlid, but nothing that'll need immediate attention. More pressingly there is an issue with the wheels, they should be 8.5" on the rear and 7.5" on the front (not sure what size the spare should be). At the moment the car is wearing 7.5" on the rear and front right, with an 8.5" on the front left, but all tyres are matching 235/40 R17s all round. I can only imagine the previous owner had buckled a wheel and put it on the back to minimise vibration. Also the back box is blowing slightly, but I know a very good BMW breakers locally who specialise in M cars so I should be able to replace these easily enough.
I'll probably fit the CD changer I stripped out of my track car as this one has a minidisc player which is of no use to me.
I know it's not perfect but I challenge anyone to find a faster car for the money.
benny.c said:
Nice one Rich 
What's the overall impression of the car? Speed, handling etc.
Wishing you'd got one for the track project now? £2K is bloody cheap for a sub 100K miles car - nice find.
It's completely different in character to the 325, being 1/3rd of a tonne heavier for a start. Initial acceleration off the line it doesn't feel quite as nippy as the 325, over say 50-60mph though this has the PWR advantage to pull ahead but not by as much as an M3 driver might expect. The brakes are definitely better compared to the track car's standard stoppers. Handling wise I've not really pushed it yet due to the mismatched wheels but I hope to get that resolved this week. The ride is firmer than a standard E36 but no where near as hard as the Gaz coilovers on the 325i.What's the overall impression of the car? Speed, handling etc.
Wishing you'd got one for the track project now? £2K is bloody cheap for a sub 100K miles car - nice find.
It makes a great quick road car that does everything: carries 4 people, decent size boot, unbelievably good on fuel for a car of this power. Not sure how accurate it is but here's what the computer was showing after the first 80 miles:
The great thing about the 325i is I don't mind wringing it's neck all the time as if say the engine blew, it's only £200 for a scrapyard replacement - for this thing it'll be at least a grand. That's not something I want to think of when I'm hitting the rev limiter on every up-change. On the road the M3 should have an easier life, so that's less of an issue.
AB said:
That looks lovely, still looks very modern. I think someone has been s
tting on the seats though, will look fine after a scrub.
Good work, do you have somewhere to keep her? lol.
I love the way they look as they left the factory, unfortunately so many are falling into the wrong hands nowadays.tting on the seats though, will look fine after a scrub.Good work, do you have somewhere to keep her? lol.
It wants a good Auto Glyming in and out, I might even see about changing the carpets for black ones as these show every mark.
I'll be calling the local housing association on Monday to see about hiring a lock-up as things are a little tight with 5 cars (all E36's!) ATM. The GF's 325td is up for it's MOT next week, if it fails miserably then that'll go and she can have my estate then I'll keep this as a daily driver.
croyde said:
Very nice find for a nice low price. Lovely.
olly22n said:
£2k?
wow.
It's not mint by any stretch of the imagination, it looks better in the pictures than it does up close. You can get some really nice ones for £3-3.5k, even an EVO model. wow.
To make it mint it would want a couple of hundred spending on the body work, a new alloy, headlight washer jet, carpets, replace the leaking rear shocker and blowing exhaust. I suppose unless I really shop around for the parts it could end up owing me more than an EVO.
paulpsz008 said:
Very impressed sniff. Another fantastic find, you definately have a talent for it?
It's not like I'll spend ages looking for something deliberately, I'll just be browsing then spot something. I didn't even haggle on this one cause the seller had already described every little fault, scuff or mark.did i mention i HATE you?!?
that is a proper bargain mate. you can't fall of at 2k, you could break it and make money if worst came to worst!!
by the way i did a track day at blyton yesterday, and my clutch is just a heat treated washer now... what are we running on the track car? i need uprated as i think the slicks killed it... well that and the flat out changes and constant rev limiter driving style ha ha
that is a proper bargain mate. you can't fall of at 2k, you could break it and make money if worst came to worst!!
by the way i did a track day at blyton yesterday, and my clutch is just a heat treated washer now... what are we running on the track car? i need uprated as i think the slicks killed it... well that and the flat out changes and constant rev limiter driving style ha ha
chriis said:
Nice car
Can i ask what the difference between this and the evo version are ?
Thanks Chris, I should be sorting out the mismatched alooys and exhaust tomorrw. Then I'll really be able to push it and give my verdict.Can i ask what the difference between this and the evo version are ?
The EVO's had a 3.2l double vanos engine (VVT on the inlet and exhaust cams) where as this just has the single vanos (VVT on the inlet cam only). They put out 317bhp (321ps) where as these put out 288bhp, some say the 3l cars take the miles better as they also have a tougher 5 speed gearbox (Evo's are 6 speed). The Evo's are newer so are generaly in better condition but are more expensive.
sniff diesel said:
chriis said:
Nice car
Can i ask what the difference between this and the evo version are ?
Thanks Chris, I should be sorting out the mismatched alooys and exhaust tomorrw. Then I'll really be able to push it and give my verdict.Can i ask what the difference between this and the evo version are ?
The EVO's had a 3.2l double vanos engine (VVT on the inlet and exhaust cams) where as this just has the single vanos (VVT on the inlet cam only). They put out 317bhp (321ps) where as these put out 288bhp, some say the 3l cars take the miles better as they also have a tougher 5 speed gearbox (Evo's are 6 speed). The Evo's are newer so are generaly in better condition but are more expensive.
Very tempting as a cool daily driver if they are as cheap as that now !
chriis said:
sniff diesel said:
chriis said:
Nice car
Can i ask what the difference between this and the evo version are ?
Thanks Chris, I should be sorting out the mismatched alooys and exhaust tomorrw. Then I'll really be able to push it and give my verdict.Can i ask what the difference between this and the evo version are ?
The EVO's had a 3.2l double vanos engine (VVT on the inlet and exhaust cams) where as this just has the single vanos (VVT on the inlet cam only). They put out 317bhp (321ps) where as these put out 288bhp, some say the 3l cars take the miles better as they also have a tougher 5 speed gearbox (Evo's are 6 speed). The Evo's are newer so are generaly in better condition but are more expensive.
Very tempting as a cool daily driver if they are as cheap as that now !
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Edited by sniff diesel on Monday 27th July 10:18
dan101smith said:
Bargain!
For a £2k buy price I'd be tempted to transplant the running gear into the track car, and break this one to get your money back.
But I can appreciate having an M3 road car is kinda fun too (I miss mine).
I suppose when the first big bill presents itself I may have to make a decision what to do with it. It's taxed till the end of August and MOT'd till end of March 2010 so there shouldn't be anything too soon hopefully. At least in the mean time I can get some miles on it and check it's all works as it should.For a £2k buy price I'd be tempted to transplant the running gear into the track car, and break this one to get your money back.
But I can appreciate having an M3 road car is kinda fun too (I miss mine).
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