e36 M3 Evo Convertible
Discussion
Hi all,
Had a search but couldn't find much info.
I'm after buying advice on the e36 M3 Evo convertible please. I've asked on BMWland but got little feedback. D/loaded Total BMW Mag buyers guides....
Looking at the car on Wednesday evening:
'96 P
75,000 miles with FBMWSH
Standard spec
Prob take it away for £13.5k
What things should I look for. I hear the VANOS is troublesome - can a BMW dealer tell from a diag check if it's ok? Any other common problems?
I appreciate your assistance with this.
James
Had a search but couldn't find much info.
I'm after buying advice on the e36 M3 Evo convertible please. I've asked on BMWland but got little feedback. D/loaded Total BMW Mag buyers guides....
Looking at the car on Wednesday evening:
'96 P
75,000 miles with FBMWSH
Standard spec
Prob take it away for £13.5k
What things should I look for. I hear the VANOS is troublesome - can a BMW dealer tell from a diag check if it's ok? Any other common problems?
I appreciate your assistance with this.
James
okay I found a few threads!
Question - The VANOS is the key problem. The car is a private sale with FBMWSH - what is the best route to take?
Will a BMW dealer do an inspection and failure to uncover a potential problem be liable later on?
I had a Lotus Esprit inspected and that uncovered problems. Well worth £80 fee - what cost should I expect to pay for BMW to do this.
Question - The VANOS is the key problem. The car is a private sale with FBMWSH - what is the best route to take?
Will a BMW dealer do an inspection and failure to uncover a potential problem be liable later on?
I had a Lotus Esprit inspected and that uncovered problems. Well worth £80 fee - what cost should I expect to pay for BMW to do this.
Try here http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com/default.asp. There are quite a few M3ers on there including one of the moderators (Kilo).
AFAIK there arent many problems with the E36M3 bar vanos. Once you have seen the car you should be able to check if the VANOS has been sorted by calling the service dealers of BMW uk with the reg no (plus chassis no if you have it).
Nice cars, I quite fancy one for next year, not dynamically as good as the coupe but so what.
AFAIK there arent many problems with the E36M3 bar vanos. Once you have seen the car you should be able to check if the VANOS has been sorted by calling the service dealers of BMW uk with the reg no (plus chassis no if you have it).
Nice cars, I quite fancy one for next year, not dynamically as good as the coupe but so what.
Tried to register at http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com but never received the confirmation email. Hit the back arrow and the email address is correct.
Could someone please post in the forum for me? I can read - just not post
http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com
Could someone please post in the forum for me? I can read - just not post
http://forum.bmwcarmagazine.com
techno violet double
JRSE - I had a techno violet P reg Evo 'vertible (picture on my profile) that was MINT. Had 72k on it, full BMWSH, but a very good spec (cruise, tracker, headed seats etc) and a £2000 professionally installed sound system. I let that go for £12500 (with 4 as-new tyres) - admittedly for a quick sale. I've had both coupes and convertibles, and yes the coupes are far better drivers cars - but only really at the edges of what you can get them to do. For normal road crusing the difference - in my humble opinion - is small.
Sure you get squeaks and rattles on the verts, that's part of the ownership experience. There is more flex when cornering hard or at speed. They simply don't feel AS assured through the twisties. But then you have to remember we're talking about the difference in dynamics between a world leading car, and it's convertible sibling. It's still a f-ing good car no matter which way you cut it!
However, nobody ever told me (to my face anyway) that I should have got a coupe, and anyone that did have that thought would've had a very different thought when the sun is shining, the roof is down, you're just as quick (give or take bugger all), and you can chat to attractive women at traffic lights with ease....he he he.
When I bought my E46 - I considered getting a coupe for about 2 seconds - yes I KNOW it's better in many aspects - but you buy a convertible with your heart (and your posing pouch) - and not your head.
Go for it - you'll love it. But DO get it inspected - could be the best money you ever spend.
Enjoy.
Sure you get squeaks and rattles on the verts, that's part of the ownership experience. There is more flex when cornering hard or at speed. They simply don't feel AS assured through the twisties. But then you have to remember we're talking about the difference in dynamics between a world leading car, and it's convertible sibling. It's still a f-ing good car no matter which way you cut it!
However, nobody ever told me (to my face anyway) that I should have got a coupe, and anyone that did have that thought would've had a very different thought when the sun is shining, the roof is down, you're just as quick (give or take bugger all), and you can chat to attractive women at traffic lights with ease....he he he.
When I bought my E46 - I considered getting a coupe for about 2 seconds - yes I KNOW it's better in many aspects - but you buy a convertible with your heart (and your posing pouch) - and not your head.
Go for it - you'll love it. But DO get it inspected - could be the best money you ever spend.
Enjoy.
Thanks for posting in the other forum - only just got my confirmation email to the forum!
That's the stuff I wanted to hear! Never had a convertible before but looking forwards to owning one. The car has a tracker and CAT1 which is good for me and the insurers! Let's hope it's a nice summer!
I've left a message for the owner regarding an inspection. Obviously if he isn't up for that then there is something to hide...
That's the stuff I wanted to hear! Never had a convertible before but looking forwards to owning one. The car has a tracker and CAT1 which is good for me and the insurers! Let's hope it's a nice summer!
I've left a message for the owner regarding an inspection. Obviously if he isn't up for that then there is something to hide...
Ok, I can speak from first hand experience of this, I had a 98 plate M3 EVO, great car, but had to sell it because the only british made part on the whole car is the vanos, its made by RR, and guess what, it is trouble some, and mine started to wine. I managed to off load it before having to pay the 1500 pound bill to fix it.
However a twist to the story, I did not learn my lesson, I went and bought a 98 Lotus Esprit v8, which wipes the flow of the m3, different class I know, but £8000 later its still with Lotus HQ being sorted out, BMW may have a crap vanos, but Lotus has have the most un-reliable car in history.
ta ta
However a twist to the story, I did not learn my lesson, I went and bought a 98 Lotus Esprit v8, which wipes the flow of the m3, different class I know, but £8000 later its still with Lotus HQ being sorted out, BMW may have a crap vanos, but Lotus has have the most un-reliable car in history.
ta ta
Carrying on... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101061&f=72&h=0 - Please reply!
The Esprit forum on here told me "you need to be forgiving with these cars". That was quite off putting but I guess honest! The inspection on the S4 surprised me as the car hadn't covered a great deal of miles but was in need of TLC. I couldn't agree a price with the owner then!
The Esprit forum on here told me "you need to be forgiving with these cars". That was quite off putting but I guess honest! The inspection on the S4 surprised me as the car hadn't covered a great deal of miles but was in need of TLC. I couldn't agree a price with the owner then!
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