90 E30 for $8K or 95 E36 for $9K????

[Sarc]

Hello everyone,

I've been hunting for a E36 318 for some time now, and I've come across one, BUT I have also come across a very clean E30.

Heres the tale of the tape;

1995 318i
78K miles
Blk/tan
5 speed
extended transferrable warenty till 2006
Second owner/very clean/selling because car is not needed
$9,500

1990 325is
78K miles
Blk/gray
5 speed
Second owner/all records/garage kept/very clean (owners words)/selling because wants to step up to a 540 or 740
$7,900

So my question is, which car is the better choice. This car is for my girlfriend who will commute approx. 40 miles a day. She like them both, but likes the price of the E30 better.
I'm leaning on the E30 as well, as its probably more fun to drive, and the owner sounds like an enthusiast who takes care of his cars.

Of course I would assume, as it is newer the 95 will be more trouble free.
I guess the one thing that catches my eye in the E36 is the warrenty, which allegedly covers all mechanicals untill 2006.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[Sarc]

.

[Javier at Pelican Parts]

I kinda like the E30 bank the difference for future mods or repairs. Are these autos or 5spds?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I second javier on the E30. I had a choice between an E30 and an E36, and i was way happier with the E30, lighter, more manuverable, and the car just seems more solidly built, (the E36 have plastic intake manifolds) I would say that the E36 is more of a comfortable car, whereas the E30 is more of a driver's car.

[Sarc]

Thanks, guys, for the input!
Javier,
They are both 5 speeds (an absolute requirement with my girlfriend, hehe!).

[Javier at Pelican Parts]

yea babyyyyyy!!!!
go with the E30, way fun car..

[Dub-Dub]

Okay, I am thinking if you wanted an unbiased opinion, you posted this on the wrong board. Id be curious what responces you'd get on the E36 board.

Regardless, here's a point to consider on the warrenty. This aftermarket warrenties are sort of a hazy (shady) buisiness. Even if you think it is being offered by a reputable company, they are not the ones who are usually footing the bill on it, or sometimes are not the decision makers on repairs. Typically the warrenty is ceded to an insurance-type of company (cause really, that is what it is). Anyway, there is little regulation of these policies and little recourse if you have a problem/disagreement. Check out all the exclusions the company has to not cover a repair. While not totally worthless, the idea of a used car warrenty seems to be more of a sales tool than legitimate warrenty.

I work with insurance regulations, and have heard numerous consumer complaints of being ripped off, and being denied coverage...

[Sarc]

Yes, I don't really hold a high esteem for non-factory offered warrenties (my experiece in the past)
Perhaps my main concern is the durability of the 325is;

-how many miles can we expect from the engine provided all service intervals are fulfilled?

-how durable is the transmission/clutch. i.e. the life expectancy

-any updates I should be aware of?

-should I have a PPI performed (I've been hangiong around on the 911 boards a lot!)

-the owner is currently having the timing belt service done; is this usually done at 80k miles?

-he had recently replaced the gas tank. Is this a problem in these cars.

-where can I find a buyers guide? I did a search but came up nill.

-what are the stats of the 325is (hp/torque acceleration times)?


on a side note to the guys at pelican- for some reason I cannot see my topic of the responses on the board. Im only able to reply through my email notification, which takes me to the thread. Any ideas?!

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

1. I've seen motors go well over 300K that have been well maintained.

2. The trannies on these cars are nearly bulletproof provided you change the fluids at the suggested intervals, the clutch is well, just like any other clutch you've ever seen, they usually last around 150K or so.

3. The only update i have heard of that is crucial is to chage the cylinder head bolts from a hed head design to a torx-style bolt. The hex bolts are prone to snapping off the heads.

4. A PPI is always a good idea whenever you are buying a used car. Any seller who is honest and on the level should have no problem with you bringing a mechanic or specialist to inspect the car. If the seller refuses this, walk away from the car. Who knows what sorts of problems it may have.

5 The timing belt service is usually performed at around 60K However if he is paying to have it changed, thats a good thing, You have another 60K before it is due for replacement. Keep in mind, it's not a reccommended thing, but a nessecity that the belt be changed every 60K. They seem to break the second they hit the mark.

6. I'm not aware of any problems with the fuel tanks on these cars. Do you know why it was replaced? Rust?

7. Pelican and any other bookstore should carry the 3 Series Comparison guide.

8. As for the 325is, here are some stats

Horsepower = 168hp @ 5800 RPM

Torque = 164 ft/lbs. @4300 RPM

Acceleration 0-60 = 7.2 seconds

Weight = 2850 lbs.

[blw]

I had a 90 E30 325i that I sold with 202k miles - engine was bulletproof. I still have an 86 528e - the torquier but definitely weaker motor. Engine is bulletproof, we've got 228K miles on it and it just hums. We're on the third clutch in the 528; they lasted about 100K each.

My current 89 325iC has only 109K but is practically indistinguishable from new when you drive the car. Knock on wood, but I have no reason to think it won't be like the others. All three cars the mechanicals are degrading at a far slower rate than paint and especially interiors!

I've never done anything to any of the transmissions in any of the 9 BMWs I've owned over the past 17 years other than change the fluids.

Just to emphasize on the timing belt thing - don't push it. They do break regularly after service life and the result is usually quite expensive.

I've also owned a 95 E36 325i, and I frankly prefer both the 90 325i and the 89 325iC to the '95. (I sold the 90 to get the 95, and I just got the 89 last year.) As you suspected, the E30s are more fun to drive, although they are much more "raw" in that they are not particularly luxurious by today's standards. They're more involving.

Don't forget that there's also going to be a pretty big difference between a 318i and the 325i. The power-to-weight ratio is about 50% different (16 lbs/bhp vs 25 lbs/bhp). I haven't driven the 95 318i, but I've driven earlier 318s and they are VERY slow by comparison to the E30 325i's. Specs say 7.2s vs 9.9s for the two you're comparing although I'd swear that the difference is even greater than that. That 2.7s is a lot, though. To put this in perspective, the difference between a 90 325i and the 95 318i is MORE than the difference between that 90 325i and a brand-new 03 M3.

[blw]

Oh. The '85 318 that I drove has a 0-60 spec of 11.4 secs, which is like a turtle. No wonder it seemed so slow - it was.