'97 328iC newbe questions

[Fl Ted]

Found '97 328iC for lady friend . Not familiar with BMW (I have '86 Carrera Cab) Forgot about the Bimmer section at Pelican, made offer on the Bimmer. Car has the following issues:
1. Top stopped working. Front section unlatches and starts up, but then every thing stops, won't go further, except to go back down and latch.
2. 129,300 mi. Car is exceptionally clean,po (original owners wife's car) had seats redone. Compression is 210-214 #s, burns no oil, runs out fine. Transmission seems to work as it should.
3. Recent brakes & front rotors, work fine.
4. Left front strut shows some leakage.
5. Not sure if timing belt had been replaced @ 60k, but wouldn't it be due again@ 120k?
So I guess the questions would be:
1. Any Ideas re; the top?
2. How long are these engines and transmissions good for?
3. Should I replace shocks and struts based on the high milage?
4. Ditto #3 on the timing belt?
Have not yet consumated deal, pending top repair. Price will be somewhere between $8000-8500.
Your thoughts, please.
Ted

[Jeron]

1) I dunno about the tops.
2) Engines 200k+,manual trannys forever, auto 100-200k
3) I would replace them
4) No timing belt, it is a chain with no service interval. Some people replace the tensioner piston every 100k or so.

I would replace ALL fluids and probably all suspension bushings.

[Fl Ted]

Jeron:
Thanks for your reply, the info is very helpful.
Ted