What do you think of this car?

[rammstein]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1092932

94 325is with ~84k miles and pretty well prepped for AutoX. Its on the high side of what I'd like to be spending, but if I could be convinced about reliability I might feel better. Its scary that it is 14 years old. I wonder how many little rubber gaskets and o-rings are waiting to start spewing coolant or gasoline or power steering fluid...

Anyone have any BMW experience?

[VincentVega]

Way overpriced. Looks like a nice car, at half that.

[rammstein]

Its just a tough market I am in (light use daily + weekend autoX for around $8k or less).

The German stuff at that price is generally too old, and the Japaenese stuff (integras, preludes) have all been raped by high schoolers.

Miata would be the logical choice, but my full-size dog would object to being stuffed in the trunk.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

Way overpriced. Looks like a nice car, at half that.

Ditto. That money will buy a mint E36 328, higher mileage E36 M3, or E46 323/325. Also no rear subframe reinforcement, tearing the mounts near the diff is really common on the non-M E36, especially with some track time. No mention of cooling system or suspension bushings, so plan on it needing a radiator, water pump, and new bushings front and rear.

Basically it's an average, low mileage E36 with coilovers and a race seat, for way too much money. If it's a DD, why do you want coilovers and a race seat anyway? An E36 with stock suspension is more than capable for weekend autoX duty. With a few mods they can be very impressive.

I don't think you're looking hard enough. $8k can buy a perfectly nice car, and there's lots of choices. Do a long distance search on cars.com and Autotrader, check Craigslist in ALL of the cities that are halfway close, keep an eye on Ebay, and search the BF.c and Pelican for sale forums.

[rammstein]

I'll have to look again, but on the 2 pdf invoices he had on there I could have sworn I saw a lot of cooling system stuff.

As for the Daily Driver aspect, here's the thing-

My wife and I can both walk to work, so daily is a relative term. It would be my only car, but besides grocery trips and trips to the dog park, its not used for anything besides fun stuff. So... it doesn't need to ride all that soft, and the race seats are ok with me so long as they are reasonably padded.

Matt, your input is greatly appreciated, because I know you have Bimmer experience. If you see anything out there, let me know.

The E36 M3s that I see at the $8k mark always seem to have some kind of red flag. The good looking stuff is always pushing $12k. Plus, I figured M3 parts would cost a lot more. Then there's the E30 M3. For those it looks like I'm over $16k, which I can't really do anyhow, but a part of me wonders if this wouldn't be good because come selling time, it would probably be worth the same given that my added mileage would be relatively low.

Wow. I am definitely not makign any sense here. I need to return to the drawing board and get my stuff in order. If I could find an unmolested Prelude for $6k that would probably be the smartest choice for me. Its the unmolested part that seems difficult.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I just wonder if coilovers might be too hardcore for around town usage. Plus, buying a car designed for autoX significantly narrows your potential buyers when it's time to sell.

You can find driver condition E36 M3s for $8k, but you might have to travel for them. They will also have higher miles, which isn't really an issue if it's been well taken care of. E30 M3s actually seem to be appreciating in the last few years, but as you said it's hard to get much for less than the low teens. Another good bet would be an E34 M5. When well maintained they can be reliable cars, and you can find a nice driver in the $10k range. If you're set at $8k, that probably won't work either. All the M-cars share a number of parts with their lesser siblings, but you are correct in that M parts are expensive.

Cars that are easily in your price range are an E34 540 6-speed (really fun car), E36 325, 328, 318ti (fun with a swap or turbo/SC), E39 528i, E39 540 6-speed (good deals are out there), E46 323/325 (same car), 328. You can also pick up an early Z3. I would start by taking a good hard look at everything that falls into your price range and narrow down your choices. After you know what you want, you can more easily focus on finding a good deal.

BMWs are funny in that mileage isn't really that big of a deal. 100k is a big tipping point, as there's a lot of things that wear out around that mileage. Suspension bushings, shocks, and the cooling system are big ones. I'd rather have a 120k car with the major repairs done than an 80k car that is untouched.

I'll sell you my excellent condition '95 C36 AMG for $9k. Better build quality than any of my BMWs, just as fast as an M3.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Doh! Damn you double post!

[GG Allin]

There's a 94 M-Technic, 1 of very few made in Roundel this month for $9k IIRC.

[rammstein]

318ti is a good choice- the fact that it is a hatch makes it all the more useful. I've seen them with M3 motors in them, but it seems every engine swap out there does away with A/C. Its just too damn hot down here to not have A/C.

The roads in Miami are pretty smooth due to the lack of anything ever freezing, so stiff suspension wouldn't be a showstopper. Plus, a lot of the coilover systems are adjustable so I could at least put it to soft for trips.

Your Benz is very nice, but no stick makes me sad.

I'll have to figure out how to get into Roundel to see that M-technic.

[serge944]

I wouldn't car shop on BF.com... The "enthusiasts" demand enthusiastic prices. That car should be selling for half the asking price.

[onewhippedpuppy]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=251473888&dealer_id=100017524&car_year=1998&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=33101&advanced=y&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=8000&cardist=211
1998 ti in Tampa with a supercharger and 134k, $6800. M body kit, manual sport seats, looks very nice.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=244540083&dealer_id=62605063&car_year=2000&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=1&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=33101&advanced=y&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=8000&cardist=215
Sport package 2000 323i, 108k, $7850 in Tampa. He's moving, and usually moving = motivated.

You know me and cars, I can do this all day. You should talk to Terry (TerryBPP) on the board, he's a dealer and has been doing car locating for Pelicans. You pay auction price + a set mark-up, it's a good way to get a great deal. If I recall correctly he's located in FL, that's why I wasn't able to work with him.

[Rot 911]

I agree the car is overpriced. On the other hand he had taken care of all the weak spots on the E36. I think that car has a lot of miles left on it.

[BReif61]

What would be things to look for in an E36?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by BReif61

What would be things to look for in an E36?

Cooling system (water pump, radiator, hoses), suspension bushings front and rear, shocks, rear subframe mount tears (M3s were reinforced from the factory), failed rear upper shock mounts, VANOS solenoid failure (pretty rare), loose oil pump nut, that's a start. The interior is my biggest knock on the E36, as I've always felt that the build quality is crap. The vinyl/leather on the door "pockets" will seperate, starting with bubbles and eventually peeling off, the headliner can sag, the glovebox door can sag, the side bolsters are very prone to wear, and a lot of things just don't really fit as they should.

The E36 is a really nice driving car, I just believe it was BMW's first attempt to build a car to a price point, as opposed to building the best car they could.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by serge944

I wouldn't car shop on BF.com... The "enthusiasts" demand enthusiastic prices. That car should be selling for half the asking price.

I've been on other forums where someone asks about buying 911s, and it's said that the Pelican Parts "Porsches for Sale" cars are overpriced, that better deals can be found on Craigslist, etc.

Within a community of enthusiasts, the value of certain upgrades or prior work are better understood & appreciated.

Caveat: I don't know a bimmer from a bumtickle, so maybe that car is overpriced. just sayin'

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Better build quality than any of my BMWs, just as fast as an M3.

Looking good, man. Looking good!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Sarc

Looking good, man. Looking good!

Wanna buy it?

[VincentVega]

I wouldn't car shop on BF.com.

I generally agree, but that's where I found my e36. My car has a ton of miles but is a great DD.

[YTNUKLR]

I would search nationwide and find a good deal on a good car...geography makes a difference...spend the money you save on airfare and make a weekend adventure out of driving it home.. my 2c

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Wanna buy it?

Nah....kind of holding out for a black one