OT, but the BMW Board is Dead!

Rot 911 · 08-05-2002, 06:03 PM

Would you buy this car? I posted this on the BMW board, but, as we all know, the guys on this board seem to know a bit about every thing. Here is my post: Hope you don't mind my excursion over from the 911 board. Although looking at the list of posters, I recognise a few names. Anyway guy here in town is selling his college daughter's 1992 318i, 4-doors, 150,000, no rust, vinyl interior, new clutch 40,000 miles ago, mostly highway driving back and forth to college (200 miles one way), has working air, 5 speed, cd, usual power equipment. I'm just looking for a daily driver when it is too hot to drive the non-ac 911. It is the four cylinder engine. He wants $3700 or best offer. The car drives well, no smoke, hesitation or rattles. Uses a quart of oil every 800 miles. Too cheap for me to really care to do a PPI, but based on what I know it appears to be a sound car. My question is, should I buy it? Is it a good deal? What life can I expect out of the engine? Is this a money pit just looking to clean out my wallet?

304065 · 08-05-2002, 08:41 PM

Ok, I used to have a '91 318is (last of the E30's!) and it had the same motor as the car you describe (first of the E36's). These cars had a four cylinder four valve motor which I think was coded M40 or something, and they suffered from a problem called the "profile gasket" which was actually the subject of a factory recall. Something like the cover for the timing or valvetrain leaking oil. I heard it was an expensive fix. You might surf on over to the BMWCCA board, I'm sure you could find extensive advice there.

Good luck!

JFC

(ex '75 2002, '88 M5, '91 318is, '85 325e)

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-05-2002, 10:40 PM

For that amount of money you could drive it around for a year and throw it away when you're done--and it would still be a better investment than putting the ca$h in the stock market.

Two Oh · 08-05-2002, 10:52 PM

The '92 had a recall to change the head gasket. Since this car has 150k miles I would assume this was done.

My '92 has 146k.

These cars can have electrical problems. Windows moving up and down by themselves. Only an inch at a time. Another problem is the door locks.

You can learn more than you want to know at

www.unofficialbmw.com

I say, "go for it"

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

BMW 3 series cars are bulletproof. I got 243k miles on my '87 E30 before I sold it. I got 232k miles on the first clutch. 1 qt oil per 800 is probably something to watch though. The head gaskets do go on these cars, but I think they go VERY slowly. I think you can sometime detect head gasket wear by checking the oil dipstick. If there's foamy froth on it at all, it's probably coolant leaking in there. But the price sure sounds right.

makaio · 08-06-2002, 06:31 AM

Offer him $3500 and swoop it up!

Planter91C2 · 08-06-2002, 06:56 AM

are you very small? a friend of mine had one a long time ago and i felt like i was in a sardine can. the front passenger is practically rubbing up against you it is so cramped.

plus, it is a girl's car.

you could probably get it for $3000 or less.

zuerchers · 08-06-2002, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Planter91C2

plus, it is a girl's car.

LOL!