Going to buy a BMW, advice needed please...
03 November 2005, 04:21 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Going to buy a BMW, advice needed please...
Some of you may remember a post by me a while back that said my friend had bought an L Reg, E36 BMW 325I with a race tuned M3 engine fitted to it.
Well the good news is he aint trashed it yet and the best news is I am going to be buying it off him soon!
Before I buy I want to check it over, So my question is:
What are the common faults on the E36 325 and the M3? The only thing that is M3 is the engine itself, a 3.2 Evolution lump I believe although he has let slip that it is not race tuned, but stage 1 tuned, the transmission, suspension and brakes are all standard 325 (although mercifully the brakes have been uprated)
I believe the car was originally sold through pistonheads if that helps. It was built to take on the nurburgring but I'm not sure exactly who sold him the car.
If any of you have a list of common faults I can look for on the engine and running gear, not to mention how to find them, then I would be very grateful.
Many thanks in advance,
astraboy.
Well the good news is he aint trashed it yet and the best news is I am going to be buying it off him soon!
Before I buy I want to check it over, So my question is:
What are the common faults on the E36 325 and the M3? The only thing that is M3 is the engine itself, a 3.2 Evolution lump I believe although he has let slip that it is not race tuned, but stage 1 tuned, the transmission, suspension and brakes are all standard 325 (although mercifully the brakes have been uprated)
I believe the car was originally sold through pistonheads if that helps. It was built to take on the nurburgring but I'm not sure exactly who sold him the car.
If any of you have a list of common faults I can look for on the engine and running gear, not to mention how to find them, then I would be very grateful.
Many thanks in advance,
astraboy.
03 November 2005, 05:21 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to have an e36 m3 evo....the most talked about fault is the double vanos system which is apparently prone to failure...
I had probs with my rear top shock mount bush thingys! Other than that I had no probs...
Go onwww.bm3w.co.uk for some detailed advice....
I had probs with my rear top shock mount bush thingys! Other than that I had no probs...
Go onwww.bm3w.co.uk for some detailed advice....
05 November 2005, 05:26 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yip make sure the vanos unit has been changed....I cant remember what it is or what it does 
But I remember someone saying it must be changed........or could **** up & cost £££££££££'s!
But I remember someone saying it must be changed........or could **** up & cost £££££££££'s!
05 November 2005, 07:34 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ireland-The One And Only
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Colinj
Yip make sure the vanos unit has been changed....I cant remember what it is or what it does But I remember someone saying it must be changed........or could **** up & cost £££££££££'s!
But I remember someone saying it must be changed........or could **** up & cost £££££££££'s!
05 November 2005, 08:38 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Surrey
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
330D,it's the only one.....had mine played with again at Power Engineering today...231 bhp and 414 lbs.ft at the WHEELS........come round for a drive fella.....
Trending Topics
06 November 2005, 11:06 AM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ireland-The One And Only
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Guinness
330D,it's the only one.....had mine played with again at Power Engineering today...231 bhp and 414 lbs.ft at the WHEELS........come round for a drive fella.....
06 November 2005, 12:39 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Disco, Disco!
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Make sure the indicators work. It seems to be a common fault on BMW's i am yet to come across one which has them on working condition. 
I understand that you can order the cars from new without an indicator stalk which can get in the way of your hands when changing direction. They still need the indicator lights to use as hazard lights for when some idiot is not looking where he/she is going and hits you.
I understand that you can order the cars from new without an indicator stalk which can get in the way of your hands when changing direction. They still need the indicator lights to use as hazard lights for when some idiot is not looking where he/she is going and hits you.
Last edited by The Zohan; 06 November 2005 at 01:21 PM.
06 November 2005, 08:41 PM
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Guinness
330D,it's the only one.....had mine played with again at Power Engineering today...231 bhp and 414 lbs.ft at the WHEELS........come round for a drive fella.....
They can do mine!
Sounds the dogs danglys
06 November 2005, 09:12 PM
#13
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by flat4_ire
cost 2k to fix, how about go and buy a proper m3??
Here are some pics:
The leathers will be coming straight out of course, well the drivers seat will be at any rate, get my nice Sparco race seat and harness in there.
Oh and theres the small matter of getting the 328 Sport LSD that I have been offered in there. That should liven things up a bit
May even be able to keep up with Guinness's BM then
astraboy.
07 November 2005, 05:37 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by J4CKO
Wheres your Toyota thingy ?
Worst mistake I've ever made.
If anyone wants a AE86 for 3 grand then get in touch.
astraboy.
07 November 2005, 06:12 PM
#18
Originally Posted by astraboy
I'm so utterly sick of it that I'm selling it.
Worst mistake I've ever made.
If anyone wants a AE86 for 3 grand then get in touch.
astraboy.
Worst mistake I've ever made.
If anyone wants a AE86 for 3 grand then get in touch.
astraboy.
07 November 2005, 07:18 PM
#20
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Surrey
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by astraboy
mine since july, driven it for a grand total of 25 minutes!
Ever since its been in the garage having work done on it.
*sigh*
astraboy.
Ever since its been in the garage having work done on it.
*sigh*
astraboy.
07 November 2005, 07:42 PM
#21
Originally Posted by astraboy
mine since july, driven it for a grand total of 25 minutes!
Ever since its been in the garage having work done on it.
*sigh*
astraboy.
Ever since its been in the garage having work done on it.
*sigh*
astraboy.
Is it still there?
07 November 2005, 08:28 PM
#23
You have really sold that one to us, 3 grand and you get to use if for 3 and a bit minutes a month, even pay as you go mobiles are more generous.
Surely after all this time it should be ready to roll ? you just have to be careful you are not buying another money pit this time, I went from Fiat Coupe Turbo with a F*cked engine to a Rover BRM with a F*cked engine.
Surely after all this time it should be ready to roll ? you just have to be careful you are not buying another money pit this time, I went from Fiat Coupe Turbo with a F*cked engine to a Rover BRM with a F*cked engine.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
robbie1988
Wanted
2
13 September 2015 09:25 AM
Scooby-Doo 2
Wheels And Tyres For Sale
1
09 September 2015 06:51 PM