E36 questions, oh boy.

[robbieosterman]

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[permit]

BOO THIS MAN! BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

e36's are BMW's failure.

[DEV0 E30]

$6,500 is a good amount for budgeting an E36. Most I see around here go for $3,500-6,000.

[e30evolution]

you have a 98 limited? those seats are sooooo cushy!!!! if you drive it properly it should get way better economy than that

[RobertK]

Check Ebay.. my mom picked up a 95 325i Automatic w/ 115k for $4200 and my roomate recently bought a 94 325i 5 spd for $3000 w/ 125k.

Both are nice cars and fun to drive.

[uflnuceng]

I don't know how other people are when they buy a used car, but if you only have $6500 then cut that in about half and save the other half for doing all around maintenance on the car you buy. When I bought my E30 for $3000 I spent about $3000 to fix it up. Same with my E36... bought for $6000 and spent about $5000 just doing some maintenance... granted a lot of that included tools I didn't have which are one time expenses.

I would get VANOS... its expensive if it breaks but it really makes the engine. I liked my 1993 325i 5-speed for the short time that I had it.

[Digitalwave]

I personally think $6-7,000 is on the low side for buying a nice E36. There are TONS of E36's for less than that available, but they are going to be trashed. Interiors falling apart, worn suspension, probably a cooling system in need of a major overhaul. I would look for at least a 95+, but definately stay away from 92-93's.

[Jarvis]

If gas mileage is a huge concern, find the lowest mileage 5spd 318i 4-dr you can. You should be able to afford a nice, unmolested one. I wouldn't mind one of those right now.

[87 325iS]

Yeah, I have the '98 limited, but it has the larger engine size than normal (5.9 limited) and with that, worse gas mileage. Even driving normally, at 60 mph for 700 miles, it took three tanks of gas (each tank is 23 gallons).

Ha, I have the same engine with a 17 gallon tank. I get around 200 miles per tank. It sucks but I love the damn thing.

[Rob]

If gas mileage is a huge concern, find the lowest mileage 5spd 318i 4-dr you can. You should be able to afford a nice, unmolested one. I wouldn't mind one of those right now.

Probably a decent idea, but the e36 chassis is so heavy I wonder how mileage would be with the 4banger.


the best option, buy an eta sedan, they get kick ass mileage, more reliable than an equivalent E36, and you'd have tons of cash leftover.

[Jarvis]

Probably a decent idea, but the e36 chassis is so heavy I wonder how mileage would be with the 4banger.
the best option, buy an eta sedan, they get kick ass mileage, more reliable than an equivalent E36, and you'd have tons of cash leftover.

Yeah I can agree with that, too. But people looking specifically for E36s usually don't like getting suggestions to buy early model E30s.

[Rob]

he's got a jeep, anything is an upgrade

[dude8383]

he's got a jeep, anything is an upgrade

the man is right...

[e30evolution]

5.9 limited's are really nice if they are taken care of.... and pretty damn fast too..
otherwise, yea... jeeps are sloppy pieces of shit

[Digitalwave]

I'm sure if you babied an E36 325iS you could get close to 30mpg.