Who here has owned an E36? Would you recommend one?

m_thompson · 10-30-2009, 11:05 AM

If you buy an E36 or E46, have the rear suspension mounting points inspected. There are plenty of threads describing how they rip out. They can be repaired, but it is a bit if work.

itsbrokeagain · 10-31-2009, 12:37 AM

i dont get how a lot of people here bash the E36. It is a rock solid car. Sounds like to me people didnt perform the maintenance properly, or let an issue go until it got worse and took out a matter of things with it.

My friends E36 has 250k on it, original engine. I recently overhauled it with $1200 in parts so far (all the gaskets on the engine besides the headgasket) new intake boot, etc, new waterpump, fan clutch, belts, tstat and hoses...

but I get a good discount thru my old dealership, plus I am a former BMW mechanic. My friends car runs like a champ....as long as you dont neglect them they will run forever....

I have an E30 325is that has over 240k on it..I bought it for 2800, prolly spent 1000 in parts, and it runs great. Body is a bit tired, but I did all the bushings and did a lot of maintenance myself, saving a great deal of money.

imported_mega · 10-31-2009, 10:54 AM

e30's run forever too, I had 250k miles on one, and 280k miles on another one

but e36 are easier to maintain than e30's, and they have basically the exact same problems, other than timing belts & adjusting valves. In fact, ALL bmw's made after the e34 have basically the exact same problems, bushings, cooling system, and electrical stuff will wear out

Moxie · 10-31-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsbrokeagain

i dont get how a lot of people here bash the E36. It is a rock solid car. Sounds like to me people didnt perform the maintenance properly, or let an issue go until it got worse and took out a matter of things with it.

My friends E36 has 250k on it, original engine. I recently overhauled it with $1200 in parts so far (all the gaskets on the engine besides the headgasket) new intake boot, etc, new waterpump, fan clutch, belts, tstat and hoses...

but I get a good discount thru my old dealership, plus I am a former BMW mechanic. My friends car runs like a champ....as long as you dont neglect them they will run forever....

I have an E30 325is that has over 240k on it..I bought it for 2800, prolly spent 1000 in parts, and it runs great. Body is a bit tired, but I did all the bushings and did a lot of maintenance myself, saving a great deal of money.

Not much maintenance to be performed on a fan motor, bushings, brakes or a "lifetime" transmission. Just replacement. Brakes are to be expected. Guess I could have changed the tranny fluid, but BMW claims it's not needed. Damn, car just went over 100K miles. Been BMW serviced till I bought it 2 years ago. Might have just bought a dog. Got close to as much $ in repairs as I paid for it.

john boxter · 10-31-2009, 12:33 PM

whats with these e36s why does everyone love them

MisterSkiMask · 10-31-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john boxter

whats with these e36s why does everyone love them

They are the last "simple" BMW.

E39hijinks · 11-02-2009, 04:53 PM

My E36 M3 with 119k miles has been stunningly reliable. It needs maintenance here and there but no problem if you know how to wrench on cars. Buy a Bentley and a set of tools and keep pelicanparts.com in your favorites menu. You can run these cars all day long without replacing suspension parts but it'll feel like crap. You have to pay to play--but not because they're poorly designed/or built. My 5th BMW and all of them have been great. My previous car was an E39 with 185k. Ran brilliantly.

Serious · 11-02-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moxie

Not much maintenance to be performed on a fan motor, bushings, brakes or a "lifetime" transmission. Just replacement. Brakes are to be expected. Guess I could have changed the tranny fluid, but BMW claims it's not needed. Damn, car just went over 100K miles. Been BMW serviced till I bought it 2 years ago. Might have just bought a dog. Got close to as much $ in repairs as I paid for it.

What do you think maintenance on a car is? its just replacing old worn out parts.

e36's are great cars they have little issues with sensors (brake light circuit, coolant level) but these sensors have no effect on the driveability of the car they are just and annoyance... but they are cheap if you're really bothered by them.

I love e36's and would love to turn one into a track car in the future.

They are very robust and durable but you have to do the maintenance on them or they go to crap pretty quickly.

10-30-2009, 11:05 AM	#23
m_thompson Major 137 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: M-Sport 128i, 328xi, 3.0CS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New England, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 128i [0.00] 1972 3.0CS [10.00]	If you buy an E36 or E46, have the rear suspension mounting points inspected. There are plenty of threads describing how they rip out. They can be repaired, but it is a bit if work. __________________ '09 128i - Black Sapphire Metallic\Coral Red\Glacier Silver\N51 DISA\6MT\Navigation\Premium\M-Sport\Heated seats\Xenon\Headlights\iPod\Smartphone\Euro Delivery
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10-31-2009, 12:37 AM	#24
itsbrokeagain 311 Rep 15,745 Posts Drives: 1999 528iT, E53 X5, E46 325xi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Strong Island iTrader: (7)	i dont get how a lot of people here bash the E36. It is a rock solid car. Sounds like to me people didnt perform the maintenance properly, or let an issue go until it got worse and took out a matter of things with it. My friends E36 has 250k on it, original engine. I recently overhauled it with $1200 in parts so far (all the gaskets on the engine besides the headgasket) new intake boot, etc, new waterpump, fan clutch, belts, tstat and hoses... but I get a good discount thru my old dealership, plus I am a former BMW mechanic. My friends car runs like a champ....as long as you dont neglect them they will run forever.... I have an E30 325is that has over 240k on it..I bought it for 2800, prolly spent 1000 in parts, and it runs great. Body is a bit tired, but I did all the bushings and did a lot of maintenance myself, saving a great deal of money.
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10-31-2009, 10:54 AM	#25
imported_mega Colonel 127 Rep 2,206 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	e30's run forever too, I had 250k miles on one, and 280k miles on another one but e36 are easier to maintain than e30's, and they have basically the exact same problems, other than timing belts & adjusting valves. In fact, ALL bmw's made after the e34 have basically the exact same problems, bushings, cooling system, and electrical stuff will wear out __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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10-31-2009, 12:33 PM	#27
john boxter Captain 39 Rep 763 Posts Drives: 2008 e93 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: long Island New York iTrader: (3)	whats with these e36s why does everyone love them
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11-02-2009, 04:53 PM	#29
E39hijinks Second Lieutenant 72 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 2016 Lexus Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	My E36 M3 with 119k miles has been stunningly reliable. It needs maintenance here and there but no problem if you know how to wrench on cars. Buy a Bentley and a set of tools and keep pelicanparts.com in your favorites menu. You can run these cars all day long without replacing suspension parts but it'll feel like crap. You have to pay to play--but not because they're poorly designed/or built. My 5th BMW and all of them have been great. My previous car was an E39 with 185k. Ran brilliantly.
	Appreciate 0 Quote