Bayerische Bombe Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Hey guys,I need some advice. As some of you may have seen my post looking for a manual bimmer, I have a found a few options and was wondering if anyone familiar with these models could tell me what 90's models I should stay away from? what good motors were made in that decade? and any recommendations as far as what to look for.I do have my eye specifically on a 1996 318ti and was wondering if anyone could give me some info regarding common problems for it so I kinda have a heads up on what to expect. Thanks!(btw - looking to spend under $5,000, open to any recommendations.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straight6pwr Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 check rear strut towers for rusting, it is a common problem for any e36. other than that just look for the normal things - maintenance receipts/history, specifically engine and suspension. all the rubber pieces in the suspension will have to be replaced if the PO was cheap and didn't replace them and the car has over 100k miles. the m44 in the 318ti is a pretty robust motor. it has no balls, but its not supposed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 My Ti is an m42, due to being OBD1. I enjoy it. It isn't fast at all, has some little balls, but gets great gas mileage if you do a normal tune up (plugs,wires, coolant flush, thermostat, new oil and filter, and air filter) Most of my bushings are dead. My rear strut mounts were absolutely garbage, my struts were all terribly blown, and my rear springs had sheared off a few coils. Just make sure it wasn't beat, as in don't buy it from a young kid=) Do you have a link to this car? Mileage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan... Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Wont applesauce be crushed if you dont get an e30?? Like Dan/Earl have said, the 318ti is a nice commuter car, not on top of the "sporty" scale. I've seen a couple pop on craigslist too in the past couple months, so finding one shouldn't be tooooo hard.Also, if you're up for a driving trip, a member on Bimmerfest has an absolutely beautiful red 318ti, 5 speed, with that kind of funny cloth/hurricane interior. He was asking $4400 I do believe, located in Atlanta Georgia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ten2doyle102 Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 You can put a supercharger them.... them they have what you call.... "balls"! E36's are also notorious BIG for the rear subframe failures, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 ^Yeah my bushings are so far gone that I'm waiting for something to break=P lol And the same interior as me Ryan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ten2doyle102 Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Its not the bushings that are the problem, its the whole subframe. I read that it can literally rip the mounting bolts from the sheet metal over time. Maybe I am mistaken but its something to look into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B C Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 If you plan on keeping the car for a while and dont plan on driving it in the snow then do your self a huge favor and buy something rust-free from the southwest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasnt m3 Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 $5k should buy a REALLY nice e36. Take your time looking for the right one if you can. If you want a carfax ran for free let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystere30 Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 ^^^ win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 If you plan on keeping the car for a while and dont plan on driving it in the snow then do your self a huge favor and buy something rust-free from the southwest. Mine is absolutely rust free with all undercoating intact and I bought it from up here=P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camarok Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Front end Slop in the control arms and associated bushings.... are the oil separators a problem on the i4's?Also, check maintenance for cooling system work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayerische Bombe Posted October 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 lol, I don't think he'd be too disappointed, plus this isn't my absolute car. Just kinda something I came across and was feeling it. My mom always told me that if you're shopping and something catches your eye but you don't know if you should do it, ask yourself if you'll regret passing it by if you don't buy it. Same with cars I feel, if I find myself thinking about it some time after I saw it online, maybe it's something I should look into further. The longer I thought about it the better it sounded. Although now I'm a little bit put off by it since the problems people are saying to look for are pretty much the same things I'm facing/have faced with my Talon. Last fall my dad helped me replace the rear strut towers and shocks. I'm unhappy that it seems my front ones are also now due... putting that off a bit... oil is also leaking in my car at a frightening pace. It had been worse but I switched to a 10W 40 as opposed to the previous 5W 30. Before it had been smoking because some horrible leak is causing it to spray all over everything under my hood. Unfortunately, looking at bimmers, this seems to be still a common issue. I just wanna avoid that whole deal AND have the 5-speed bimmer of my dreams. lol. Dirte or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan... Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Either one will be a good choice; e30s are great, and I love the TI. Whichever you get, you obviously know the rules; pics or it did not happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayerische Bombe Posted October 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=76085671&listingRecNum=3&criteria=prMx%3D5000%26sf1Dir%3DASC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20005%26stkTyp%3DU%26rd%3D100%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-pseudoPrice-transTypeId%26zc%3D53219%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-0-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DDESC%26sf1Nm%3Dmiles%26sf2Nm%3Dprice%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26transTypeId%3D28112%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national Here's a link to the one. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan... Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 I think it looks nice, fair price too but I'm sure they can be talked down! I like the color, and an M bumper on that would be teh seks.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystere30 Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 good god it would need new wheels though...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Needs low like me=) Not a horrid price. Check the underbody and if you go look at it, remove the carpet over the rear wheel wells and check the towers. I din't know to check, but I got lucky and have a crazy solid car. The reason the price seems high to me though is only because mine had 145,000 miles and i only paid $2,200;) But If you want something more reliable, I'd get an e30=P It seems like they can handle anything you throw at them. E36's seem like they'll take it for a while and then they'll tell you that they don't like it, and they'll start falling apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayerische Bombe Posted October 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 ... and an M bumper on that would be teh seks.. lol sauce was telling me that yesterday. Even if I didn't agree I suppose he'd find a way to make it happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayerische Bombe Posted October 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 good god it would need new wheels though...lol I knew someone would have an issue with that, and I do agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 I think it looks nice, fair price too but I'm sure they can be talked down! I like the color, and an M bumper on that would be teh seks.. Or my bumper;) lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rampelsauce Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 If she gets a ti, its going to have an ///M bumper and all the suspension and wheels and goodies money can buy. Its gonna be wicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan... Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 If she gets a ti, its going to have an ///M bumper and all the suspension and wheels and goodies money can buy. Its gonna be wicked. This is what I like to hear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Wanna have a competition to have the most wicked Ti then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayerische Bombe Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 then it's between you and Zach. I'll be poor till I finish college this year and get a real job. Relatively few changes will be made using my own funding. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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