1995 E36 325i....buy it or not? - BMW Forum

KSE36M3 · 05-12-2006, 02:23 PM

What's up guys? I'm kinda new here...just registered today. I'm a huge BMW fan and we're starting to look at cars to replace my current car (a 1990 Honda Accord LX with some light mods...mostly audio, some exterior...trust me it's not rice! haha) because it is going to be passed on to my younger brother.

I've been checking out the listings on Autotrader off and on for the past couple months and recently, what appears to be an excellent condition 1995 325i caught my attention. I'm not by any means set on this car...I've been a Bimmer enthusiast long enough to know that it's going to be more expensive to maintain and insure than my Honda....but I love BMW's and if I can afford it and it's a good buy I will certainly consider becoming a proud owner. It's got 148K on it, I know kinda high mileage (about a 25k improvement over what I have now)...but my real question here is....what do I need to look for as far as problems/issues? I've read some buyers guides published in Bimmer magazine concerning the E36's and most of them mentioned most problems occurring around the 100K range (my theory is they've probably already been fixed if the car has been cared for as well as it appears it has in the pictures..but we will get it checked out by a trusted mechanic we know first). I'm aware of the clutch squeal issues with E36's, and I've read about a couple other problems as well, mostly fixable with aftermarket parts. Basically, I just wanted to get some tips from some current owners, mechanics, etc...to make sure I know what to look for if I check it out.

Thanks for the help guys!

e36surge · 05-12-2006, 02:40 PM

Here's a write-up by a member from this site. He knows his stuff.

http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/mai...blems-601.html

Also check the thread above this post:
UPDATED: E36 DIY, Aftermarket parts and Info Links

It'll give you plenty of links you can check. Pay particular attention to the DIY's.

Find out from the previous owner if the water pump has been changed. The cooling systems on the e36's have some issues. Good luck. And welcome.

KSE36M3 · 05-15-2006, 11:35 AM

yea it's not looking good on the car. Can't seem to get ahold of the seller....he hasn't returned either of my calls, and he hasn't responded to my email. I think I might just forget it and keep looking.