used 95 m3 - BMW Forum

socalguy · 12-27-2003, 07:03 PM

i am looking into getting a e36 m3. I recently found a 95. What are the important things to ask the owner? it has 72,000. how long can a well taken care of engine last?

And i recall reading about 2 things that needed to be changed on the 95 but dont remember what they were...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

cam540 · 12-28-2003, 01:16 PM

make sure the car has been properly maintaned and the owner has the records. The engine is just being broke in at 72k miles if the guy took care of the car.

You'll need to change the plastic impeller from the water pump to the metal one if it hasn't been done

M3pow · 01-02-2004, 05:31 PM

Are the 1995 M3 E36 high maintenance cars?

socalguy · 01-03-2004, 05:31 PM

thanks for the information. it will help me a lot.

KingScare · 01-05-2004, 09:59 AM

Is there a way to tell if the water pump was replaced (well the defective part) or what not...

my M3 just tipped over 50 000 k , I could check up in the maintenance records, i remember the dude saying he did change it sometime.

But is there a way to check it DIY style?

DesmoBob · 01-05-2004, 01:52 PM

the only way to tell is to pull it out and look at it.

the impellers on the old plastic ones are tan or orange in color.

for a short time bmw upgraded to stainless steel (good).
then they upgraded again to a higher quality synthetic composite (good). these are the ones that are currently available.

there are aftermarket ones which are metal, but are cast iron (bad). i have a brand-new in-the-box never used metal cast iron one (Graf) which i will sell on e-bay because i have decided to go with the newer composite impeller.

read this for more info:
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthre...p?postid=931023

the cheapest place i have found for a water pump is http://www.eap4parts.com
($67.95 for new OE composite, $41.95 for the Graf cast iron)